Okay. Here goes.
80% of US energy comes from fossil fuels. 32% of our energy is imported.
Anyone who believes that the most pertinent energy solution is to spend, and encouraging companies to spend, billions upon BILLIONS of dollars opening new drill sites or, heaven forbid, spend the billions on developing cheaper ways to extract oil from shale and sand should listen up to see the obvious. (Look, I know Utah has lots of shale--heck, there's a lot of potential--, but it costs a LOT of money: estimates are around $70-95/barrel, and that's at the source; by the time it gets to market, it could easily go for over $500/barrel, more than 5 TIMES the cost per barrel now.)
Everyday, alternative (and green, ps) energy solutions are showcased and being developed. How close are we? Well, pretty darn. Check some out:
Methods to produce Hydrogen at 30 times less the cost have been discovered in Korea. Efficient hydrogen fuel cells are in existence, the biggest barrier has been Hydrogen production. With minimal comparative investment, this technology could produce many new diverse jobs as well as be part of a comprehensive solution to abandoning oil.
Ohio State decided to allocate around $100 million for further research of advanced solar panels that take advantage of a wider spectrum of light to create more efficient panels. Combine this with IBM's freaking hot technology that uses nice little magnifiers to increase efficiency and their chip cooling technology that uses micro-aqueducts to liquid cool chips AND U of Delaware's solar technology, and it's very clear to see how incredibly exciting and potentially large new industry of sun.
And finally, with the coming of the Chevy Volt and hopefully mass production of this baby (yes, if it goes on mass pro, it'll be in my driveway), hi-powered electric vehicles are here to stay. This is extremely exciting, especially after our auto industry mysteriously axed the innovative and impressive electric vehicles of yesteryear (I'm talking EV1, an interesting read).
And let's not forget how relatively safe and efficient nuclear technologies have become.
Like it or not, this is the future. Even if you don't 'believe' in global warming, there is no doubt that our current (and some people's proposed) energy solution has an alarming effect: not only on the environment, but on us and our own health. The technology is so close, it just needs a comparatively small push from a nation that's ready to move on. America has always been a place where we accept problems and create BETTER solutions, instead of deciding to allow another generation to take care of it. The attitude of innovation is what America stands for. Quite frankly, at this point, to continue drilling (baby, drilling) is the only un-American thing we could do.
[Links thanks to Gizmodo]
I don't "believe" in global warming, but i agree with you. (to be more accurate, i think climate change is pretty low on the list of pollution-created problems.) honestly i don't understand how alternative energy became a red vs. blue argument... it belongs in the "sane people vs. corporations unwilling to change" arena.
ReplyDeletethanks for mentioning the "n" word. nuclear has been here to stay, but it's amazing how hitlerish fear tactics have been used to help people shy away. i remember going out to see lake michigan and looking out at the cooling towers, and certain people freaking out about it. unfortunately some administrations have too much black gold on there minds to put in a secretary of energy who actually cares about energy. there's currently about 6 different nextgen reactor designs that can all change the way people look at nuclear. we just need someone to say, let's go with this one. much quicker and longer lasting than drill baby drill. (if i hear that chant one more time...)
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