Alternative Energy

alternative_energiesA rising issue in the United States currently is the from a majority use of fossil fuels to produce electricity for the nation. Currently, the United States is attempting to change over to green energy, but with much opposition to the big oil companies. But with big business opposing this change, this conversion is proving to be difficult. Since the United States is the leading power of the world and a major consumer of the world’s energy, the United States should lead a transition from energy burned from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources and set an example for the rest of the world.

A transition to alternative energy sources would be a large step towards a clean and bright future. According to the United States Energy Information Administration, about 67% of United States electricity production is generated by fossil fuels; however according to Ecotricity, which is Britain’s leading green energy supplier, if the consumption of fossil fuels remains constant, it is estimated that oil reserves will run dry by 2052 and coal will continue to decline until 2088. If we continue to deplete these resources, we will not be able to enjoy the luxuries of plastics and other oil products.

Another rising issue is global warming . According to the Union of Concerned Scientists in an article called “The Hidden Cost of Fossil Fuels,” 78 percent of the United States’ global warming emissions are energy related carbon dioxide emissions. The 78 percent of these emissions are broken down into 42 percent oil and other liquids, 32 percent coal, and 27 percent natural gas. Converting over to renewable energy sources such as windmills, solar panels, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy,  could significantly reduce the United States’ total global warming emissions, considering that energy-related emissions are responsible for a vast 78 percent of total emissions.

Finally, green energy would betterment general environmental health. According to CNN article ‘5 years after the Gulf oil spill: What we do (and don’t) know’ in 2010 , the Deepwater Horizon well blowout caused 4.2 million barrels of oil to spill into the Gulf of Mexico. This year, BP settled the case, owing $8.8 billion worth of damage to the environment. Restoration started on April 20, 2010, the day of the explosion, and restoration still has not been completed. However, BP specialists like to argue, according to the same CNN article, that the immediate spill caused harm to the surrounding environment yet after 87 days when the oil spill was fixed, the environment immediately began to recover.However the oil continued to spill for 87 days without notice, causing permanent damage, according to Natural Resource Damage Assessment trustees.

The ability for the United States to convert to renewable energy is present and is possible, yet certain companies are preventing forward progress. If the United States were to convert to green energy, U.S. citizens would not have to worry about luxury plastics to deplenish, global warming emissions would be greatly reduced, and accidental environmental harm would vanish. Trading in fossil fuel generators for more futuristic green energy sources would be of great advantage to the United States.


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