ALT-1 Alternative Fuel
In a nation that is consistently defined by excess, it should come as no surprise that our desire for bigger and better has led us to quite the dilemma concerning fuel sources and energy production. We have always known that our earth's fossil fuels are limited,and we would have to find an alternative source for fuel. In recent years, it has become apparent that the methods by which we produce energy and consume fuel are detrimental to the environment and, frankly, outdated. One of the biggest problems is the lack of a long-term energy solution/fuel source that is environmentally friendly, renewable and efficient. Oil is very costly to purchase and is being consumed by the American public at an ever-increasing rate. Coal is plentiful but definitely not environmentally friendly. "The United States, having consumed from 82% to 88% of its proved oil reserves, now imports more than 60% of its oil at an annual cost of approximately $75 billion" (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, 2). Oil is not only costly for American consumers but is also a source of international conflict and detrimental to our environment. For all these reasons and many more, now is the time that we as a nation must get involved in a solution. The United States government, oil companies, American citizens, the automotive industry and US energy producers must ban together to find a cure for our oil dependency - we need to become more efficient in our consumption, develop alternative sources and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.The first step in the crusade for a solution calls for the involvement of the US government. So, what is our government doing currently to alleviate these issues? The US government has been and is currently investing in a myriad of alternative fuel technologies. According to Samuel Bodman (2005), Secretary of Energy Biography, the President's current energy policy focuses on "conservation, technology and greater overall efficiency, as well as the development of renewable and alternative fuel sources". The Bush administration spent over $200 million for production of alternative fuel, including ethanol based fuel. Over the last 7 years, the production and use of ethanol based fuels such as E85, a mixture of 85% ethanol made from corn and 15% gasoline, has more than doubled. The government has also proposed investing $1.2 billion for research that will aid in the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology in automobiles (Bodman, 2005). Along with this significant investment, the Bush administration also implemented tax incentives for the production of renewable energy sources such as wind powered electricity, biomass and methane from landfill gases. The consumer can also obtain tax benefits from purchasing residential solar energy systems and hybrid automobiles (Bodman, 2005).Transportation SectorBiofuels, such as those produced by ethanol, methanol and vegetable oil are thought to be a viable alternative to reduce oil dependency; however, the numbers do not support this claim. Roughly 40% of the US energy consumption is in petroleum, which is vital to our transportation sector. As the supply diminishes, there will need to be an alternative to this type of fuel (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, Biofuels: Ethanol, methanol, and vegetable oil section, 1). There is definitely a need for a liquid substitute to petroleum; but biofuels, ethanol, methanol and vegetable oil are not the solution for many reasons.First, while ethanol and like biofuels release less carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide emissions than gasoline and diesel when burned in an internal combustion engine, they pollute the environment during the crop production phase. Fertilizers that are used while growing corn and soybeans as well as the nitrogen produced by the crops pollute ground water and run-offs (Runge & Senauer, 2007). Secondly, the cost of producing biofuels to the consumer is considerable. The industry is vastly supported by government subsidies, which comes out of tax payers pockets. While biofuel production consumes such a large quantity of the crops produced, the price of the remaining commodity increases considerably to consumers, such as livestock farmers. This not only drives up the price of that specific commodity, but also products that are directly related such as livestock and dairy products. Even a marginal increase in the price of staple foods like corn and soybeans has a devastating impact in poorer economies (Runge & Senauer, 2007). Finally, the most dramatic downside is the amount of energy that it takes to produce biofuels - it takes more energy in the production phases than the product yields. "Put another way, about 70% more energy is required to produce ethanol than the energy that ethanol contains" (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, Biofuels: Ethanol, methanol, and vegetable oil section, 3). There are also many logistical and cost problems associated with implementing the use of biofuels. The switch to pumps that contain E85 is costly and time-consuming for gas companies. There are also problems transporting E85 outside of the agricultural "corn belt" to places on the east and west coasts (CBS News, 2006, The Ethanol Solution).Another option to help alleviate the strain of oil dependency on the transportation sector is the hybrid vehicle. A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that operates using a part combustion and part electric or solar engine (Lowery, 2007). Automobile and sport vehicle manufacturers have already mass produced many models of these vehicles and consumers seem eager to get them out on the road. Electric hybrid vehicles give off very low or no emissions, which make them much friendlier to the environment than the single combustion engines. They also require less gasoline to operate which lessens our dependency on foreign oil supplies. These vehicles also seem to be a stepping-stone to the future of the hydrogen powered automobile (Hybrid Vehicles Net, 2005).Hydrogen powered vehicles may be the future of energy for the transportation sector; however, the technology is far from being developed to its full potential. "Using solar electric technologies for its production, gaseous hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of water has the potential to serve as a renewable fuel to power vehicles and generate electricity" (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, Hydrogen and fuel cells section, 1). Although hydrogen is a viable source of energy production and storage, there are issues that prevent it from being the optimal solution to our oil woes. As with other technologies, hydrogen energy requires a significant amount of energy and resources (water in this case) during its production. Hydrogen in the liquid state also requires a substantial amount of space for storage - more than three times the amount of space needed to store gasoline. Currently, hydrogen fuel is more expensive than gasoline as well. The cost of an automobile that runs on hydrogen fuel is currently around the $100, 000 range. Hydrogen also poses a serious explosive risk and is not easily contained in steel tanks. On the upside, hydrogen is a clean, efficient and quiet source of energy. As hydrogen technology develops and is massed produced, the cost will also significantly decrease and be more affordable to the average consumer (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, Biofuels: Ethanol, methanol, and vegetable oil section).Commercial and Residential Energy NeedsHydroelectric systems currently contribute to the world energy demand at a rate of about 6.5% (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, Hydroelectric systems section, 1). In the United States alone, hydroelectric energy supplies roughly 11% of the nation's energy. If developed further and if the current facilities are maintained, the existing systems could increase production to help combat the energy war. However, the chances of growth beyond that are slim as hydroelectric plants require such a sizeable amount of land to operate (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, Hydroelectric systems section, 2). There are also many environmental concerns affiliated with this type of energy production. Dams used in hydroelectric energy production alter the ecosystems in the surrounding areas. Dams also cause a nominal amount of downstream erosion, shifts in water temperature and require the use of chemicals that negatively impact the wildlife in the general proximity (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, Hydroelectric systems section, 4).Along with hydroelectric energy systems, nuclear energy seems to be a promising technology if property developed. Nuclear energy is an effective means to reduce harmful carbon dioxide emissions and to increase the energy supply for future growth. A 2003 study at MIT projected that by the year 2050, we could increase worldwide energy generating capacity threefold, reducing carbon emissions by about 25% (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Future of Nuclear Power, 2003). However, there are some major issues that will need to be addressed before nuclear energy is a viable option. First, the cost of nuclear power currently is not competitive with the coal and natural gas industries. Secondly, very little is known about the safety of the fuel cycle beyond that of reactor operation. Waste is also an issue - currently there is no plausible means of waste management for nuclear energy production. Lastly, there are a myriad of security issues surrounding nuclear power plants which include (among the most profound) the inability to secure these volatile sites from terrorist attacks (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2003).ConclusionAlthough there are many options for alternative fuel and energy sources, most of these technologies are still in the infancy stages of development. To develop these technologies into viable solutions for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, reducing dependency on foreign oil and to meet increasing energy demands, there will need to be a significant shift in resources devoted to development and implementation. At the current rate of consumption, our fossil fuels will become increasingly limited - why wait until then to find a solution? The associated environmental problems are also increasingly detrimental as we continue to use processes of generating energy that produce harmful carbon dioxide emissions that harm the ozone layer and contribute to poor air quality. It will take the combined effort of government, commercial entities and people to work towards saving energy and developing efficient, environmentally friendly methods of producing energy. Conservation and technological development is the key to achieving a cleaner more efficient world.ReferencesAllen, R., Becker, K., Evans, J., Glickstein, M., Grosfeld, A., Herz, M., Hussain, B., Pimentel, D., Sarsfeld, R., Seidel, T., & Zimmerman, M. (2002). Renewable Energy: Current and Potential Issues. Bioscience, 52(12), 1111-1121.Bajaj V. & Mouawad J. (2006) Switch to Ethanol-Based Fuel Causing Disruptions. The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2007, fromhttp://www.nytimes.comCBS News. (2006). The Ethanol Solution. Retrieved July 29, 2007, fromhttp://www.cbsnews.comBodman, Samuel. (2007). Ask the Whitehouse. Retrieved August 19, 2007 fromhttp://www.whitehouse.gov/ask/20070223.htmlFox News. (2007). It's Not Easy Being Green: Ethanol-Based Fuel Proves to Be Hard to Find. Retrieved July 29, 2007 fromhttp://www.foxnews.comLowery, E. (2007, July). Energy Diversity as a Business Imperative. Futurist, 41(4), 23-23. Runge, C., & Senauer, B. (2007, May/June). How Biofuels Could Starve the Poor. Foreign Affairs, 86(3), 41-43.Tweet
In a nation that is consistently defined by excess, it should come as no surprise that our desire for bigger and better has led us to quite the dilemma concerning fuel sources and energy production. We have always known that our earth's fossil fuels are limited,and we would have to find an alternative source for fuel. In recent years, it has become apparent that the methods by which we produce energy and consume fuel are detrimental to the environment and, frankly, outdated. One of the biggest problems is the lack of a long-term energy solution/fuel source that is environmentally friendly, renewable and efficient. Oil is very costly to purchase and is being consumed by the American public at an ever-increasing rate. Coal is plentiful but definitely not environmentally friendly. "The United States, having consumed from 82% to 88% of its proved oil reserves, now imports more than 60% of its oil at an annual cost of approximately $75 billion" (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, 2). Oil is not only costly for American consumers but is also a source of international conflict and detrimental to our environment. For all these reasons and many more, now is the time that we as a nation must get involved in a solution. The United States government, oil companies, American citizens, the automotive industry and US energy producers must ban together to find a cure for our oil dependency - we need to become more efficient in our consumption, develop alternative sources and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The first step in the crusade for a solution calls for the involvement of the US government. So, what is our government doing currently to alleviate these issues? The US government has been and is currently investing in a myriad of alternative fuel technologies. According to Samuel Bodman (2005), Secretary of Energy Biography, the President's current energy policy focuses on "conservation, technology and greater overall efficiency, as well as the development of renewable and alternative fuel sources". The Bush administration spent over $200 million for production of alternative fuel, including ethanol based fuel. Over the last 7 years, the production and use of ethanol based fuels such as E85, a mixture of 85% ethanol made from corn and 15% gasoline, has more than doubled. The government has also proposed investing $1.2 billion for research that will aid in the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology in automobiles (Bodman, 2005). Along with this significant investment, the Bush administration also implemented tax incentives for the production of renewable energy sources such as wind powered electricity, biomass and methane from landfill gases. The consumer can also obtain tax benefits from purchasing residential solar energy systems and hybrid automobiles (Bodman, 2005).
Transportation Sector
Biofuels, such as those produced by ethanol, methanol and vegetable oil are thought to be a viable alternative to reduce oil dependency; however, the numbers do not support this claim. Roughly 40% of the US energy consumption is in petroleum, which is vital to our transportation sector. As the supply diminishes, there will need to be an alternative to this type of fuel (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, Biofuels: Ethanol, methanol, and vegetable oil section, 1). There is definitely a need for a liquid substitute to petroleum; but biofuels, ethanol, methanol and vegetable oil are not the solution for many reasons.
First, while ethanol and like biofuels release less carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide emissions than gasoline and diesel when burned in an internal combustion engine, they pollute the environment during the crop production phase. Fertilizers that are used while growing corn and soybeans as well as the nitrogen produced by the crops pollute ground water and run-offs (Runge & Senauer, 2007). Secondly, the cost of producing biofuels to the consumer is considerable. The industry is vastly supported by government subsidies, which comes out of tax payers pockets. While biofuel production consumes such a large quantity of the crops produced, the price of the remaining commodity increases considerably to consumers, such as livestock farmers. This not only drives up the price of that specific commodity, but also products that are directly related such as livestock and dairy products. Even a marginal increase in the price of staple foods like corn and soybeans has a devastating impact in poorer economies (Runge & Senauer, 2007). Finally, the most dramatic downside is the amount of energy that it takes to produce biofuels - it takes more energy in the production phases than the product yields. "Put another way, about 70% more energy is required to produce ethanol than the energy that ethanol contains" (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, Biofuels: Ethanol, methanol, and vegetable oil section, 3). There are also many logistical and cost problems associated with implementing the use of biofuels. The switch to pumps that contain E85 is costly and time-consuming for gas companies. There are also problems transporting E85 outside of the agricultural "corn belt" to places on the east and west coasts (CBS News, 2006, The Ethanol Solution).
Another option to help alleviate the strain of oil dependency on the transportation sector is the hybrid vehicle. A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that operates using a part combustion and part electric or solar engine (Lowery, 2007). Automobile and sport vehicle manufacturers have already mass produced many models of these vehicles and consumers seem eager to get them out on the road. Electric hybrid vehicles give off very low or no emissions, which make them much friendlier to the environment than the single combustion engines. They also require less gasoline to operate which lessens our dependency on foreign oil supplies. These vehicles also seem to be a stepping-stone to the future of the hydrogen powered automobile (Hybrid Vehicles Net, 2005).
Hydrogen powered vehicles may be the future of energy for the transportation sector; however, the technology is far from being developed to its full potential. "Using solar electric technologies for its production, gaseous hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of water has the potential to serve as a renewable fuel to power vehicles and generate electricity" (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, Hydrogen and fuel cells section, 1). Although hydrogen is a viable source of energy production and storage, there are issues that prevent it from being the optimal solution to our oil woes. As with other technologies, hydrogen energy requires a significant amount of energy and resources (water in this case) during its production. Hydrogen in the liquid state also requires a substantial amount of space for storage - more than three times the amount of space needed to store gasoline. Currently, hydrogen fuel is more expensive than gasoline as well. The cost of an automobile that runs on hydrogen fuel is currently around the $100, 000 range. Hydrogen also poses a serious explosive risk and is not easily contained in steel tanks. On the upside, hydrogen is a clean, efficient and quiet source of energy. As hydrogen technology develops and is massed produced, the cost will also significantly decrease and be more affordable to the average consumer (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, Biofuels: Ethanol, methanol, and vegetable oil section).
Commercial and Residential Energy Needs
Hydroelectric systems currently contribute to the world energy demand at a rate of about 6.5% (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, Hydroelectric systems section, 1). In the United States alone, hydroelectric energy supplies roughly 11% of the nation's energy. If developed further and if the current facilities are maintained, the existing systems could increase production to help combat the energy war. However, the chances of growth beyond that are slim as hydroelectric plants require such a sizeable amount of land to operate (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, Hydroelectric systems section, 2). There are also many environmental concerns affiliated with this type of energy production. Dams used in hydroelectric energy production alter the ecosystems in the surrounding areas. Dams also cause a nominal amount of downstream erosion, shifts in water temperature and require the use of chemicals that negatively impact the wildlife in the general proximity (Pimentel, Herz, Glickstein, Zimmerman, Allen, Beckner, Evans, Hussain, Sarsfeld, Grosfeld, & Seidel, 2002, Hydroelectric systems section, 4).
Along with hydroelectric energy systems, nuclear energy seems to be a promising technology if property developed. Nuclear energy is an effective means to reduce harmful carbon dioxide emissions and to increase the energy supply for future growth. A 2003 study at MIT projected that by the year 2050, we could increase worldwide energy generating capacity threefold, reducing carbon emissions by about 25% (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Future of Nuclear Power, 2003). However, there are some major issues that will need to be addressed before nuclear energy is a viable option. First, the cost of nuclear power currently is not competitive with the coal and natural gas industries. Secondly, very little is known about the safety of the fuel cycle beyond that of reactor operation. Waste is also an issue - currently there is no plausible means of waste management for nuclear energy production. Lastly, there are a myriad of security issues surrounding nuclear power plants which include (among the most profound) the inability to secure these volatile sites from terrorist attacks (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2003).
Conclusion
Although there are many options for alternative fuel and energy sources, most of these technologies are still in the infancy stages of development. To develop these technologies into viable solutions for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, reducing dependency on foreign oil and to meet increasing energy demands, there will need to be a significant shift in resources devoted to development and implementation. At the current rate of consumption, our fossil fuels will become increasingly limited - why wait until then to find a solution? The associated environmental problems are also increasingly detrimental as we continue to use processes of generating energy that produce harmful carbon dioxide emissions that harm the ozone layer and contribute to poor air quality. It will take the combined effort of government, commercial entities and people to work towards saving energy and developing efficient, environmentally friendly methods of producing energy. Conservation and technological development is the key to achieving a cleaner more efficient world.
References
Allen, R., Becker, K., Evans, J., Glickstein, M., Grosfeld, A., Herz, M., Hussain, B., Pimentel, D., Sarsfeld, R., Seidel, T., & Zimmerman, M. (2002). Renewable Energy: Current and Potential Issues. Bioscience, 52(12), 1111-1121.
Bajaj V. & Mouawad J. (2006) Switch to Ethanol-Based Fuel Causing Disruptions. The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2007, fromhttp://www.nytimes.com
CBS News. (2006). The Ethanol Solution. Retrieved July 29, 2007, fromhttp://www.cbsnews.com
Bodman, Samuel. (2007). Ask the Whitehouse. Retrieved August 19, 2007 fromhttp://www.whitehouse.gov/ask/20070223.htmlFox News. (2007). It's Not Easy Being Green: Ethanol-Based Fuel Proves to Be Hard to Find. Retrieved July 29, 2007 fromhttp://www.foxnews.com
Lowery, E. (2007, July). Energy Diversity as a Business Imperative. Futurist, 41(4), 23-23. Runge, C., & Senauer, B. (2007, May/June). How Biofuels Could Starve the Poor. Foreign Affairs, 86(3), 41-43.
