Everyone in the Southwest knows that there is no shortage of sunlight, but there will soon be a shortage of fossil fuel.
According to an article in Scientific American,
“Well-meaning scientists, engineers, economists and politicians have proposed various steps that could slightly reduce fossil-fuel use and emissions. These steps are not enough. The U.S. needs a bold plan to free itself from fossil fuels. Our analysis convinces us that a massive switch to solar power is the logical answer”
I couldn’t agree more. Our situation is beyond dire, we need immediate change. Our dependence on foreign oil leaves us vulnerable to fluctuations in reserves and prices, as well as conflict. Politicians and well-doers aren’t doing enough. Throughout human history it has taken strife and suffering to cause immediate change, and unless we drastically change our ways we are in for a rough road.
I can’t understand why politicians haven’t advocated the use of alternative fuels. I can’t understand why there isn’t a deadline for transferring our power source to alternative energies like solar, wind, nuclear, hydroelectric and geothermal power. We are killing our environment, depleting our wallets, and setting ourselves up for conflict sometime in the near future.
Growing countries like China and India have an increasing need for energy, and consequently fossil fuels. We need to become energy independent to avoid conflict with these nations, as they will be seeking the same fossil-fuel resources we are currently consuming.
An article on the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security website (IAGS) explains the danger,
China’s expectation of growing future dependence on oil imports has brought it to acquire interests in exploration and production in places like Kazakhstan, Russia, Venezuela, Sudan, West Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Canada. But despite its efforts to diversify its sources, China has become increasingly dependent on Middle East oil. The most likely and plausible source of alternative energy would be solar.
The most likely and plausible sources for the alternative energy would be solar and nuclear. Solar power is much more environmentally friendly than nuclear, and with technological advances in solar panel construction it is becoming cheaper.
Once further advances are made in the actual storage of solar power, it will become much more appealing. Currently, the best storage system is compressed air, which isn’t the most efficient way to store solar energy. Photo voltaic energy can directly help to alleviate the strain on the nation’s power grid.
The options are many, but we need to pick one and change before it’s too late.
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You mentioned that burying our heads in the sand about alternative energy is “setting ourselves up for conflict sometime in the near future.” Some would say that oil was one of the main reasons we attacked Iraq in 2003. China and India are already gobbling up resources to fuel their insatiable appetites.
I don’t know if you follow the US energy policy or not, but the government is putting money into alternative power research. Maybe it;s not what you want , but before 2000 this was little or no funding pointed towards an alternative power supply. They are thinking about it better late then never.
Have you heard about APS experiments with algae? It’s a very interesting way to create power.