An Energy Plan for the Next Ten Years

By Dirk Holsopple

         Over the next ten years, un-renewable resources should gradually be phased out as renewable resources are used more. Fossil fuels should not be used because they take immense amounts of time to form. Renewable resources should be used according to the geography and climate of the surrounding land. For example, solar energy is very effective in sunny places like California but it is not effective in New England where there is less sun. Wind power can only be used in windy places. Some areas will still have to import energy if they aren’t able to generate enough energy renewably in their area.

            Solar energy can be very effective especially in the Southwest United States . A bill in California will create government subsidies for people who place solar panels on their roofs if it is passed. The bill will force house-builders to offers solar panels as a standard option on new houses. This is an excellent plan because solar panels work extremely well in California and because solar panels produce the most energy during the day when the demand for energy is highest.

            Creating vehicles that run on renewable resources is difficult because most renewable resources don’t produce energy constantly so the vehicles would need large batteries. One solution is hydrogen fuel cells which use hydrogen produced by splitting water to produce water and energy. A problem with this is that you get the same amount of energy out as you put in. A solution is to use renewable energy to split the water making hydrogen effectively an energy storage method.

            Fossil fuels should not be used because fossil fuels take regenerate very slowly. Fossil fuels will continue to become more difficult to unearth and therefore more expensive. Immediately stopping the use of fossil fuels is clearly unrealistic so they should be gradually used less as time passes.

An Energy Plan for the United States for the Next Ten Years

Drew Kirk

            The United States relies too heavily on dirty, non-renewable resources to generate its power. These resources pollute our environment and are not sustainable. Over the next 10 years, usage of non-renewable, dirty energy must be reduced, and usage of renewable, clean energy must be increased by introducing environmentally friendly legislation and programs.

            The United States must begin to get rid of energy resources such as coal and oil. These sources pollute our environment and we cannot sustain our energy production from oil and coal indefinitely. In addition to being dirty, the structures associated with power sources such as these are eyesores. Oil wells dot the countryside in areas like Texas , and many coal-burning power plants are visible from highways all over America . Ugly, dirty, non-renewable resources can be replaced with cleaner, prettier, completely renewable resources.

            As dirty fuels such as oil and coal begin to be eliminated, they must also start to be replaced with cleaner, renewable fuels like wind and solar power. Wind power uses the wind to turn a turbine, creating electricity. Unfortunately, it takes many, many windmills to create enough power for even a small town. Solar energy creates a good amount of energy, but at this point in time not enough solar panels are being produced, making solar energy very expensive. Many predict, though, that if demand for solar power increased, more panels would be produced, drastically reducing the price of solar power.

            In order to accomplish energy goals for the next 10 years, the government will have to legislate and start programs that encourage individual people and corporations to invest in renewable resources. The government in California has a program called A Million Solar Roofs that encourages people to put solar panels on their roofs. They hope to have 1 million solar powered homes by 2017. Local, state, and federal governments must start many programs like the one in California in order to reduce our dependence on non-renewable resources. Individuals can help the situation by trying to conserve energy and writing letters to their governments in support of environmentally friendly legislation.

            To reduce dependence on resources like oil and coal, the use of non-renewable, dirty energy must be reduced, and use of renewable, clean energy must be increased by introducing environmentally friendly legislation and programs over the next 10 years.

  An Energy Plan for the United States for the Next 10 Years

Dustin Good

            Energy consumption in the U.S. is at an all-time high.  We are getting the majority of this energy from nonrenewable fossil fuels and are quite dependent on them.  In fact, the U.S. uses about a quarter of the world’s oil.  Alternative energy resources are available, but are not widely used here.  Other countries, such as Germany , have been working for several years on implementing the use of these alternatives, and the U.S. is falling behind.  The U.S. needs to invest a large amount of money in alternative energy resources, researching and installing them, while starting to ease off of the use of fossil fuels, reaching for a goal of more balanced energy consumption between fossil fuels and clean, renewable resources by 2015.

            Currently, fossil fuels are the most cost efficient form of energy.  They are not hard to access, and even with rising gasoline prices, it is still cheaper than paying for solar panels or windmills.  Fossil fuels can also be used to produce energy at any time.   However, burning fossil fuels produces a large amount of pollution.  Transporting oil by tanker ships creates the potential for oil spills, which are very damaging to the wildlife in the area.  Being nonrenewable, fossil fuels will eventually run out, but representatives from Chevron believe that this may not occur for a fairly long time.  There is a lot of oil located beneath the ocean, and even a good many locations on land that have not been accessed yet because it is currently inefficient to do so.  The representatives believe that as technology improves, these unused locations will be easier to access and will still be able to supply the world with oil.  Still, the U.S. is too dependent on this form of energy, and we need to start decreasing our use of it and begin looking to other energy resources.

            Alternative energy resources are the way of the future.  These resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower, are much cleaner than fossil fuels, and they will not be depleted.  They are also available within the country and don’t have to be imported from elsewhere.  They still have many disadvantages, though.  Solar power and wind power are not available at all times, because the sun obviously doesn’t shine at night, and the wind is not always blowing fast enough to turn the windmills.  Geothermal energy is often hard to access, and dams must be built for hydropower, which causes additional problems.  Technology is not yet advanced enough to provide as much energy as easily as fossil fuels.  This is why we need to invest more money in the development of alternative energy technology in the next ten years.

            Solar power may be the most useful form of alternative energy, especially in the sunny state of California .  If a home has solar panels installed, it can be nearly self-sufficient during the day, when the most energy is used, and any excess energy can be sold back to the power company.  The representative from Environment California said that she has even seen power meters run backwards.  During the night, the energy can be repurchased from the power company as it’s needed.  The downside is that a new roof system would currently cost about $15,000, though it would pay for itself after several years.  According to a flier from Environment California, a bipartisan bill called the Million Solar Roofs bill is currently being discussed in California ’s legislature.  Its goal is to establish solar panels on a million homes in California by 2017 by requiring contractors to offer the installation of them on new houses and by making them more affordable by giving customers rebates.  It would be great for similar programs to be set up in all other states in the near future.

            In order to work towards less reliance on fossil fuels, the U.S. needs to decrease its use of these limited resources and start using other energy resources.  Fossil fuels may be more cost efficient now, but they will eventually run out, and if we haven’t switched to alternative resources by then, we will be out of luck.  Alternative resources are also much more environmentally friendly.  If we invest more money in alternative energy, they will become more efficient and more affordable.  By installing solar panels on our homes, we can be more self-sufficient, save money, and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.  If we can achieve this in ten years, we will be much better off.

An Energy Plan for the United States for the Next Ten Years

Gabriel Brunk

Even though some people may deny it, if we keep using fossil fuel at our current rate, the world will be heading into a major energy crisis.  We need to start conserving our oil supply if we want to keep it as an option for energy.  At the same time we should try and prepare for the near future, when we might need an alternative form of energy.  Since we need to try and lessen our dependence on oil as a form of energy, we should start funding research and installation of alternative energy sources, including wind, solar, and hydro power.

Even though the United States accounts for a large percentage of the Earth’s population, we are using a much higher percentage of resources than other nations.  The U.S. uses approximately one-forth of all the world’s natural resources, and shows no signs of slowing down.  Now with China starting to use more of the world’s resources, the U.S. is starting to feel the effects, with overall higher energy prices.  If we want to continue living in a sustainable way, we will have to learn to start using alternative energy sources instead of relying on fossil fuels for the Earth’s energy.

One alternative energy source we could expand would be wind power.  Once we have the windmills in place it would be a simple process of converting the kinetic energy into electric energy, and then sending it across the globe.  It would be an effective way to use Mother Nature to our advantage.  Some difficulties would be in getting the funding to create the generators in the mass needed to create a difference, and finding land on which to install them.

Another possible energy source would be solar energy.  As with wind power, once we had the solar panels in place, all we would have to do would be to store the energy collected and then send it out, using nature to power our appliances.  Also as with the windmills though, solar panels would be costly to install, and the batteries used to store the energy would be costly to maintain and replace.  If these costs could be spared though, solar power would be a very reasonable alternative energy source.

Hydro power would be another idea for an alternative energy source that we could tap into.  Much like wind, it would convert kinetic energy into electricity, and then use that to power other equipment.  One of the problems is the difficulty and cost of installing generators in a river so as to create enough energy to be worth it.  After a while it could be hard to find places to install the generators, and to maintain them as well.

We need to start preparing alternative energy sources, like wind, solar, and water, so that if we get into an oil slump, we will be ready for it.  If we don’t start preparing for the future, it might catch us unprepared with unlikable consequences.  We should prepare for the worst.  That way if it does happen we will be ready, and if it doesn’t we will have cheaper energy costs because of the other forms of reliable energy available. We need to be ready for whatever comes, and installing forms of alternative energy would help us do just that.

Energy plan for the next 10 years

Ian Suttles

            The U.S. needs to be concerned with the upcoming energy situation but drastic measures are not in order yet. If the U.S. continues to consume fossil fuels at its current rate it will not be long before fossil fuels are very scarce. This does not mean we should stop using these nonrenewable sources, only that we should prepare for the future by putting money into research and development for renewable resources.

            Continuing to use fossil fuels at our current rate has serious drawbacks but also some great advantages. Combusting fossil fuels pollutes our air, our water and our environment in general. The government says that in 20-50 years our supply of fossil fuels will be exhausted, and we will be left helpless unless we prepare. Huge amounts of energy are produced when you combust fossil fuels with minimal cost. This allows companies like Chevron to make 9 billon dollar profits in 1 quarter. This is a good and a bad thing.  It is a good thing because the money made can be used to further renewable energy technology.  It could be a bad thing if used incorrectly.

            If a large portion of profits was put towards research and development for renewable energy, my hope is that after 10 years, renewable energy will be efficient enough to replace fossil fuels, and a transition can begin to occur. Once efficient, the main drawback of renewable energy will be minimized. With efficient equipment renewable energy will have only a few drawbacks and can be effectively used.

Energy Plan for the U.S. in the next 10 years

Jenny Blosser

            Fossil fuel is an easily accessible source for our everyday living.  Oil is handy and available, and comparatively inexpensive.  However, this energy source is destroying our coasts, polluting the air, and destroying our natural resources.  A steady, alternative energy source must be found to replace oil.  In the next 10 years, solar, wind, and hydropower energy should all be explored to try and replace fossil fuels as our main sources of energy.

            In recent years, solar energy has become more and more popular to use as an energy source.  Photovoltaic cells, solar panels, have been placed on roofs to allow homes to use solar energy rather than oil or gas.  Right now, roof panels are expensive ($15,000) because of the low demand and low popularity of them.  However, a solar bill proposal is in process and will hopefully be passed.  This bill proposes that by 2017, 20% of energy used in California will be alternative energy.  This proposal would also allow photovoltaic cells to be installed on all new homes.  Although expensive at first, the solar panels would soon pay off for themselves. Because the sun rises every morning, the energy would be consistent, and a wire wouldn’t be needed to be run from pole to pole.  Not only houses, but also vehicles like the hybrid should become more affordable and popular, and should begin to run more and more on alternative energy. 

            Wind is a second major natural resource can be harnessed for energy within the next 10 years.  Windmills and wind turbine farms have already begun to sprout up around the country, and this easily accessible energy source could be a major source of power for small communities and towns.  Ten years down the road, many more turbine farms could become common around the U.S.  

            Eighty percent of the earth is covered in water.  It would only be logical to find some way to capture our most abundant resource as an alternative energy source.  Hydropower has been used in the past for energy in the form of dams.  However, we have found that while they do provide us with hydropower energy, it simultaneously harms the surrounding ecosystems.  Advancing technology and science reveals a new, prospective way of using water as an alternative source.  The ocean currents may be used to create energy, and since there is so much water and current, this hopeful method of capturing energy seems very logical and possible in today’s society of constantly advancing technology. 

            Within the next 10 years, I expect many hopeful changes from using harmful fossil fuels to finding alternative energy uses for today’s booming economy.  Solar, wind, and hydropower energy are major prospective sources that can change the way we use energy for many years to come.  Whatever energy sources are chosen to fuel the future’s economy, an alternative must be made over oil

Energy Plan for the United States for the Next Ten Years

Joel Kraus

            As technology advances, the world must find newer and better energy forms.  Oil is continuously being depleted with every passing second.  Americans are the leading single contribution to this problem.  Out of every four barrels of oil pumped from the earth, America takes one of them.  Eventually, Americans will not be able to rely on oil anymore.  America must research better energy forms, rely on alternative energy, and conserve the oil that is available.

            First of all, better energy forms must be researched.  I suggest American scientists should put more research into hydrogen fuel cells.  Not only are hydrogen fuel cells extremely efficient, but they are economically safe as well.  Hydrogen fuel cells get an enormous five hundred miles to the gallon in motor vehicles and the waste product is normal water.  Another research opportunity is hydrogen combustion.  This energy form is also highly efficient.  The only problem is figuring out how to harness the large amount of energy in motor vehicles.  To me, hydrogen is the energy of the future.

            America ’s energy cannot come solely from oil.  Alternative energy such as hydropower, geothermal, and wind power must be utilized.  Such energy resources are renewable and environmentally safe.  Americans as a whole should gradually adjust to different energy forms in order to be prepared for the time when oil runs out.  Solar power is a great energy source.  People can heat and power their homes all by harnessing the power of the sun.  Though there are costs involved in capturing and storing solar energy, we can use all we want today without having less for tomorrow.

            Lastly, Americans should learn how to conserve the oil they have.  Many Americans don’t realize how much gasoline they’re using up in their SUV’s, gas fireplaces, and recreational possessions.  People can conserve their oil by carpooling, buying economic cars, and using woodstoves.

            By researching better energy forms, relying on alternative energy sources, and conserving oil, America doesn’t have to rely on oil for everything.  The people of America can lean away from it.  Doing so will make a better America and a better world.

A Ten Year Energy Plan for the U.S.

Jordan Lehman

We recently visited the Houston Museum of Modern Science. It was very interesting to see the how our natural resources and fossil fuels are being used.  I could easily tell from the exhibit that oil is being used at a high rate, because of supply and demand.  We also talked to Janette Gayer from Environment California to hear the other side of the story.  “Natural resources are the future, but aren’t on high demand because of the high cost, said Janette Gayer.  A ten year energy plan for the U.S. must change from the overused fossil fuels to more renewable resources, because of the environment and the rate at which we are using fossil fuels.

            Oil is the most commonly used source of energy today.  It is most commonly used because it is the most efficient energy source.  Supply and demand keep oil at the top of the energy list.  Oil is drilled throughout the world and very profitable to companies like Chevron, Texaco, and Exxon to name a few.  Oil is cheaper than other alternative resources which causes high consumption, which will one day lead to the extinction of fossil fuels such as oil and coal.

Using oil and other fossil fuels greatly harms the environment.  After seeing how it is taken from the ground and its effects to the environment, I believe we must begin to stray from this form of energy.  Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, and smoke from hydrocarbon combustions are a few of the harmful pollutants given off when using oil and coal.  These pollutants are harmful to plants, animals, and humans.  Our environment is already seeing affects from oil and coal and if we keep using the energy sources like we do now our environment will take a huge hit.

            Alternative energy sources include: wind energy, tidal energy, solar energy, and hydroelectric energy.  These energy sources have many advantages over oil and coal.  The pros of alternative energy are:  no or little environmental harm, no harmful gasses given off, and the sources of energy will never run out.  Susie Hebert the Public Affairs Specialist at Chevron said, “The only thing that is holding us back from switching to alternative resources is the high cost.”  She also stated that Chevron was a company that would switch to alternative resources in the future if it became more profitable than oil.

            I believe during the next ten years in the U.S. our energy sources must sway from its current path.  We must look beyond the next ten years, which makes me think that we need to spend the extra money to research renewable energy resources.  Fossil fuels may be the most efficient now, but they will one day run out and are currently polluting our world.  If the people in the U.S. were aware of the benefits of alternative energy sources and the harmful effects of non-renewable energy sources, there would be a different view of energy usage.  I feel the sooner we begin to look into alternative resources the better.  This switch from non-renewable to renewable resources would help many generations to come.

An Energy Plan for the U.S. for the Next 10 Years

Josh Tyson

            The United States is in danger.  We risk running out of energy in the future.  Many Americans disregard warnings such as these, but the time is coming when we will have to change our energy practices.  Over the next 10 years, the United States must change its energy practices in an effort to live sustainably.

            One of the first priorities of the U.S. energy plan is to lessen our dependency on natural gas.  Even though natural gas and oil are the most energy-efficient resources at this time, we need to recognize that these resources are finite and cannot be depended on for very much longer.  In addition, the burning of natural gas and oil, along with the burning of coal, have been the main sources of air pollution, especially in urban areas.  In the next 10 years, energy companies such as Chevron and Texaco must cut their oil drilling budgets by 25%.  Many Americans will warn of inflation of gas prices, but once the oil reservoirs are drained, prices will skyrocket anyway.  With the money saved in oil drilling, these companies should work in improving technologies in solar and wind energies.  Although alternative forms of energy are not as cost-efficient at this point as oil and natural gas, we must work to improve the alternative forms.  By 2010, solar and wind systems must be cost-efficient enough to offer the middle-class American.  Specifically, solar panel prices should be cut by 66%, from $15,000 to $5,000. The installation of photovoltaic cells will also improve air pollution levels.  For every home that installs solar energy cells, 26 tons of air pollution is taken out of the skies.

            In addition, a federal version of California ’s Million Solar Roofs Campaign should be passed.  This bill, passed by 2008, would mandate that by 2015, solar panels should be used by a majority of homes and businesses in localities that receive, on average, more than 273 days of sunshine per year. (273 days works out to three-fourths of a year.)  By 2015, 75% percent of new homes and businesses built should have photovoltaic cells as an energy source.  This bill would also mandate energy companies like Chevron and Texaco, as well as governmentally funded companies, to work in improving cost efficiency of photovoltaic cells, in an effort to make them affordable.  The bill would also require contractors to give homebuilders the option of installing photovoltaic cells.  In order to maintain an affordable energy future for the U.S. , Congress must get involved.

            Further, there should be efforts made to improve other forms of alternative energy.  One of the energy sources to be researched would be heating water.  The water could be drawn from the ocean, in order to preserve freshwater for consumption and other uses.  By 2015, water-heating power plants must provide 10% of energy to coastal states.  Wind power must also be researched.  At this point, wind energy is the most price-efficient alternative energy source.  However, there are some alternative energy sources that must not be given research.  For example, there should not be research into biomass energy, which involves burning wood, because it uses up natural resources, as well as contributes to air pollution.  We must also ignore nuclear energy.  Unless we can find a safe way to dispose of nuclear waste, we should not depend on this energy source.

            We as Americans must work to improve our energy plans for the future.  The next 10 years will be critical in our energy resources.  The U.S. must research technology of alternative energy forms and lessen our dependence on fossil fuels.  Congress must get involved.  These next years will set the standard for the energy usage of the U.S. in the future.  We must actively plan for our future, instead of accepting the continued usage of current sources like fossil fuels.  Our future depends on it.

An Energy Plan for the United States for the Next 10 Years

Katelyn Shank

With the rapid growth in human population, dependence on imported and expensive fuels, and growing pollution, the need for a new energy source is in order.  Solar power, along with other renewable energy sources, is the US ’s best bet.  This will allow the United States a more diverse and local in our energy base and less vulnerable to limited oil and gas supplies. In order to maintain a sustainable life, the United States must convert their use of energy from oil and coal to more renewable means in our vehicles and homes.

            Not only are oil and coal dirty energy sources, they will not sustain our busy economy for very much longer.  In California the main energy source is coal, and 95% of the air is not fit to breath because of this.  When oil is used for gasoline, heating, plastics, and other things, it gives off carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Recently, we visited Houston , Texas ; the energy capitol of the world.  Chevron, a major oil company, taught us about oil extraction.  Currently they believe that there is a lot of oil still in the ground, but our technology is not good enough to reach it.  Instead of spending millions of dollars to develop new equipment for digging, as well as millions on refineries, we should find a more sufficient way. 

            I think that the US has a number of other options for energy, solar being the best one.  California has led by example, trying to pass a solar bill for their state.  This bill proposes that by the year 2017, 20% of California ’s energy will come from solar power.  I think that every state should pass bills like this one.  Currently there is no market for photo voltaic cells, but within ten years I think that all houses in the US should be required to purchase solar panels.  Once people start converting, the cost will go down and the technology will also advance.  Then an organization should be started that encourages the purchase of solar panels.  This organization can offer money to people who want to switch from the hassle of power lines to a wireless panel.  Since each house makes their own energy every day, the energy they do not use can be sold back to energy plants, which will help pay for the energy needed at night.  These systems are very efficient and can last 30 years or more.  Once technologies advance, the possibility of creating panels for car power is likely.

            I propose that a couple decades after these ten years, the US should not be using oil at all.  Cars can use bio diesel, solar panels, and hydrogen power.  Wind energy is currently price efficient.  Hopefully using these new energy sources will allow us to remove dams from our rivers so that the ecosystems can go back to normal.  Another option for hydro power is tidal plants, which use natural tides in the ocean without building dams.  The people from Chevron even admitted, “Chevron knows energy is coming, and they want to be on the cutting edge of it.”

Looking For a New Energy Plan in the United States

Kristin Bell

            Energy power is a big deal for the United States .  Recently, I was in Houston , Texas , the energy capital of the world.  We also visited Los Angeles , a large Western city that is studying renewable energy.  With a high probability that oil soon will not be the largest used energy resource, the United States should make a plan for the future.  It will take a lot of work, but as a nation we should be trying to find the best type of energy to take us through life.

            The Chevron Company we talked to in Houston is really looking to the future.  They still believe oil will be used for a while yet.  The company is working with liquefied natural gas (LNG) because it is a bit cleaner that other resources.  They are making LNG in Australia , Angola , and Nigeria .  Most of the companies’ money is connected with this project.  The research is expensive, but a lot of the money they receive comes from this area.  The Chevron employees that we talked to had definite opinions about oil.  One explained that the United States uses so much oil it wouldn’t be possible to have this nation support itself.  In fact, the U.S. uses 1 out of every 4 barrels of oil taken out of the ground throughout the world.  Chevron also said that if we drilled for oil in Alaska the prices may dip, but only for a little while.  All this leads to the obvious conclusion that eventually the oil supply will become dry.  However, at this point in time Chevron believes there is still a lot of oil down there.  The only problem is that it is deeper in the ground, so millions of dollars are needed to make machinery to reach it, and the new refineries will also cost millions of dollars too.  “Chevron sees that alternative energy is coming and they want to be on the cutting edge of that,” one of the advocates explained.  Therefore, they are gradually planning to head in that direction, but they believe that they can take their time.

            Los Angeles is working hard to change the United States ’ energy future.  They have a Million Solar Roofs Campaign which they hope will lead the U.S. to truly be energy independent.  “There is an abundance of sunshine in California , and so it could easily be the world’s solar energy leader,” Jennette Gayer, our speaker from Environment California, told us.  They hope to build a million solar roofs by 2017, which will generate as much as six giant power plants.  One interesting fact is that every new solar home built today will take 26 tons of air pollution out of our skies.  Besides solar power, Environment California provokes wind, geothermal, and biomass energy, along with hydrogen power.  By using these resources there will be less air pollution, less exploitation by companies, and less reliance on oil/fuel.  There would also be a diverse energy portfolio (that is renewable), no new power plants, and the coast would stop being destroyed because of the off-shore drilling.  However, there are downsides to these changes too.  The downsides are that alternative energy sources might not be as easily accessible or reliable as oil, will be more expensive, and will need new technology.

            If we do change to these renewable resources in the next decade, the whole world will benefit.  Los Angeles is a good example of how the changes would affect us.  If the changes occurred there, the city could convert 1/5 of its electricity supply to clean energy sources by 2017, without substantially raising customers’ utility bills.  Rather than spending so much money on oil, which may soon run out, we will use our money on resources that should last for a long time.  Our lifestyles will change for the better, and so will the environment.  California is leading the way towards the change, now the rest of the United States should follow and the rest of the world.  Then we would truly be taking care of our world.

            The United States is going to need an energy plan for the next 10 years and on into the future.  However, we’re going to need everyone to work together to make the changes.  An advocate from the Environment California said, “We all know that solar power is good for our air and our environment and now we know it’s good for our economy too.”  There are drawbacks to some of these new ideas, but according to the research, the benefits should even it out. Hopefully the United States will make the change over to the renewable resources and become a more efficient nation in doing so.