Fossil Fuel Dependency
Dependency of Fossil Fuels
The flip of a switch, turn of a key, or the press of a button is all it takes to power up almost everything today. One simple motion holds the key to our future and unlocks our past, but at what price? With sources that were once thought to be endless, energy consumption and its byproducts has now become a front runner among debates. A far sight from the campfire and miles away from its full potential what does tomorrow hold for energy consumption and its effect on the planet? Energy is essential for all life. Over the past millennia mankind has found new ways to harness and exploit that energy, starting with the use of animals and later through inventions that tapped the power of wind and water. …show more content…
With industrialization came the flood of social and economic development in the modern world, accelerated by the use of fossil fuels. Unlocking the stores of coal, oil, and natural gas rapidly multiplied the rate of energy flowing into human economic development. What took centuries in the past now took only a few generations. In 1776, America was still reliant on muscle power and fuel wood with the deposits of coal and petroleum still left undiscovered. It did not take long for energy shortages to encourage industry to find other sources. In the early part of the 19th century coal had made a noticeable entry onto the economic stage. At the end of World War I coal accounted for seventy-five percent of the total energy use in the United States. Nowadays coal and other fossil fuels make up 85 percent of the energy used in the United States. Throughout most of its history, America was able to be self reliant when producing energy. Through the 1950s energy production and consumption were almost equal. However, the following decade energy use began to outpace production and in the early part of the 1970s the distance between energy use and domestic production began to become more prevalent, fueled by petroleum consumption. In 1973 petroleum imports totaled 6.3 million barrels per day and have had a steady rise through 2000 when imports reached a record level of 11 million barrels per day. With domestic production and imports the U.S. consumes 20.6 million barrels per day, twenty-four percent of the world’s total. Transportation consumes over half of the petroleum produced each day, sixty-eight percent. The proved reserves for the country are 21.8 million barrels, this means that if all supplies where shut off the U.S. would not have enough on hand to last more than a day. Although petroleum is the most dominant fuel, it is not the only fossil fuel that is used to produce energy on a daily basis. Natural gas is another energy giant in the U.S. that has been on the rise since the 1950s. In 1950 the U.S. consumed 5.8 tcf, billion cubic feet; this was less than produced leaving availability for storage and exportation. Today the U.S. consumes 21.9 tcf, requiring imports from around the globe to keep up with demand. Lastly, used to produce half of the electricity in the U.S., is coal. The consumption of coal has increased from 480 million tons in 1950 to 1.16 billion tons in 2006. Ninety-two percent of coal consumed in the U.S. is used to produce electricity. The growing demand over the past thirty years has demanded an evaluation of supply and demand under current trends. The EIA states in the IEO2007 reference case, “total world consumption of marketed energy is projected to increase by 57 percent from 2004 to 2030.” The report shows that trends and laws unchanged will see an increase of over double if left the way things are. Under current trends the report also lists that half of all the world’s oil supply will be depleted by 2025. The use and supply are not the only issues facing energy, there is also the environmental impact left behind by the consumption of fossil fuels. The most common impacts are global warming, oil spills, acid rain, and a deterioration of air quality. When fossil fuels are burned to create energy the largest by product is carbon dioxide, a gas that can trap heat in the atmosphere. Over the past 150 years there has been a 25 percent increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Since reliable data has been available research shows that there has been an increase in global temperature of 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880. The rate of warming is increasing. The 20th century’s last two decades were the hottest in 400 years and possibly the warmest for several millennia (National Geographic News, 2007.) The notion of an increase in temperature of just over one degree may not seem to be much to the average person, but long term trends and temperature increases will have devastating effects. In early 2007, a panel of experts and scientist met to discuss global warming and its effects on the global community. Among their findings, predictions had been made based upon current trends. These included a 3.2 to 7.1 degrees Fahrenheit rise of global temperatures over the next century. This temperature increase will cause a sea level rise of 7 to 23 inches, flooding many coastal waterways and submerging islands. Atlantic hurricanes will become more prevalent and intense, as well as many other erratic weather pattern and climate changes. Looking at the facts there seems to be a grim outlook for the future if energy trends continue the way they are. Temperatures and sea levels will continue to rise for centuries even if greenhouse gas emissions are stabilized today. (Roach, 2007). The demand has created a juggernaut effect that needs to be slowed or stopped for future generations. The United States consumes a lot of energy, nearly one fourth of the world’s energy resources. The average American consumes six times more than the world average. Like footprints left in the snow this consumption of energy leaves a footprint on the environment, a carbon footprint. “A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide” (Carbon Footprint Ltd). The average American leaves a carbon footprint of 20.4 tons per year, the average for industrial nations is 11 tons, and worldwide average is 4 tons. Is there a solution to the growing problems of energy production? Can America alter the future path that is set under current trends? The answer is yes. At the end of 2007 congress aided in taking the first major step to this change, passing the HR 6 Energy Bill. “Congress approved the Energy Independence & Security Act – a ground-breaking piece of legislation that marks a seismic shift in America’s energy policy. Rather than continuing on a path that props up polluting industry and their 19th century technologies, the new law puts innovation, efficiency, and entrepreneurship at the top of America’s 21st Century energy agenda” (United States Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, 2008) For the first time in over 30 years the United States has raised the bar on fuel economy standards.
Beginning in 2011 the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration will raise the average requirement on fuel economy for cars and light duty trucks to a standard of 35 miles per gallon has been reached, no later than 2025. This act will save the U.S. around 2 million barrels of oil per day and cut the carbon footprint of American vehicles by 192 million metric tons annually, the equivalent of removing 28 million cars off the U.S. roadways. The bill also called for an increase in the production of bio-fuels, a renewable fuel source for U.S. gasoline. Currently the U.S. produces annually 9 billion gallons of renewable bio-fuels. The increase will push that number to 36 billion gallons by 2022, equivalent to replacing another million barrels of oil per day. For the first time in American history the bill outlines an energy efficiency standard. New technology light bulbs will replace the incandescent bulb of yesteryear, reducing the energy usage by 30 percent in all light bulbs by 2012. This increase of efficiency is equivalent to shutting down 24 coal plants. In addition to light bulbs all new appliances will have to meet stricter energy use standards. This encouragement can be seen nowadays with energy star …show more content…
appliances. Ideologies pushing companies like General Electric to new heights of creation. Three years ago G.E. launched Ecomagination, a project where the company works toward the creation of ecologically friendly products that create or use little energy. General Electric makes this claim, “We [a]re determined to solve the world’s biggest problems. By putting our collective imagination to work for a better future, we might get there yet. Is it possible to change the world? At GE, we are doing it one idea at a time.” With more companies, including those outside the energy industry, rising to the challenge every day, the future seems brighter than ever. Ideas and creations are not just left to major corporations; a change in American behavior can alter energy demands as well. “When it comes to energy, you can make your mark – whether you are a student or teacher, every individual counts when it comes to energy use. (Carter, A., Nemzer, M. and Page, D., 2005) Small steps to changing the future can come at little or no cost. If every American turned off one unnecessary light at the same time the demand for electricity would reduce by 500 MW, the size of a typical power plant. Adjusting the thermostat by 2 – 3 degrees or washing clothes in cold water are only a small part of how individuals can change the future. For years there has been a rapid climb in energy consumption, marking a certainty to the future. Supply and demand have come out of balance without a full understanding of the imprints left. Americans have a choice, deplete fossil fuels by 50 percent and rapidly alter the global climate by 2025, feeding the energy juggernaut; or rise to the challenge and make a reduction in dependency on fossil fuels bring the system back to balance. By 2025 start wiping away the carbon footprints left by energy demands, modify personal behavior, and turn the key to an ecological future where energy supply truly is endless.
Reference Page
Carter, A., Nemzer, M.
and Page, D. (2005). Electricity from Renewable Energy. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.energyforkeeps.org
Carbon Footprint Ltd. (2008). Reducing your impact. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.carbonfootprint.com
Energy Information Administration. (2007). International Energy Outlook 2007: Forecasts and Analysis. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.evedeia.doe.gov/oiaf/forecasting.html
General Electric. (2008). Innovation. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.ge.com/innovation/index.html
National Geographic News. (2007). Global Warming Fast Facts. Retrieved February 14th, 2008 from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming.html
Roach, J. (2007). Global Warming "Very Likely" Caused by Humans World Climate Experts Say. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070202-global-warming.html
United States Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources. (2007). The Energy Independence and Security Act Key Facts. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from
http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=IssueItems.Detail&IssueItem_ID=f10ca3dd-fabd-4900-aa9d-c19de47df2da&Month=12&Year=2007
The flip of a switch, turn of a key, or the press of a button is all it takes to power up almost everything today. One simple motion holds the key to our future and unlocks our past, but at what price? With sources that were once thought to be endless, energy consumption and its byproducts has now become a front runner among debates. A far sight from the campfire and miles away from its full potential what does tomorrow hold for energy consumption and its effect on the planet? Energy is essential for all life. Over the past millennia mankind has found new ways to harness and exploit that energy, starting with the use of animals and later through inventions that tapped the power of wind and water. …show more content…
With industrialization came the flood of social and economic development in the modern world, accelerated by the use of fossil fuels. Unlocking the stores of coal, oil, and natural gas rapidly multiplied the rate of energy flowing into human economic development. What took centuries in the past now took only a few generations. In 1776, America was still reliant on muscle power and fuel wood with the deposits of coal and petroleum still left undiscovered. It did not take long for energy shortages to encourage industry to find other sources. In the early part of the 19th century coal had made a noticeable entry onto the economic stage. At the end of World War I coal accounted for seventy-five percent of the total energy use in the United States. Nowadays coal and other fossil fuels make up 85 percent of the energy used in the United States. Throughout most of its history, America was able to be self reliant when producing energy. Through the 1950s energy production and consumption were almost equal. However, the following decade energy use began to outpace production and in the early part of the 1970s the distance between energy use and domestic production began to become more prevalent, fueled by petroleum consumption. In 1973 petroleum imports totaled 6.3 million barrels per day and have had a steady rise through 2000 when imports reached a record level of 11 million barrels per day. With domestic production and imports the U.S. consumes 20.6 million barrels per day, twenty-four percent of the world’s total. Transportation consumes over half of the petroleum produced each day, sixty-eight percent. The proved reserves for the country are 21.8 million barrels, this means that if all supplies where shut off the U.S. would not have enough on hand to last more than a day. Although petroleum is the most dominant fuel, it is not the only fossil fuel that is used to produce energy on a daily basis. Natural gas is another energy giant in the U.S. that has been on the rise since the 1950s. In 1950 the U.S. consumed 5.8 tcf, billion cubic feet; this was less than produced leaving availability for storage and exportation. Today the U.S. consumes 21.9 tcf, requiring imports from around the globe to keep up with demand. Lastly, used to produce half of the electricity in the U.S., is coal. The consumption of coal has increased from 480 million tons in 1950 to 1.16 billion tons in 2006. Ninety-two percent of coal consumed in the U.S. is used to produce electricity. The growing demand over the past thirty years has demanded an evaluation of supply and demand under current trends. The EIA states in the IEO2007 reference case, “total world consumption of marketed energy is projected to increase by 57 percent from 2004 to 2030.” The report shows that trends and laws unchanged will see an increase of over double if left the way things are. Under current trends the report also lists that half of all the world’s oil supply will be depleted by 2025. The use and supply are not the only issues facing energy, there is also the environmental impact left behind by the consumption of fossil fuels. The most common impacts are global warming, oil spills, acid rain, and a deterioration of air quality. When fossil fuels are burned to create energy the largest by product is carbon dioxide, a gas that can trap heat in the atmosphere. Over the past 150 years there has been a 25 percent increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Since reliable data has been available research shows that there has been an increase in global temperature of 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880. The rate of warming is increasing. The 20th century’s last two decades were the hottest in 400 years and possibly the warmest for several millennia (National Geographic News, 2007.) The notion of an increase in temperature of just over one degree may not seem to be much to the average person, but long term trends and temperature increases will have devastating effects. In early 2007, a panel of experts and scientist met to discuss global warming and its effects on the global community. Among their findings, predictions had been made based upon current trends. These included a 3.2 to 7.1 degrees Fahrenheit rise of global temperatures over the next century. This temperature increase will cause a sea level rise of 7 to 23 inches, flooding many coastal waterways and submerging islands. Atlantic hurricanes will become more prevalent and intense, as well as many other erratic weather pattern and climate changes. Looking at the facts there seems to be a grim outlook for the future if energy trends continue the way they are. Temperatures and sea levels will continue to rise for centuries even if greenhouse gas emissions are stabilized today. (Roach, 2007). The demand has created a juggernaut effect that needs to be slowed or stopped for future generations. The United States consumes a lot of energy, nearly one fourth of the world’s energy resources. The average American consumes six times more than the world average. Like footprints left in the snow this consumption of energy leaves a footprint on the environment, a carbon footprint. “A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide” (Carbon Footprint Ltd). The average American leaves a carbon footprint of 20.4 tons per year, the average for industrial nations is 11 tons, and worldwide average is 4 tons. Is there a solution to the growing problems of energy production? Can America alter the future path that is set under current trends? The answer is yes. At the end of 2007 congress aided in taking the first major step to this change, passing the HR 6 Energy Bill. “Congress approved the Energy Independence & Security Act – a ground-breaking piece of legislation that marks a seismic shift in America’s energy policy. Rather than continuing on a path that props up polluting industry and their 19th century technologies, the new law puts innovation, efficiency, and entrepreneurship at the top of America’s 21st Century energy agenda” (United States Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, 2008) For the first time in over 30 years the United States has raised the bar on fuel economy standards.
Beginning in 2011 the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration will raise the average requirement on fuel economy for cars and light duty trucks to a standard of 35 miles per gallon has been reached, no later than 2025. This act will save the U.S. around 2 million barrels of oil per day and cut the carbon footprint of American vehicles by 192 million metric tons annually, the equivalent of removing 28 million cars off the U.S. roadways. The bill also called for an increase in the production of bio-fuels, a renewable fuel source for U.S. gasoline. Currently the U.S. produces annually 9 billion gallons of renewable bio-fuels. The increase will push that number to 36 billion gallons by 2022, equivalent to replacing another million barrels of oil per day. For the first time in American history the bill outlines an energy efficiency standard. New technology light bulbs will replace the incandescent bulb of yesteryear, reducing the energy usage by 30 percent in all light bulbs by 2012. This increase of efficiency is equivalent to shutting down 24 coal plants. In addition to light bulbs all new appliances will have to meet stricter energy use standards. This encouragement can be seen nowadays with energy star …show more content…
appliances. Ideologies pushing companies like General Electric to new heights of creation. Three years ago G.E. launched Ecomagination, a project where the company works toward the creation of ecologically friendly products that create or use little energy. General Electric makes this claim, “We [a]re determined to solve the world’s biggest problems. By putting our collective imagination to work for a better future, we might get there yet. Is it possible to change the world? At GE, we are doing it one idea at a time.” With more companies, including those outside the energy industry, rising to the challenge every day, the future seems brighter than ever. Ideas and creations are not just left to major corporations; a change in American behavior can alter energy demands as well. “When it comes to energy, you can make your mark – whether you are a student or teacher, every individual counts when it comes to energy use. (Carter, A., Nemzer, M. and Page, D., 2005) Small steps to changing the future can come at little or no cost. If every American turned off one unnecessary light at the same time the demand for electricity would reduce by 500 MW, the size of a typical power plant. Adjusting the thermostat by 2 – 3 degrees or washing clothes in cold water are only a small part of how individuals can change the future. For years there has been a rapid climb in energy consumption, marking a certainty to the future. Supply and demand have come out of balance without a full understanding of the imprints left. Americans have a choice, deplete fossil fuels by 50 percent and rapidly alter the global climate by 2025, feeding the energy juggernaut; or rise to the challenge and make a reduction in dependency on fossil fuels bring the system back to balance. By 2025 start wiping away the carbon footprints left by energy demands, modify personal behavior, and turn the key to an ecological future where energy supply truly is endless.
Reference Page
Carter, A., Nemzer, M.
and Page, D. (2005). Electricity from Renewable Energy. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.energyforkeeps.org
Carbon Footprint Ltd. (2008). Reducing your impact. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.carbonfootprint.com
Energy Information Administration. (2007). International Energy Outlook 2007: Forecasts and Analysis. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.evedeia.doe.gov/oiaf/forecasting.html
General Electric. (2008). Innovation. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from www.ge.com/innovation/index.html
National Geographic News. (2007). Global Warming Fast Facts. Retrieved February 14th, 2008 from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming.html
Roach, J. (2007). Global Warming "Very Likely" Caused by Humans World Climate Experts Say. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070202-global-warming.html
United States Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources. (2007). The Energy Independence and Security Act Key Facts. Retrieved June 28th, 2008 from
http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=IssueItems.Detail&IssueItem_ID=f10ca3dd-fabd-4900-aa9d-c19de47df2da&Month=12&Year=2007