U.S. needs a sustainable energy policy
Justin Gero
Issue date: 5/23/08 Section: Ed-Op
With regards to future U.S. energy policy, the DoE said: "To successfully address energy security and environmental issues, the nation needs to pursue a portfolio of energy options. None of these options by [themselves] can fully address these issues; there is no 'silver bullet.'"
Many states are starting to look more seriously into renewable sources of energy, but we cannot focus on just one technology to take over; we will need to utilize many different renewable sources to provide for our energy needs.
Germany is very aggressively pursuing solar power. Heavy government subsidies have created an industry boom and have made Germany into the world leader when it comes to solar power.
The New York Times reported May 16 that: "With [solar power], wind, biomass and other alternative energy also growing, Germany derives 14.2 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. That puts it ahead of a European Union target for countries to generate 12.5 percent of electricity from alternative sources by 2010."
The state of Pennsylvania has a goal to reach 18 percent energy consumption through renewable energy sources by 2020. This is an aggressive policy in a country where the federal government has not taken the lead, but it pales in comparison to Germany and many other European nations.
While we need to address energy issues to meet increasing demand, we also need to remember to pursue sustainable, environmentally friendly alternatives.
NASA recently released a study showing that "human-caused climate change" has had a huge impact on the Earth and its ecosystems. The NASA study looked at changes between 1970 and 2004 to determine climate change's impact on many different environments.
In a press release, NASA said: "Observed impacts included changes to physical systems, such as glaciers shrinking, permafrost melting, and lakes and rivers warming. Impacts also included changes to biological systems, such as leaves unfolding and flowers blooming earlier in the spring, birds arriving earlier during migration periods, and ranges of plant and animal species moving toward the poles and higher in elevation. In aquatic environments such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, plankton and fish are shifting from cold-adapted to warm-adapted communities."
Many states are starting to look more seriously into renewable sources of energy, but we cannot focus on just one technology to take over; we will need to utilize many different renewable sources to provide for our energy needs.
Germany is very aggressively pursuing solar power. Heavy government subsidies have created an industry boom and have made Germany into the world leader when it comes to solar power.
The New York Times reported May 16 that: "With [solar power], wind, biomass and other alternative energy also growing, Germany derives 14.2 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. That puts it ahead of a European Union target for countries to generate 12.5 percent of electricity from alternative sources by 2010."
The state of Pennsylvania has a goal to reach 18 percent energy consumption through renewable energy sources by 2020. This is an aggressive policy in a country where the federal government has not taken the lead, but it pales in comparison to Germany and many other European nations.
While we need to address energy issues to meet increasing demand, we also need to remember to pursue sustainable, environmentally friendly alternatives.
NASA recently released a study showing that "human-caused climate change" has had a huge impact on the Earth and its ecosystems. The NASA study looked at changes between 1970 and 2004 to determine climate change's impact on many different environments.
In a press release, NASA said: "Observed impacts included changes to physical systems, such as glaciers shrinking, permafrost melting, and lakes and rivers warming. Impacts also included changes to biological systems, such as leaves unfolding and flowers blooming earlier in the spring, birds arriving earlier during migration periods, and ranges of plant and animal species moving toward the poles and higher in elevation. In aquatic environments such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, plankton and fish are shifting from cold-adapted to warm-adapted communities."
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Trevor Witts
posted 5/25/08 @ 6:22 AM EST
An excellent summary of the predicament we are in. I hope this reaches the descion makers and the policy makers.
If only the predicament can be universally acknowledge we might just get the "war effort" that is required to meet the challenge. (Continued…)
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