The Effects of Alternative & Renewable Energy The Effects of Alternative & Renewable Energy
The United States has massive dependency fossil fuels. Based on the US Department of Energy 2010 information, an incredible eighty five percent of the U.S total energy needs are directly related to the use of fossil fuels and seventy percent used for transportation needs. As stated by Lefton, R. & Weiss, D.J. the U.S accounts for three percent of the world’s population, however the U.S gulps down twenty three percent of the world’s oil. To satisfy its thirsty needs the U.S imports fifty seven percent of its oil needs.
Fossil fuels come in three different forms, coal, oil and natural gas. This is a result of fossil remains of prehistoric plants and animals that have been in place for millions of years and trapped in sediments and rocks well below the earth surf. The leading exporting of crude oil are Canada, Mexico, ……..(Name top 5)
Alternative/renewable energy are common “water cooler” conservation at work and dinner parties, they were also major discussions about alternative/renewable during the last presidential race. As we go about our everyday lives we constantly hear about the subject, from the evening news and our local to national print media. The increased use of alternative/renewable energy can ease the dependency on foreign oil from unstable counties and improve national security. Alternative/renewable would play a key in our efforts to also aid in reversing our global warming trend by reducing green house gases. If funding is increased for research and development it would eventually open new sectors in manufacturing, sales and service and the creation of thousands of green jobs. These get the US energy healthy and have a positive impact on the U.S economy. In short, alternative/renewable energy could have a major impact on global warming, pollution, national security and the U.S. economy.

In recent years the scientific community has created awareness of the effects of global warming. In December 2007 Vice President Al Gore won a Nobel Prize for his work with climate change and global warming. With that being said, global warming has been front and center for the last decade. NASA states that since modern records began recording in 1880, 2007 was the warmest year ever recorded and 2009 capped off the warmest decade ever.”The sea-floor cores indicate that the temperature in Greenland changed by some seven degrees in as little as twenty years. That would be equivalent to changing the climate of Boston to that of Miami in two decades.” (Trefil, J.S. 1997) The greenhouse effect is a natural process that occurs in earth’s atmosphere. The sun brings energy into the earth’s atmosphere. “Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap some of this heat and cause the atmosphere to warm, a property known as insulation. The warming of the atmosphere is called the greenhouse effect because it works somewhat like the glass on a greenhouse. Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth’s average atmospheric temperature would be a very low 0°F (-18°C).” (Desonie, D. 2007 p10) The negative effect of green house is when too much carbon dioxide and methane is released into the atmosphere which amplifies the green house effect by thus preventing additional heat from leaving the earth atmosphere the end result is global warming.
Fossil fuels, without a doubt, are the largest source of increased green house gasses. Automobile, buses and trucks are the main supplier of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
Acid rain is one more component to our global warming problem. Coal burning power plants is the single biggest source of acid rain in the U.S. When coal is burned it emits sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (Nox). When they mix in the atmosphere with oxygen and water, acid rain is produced. Acid rain damages forest, it take nutrient from the soil and make it harder for trees and plant to absorb water and nutrient. Now these trees and plant are at a great disadvantage as the play a major role in the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Fossil fuels are responsible for the vast majority of air pollution. Pollution does not only effect global warming it is also associated with many health problems. These pollutants are inhaled into the lungs and absorbed into the blood stream which carries these dangerous chemicals throughout the human body creating health problems. Some of these problems are asthma, cancer, kidney and liver damage, skin rashes, birth defects, nervous system damage, developmental problems in children and black lung disease in coal miners. The above health problems typically triggers a second tier health related issues as well.
The days of inexpensive and reliable crude oil are history. For decades the U.S. had the luxury of obtaining an abundant amount of crude oil with no major supply interruptions. The first major energy crisis for the US was during the Yom Kipper War which lasted from October 1973 to March of 1974. As a direct result of the U.S supporting Israel and resupplying Israel during the war, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries placed oil embargo against the U.S. They also limited production and increased the price of oil from $3 per barrel to $12 per barrel.
The U.S government initial response was based on conservation measures. Some examples are increased gas mileage requirements for the automobile industry on passenger cars, and ask the general population to lower thermostat. Another attempt to reduce energy usage was the implementation of a national speed limit of 55 MPH on highways. “President Nixon launches Project Independence, with the goal of achieving energy self-sufficiency by 1980. Recalling the Manhattan Project, Nixon declares that American science, technology, and industry can free the United States from dependence on foreign oil.”(US Dept of Energy 2010) In 1979 the U.S. had the misfortune of dealing with the second energy crisis. Oil export came to a complete halt during the Iranian revolution of 1979. American from the U.S embassy was taken hostage and the Shah of Iran fled the country. For the duration of the crisis the world’s consumption was 2 million more barrels a day, than was actually being produced. By 1980 the U.S. was not even close to being energy independent from foreign oil. As envisioned by the Nixon administration.
In 1979 President Carter increased spending for solar power production and research and orders temperature control in nonresidential building. “Most (68 percent) of the oil used in the United States is for transportation, and oil fuels 96 percent of transportation needs. This domination of oil in the transportation sector is the result of its relatively low cost over most of history, and its convenience as a high-energy-density liquid that is easy to store and transport.”( Lefton, R. & Weiss, D.J. 2010)
Energy independence from unstable countries can do more to impact our national security than any other military or diplomatic option. US have major national security concerns with almost all countries in the Middle East solely influent by the US’s dependence there oil. In 1985 the Central Intelligence Agency reported the impact of Persian Gulf oil cut off- by then Deputy Director for Intelligence Robert Gates. “With Free world surplus capacity now running at 11 b/d—almost half of which is in Saudi Arabia—the market could easily absorb a loss of exports from Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait. A serious problem would arise if exports Saudi Arabia where also cut off or if all the shipping in the Persian Gulf were stopped.” (Gates, R.M. 1985)
Saudi Arabia is one of our strongest allies in the region with a poor human rights record. The government limits freedom of speech, restricts the right to assemble. Freedom of religion does not exist and the law states that all citizens must be Muslim. The committee to Prevent and Promote Virtue AKA Muttawwa’in or religious police enforces all of the Kingdom religious laws. No non Muslim clergy can enter the country for the purpose of conducting religious service. It is against the law for non-Muslim to attempt to covert Muslim to other religions and the distributions of the Bibles are illegal. Any public non Muslim activity is prohibited and worshippers who in engage in covert religious activity that bring attention to a non- Muslim can be punished. Women are not allowed to drive and they must obtain written permission from a male family member whenever they want to leave the country. When a male wants a divorce he can do without giving cause, however females must demonstrate legal grounds for divorce. Even with their human right concerns and limitation on freedom Saudi Arabia will always be one of the US best allies simple based on the need for need for oil. Because of America dependency on foreign oil they must defend Saudi Arabia at all cost. August 2, 1990 the Iraqi Republican Guard invaded Kuwait and seized control of that country. With the US concerned with oil interruption in the region and the possibility of Rica invading Saudi Arabia President act in accordance with National Security Act 45 ordered the military into action to defend Saudi Arabia and liberate Kawate. This was the start of Desert Shield/Desert Storm.“U.S. interests in the Persian Gulf are vital to the national security. These interests include access to oil and the security and stability of key friendly states in the region. The United states will defend its vital interest in the area, through the use of military force if necessary” (President G. Bush) In this same memoranda President Bush that the US imports nearly 50% of its oil and this crisis could be major economic threat . As it is Cleary stated in National Security Act 45, President Bush primary concerns was not democracy or human right it was simple about oil.
The US military and its allies were successful ousting Iraq from Kuwait in short order the bombing campaign started on January 17, 1991 and ended on February 27, 1991 and the ground war only lasted 100 hours giving the Iraq army a sounding and swift defeat. If Iraq would have been allowed to occupied Kuwait and eventually evaded Saudi Arabia the world would be different place with Sadam Hussein controlling large segment of the world’s oil reserves. The war was considered a success however; the US was back at war with Iraq in 1993. It is anticipated the America will have a military presence in the Middle East region for decades to come.
Even when the world’s oil supplies are adequate and the US is not directly engaged militarily action with an oil producing nation, there are rouge nations and terrorist group that benefits from oil profits are a threat to national security. “The Iranian government has used these revenues to increase total government spending from $13 billion in 1999 to $70 billion in 2008.”(Crane, K 2009) from oil and use those funds for covert operation against the US and its interest and the funding of terrorist organizations. Iran is a main supporter of the Hezbollah a known terrorist organization and most experts say Iran is poised to become a nuclear power soon. Iran say's they will defend themselves at all cost if their nuclear felicities are attacked. They also have the capability to use oil at their weapon of choice by limiting their production levels and possible blocking vital shipping lanes in the Middle East. In terms of military action Venezuela’s currently is not a threat, however Venezuela does what ever it can to disrupt US policy he US, however to attempted to thwart our policy in Latin America.

It’s apparent that the benefits of alternative and renewal energy will create a cleaner environment and help the reduction of global warming. With the introduction of alternative energy the dependency of oil from other countries will be minimized and be a direct aid to improving our national security. The leverage that oil producing countries have over US will be reducing significantly. Allowing the US to a have a foreign policy that is not overly influenced by the need for foreign oil from counties who don’t share our interest.
Alternative /renewable industry will lead to a new manufacturing and research boom similar to the boom after World War II. Proper funding and investments from the US is important step towards introducing and improving the use of energy from wind, bio-fuel, solar and other alternatives sources. Renewable energy will play a key role with improving the environment, increasing our national security and providing growth of jobs in US. The need for Alternative & Renewable Energy is now. Wind, Bio-fuels, solar and nuclear enjoy will allow America to continue its dominance as a global financially and military super power for decades to come It

References

Bush, G. (1990, August). National Security Directive 45, U.S. Policy in Response to the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait.
Crane,K. (2009) Imported Oil and U.S. National Security. Santa Monica, CA RAND
Desonie, D. (2007). Atmosphere. Air Pollution and Its Effects.
New York Chelsea House Publishers
Gates, R.M. (1985, September) Impact of Persian Gulf Oil Cutoff.
Gorelick, S.M. (2010) Oil Panic and the Global Crisis. Predictions and Myths.
Hansen, J. (2010, January) NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. 2009: Second Warmest
Year on Record; End of Warmest Decade. Retrieved April 10, 2010 from http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/news/20100121/
Kinnear, K. L.(1997). Women in the Third World. Contemporary World Issues Santa Barbara, Calif. ABC-CLIO.

Lefton, R. & Weiss, D.J. (2010, January). Center for American Progress. Issue: Energy &
Environment. Oil Dependence is a Dangerous Habit. Retrieved April 3, 2010 from http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/01/oil_imports_security.html
Trefil,J.S. (1997) Things You Don't Know About Science and No One Else Does Either | | | Boston Houghton-Mifflin Trade and Reference |
U.S. Department of Energy Website (2010, July) Retrieved on April 11, 2010 from http://www.energy.gov/energysources/fossilfuels.htm U.S. Energy Information Administration (2009, July). Independent Statistics and Analysis.
Renewable Energy Consumption and Electricity Preliminary Statistics 2008.
Retrieved March 29, 2010 from