Alternative energy merits a high national priority
It is clear that the United States needs to find alternative energy sources. President Obama’s recent visit to an Iowa wind-energy company shows that he understands this pressing need and is trying to address it.
The United States is the largest consumer of energy and ranks seventh in energy consumption per capita. An estimated 40 percent of our energy comes from petroleum. The need for petroleum has dominated our lives, whether it is through gas prices or driving us into a war.
Only 6.8 percent of our energy comes from renewable sources, and this is mainly through hydroelectric dams. In contrast, 19 percent of Denmark’s electrical energy comes from wind turbines. If the U.S. could slightly increase our use of wind energy and other renewable resources, it would take a significant burden off our reliance on fossil fuels. I completely agree with Obama when he says, “The nation that leads the world in creating new energy sources will be the nation that leads the 21st century global economy.”
We want to be the country that leads the global economy. However, for this to occur, our leaders must see the need for an alternative energy source and make the U.S. a leader in using renewable sources.
Akira Fitzgerald
Winston-Salem
Comments (9)
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The problem is, all the eco-Nazis who scream the loudest for the need to find alternatives to fossil fuels are the same people who block any progress in that direction. Wind farms off the coast of Cape Cod? Might kill a pelican, and besides, Senator Kennedy can see them from his beach house. Solar panels in the desert? Take up too much space, and harm some obscure species of wildlife. Nuclear power, the only viable alternative at this time, not NO but Hell No. Build dams for hydro-electric power? Remember the snail darter, anyone?
Obama can "understand this pressing need" till the cows come home, but until the tree-huggers get some common sense he is wasting his time.
Posted on April 27, 2009 9:08 AM
Right on Sawdust, Kennedy was all for wind farms, except in his back yard. NEVER REPORTED BY THE LIBERAL MEDIA.
I was in NJ a few years ago, and the folks were protesting because the wind turbines blades were killing bats!
Posted on April 27, 2009 2:33 PM
Sawdust and This dog bites back are totally on target. It is the liberal way: Do as I say not as I do. Liberals are the biggest road block to progress in this country.
Posted on April 27, 2009 4:45 PM
Honduras is currently the world leader in alternative energy:
http://www.geekculture.com/geekculturestore/webstore/caps.html
Posted on April 27, 2009 8:32 PM
"President Obama’s recent visit to an Iowa wind-energy company shows that he understands this pressing need and is trying to address it."
What he doesn't understand is: things are not always as simple as just throwing up a wind turbine.
http://www.aweo.org/ProblemWithWind.html
And while I'm all for research of renewable resources, oil is still the best we have at this time. Therefore we should be building more refineries and allowing more oil drilling. This would bring the price of oil down, provide much needed jobs and help our slow economy. Alternative fuels and renewable resources are too far in the future to disregard the fuel sources that we now have to rely on.
Posted on April 27, 2009 10:57 PM
Remember, the important thing for many people is that the president UNDERSTANDS how they FEEL, not that he actually does anything or allows anything that is economically and scientifically viable. Remember, it's all about feelings, not the laws of physics.
To create energy, we must change matter in some way (e=mc*2) The arguments regard what matter to change and how. Arguing does not produce energy, nor do emotions. Only action creates energy, and Obama is opposed to a lot of energy-producing actions.
Posted on April 28, 2009 8:58 AM
Ask the 110 empoyees at PPG in Lexington about the demand for "Wind Energy".
They are losing their jobs because the lack of demand for wind energy.
Sounds like everybody in America is clamoring for " alternative energy sources", huh?
Posted on April 28, 2009 8:02 PM
BEACHWALKER: in fact, the technology to utilize many alternative energy sources has existed for decades...the incentive to do so has been what is lacking.
MAMA: You have used the wrong equation. Except when discussing nuclear fission (or some day, perhaps, fusion) e=mc squared is irrelevant. These are the only forms of energy where we "create energy". All others are converting energy from one form to another (E.G from chemical energy to kinetic energy as in combustion or kinetic to electrical as in hydro-)
GHOST: Individual citizens don't choose what type of energy is used to heat their homes or provide electricity. The power companies decide through contractual agreements and will choose alternatives with greater enthusiasm when there is economic incentive to do so.
Posted on April 29, 2009 5:03 AM
David B Simonds said:
"in fact, the technology to utilize many alternative energy sources has existed for decades...the incentive to do so has been what is lacking."
I'll agree. The incentive to continue to use oil is,,, alternative energy cost too fringin much. And until the price comes down for these alternatives we will only make our enconmy worst by driving oil prices even higher, by not drilling more and by not building more refineries. It is not going to help our encomy one bit to raise oil prices up to the same level of alternative energy price. The goal should be to do more research and get the price of alternatives down.
Posted on April 30, 2009 4:24 PM