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Mark Phillips
Mrs. Bittle
Eng. 111-08
9 April 2014
Investing in our Future
It seems romantic – the sound of the explosions inside the engine, forcing the pistons up
and down the cylinders creating power; power for generations of slick hotrods, raked – out
motorcycles, and eighteen wheelers hauling freight for folks around the world. This is a process
that has been consistently improved on for over 100 years. While it has modeled a piece of
American pie, it will soon become nostalgia for all. The idea of burning fossil fuels remains
stagnant. In 2009, our proved reserves were estimated and given an expiration date. The results
are staggering: 11.3 years for oil; 12.6 years for natural gas; 241 years for coal. (Fossil) While it
takes hundreds of millions of years to form these fossil fuels, it is apparent we must focus on
transitioning to a renewable source of energy; solar power.
At this time, solar panels are still expensive; too expensive for everyone to convert. As
of lately, a professional installation for an average size home could cost around $30,000. As
time goes on, this price can be expected to decline – just like other state of the art devices have:
cellular phones, Blu-ray players, and computers. This rationalization leaves many concerned
people frustrated. People cannot just wait on this energy to become affordable. Some have
decided to install solar panels in sections at a time avoiding the large impact on their financial
resources. This seems to be the logical approach. Like night turns into day, this conversion will
take time. Time is of the essence.
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In the year 2007, the Energy Information Administration estimated the primary sources
of energy consisted of 36% petroleum, 27.4% coal, and 23% natural – gas; amounting to 86.4%
of these sources dependent on the usage of fossil fuels around the world (Kasuba). This means
only 13.6% of energy in the entire world is implemented in subsidy for research and support of a
renewable source of energy. If we ran out today, with approximately six billion people on Earth,
then 5 billion, 118 million would do without; heating and air; warm water; fuel to maintain
commerce; vital public services; such as EMS (Emergency Medical Services), and police and
fire departments. Civilization as we know it would come to a halt. We will simply have taken a
time machine to the past, rather than the “DeLorean” to the future.
There are other sources of renewable energy such as: wind towers, water turbines, and
nuclear energy. However, at this point, they cannot produce a sufficient amount of power to
sustain our lifestyles. Awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1998 for his development in the
Density – Functional Theory, Professor Walter Kohn warns that the production of nuclear energy
is closely tied with the production of nuclear weapons. This could create “the potential for a
nuclear war in a world where there is high competition over energy” (Reporter). While wind and
water energy options are prominent in remote locations, they are of no significance compared to
solar energy.
There is a brave new world waiting to be discovered. This is the most important era in
the history of the human race. Relying on power from our solar system rather than our planet
alone is progressive. By continuous funding from the government, solar energy will become
increasingly efficient, less expensive, and more desirable – not only powering life here on Earth,
but in outer space. There was a time for oil; for the conflicts and for the greed that followed.
Now faced with the inevitability that no war will change there is a certainty we must
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acknowledge. The days of burning fossil fuels for energy are over. Among those who believe
solar energy is the answer, it is time for all to start investing in our future.
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Works Cited
Fossil, Years of. "Years of Fossil Fuels Remaining." 2014.
Kasuba, Jim. "WHAT'S NEXT?: Sources of renewable energy are as old as the sun and wind,
but how viable are they?" The New Herald (March 14, 2012): 1.
Reporter, Staff. "Wind and solar energy will dominate the world: physicist." (2009): 1-2.
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