Flanders 1
Nick Flanders
AP English Literature
Dr. Mitchell
Final Draft
The idea of alternative energy is an elephant in the room that has been avoided for quite
some time. The looming consequences have been scientifically known and proven for quite some
time, yet some people remain ignorant to this fact or ignore it because it is too controversial to
discuss. This ignorance can be attributed to the claims of scientists who do not accept the climate
change theory. Another possibility of where this ignorance stems from is that these people may
fear an apocalyptic future. It is only in recent years that we have begun to see progress toward a
clean energy future, but the innovators of this future still face stiff resistance from a variety of
places. This resistance is not uncalled for, however, because there is a multitude of issues that
must be resolved before alternative energy sources can be truly relied upon. These issues include
infrastructural development, technological advancement, and moral dilemmas.
We, the United States, are currently in a dire situation in which we are heavily dependent
on hard energies, especially from unstable foreign countries. These fossil fuels such as oil, coal,
and gas are extremely damaging to our environment, and are creating vulnerability in our
international policy and economics. America actually “produces about 74% of its energy
requirements domestically; however, key sectors of the US economy are heavily dependent on
imported energy,” specifically the transportation sector. (American Energy Dependence). The
transportation sector relies primarily on petroleum, but “only 43% of U.S. petroleum
requirements are met from domestic sources” (American Energy Dependence). The goal for
Flanders 2
America is to become independent of foreign countries for energy, but with such a massive
reliance on hard energies, it seems that “self-sufficiency in petroleum is almost certainly
unachievable” (American Energy Dependence). This situation puts America in a
disadvantageous situation where “America’s economic security is tremendously susceptible to
disruptions in the oil markets” (American Energy Dependence). This situation in which we are
heavily dependent on hard energies is not completely bad economically. The main
“Conventional energy sources based on oil, coal, and natural gas have proven to be highly
effective drivers of economic progress” (Herzog 3). It can be seen that the majority of America’s
energy still comes from fossil fuels, as expected. This is because the current infrastructure of
America was developed to accommodate fossil fuels as the main supply. Fossil fuels, specifically
crude oil, does have a couple advantageous such as being “one of the most abundant energy
resources” and in its “liquid form” it “is easy to transport and use” (Vasa-Sideris 2). The
specifics are that “68% comes from fossil fuels (41% coal, 21% gas, and 5.5% oil), 13.4% from
nuclear fission and 19% from hydro and other renewable sources” (Sustainable Energy). There is
actually a variety of clean energy initiatives that are being developed to help sway the balance
more toward renewable energy sources. These initiatives help spark the research and
development of many of the renewable energy options.
One of the most popular options around the world is wind energy which is the “fastestgrowing source of electricity for many countries” (Sustainable Energy). Despite this growing
swiftly throughout the world, the United States remains mainly rooted in the hard energy path
due to resistance from people who believe that the economy of today is more important than the
environment of tomorrow. While coal is “inexpensive compared to other energy sources” it is a
major source of “pollution: emits waste, SO2, Nitrogen Oxide, ash” (Vasa-Sideris 4). America’s
Flanders 3
history of energy policy has been shaky and unstable for a long time. America has almost always
relied on foreign countries for the supply of oil. Even “after the oil supply disruptions of the
early 1970s, our nation has increased its dependence on foreign oil supplies instead of decreasing
it. This increased dependence impacts more than just our national energy policy” but also foreign
policy (What is Renewable Energy?). This completely illogical policy showcases the United
States’ complete dependence on foreign countries, and its ignorance of the obvious problems
with the current energy system.
There are some logical arguments to why the United States has not had a major transition
to a majority clean energy policy. This is mainly because there are structural problems inherent
in the system, due to America’s infrastructure being based around oil and coal. The electrical
grid is not capable of handling large fluctuations and inconsistency which is caused by renewable
energy sources. The only fix for this problem would be “heavy investment in a revamped grid”
(Blair 9). Another issue besides the fluctuations is the problem of transmitting the energy from
rural gathering centers into the urban areas. A reliable energy transfer system must be established
for renewable energies to become successful. This structural issues are critical and especially
challenging for the transition to clean energy because it requires “large embodied capital
investment and long turnover times of the world’s energy-supply” (Holdren 6). Another major
issue with clean energy is that it is simply not advanced enough yet to be as cost effective as coal
and oil. One of the “disadvantages [of solar energy is] that it is currently more expensive than
traditional energy, and the availability of solar radiation varies from day to day, and from season
to season.” (Solar Energy). This variability caused by the inconsistency and unpredictability of
things such as sun and wind makes the idea of “renewable sources such as wind and solar
Flanders 4
intrinsically unsuited to meeting the demand for continuous, reliable supply on a large scale –
which comprises most demand in developed countries” (Sustainable Energy).
There are even some nonstructural issues that must be considered when discusses the
transition to clean energy. Wind turbine farms require vast amounts of land which potentially
causes the “destruction of fragile ecosystems and animal habitats, deforestation, excavation,
erosion” (The Wind Power Problem). This large manmade objects in the middle of nature can
also potentially “kill birds and other flying animals: eagles, raptors, hawks, migrating birds, bats”
(The Wind Power Problem). However, wild animals aren’t even the only creatures that must be
considered. There are even reports that the wind turbine’s "’blade thump’ noise causes a health
problem known as Wind Turbine Syndrome” which potentially leads to symptoms such as
“headache, nausea, visual blurring, rapid heart rate, problems with concentration and memory,
panic episodes associated with sensations of internal pulsation or quivering, which arise while
awake or asleep” (The Wind Power Problems). This issue leads to another economic problem,
which is that any land near these turbine farms will decrease greatly in value, in fear of Wind
Turbine Syndrome. The turbines also require regular maintenance as they have been “known to
suffer from mechanical fatigue [and] can be damaged in storms and are unable to function in bad
weather” (Wind Power). Many people actively fight against the transition to clean energy
because they recognize short-term downsides that cannot be avoided. These people often fail to
recognize the “fact that no known energy source is free from significant limitations, liabilities or
uncertainties” (Holdren 4).
There are lots of advantages to clean energy, in both the short-term and long-term which
should provide enough reasoning to convince people that the change is reasonable. This large
scale transition would require massive amount of manpower to implement so it could create and
Flanders 5
employ “over 80,000 American workers, including workers at manufacturing facilities up and
down the supply chain, as well as engineers and construction workers who build wind
installations.” (Energy Department Reports). This large scale production would support domestic
manufacturers because currently “seventy-two percent of the wind turbine equipment installed in
the U.S. last year was made by domestic manufacturers, nearly tripling from 25 percent in 20062007” (Energy Department Reports). Some reports have even shown that “using energy more
efficiently and switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources will save consumers
money by decreasing energy use” (Herzog 16).
Obviously there are the environmental advantages that come with switching to renewable
resources such as “reduc[ing] U.S. carbon emissions by approximately 300 million metric tons”
(Herzog 7). Clean and renewable energy is overall more responsible of a solution to the energy
issue. Even nuclear energy which is always under heavy criticism “takes full responsibility for
all its wastes, and costs this into the product – a key factor in sustainability” (Sustainable
Energy). Besides that, nuclear energy is constantly improving and becoming safer. The current
safety systems “include a series of physical barriers between the hot radioactive reactor core and
the environment, and the provision of multiple safety systems, each with back-up, and designed
to accommodate human error” (Sustainable Energy). Investment into renewable energy also
helps to support the economy because it is “spent on materials and workmanship to build and
maintain the facilities, rather than on costly energy imports. Renewable energy investments are
usually spent within the United States, frequently in the same state, and often in the same town.
This means your energy dollar stay home to create jobs and fuel local economies, rather than
going overseas” (What is Renewable Energy?). There is lots of financial evidence to support the
idea that alternative energy may even be more cost efficient. “The U.S. Department of Energy
Flanders 6
estimates that if we displace 10% of our petroleum use for transportation with biofuels, which
are produced from organic material, we could save about $15 billion over 10 years. A 20%
displacement could save us about $50 billion. This would strengthen our energy security, as well
as our economic and national security.” (What is Renewable Energy?). This large variety of
advantages shows how renewable energy is better that hard, dirty energies in almost every way.
If the explicit advantages are not enough to prove that alternative energy is the best path,
there are also a few ethical and moral arguments to prove it. Some ethical ideas considered by
nuclear scientists are that “each generation has obligations… to protect the interests of future
generations” and “no generation should deprive future generations of the opportunity for a
quality of life comparable to its own” (Sustainable Energy). This basic idea which supports the
idea of considering the future generations is ignored by the hard energy industry due to the
American obsession with wealth and self-interest. However, the idea of ethical principles seems
to be becoming “increasingly likely to influence energy policy in many countries” (Sustainable
Energy). This means that environment protection is becoming a more important issue to be
considered around the world. Morality is growing in importance as people are beginning to see
the actual effects that global warming is causing. This has led people to recognize the importance
of renewable fuels, which ass its name implies, they are sustainable and can “meet ‘the needs of
the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’”
(What is Renewable Energy?).
When considering how to progress into the future and what our energy policy will be,
“the criteria for any acceptable energy supply will continue to be cost, safety, and security of
supply, as well as environmental considerations” (Sustainable Energy). Alternative energy
adequately addresses or is rapidly improving in all of these criteria, so it seems that it is the best
Flanders 7
solution. A plan needs to be developed for how to smooth this transition into a clean energy
future. It is apparent that a steady and stable transition giving time for society and technology to
adapt to the new system, will be necessary. It cannot be expected that this transition happens
overnight, so it seems like the best solution to this is that “in the near term, some expansion of
the nation’s fossil fuel, particularly natural gas supply is warranted to keep pace with rising
demand, but that expansion should be balanced with measures to develop cleaner energy
solutions for the future. Our best short-term options for the United States are energy efficiency,
conservation, and expanded markets for renewable energy” (Herzog 1). Studies have shown that
“Theoretically, renewable energy sources can meet many times the world’s energy demand”
(Herzog 3). The best plan is to encourage the development and advancement of renewable
energies, along with the gradual removal from oil dependency. This is likely to best be
accomplished by government support of research and development. Currently there are several
bills that are under consideration which embody this plan of gradually increasing alternative
energy use while decreasing hard energy use. The reasons for this plan of action are
“conventional energy prices generally do not reflect the social and environmental cost of
pollution” and private firms are generally unable to appropriate all… the social benefits, Public
investment, however, would help spread innovation among clean energy companies” (Herzog 6).
This means that it must be done by the government because it will not see the immediate return
that private businesses need to make an investment worth their time. However, overall this plan
must begin with “reducing the offending emissions” which will allow us to gain energy
independence. This is best accomplished through the intermediary of natural gas which is
“inexpensive compared to coal” and can help provide energy in the immediate future during a
Flanders 8
transition to clean energy because despite being completely clean, it does come from stable and
friendly countries such as Canada or from within the United Sates (Vasa-Sideris 1).
Works Cited
"American Energy Dependence." ASP RSS. American Security Project. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.
<http://americansecurityproject.org/issues/climate-energy-and-security/energy/todayssupply/dependence/>.
Biddle, John R. Personal Interview.
Blair, Adam, David Kay, and Rod Howe. "Transitioning to Renewable Energy." Cornell
University, July 2011. Web.
<http://cardi.cornell.edu/cals/devsoc/outreach/cardi/news/loader.cfm?csModule=security/
getfile&PageID=1007992>.
Culley, Marci, et al. "Sun, Wind, Rock and Metal: Attitudes toward
Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Sources In the Context of Climate
Change and Current Energy Debates." Current Psychology 30.3 (2011):
215-233. Academic Search Premier. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.
"Energy Department Reports." Energy.gov. US Department of Energy, 6 Aug. 2013. Web. 24
Feb. 2014. <http://energy.gov/articles/energy-dept-reports-us-wind-energy-productionand-manufacturing-reaches-record-highs>.
Flanders 9
Herzog, Antonia, Timothy Lipman, Jennifer Edwards, and Daniel Kammen. "RENEWABLE
ENERGY: A VIABLE CHOICE." University of California Berkeley. Web.
<https://coolcaliforniachallenge.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/old-sitefiles/2001/Herzog-Lipman-Edwards-Kammen-RenewableEnergy-2001.pdf>.
Holdren, John P. ""The Energy Innovation Imperative: Addressing Oil Dependence, Climate
Change, and Other 21st Century Energy Challenges"" The Energy Innovation Imperative:
Addressing Oil Dependence, Climate Change, and Other 21st Century Energy
Challenges. Belfer Center Harvard. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.
<http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/765/energy_innovation_imperative.html
>.
Peterson, Kent W. "Status of Renewable Energy Systems in the United States." ASHRAE
Transactions 118.1 (2012): 58-63. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.
"Natural Gas." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 25 Sept. 2013. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.
http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/natural-gas.html
Pasqualetti, Martin J. "Social Barriers to Renewable Energy Landscapes." Geographical Review
101.2 (2011): 201-223. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.
"Solar Energy." Renewable and Alternative Energy (Penn State Extension). Pennsylvania State
University. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. <http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/energy/solarenergy>.
"Sustainable Energy." Renewable Energy: World Nuclear Association. June 2013. Web. 24 Feb.
2014. <http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Energy-and-Environment/SustainableEnergy/>.
Flanders 10
"The Wind Power Problem." The Wind Power Problem. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. <http://windpower-problems.org/>.
Vasa-Sideris, Sandra. "ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF ENERGY SOURCES."
Southern Polytechnic State University. Web.
<http://homepages.spa.umn.edu/~larry/ADVANTAGE_DIS_ENERGY.pdf>.
"What Is Renewable Energy?" Ithaca College. Web.
<http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/mbrown/whatisrenewable%20energy.pdf>.
"Wind Power: A Lucrative Renewable Energy Source." Wind Power A Lucrative Renewable
Energy Source. Duke University. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.
<http://sites.duke.edu/windenergy2012/comparison/>.