US energy market is rightfully considered one of the biggest and most influential in the world. As it stands, the US is one of the world’s largest producers of energy from fossil fuels and one of the major consumers of such in the market. According to the EIA (Energy Information Administration), the US is ranked second in total energy production in coal, first in total energy production from gas, very close second to Saudi Arabia in energy production from oil and other liquids, and first from nuclear production and renewables, which include solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal sources of energy (EIA). At the same time, the country is third in coal consumption (behind India and China), first in natural gas consumption as well as petroleum consumption, and first in the consumption of energy from nuclear power plants and renewable energy sources (EIA). The energy consumption per capita is 300.37 million BTU (British thermal units) per person, ranking 11th in the world. The country produces less than it consumes, with total energy production being at 88.092 quadrillions BTU, whereas consumption stands at 97.595 quadrillions (EIA).
The country’s energy system is over-reliant on fossil fuels, as coal (15.625), dry natural gas (28.289), and petroleum (24.563) make up the majority of the country’s energy production values (EIA). Nuclear and renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal facilities make up only 19.615 quadrillions BTU, more than half of which is generated by nuclear powerplants (EIA). To reduce its reliance on drilling and dwindling domestic supplies, as well as price fluctuations from abroad, the US must slowly move away from its dependence on hydrocarbons and invest in the transformation of its energy sector to a more sustainable and renewable energy-based model.
US Energy Future Plan
There is a significant public demand for the US economy to transforming itself and moving away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy resources (Stokes and Breetz 77). The US’s removal from the Paris agreements during Trump’s administration was considered a largely negative decision in most of the US as well as abroad (Stokes and Breetz 77). Therefore, embarking on a new set of policies towards larger implementation of renewable energy sources would be welcomed and appreciated by the populace as well as progressive political classes.
The proposed energy plan would revolve around increasing the percentage of renewable energy sources that do not have as much of a detrimental effect on the environment. These include solar, wind, and geothermal sources of energy. Water and nuclear facilities, while possessing a significantly higher capacity for energy generation, impose significant environmental risks on the land, nature, and the communities in their immediate vicinity (Chel and Kaushik 657). Nuclear facilities require waste deposits and present a possibility for an accident or a nuclear meltdown, whereas dams and turbines significantly alter the surrounding countryside and negatively affect the aquatic populations of rivers they are situated upon (Hamilton et al. 13). In addition, they present a risk of flooding areas beyond the dam, should the region suffer larger-than-normal rainfalls (Chel and Kaushik 658). Additional plans for increasing the percentage of renewable energy sources would include reducing the overall consumption rates through energy-saving technologies.
The US has geographical conditions to support the transition to renewable energy resources. It has large swaths of land exposed to the sun that are largely uninhabited, like those in the south (Hamilton et al. 11). Those same lands are also excellent places for wind platforms due to their naturally flat surface and strong wind currents passing from both coasts (Hamilton et al. 11). Finally, the US possesses a great number of natural geothermal locations fit for powerplants (Hamilton et al. 15).
The primary growth in this plan is expected from the expansion of solar-powered platforms. According to the University of Michigan (1), solar panels present some of the most cost-effective solutions available for both private and commercial use, with around 0.58-0.75 cents per Watt in residential systems. It is also the fastest-growing energy prospect, responsible for 40% of all new energy gains in 2019 (University of Michigan 1). By 2050, it is estimated that 33% of all US consumption would be covered by solar panels. Wind power is the second-largest energy prospect for the US in terms of growth and provision of energy. Although the price per Watt is higher and the system in general is slightly less predictable, University of Michigan (2) projects that by 2050 it will cover up to 35% of the domestic demand. Finally, geothermal plants, while the most labor-consuming, are considered to have the most of untapped potential, with the possibility to exceed 500 GW if fully channeled, which is over a half of the US’ current consumption (University of Michigan 2). Based on these findings, it could be concluded that the US has enough untapped potential to fully switch to renewable energy sources by 2050.
The plan suggests slowly phasing out fossil fuel-based plants in order to switch to solar, geothermal, and wind plants to supply energy in their stead. This could be achieved through extensive government support as well as sponsorships from companies interested in safer and ecologically-cleaner energy sources (Stokes and Breetz 77). With the support from the general public it would be possible to overcome the resistance of the oil, gas, and coal lobbies in the government and achieve funding for the project (Stokes and Breetz 78). Diplomatic ventures should be made to these companies to spearhead the change instead of resisting it, as the energy sector is inherently more stable than the oil sector (Stokes and Breetz 78). The gradual phasing out of cars and trucks that run on gasoline over to hybrid and electrical automobiles would bolster the initiative. This plan would help the US break out of its overreliance for fossil fuels and pave the way for a better, cleaner tomorrow.
Works Cited
Chel, Arvind, and Geetanjali Kaushik. “Renewable Energy Technologies for Sustainable Development of Energy Efficient Building.” Alexandria Engineering Journal, vol. 57, no. 2, 2018, pp. 655-669.
Energy Information Administration (EIA). “United States: 2017 Primary Energy Data in Quadrillion BTU.” EIA, 2017, Web.
Hamilton, Lawrence C., et al. “A Change in The Wind? US Public Views on Renewable Energy and Climate Compared.” Energy, Sustainability and Society, vol. 8, no. 1, 2018, pp. 11-20.
Stokes, Leah C., and Hanna L. Breetz. “Politics in The US Energy Transition: Case Studies of Solar, Wind, Biofuels and Electric Vehicles Policy.” Energy Policy, vol. 113, 2018, pp. 76-86.
University of Michigan. “U.S. Renewable Energy.” Center for Sustainable Systems, 2020, Web.