A Shift in Power: Argument Essay

A Shift in Power
Offshore oil drilling in the United States is a short-term solution to a long-term problem. The rate in which our planet is consuming this nonrenewable energy source will soon become a global issue. Oil, a finite resource, originally seen as abundant, reasonably priced, readily available and reliable worldwide was the answer to the global energy consumption until cost of exporting this energy skyrocketed. Being that this country is dependent on foreign oil reserves, isolating the issue is not a solution anymore. Domestic offshore drilling investigation, suggests there is enough oil for this country to work off of for five years and this is a generous estimation at that. A resolution to this problem is for the government and other officials to focus more on renewable, “clean” energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass and hydrogen power. Offshore oil drilling is responsible for the ongoing debate of the environment versus the economy; the production of other renewable energy sources will allow this country to shift towards the reduction of global warming and increasing “clean” energy. In this essay, I will examine particular renewable energy resources such as wind, biomass, solar and hydroelectrical power, that will provide for a more effective, obtainable and sustainable use of energy for the United States. Along with the examination of these sources, I will identify how oil companies could focus their expenses and investments of alternative energy sources and I will identify what parts of the country benefit and produce each specific energy source.
Improvement in technology has allowed for the removal of harmful emissions released into the atmosphere and other damaging effects from exploitation of nonrenewable energy sources. Infinite, renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass and hydroelectric power all have their own specific flaws but all are beneficial in providing cleaner, more efficient energy. All four resources are naturally occurring; therefore sustainability of the environment is upheld.
Currently, hydroelectric power is the most advanced source of renewable energy, with a one-fifth accountability rate for electrical production (Electricity Generation, p. 1654). Hydro electrical power is separated into three separate categories: tidal, wave and geothermal electricity. The basic elements of this source of energy is precipitation (rain and snow) which run generators, where electricity is produced. Tidal energy involves movement in the ocean, where either a barrier or a tidal mill is placed in the ocean that connects to generators onshore. Wave energy is broken into shoreline, nearshore and offshore devices that extracts wave flow and converts this flow into energy. Geothermal energy is the last type of hydroelectric power source. This energy reuses heat from the Earth, specifically in hot dry rock, magma and geopressured thermal energy. This heat is pulled to the surface by thermal transmission and from the Earth’s crust where molten magma is found. Hot water and steam provide production of electricity while pumps regulate temperature and flow. Geothermal power is the main source of heat control in my parents newly built house; this type of energy is the most advanced, cost efficient and clean source of electrical energy that cools and heats a house.
Solar energy consists of radiation from the sun throughout the year. The sun provides the largest resource; Lewis and Nocera examine currently consumption levels reporting that, “More energy from sunlight strikes the earth in 1 hour than all the energy currently consumed on the planet in one year” (Powering the Planet, p. 15730). Solar panels capture and accumulate radiation; the Sun’s rays are directly converted into electricity due to solar cells, which is known as active heating systems. The assumed consumption of energy sources are dependent on the exact levels that vary depending on efficiency of production and consumption (p. 15730). Whittington reports, “Conversion efficiencies are over 24%” (Electricity Generation, p. 1665). In sunnier areas in the world, space-heating needs are met annually. Cloudier and colder climates still benefit from solar energy, due to the ability to accumulate and capture low angle sun-rays. This is made possible as low temperatures provide a higher demand for heat, therefore, the storing processes is increased.
Wind energy consists of the Earth’s wind, which is the result of the planet’s surface by the sun, pressure and force along with the rotation of the Earth creates wind. Wind turbines regulate the force and conservation of the energy, therefore, the placement of this tool is highly researched for increased potential. Restrictions of turbines include environmentally sensitive areas such as farm areas, national scenic areas, green belt and areas of archaeological interest and in areas of nature conservance importance, including special protection areas and national and local nature preserves (Electricity Generation, p. 1658). Assemblage and proximity require specific restrictions of building these turbines.
Lastly, biomass or solid waste energy production is a short term generator that sources from waste, landfills gas, sewage gas and agriculture deposits. High volume of methane along with a gaseous mixture provides biogas for heating and electricity production. Both carbon dioxide and methane already exist in landfills therefore anaerobic digestion, the production of biogas, is considered to have less pernicious effects on the environment. Limitations of anaerobic digestion depends on the local laws with tightened restrictions in the past couple years. Whittington explores efficiency rates at 26% for gas turbines and increasingly 42% for dual-fuel engines (Electricty Generation, p. 1658).
Declared net capacity or DNC is the measure of contribution of a power station and the overall capacity of a distribution, basically this measures the lost energy accountable when converting the energy. Hydroelectricity, waste, and biomass tie for first with 1.0, wind is at .43, following closely with tidal and wave at .33, and lastly solar energy at .17. (Electricity Generation, p. 1658). This is a major determiner when choosing an energy source because the lower the number the less amount of energy is being converted due to the high amount of energy it takes to run the plant.
All four energy resources compete with other sources on a national grid system and detailed economic level analysis. Determining the operation that corresponds best in the trading method by which energy will be sold, where it will be sold and to whom it will be sold to is important in the overall process.
Defining where each specific energy source is more commonly found is important when considering the opportunities and placement of each source. Obviously, certain locations in the United States do not provide the right needs for each type of power; identifying locations of specific power potentials will characterize the benefits of each type of energy.
Hydroelectric power plants are specified by calculated values of hydraulic head, stream flow rate and power potential. Each plant was chosen in different areas of the country because they are run-of-river projects, implies that the flow of water is constant and equal to the river flow rate in that area. The dams are located downstream and reasonably close to the plant itself. Conowingo, Weiss Dam, Ft. Peck and Keswick dam are the four largest dams in the United States. In order of the dams the state location is Maryland, Alabama, Montana and California, all different regions in the United States (Energy Effieciency & Renewable Energy).
Efficiency of solar resources is seen more in the southwestern states, where the sun is hotter and the location is closer to the equator. Solar cells consume direct sunlight; therefore the higher concentration of sunlight on a regular day-to-day basis provides more energy power. Power towers, Concentrating Solar Power’s (CSP) and parabolic troughs are the three technologies used that are fairly low cost and the ability to distribute power during peak periods of demand are highly developed in all three technologies. Indicators of geothermal energy are areas of water like lakes, rivers, etc. with temperatures hotter than 50 degrees Celsius. Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming are the twelve states in which geothermal energy is used most (Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy).
As of 2009, the highest wind capacity for turbines is located in Texas, followed closely is Iowa, California, Washington and Oregon. The distribution of biomass is separated by wood resources and residues, agricultural and wood residues, agricultural residues and low inventory (Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy).
Biomass energy is located mostly in wooded resources and residues, biomass resources are mostly located in eastern and southern states and Alaska. Biomass energy is also found in any landfill and area with high methane content (Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy).
The transformation of oil, a nonrenewable energy source to a renewable energy sources, is not as easy as it sounds. Thomas Boone Pickens, also known as T. Boone Pickens, is an American financier and CEO of BP Capital Management, he created Mesa Petroleum and is the largest shareholder in Clean Energy, the largest provider of vehicular and natural gas (CNG and LNG) in North America. Pickens is a prime example proving it is possible to convert from oil to renewable energy sources. Pickens, a multimillionaire, turns his focus towards oil independency through natural gas, in July 2008. His argument primarily focuses on creating millions of new jobs for Americans and utilizing America’s natural gas thus replacing imported oil. Pickens Plan in ten years will replace one-third of our foreign oil imports through building new wind generation facilities, conserving energy and increasing the use of our natural gas (Pickens Plan). If a man who made all of his money from basically running the oil industry, recognizes this country is in a foreign oil dependency crisis, at an economical standpoint, then who says we as a country cannot slowly end this addiction of foreign oil and move towards a more economical and environmentally sound society.
References:
Energy efficiency and renewable sources. United States Department of Energy (2010, February 22). Retrieved from http://www.eere.energy.gov/
Lewis, N.S., & Nocera, D.G. (2006). Powering the planet: chemical challenges in solar energy utilization [Vol. 103, p. 15729-15735]. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.proxy.library.ohiou.edu/stable/30052048?&Search=yes&term=source&term=power&term=solar&term=energy&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoAdvancedSearch%3Fq0%3Dsolar%2Bpower%26f0%3Dall%26c0%3DAND%26q1%3Denergy%2Bsource%26f1%3Dall%26c1%3DAND%26q2%3D%26f2%3Dall%26c2%3DAND%26q3%3D%26f3%3Dall%26Search%3DSearch%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26la%3D%26jo%3D&item=10&ttl=8855&returnArticleService=showArticle
Methodologies: conversion factors. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.restats.org.uk/methodologies.htm
Pickensplan. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.pickensplan.com
T. boone pickens his life. his legacy. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.boonepickens.com/default.asp
Whittington, H.W. (2002). Electricity generation: options for reduction in carbon emissions [Vol. 360, pp.1653-1668]. (Electronic version), Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.proxy.library.ohiou.edu/stable/3066583?seq=11&Search=yes&term=power&term=solar&term=efficiency&term=energy&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3D%2528%2528energy%2Befficiency%2529%2BAND%2B%2528solar%2Bpower%2529%2529%26gw%3Djtx%26prq%3D%2528%2528energy%2Befficiency%2529%2BAND%2B%2528renewable%2Bresources%2529%2529%26hp%3D25%26wc%3Don&item=13&ttl=4798&returnArticleService=showArticle&resultsServiceName=doBasicResultsFromArticle