Need for Renewable Energy

1Wesley Sorenson - B4

"Need For Renewable Energy"

Wesley Sorenson B4 2Wesley Sorenson - B4

Energy should be produced by Americans in a clean manner, because the United States is currently dependent on an unclean, indefinite foreign source of fuel. The correct alternative is clean, renewable energy created within the United State's borders.

The United states of America is currently relying on foreign oil. the recent price war started by OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), a primarily Middle

Eastern economic coalition has brought the perfect opportunity to transition to a more safe and steady source of energy. Oil is finite, expensive fuel. The cost to pump it from the ground and have it go through a refining process is unnecessary. Started as a harmless source of energy, oil has now been sought after countries much like the kingdoms of old competing for the supposed gold and gem resources in the New World. In the hot arab summer of 1990, the Iraqi army forcefully attempted to claim and annex it's southern neighbor, Kuwait. Within hours,

"Coalition" forces mobilized and stormed across the deserts of Iraq. The primary target, the oil 3Wesley Sorenson - B4 fields of Kuwait, were protected. Codenamed "Operation Desert Shield", this effectively opened the eyes of the world regarding the importance and dependency on oil. A war was waged, fueled by politics and greed, all over Iraqi oil. The United States of America is dependent on this oil for a large chunk of its electricity and transportation. Oil, one of the most expensive and environmentally harmful fuels has reached its expiration date. New technologies developed by top scientists and engineers has led to a positive look into the future. Domestic companies like

First Solar, SolarCity, Exelon and AmerGen have state-of-the-art facilities that produce cheap, effective and green energy through the use of solar and nuclear power technology[1]. The stimulation of homeland energy would bring hundreds of thousands of jobs to the United

States. To a nation that has a growing STEM program and a growing unemployment rate, the introduction of more green energy facilities would make America as a whole, better. Oil is currently $47.18 a barrel. According to CNN Money, the 52 week range, which gives investors and citizens an accurate look into the future price, is set at 45.79 (LOW), and 107.03 (HIGH) [1].

This means that the price of oil is near the lowest it will go, and will only increase in price in the coming months. "The United States currently produces 9.9 million barrels a day, with 51% of it being imported from foreign countries", according the U.S. Energy Information Administration's

Statistics Department. [2] This puts a 450 million dollar price tag on the United States already stressed economy. With the inevitable increase of oil prices, this would be nearly 900 million dollars a day. The answer to this costly problem is renewable energy.

Some would argue that lowering the number of oil imports would cause tensions with the relations of Arab nations like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The speculators say that they would be put into a national security issue, as one of their chief buyers is now 4Wesley Sorenson - B4 nearly independent from their products. This however, is not the case. According to the U.S.

Energy Information's statistic department, "the U.S. imports (more expensive refined, different from crude oil as stated above) roughly 7,372 thousand barrels a day"[3]. China follows behind as the second with 5,608 barrels a day, Japan with 4,559 thousand barrels a day, and India,

South Korea and Germany follow behind with roughly the same amount of imports, averaging

2,313 thousand barrels between the three. What these statistics prove is that Saudi Arabia and

U.A.E. have a plentiful amount of buyers all around the world, purchasing hundreds of million dollars of oil from them a day. Having the United States cut oil imports would be but a minor setback. This is also proved evident in the Oil Price War of 2014, where OPEC slashed the cost of oil in half in order to hurt oil producing nations and create a monopoly. Others say that green energy plants are too expensive, and is not a worthy investment for the future.(4) This is not true, as most nuclear plants make their money within 5-10 years. "Energy diversity is critical to the U.S. economy, ensuring the safe switch to a renewable source of energy, bringing many benefits for the economy to reap."[5]

Most of the United States is powered by some form of "dirty" energy, like coal and oil plants. Coal, one of the worst pollutants possible is powering a portion of the nation larger than you might think. "As of 2011, West Virginia relies on coal for 96.8%, Kentucky with 92.4%,

Indiana with 90.5%, and Wyoming with 89.4%." [6] This has lead to horrible environmental ramifications, prompting the death of wildlife, unhealthy air, and a heightened risk of developing cancer. There is no doubt that coal has more negative effects, and this must be changed. Solar plants, alongside nuclear plants, are unconditionally environmentally friendly.

With the establishment of reliable green plants like solar and nuclear, pollution would be 5Wesley Sorenson - B4 drastically reduced, leading to benefits like a longer life expectancy, and overall better health for people in heavy coal using locations. Beijing is a recent piece of evidence to the power of coal pollution, coating the air so thick, you couldn't see 15 feet in front of you. Oil Disasters such as the recent "Deepwater Horizon" and the '06 Alaska pipeline burst, "spilling 5,000 barrels of oil onto the Alaskan tundra and into a nearby lake, killing large areas of life." [7]Clean energy is easy and cheap to produce, leading to less stress on the economy, benefitting all

Americans across the nation. Green plants are a way to stimulate growth within American borders, birthing production companies, energy distributors, and businessmen to boost Wall

Street's gains, and slowly raising the DOW JONES.

The dependency of foreign oil and coal are without a doubt, a poor choice of energy.

Modern technologies now are able to produce clean, cheap energy. The transition to clean energy produced within the United State's borders is vital to the future of the nation. Oil and coal put unnecessary strain on an already stressed economy, and also bring a negative impact to the health of the nation's populace. The gradual integration of home produced green energy is the clear key to ensuring a healthier and more prosperous America in the coming years. 6Wesley Sorenson - B4

1: "Commodities." CNNMoney. Cable News Network, 22 Jan. 2015. Web. 22 Jan. 2015.

2: USEIA "U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis." How Much Petroleum Does the United States Import and from Where? U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2013. Web. 20 Jan. 2015.

3. USEIA "U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis." Countries. U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2013. Web. 22 Jan. 2015.

4. Hughes, Trevor. "Energy Independence Comes with Costs." USA TODAY. 14 Nov. 2014: A.2. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 22 Jan. 2015.

5. Vergetis Lundin, Barbara. "Energy Diversity Critical to U.S. Economy." FierceEnergy. 28 Jul. 2014: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 22 Jan. 2015.

6. Koshmrl, Mike. "Coal-Fired Electricity by State." Solar Today. Apr. 2011: 48-49. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 22 Jan. 2015.

7. Broder, John M. "BP Fined $25 Million for '06 Alaska Spills." International Herald Tribune. 05 May 2011: 17. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 22 Jan. 2015. 7Wesley Sorenson - B4

I. Thesis

Energy should be produced by Americans in a clean manner, because the United States is currently dependent on an unclean, indefinite foreign source of fuel. The correct alternative is clean, renewable energy created within the United State's borders.

II. Supporting Arguments

A. The United States relies on foreign nations for its oil and coal.

1. Oil is finite and expensive to produce. if it switched to green renewable energy, it would benefit the economy and energy stability.

2. Oil is scarce, and has prompted wars and battles to claim oil reserves in the past.

B. Renewable Energy would bring hundreds of thousands of jobs to the U.S.

1. The U.S. produces thousands of engineers waiting to be employed, renewable energy plants would be an answer to many.

2. Renewable energy would be more cost effective.

III. Counter Arguments

A. People fear it would spark animosity between Saudi Arabia and the U.S., due to the cut in revenue to its top buyer.

1. Arabian countries have several countries paying top dollar for its oil.

2. OPEC would only face a minor setback if the U.S. stopped buying.

B. Some believe green plants are too expensive and a poor investment.

1. Green energy plants usually make their money back in 5-10 years.

2. It would benefit the economy much more than current ways of energy production.

IV. Supporting Arguments

A. Green energy would be safer to the environment and to the health of U.S. citizens.

1. Pollution would decrease drastically with the absence of coal and oil plants.

2. Environmental disasters would be reduced with the absence of oil pipelines.

B. Green Energy would help the economy.

1. It would lessen stress on the economy, lowering the oil burden.

2. It would create energy distributors and producers, and contribute to the DOW J. 8Wesley Sorenson - B4

V. Conclusion

The dependency of foreign oil and coal are without a doubt, a poor choice of energy. Modern technologies now are able to produce clean, cheap energy. The transition to clean energy produced within the United State's borders is vital to the future of the nation. Oil and coal put unnecessary strain on an already stressed economy, and also bring a negative impact to the health of the nation's populace. The gradual integration of home produced green energy is the clear key to ensuring a healthier and more prosperous America in the coming years.