Energy Crisis in America

 

The United States today is facing a major energy crisis. The country has been dependent on foreign oil for a long time. If the US does not find a solution to this problem soon, the country will face serious problems. Other than oil, the US also uses coal and natural gas, which are other types of fossil fuels. The fact of the matter is that although these resources are available now, will they always be there? The clear answer is no. The natural resources of the earth are finite, and so the US should look into getting energy from a different source. The solution for this is for the US to turn to "green" energy.



Some believe that investing in green is too expensive and is not worth it, and that the actual solution is a thing called "fracking". Fracking, also formally knows as "hydraulic fracturing", is the process of drilling down and creating tiny explosions to shatter and crack hard shale rocks to release the gas inside. It is said that with fracking the US would have plenty of energy to last for quite a period of time, and it would bring a boom to the economy. Although this is true, fracking does bring its consequences. The main problem seems to be water contamination. The residents that live near fracking sites are at risk of having their water contaminated by dangerous chemicals, and that can bring the people serious health problems. A statistic from the PA DEP states that "with 2100 wells being drilled, they had handed out over 500 fine notices for unsafe circumstances at well sites."* If that is the case, many of these operations are not even safe. Another source states that fracking could have even caused the earthquake in the east coast this past summer;"When sites are subjected to fracking, waste salt water is injected back into the earth once fractures are created; in some cases, as many as 3 million gallons of the waste can be put into the earth in each well."** Now ask yourself: how safe really is fracking?



Green energy is not only not dangerous, but it is a source of energy that in the long run will last a lot longer than fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are limited and will not be on earth forever. The US should look into investing in solar panels, wind turbines, etc. According to "The Guardian, "Subsidies to renewable energy, such as wind power, can help correct the distortions in the energy market and allow the world to climb the learning curve for renewable forms of energy. This brings major expansion of production and reduction in unit costs, which benefit everyone economically, including US consumers, while also saving the planet."*** Countries around the world are already turning to green energy, each at a different pace than others. If the US really starts dashing out an effort to bring green forms of energy, then other countries will "follow the leader" and less fossil fuels will eventually be consumed. That will also help the environment, because these energy sources do not emit any harmful gases or toxins to the air. The road to a greener America may seem too distant , but it will eventually save us from this crisis and will prove more efficient and safer than fracking and other methods of getting energy.

FACTS
* A statistic from the PA DEP states that "with 2100 wells being drilled, they had handed out over 500 fine notices for unsafe circumstances at well sites."
*  "When sites are subjected to fracking, waste salt water is injected back into the earth once fractures are created; in some cases, as many as 3 million gallons of the waste can be put into the earth in each well."
*The World Bank's 2010 world development report reckons that fossil fuel subsidies amount to at least $300bn per year.

SOURCES
* http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20101026/VIEWPOINTS02/10260355/How-Dangerous-Fracking-
** http://rt.com/usa/news/fracking-earthquake-virginia-dc-817-061/
*** http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jan/06/china-renewableenergy