OneWorld.net (U.S.)

U.S. citizens consume one quarter of the world’s oil, most of which comes from areas of the world that are politically unstable. Additionally, the United States leads the world in the emission of greenhouse gases—a main contributor to global warming.

While these facts are not new, U.S. reliance on oil and other fossil fuels has increasingly been recognized as a growing environmental and security liability. Hence, the role of renewable energy has gained more attention from government, business, and non-profit leaders looking to create a more sustainable energy policy.

Unlike oil and other fossil fuels, renewable energy resources—including everything from wind power to hydrogen—emit energy cleanly and can be replenished. According to recent government figures, however, renewables accounted for only 6% of U.S. energy use as of 2004.

Many insist, though, that renewables can and must provide a larger portion of U.S. energy needs, and government policy should reflect that.

“With oil prices soaring, the security risks of petroleum dependence growing, and the environmental costs of today’s fuels becoming more apparent, the country faces compelling reasons to put these technologies to use on a large scale,” says a recent report by the Worldwatch Institute and the Center for American Progress.

The report goes on to say that solar energy from just seven southwest states could provide 10 times the current U.S. electric generating capacity from all sources, and that fully 25 percent of U.S. lands have winds powerful enough to generate electricity as cheaply as gas and coal.

Despite these natural resources, the United States has not matched other countries’ commitment to legislation promoting renewable energy sources. Japan and Germany, for example, have taken the lead on solar energy. Spain and Germany have done the same for wind power and China is noted for its use of small hydro and solar water heating, explains Worldwatch.

Across the world, investments in renewable energy have nearly doubled over the past three years and have increased six-fold since 1999, spurring economic opportunities for investors and creating jobs. The United States is only slowly catching up with these trends.

Page 1 - Alternative Energy in the United States: Introduction Page 2 - A Closer Look at Transportation Page 3 - Political Support? Page 4 - Local Initiatives

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