I agreed with the Las Vegas Sun’s Tuesday editorial about the Energy Department’s efforts regarding research on clean energy, “Support long overdue,” but I have a problem with part of its conclusion. There was an inordinate emphasis on “geothermal, wind and solar” energy being the solution to our country’s energy needs and a way to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil.
I ask myself: How is “geothermal, wind and solar” energy going to power the 18-wheelers that deliver our food and other commodities? Will we have geothermal-powered trucks? Wind-powered tractors? Solar buses?
Seriously, how many power plants in this country are fueled by oil? Most are either coal-fired, natural-gas-fired or nuclear. Virtually none uses oil.
So “wind, geothermal and solar” energy will help us in the generation of electricity, but will do virtually nothing to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We will still need oil to produce fuel to supply our nation’s fleet of trucks and, for the foreseeable future, most passenger vehicles.
The U.S. has reserves of clean-burning natural gas that are among the world’s largest. Natural gas vehicles have been operating for many years, used mostly by utility companies and city buses. It could be used as a fuel for 18-wheelers, but only if there were an adequate number of refueling stations across the nation.
That, in a nutshell, is the challenge, and the ultimate solution to reducing our dependence on foreign oil. A nationwide network of refueling stations followed by a conversion of our truck fleet to natural gas.
This would require government tax concessions or outright grants for construction of refueling stations and for conversion of vehicles, but ultimately our need to import oil would be significantly reduced, if not entirely eliminated, in favor of U.S.-based resources.
Until we find a way to deliver our goods and move our citizens that doesn’t require oil as a fuel, we’re going to be dependent upon imported oil.
Discussion: 6 comments so far…