Petroleum vs Renewable Energy Alternatives Essay - 1228 Words

Introduction Petroleum has been a mainstay of the United States economy for almost a century. However, oil has now been recognized as a strong catalyst for global warming, it is becoming scarce and therefore, an expensive necessity to Americas economy. In the recent years many universities and scientists have looked for alternatives to oil in the form of renewable energies. These renewable energy sources would be cheaper in the long run, more efficient and environmentally clean. America as a whole must look into these new forms of renewable energy to determine if they are a practical alternative to the use of petroleum as an energy source. If we do not try to find a clean and efficient alternative to fossil fuels, I am concerned†¦show more content†¦All countries depend on imports from other countries to survive; this is what forms our worldwide economy. Since we will be unable to transport goods from one place to another everything from medical supplies to food will become scarce . This must be avoided, but we must first recognize how much we as a country rely on imported petroleum. Americas Dependency Issue We will first look at the United States roles in the world oil chain in order to more fully understand what the stakes are in this war of dependency. America holds 2% of the worlds oil reserves, contributes 8% to the production of oil and consumes a staggering 33% of the total world consumption [3]. This is an amazing amount for just one country alone to consume. If we look at how economics are supposed to work we will find that supply needs to equal demand. Our supply does equal our demand currently, but is largely imported. Right now America is only supplying 8% of the global production, while taking a massive third of the total consumption. Our supply comes almost completely from overseas, meaning that major oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia or Iraq, control a major role in our economy. This is a major weakness to the US as we will have little control over this precious resource and we are at the hands and will of the suppliers. Below is a chart showing the breakdown of A mericas uses of oil by sector. Figure 2Show MoreRelatedThe Pros and Cons of Biofuel 859 Words   |  3 PagesBiofuel is a natural alternative fuel created from carbon fixation. Carbon fixation happens in both living and dead material and is known as biomass conversion. In other words, Biofuel uses naturally grown plant matter or plant-derived materials, (biomass) to convert energy and must contain over 80% renewable matter. The biomass can then be converted in three different ways: thermal, chemical, and biochemical. The conversion of biomass creates fuel in solid, liquid, and gas form. 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