How independent on foreign oil is the U.S.? The United States produces 3% of the world's oil, but consumes 25% of the world's oil. So, where does the other 22% of oil the U.S. consumes come from? Many people are led to believe that it comes from middle eastern countries, and to some extend it is true. However, the single biggest importer of oil to the U.S. is Canada. Mexico is the second largest importer of oil to the U.S., and it' not that close. Canada and Mexico combined make up a quarter of the imports of oil to the U.S. So really, the myth that the middle east and terrorist around the world have a hold over the U.S. because of their oil imports is not as real as many people think. However, the third largest contributor of oil to the U.S. is Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela also sends much of its oil to the U.S., so there is cause for minor concern. So, what do we do?
One plan that has gained a lot of momentum is the use of ethanol to power cars and other facets of the U.S.'s gas burning machines. The problem with this method is that there has been no engine yet invented that can burn pure ethanol. Conventional engines cannot burn ethanol without negative effects to the engine. So, if an ethanol engine is invented, everyone in the U.S. would have to get a new car in order to use the new fuel. The same thing applies to solar powered cars. If all cars are made to run on solar power, how many people are going to have to buy a new car since they would no longer be able to buy gas?
Solar and wind power being used to run houses and businesses is not entirely plausible either. Wind and sunlight are very fickle things. If the wind stops blowing when your house is depending on that energy, your house stops running. The same thing applies with solar power. If its a rainy day and the sun isn't shining, how are you going to get power?
Even with these concerns, wind power in the U.S. is up 45% from 2007. The U.S. is the second largest producer of wind power in the world behind Germany, but don't let that fool you. The percent of power in the U.S. that is wind power is only 1.2% How fast will this percentage increase? The U.S. Department of Energy recently released a report stating that it would be plausible for 20% wind power by the year 2030. Becoming energy independent is going to take a long time, and until then, the country can at least take comfort in knowing that countries in the middle east do not have as large a hold over the U.S. through oil as we all thought they did. Instead, Canada does.
-Sasquatch
6 comments:
Solar and wind power are really good idea, but I do agree with you about how these things are most likely impossible to keep up. When you said the U.S. is the second largest wind producer I was surprised especially the percentage is only 1.2%. We have to wait for 22 years just to increase it to 20%? And I know it's not so easy increasing the percentage in just a year but that is still a long time.
Hmm it is very interesting that Canada and Mexico are the top importers of oil to the U.S. Why doesn't the media pick this up? Why don't more people know? It seems silly to have this information but still allow people to fear for the U.S. oil supply.
Even if we aren't getting the majority of our oil from the Middle East, I think it is still a good idea to invest heavily in alternative energies. We can't just think of ourselves. We need to also consider the generations who will come after us. If we continue to use oil, will there be enough left to support an ever growing population? And will it even matter if there is enough left, because will the environment be so polluted by then that it will be difficult to breathe outside? I don't mean to be overly dramatic, but I'm just saying that this could happen and we should do as much as we can to prevent it.
Because the media focuses on everything bad that happens in our everyday lives, not the good things usually. They'll spin anything however they want it, which is wy i don't really like watching the news anymore.
And about Canada giving us oil... Good, we protect them, so they owe us.
As for solar and wind power, doesn't that mostly apply to large businesses? I think that in order to make a difference home owners have to make changes too. Whether it's changing to energy efficeint lightbulubs or recyclcing more, people need to become invloved. But the only true motivation would be to make regulations and fines for the amount of energy you can consume, or society can have an epiphany and do it themselves.
I think it's important that we invest in alternative energy sources, even if we do get the majority of our oil from Canada or Mexico. It would help our economy, security & of course our environment.
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