Energy - Conservation of Natural Resources - Study Guide | RENR 375, Study notes of Earth Sciences

Download Energy - Conservation of Natural Resources - Study Guide | RENR 375 and more Study notes Earth Sciences in PDF only on Docsity! ENERGY Prakash KHEDUN Dr Ronald KAISER PART 2 RENR 375 The black background is to conserve energy. OBAMA-BIDEN PLAN  New Energy for America plan • Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future • Within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined • Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars – cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon – on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America • Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025 • Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050 http://change.gov/agenda/ energy_and_environment_agenda/ ENERGY PLAN OVERVIEW  Create Millions of New Green Jobs • Ensure 10 percent of Our Electricity Comes from Renewable Sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025 • Deploy the Cheapest, Cleanest, Fastest Energy Source – Energy Efficiency • Weatherize One Million Homes Annually • Develop and Deploy Clean Coal Technology • Prioritize the Construction of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline http://change.gov/agenda/ energy_and_environment_agenda/ ENERGY PLAN OVERVIEW  Reduce our Greenhouse Gas Emissions 80 Percent by 2050 • Implement an economy-wide cap-and- trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050 • Make the U.S. a Leader on Climate Change http://change.gov/agenda/ energy_and_environment_agenda/ WORLD ENERGY CONSUMPTION (EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF QUADRILLION BRITISH THERMAL UNITS) National Research Council (2008) America’s Energy Future OIL  Oil supplies 1/3 of world’s energy needs  Demand increasing • Rapidly developing countries – China, India  World is not yet running out of oil, but the age of cheap oil is over • Look for more oil • Use or waste less • Use something else OIL  US is the largest oil user • Lifestyle and economy based on access to ample oil supply • 2.9% of proven oil reserve  US supply along the Gulf • Risks of hurricanes – increasing intensity  Middle East • Most of world’s discovered and undiscovered reserves  1/4 of world’s oil is controlled by states that sponsor or condone terrorism • US is fighting a war on terrorism • Funding the enemy by buying oil US ARTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE  Alaska  Geologist argue that it contains a very small fraction of US oil needs  1 in 5 chance of finding oil there  Alaska support the exploration • State uses oil revenue to finance its budget  Degradation of a pristine and ecologically vulnerable ecosystem  Improving efficiency is a much faster, cheaper, cleaner, and more secure way to increase future oil supplies COAL  Coal generate 62% of world’s electricity  Supplies may last 217-1,125 years  US has 27% of proven coal reserves  In 2005 China and US accounted for 53% of global consumption  A new coal burning plant open every 10 days in China • China has 300 years of reserves  Half of India’s energy is from coal COAL  Not as versatile as oil and natural gas  Much higher environmental impact  Releases much more CO2  Single biggest air polluter in the US, China, and India • Air pollution kills 23,500 people in the US • 38,200 non-fatal heart attacks • 554,0100 asthma attacks  Several billion of property damage every year  Responsible for ¼ of atmospheric pollution COAL  Synfuel • Synthetic natural gal from coal gasification • Requires 50% more coal = 50% more CO2  CO2 removal from plant emissions • Produces hydrogen as byproduct • Can be used to fuel nonpolluting cars  Cost of such technology is high  Little incentive to build such plant • CO2 is not regulated as an air pollutant WHY RENEWABLE ENERGY! The world is not running out of energy resources, but there are accumulating risks to continuing expansion of oil and natural gas production from the conventional sources relied upon historically. These risks create significant challenges to meeting projected energy demand. National Research Council (2008) America’s Energy Future National Petroleum Council (2007) WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS? CLASS DISCUSSION! Sr  Sr THANK YOU