Below is our current energy sources and what I think our goals should be. Yes we are still a majority coal burning country, but if you look at pockets of the country, like ID (is nearly 90% renewable not fossil fuel - 84% Hydro and 5.6 Wind, Solar and Biomass), CA (35% renewable - 22.3% Hydro and 12.4% W, S & B) or OR - nearly 75% renewable (71.2 Hydro and 3.5 W, S & B). So its not all cut and dry on what the country uses. Some parts of the country are better for Hydro, some for Solar, some for Wind and all for Biomass (Waste), some more than others though. I personally am skeptical on global warming, but I do buy in greatly that energy demands will go with the electric car replacing gas cars over the next 2 decades and the ever growing population.
Keep Our Fuel Mix Diverse: The U.S. Fuel Mix
The Nations Energy Sources (not including cars):
Coal - 48%
Natural Gas - 21.3%
Nuclear - 19.6%
Hydro - 5.9%
Wind/Solar/Biomass - 3.5
Oil - 1.1% (Mostly HI)
There are huge innitatives in many states to push Wind, Solar and Biomass. In IL they start building Wind turbines on private farms (giving royalities th the all to happy to ablige farmers). IL goal is to be 25% Wind state by 2025. After one year we got up to 3%. In 2010 they say its now 5%. At the current rate 25% is more than attainable. I think we should promote Wind, Solar and Hydro in parts of the country where it makes sense. Hydro in the mountainous parts that have flowing water. Wind in the Fall lands of the Midwest and Solar in the year round highly sunny south. Biomass should be promoted in all stated for no other reason but to make something out of our waste.
Here should be the nations goals by 2025:
Wind - 20% (yes it will require a lot of construction and possibly better technology, but I am a believer because of what IL has accomplished in should a short time)
Solar - 15% (This is a huge stretch, because technology MUST get better, but I think it could be possible it plants are built in the right parts of the country/
Hydro -15% (There are alot of under tapped stated like VT, ME, NH, CO, UT that could start to develop Hydro energy, but efficiency would also have to increase also)
Biomass - 5% (Make the nations waste turn into something beneficial other than waste)
That's 55% renewable green sources!
Nuclear - 25% (It makes no sense why its been decades since we expanded our nuclear products or why no nuclear plants have been built in the last few decades)
Coal and Natural Gas - 15% (Call me a hippie, but I prefer the others above over these 2).
Fuel For Cars:
Currently most cars in America are fuel by oil. Most gas is now 10% ethanol. Some cars power solely on ethanol and a very few on electricity. In 2010 (more like 2011) the first generation of electric cars are coming out and they are starting out successful.
(1) GM Volt is already over-booked on preorders, putting 10K into the market in 2011
(2) Nissan the Leaf (over booked in in 35 days), 10K cars in 2011 with 20K preorders.
(3)Tesla via Roadster and Model S exceed 1000 orders
(4) Toyota's Prius Plug in hits the road in 2011 and they will build off of their prius hyprid 1 million cars sold success.
(5) Ford (with 3 electric cars), Mitsubshi (their electric car is a best seller in Japan), Honda and Chysler (Dodge Ram NICE) all roll out their electric cars in 2012
(6) Fisker $90K car in 2010 and more affordable sedan in 2012
(7) Think - Great seller in Europe in 2011
(8) BYD and CODA (new to US markets) in 2011
I think we will see the birth of the move away from foreign oil in 2011. 125 million cars on the road in 2010. Hopefully by 2015 2.5% will be electric (2.5 mil), 2020 16% (20 mil) and 60% by 2025 75 mil. Obviously numbers don't take into account increase in population and number of drivers.
WikiAnswers - How many cars are currently on the road in the US
Top 10 Electric Cars for 2010 and 2011 including Nissan Leaf, Prius Plug-in, Chevy Volt, Ford Focus EV | Clean Fleet Report
Keep Our Fuel Mix Diverse: The U.S. Fuel Mix
The Nations Energy Sources (not including cars):
Coal - 48%
Natural Gas - 21.3%
Nuclear - 19.6%
Hydro - 5.9%
Wind/Solar/Biomass - 3.5
Oil - 1.1% (Mostly HI)
There are huge innitatives in many states to push Wind, Solar and Biomass. In IL they start building Wind turbines on private farms (giving royalities th the all to happy to ablige farmers). IL goal is to be 25% Wind state by 2025. After one year we got up to 3%. In 2010 they say its now 5%. At the current rate 25% is more than attainable. I think we should promote Wind, Solar and Hydro in parts of the country where it makes sense. Hydro in the mountainous parts that have flowing water. Wind in the Fall lands of the Midwest and Solar in the year round highly sunny south. Biomass should be promoted in all stated for no other reason but to make something out of our waste.
Here should be the nations goals by 2025:
Wind - 20% (yes it will require a lot of construction and possibly better technology, but I am a believer because of what IL has accomplished in should a short time)
Solar - 15% (This is a huge stretch, because technology MUST get better, but I think it could be possible it plants are built in the right parts of the country/
Hydro -15% (There are alot of under tapped stated like VT, ME, NH, CO, UT that could start to develop Hydro energy, but efficiency would also have to increase also)
Biomass - 5% (Make the nations waste turn into something beneficial other than waste)
That's 55% renewable green sources!
Nuclear - 25% (It makes no sense why its been decades since we expanded our nuclear products or why no nuclear plants have been built in the last few decades)
Coal and Natural Gas - 15% (Call me a hippie, but I prefer the others above over these 2).
Fuel For Cars:
Currently most cars in America are fuel by oil. Most gas is now 10% ethanol. Some cars power solely on ethanol and a very few on electricity. In 2010 (more like 2011) the first generation of electric cars are coming out and they are starting out successful.
(1) GM Volt is already over-booked on preorders, putting 10K into the market in 2011
(2) Nissan the Leaf (over booked in in 35 days), 10K cars in 2011 with 20K preorders.
(3)Tesla via Roadster and Model S exceed 1000 orders
(4) Toyota's Prius Plug in hits the road in 2011 and they will build off of their prius hyprid 1 million cars sold success.
(5) Ford (with 3 electric cars), Mitsubshi (their electric car is a best seller in Japan), Honda and Chysler (Dodge Ram NICE) all roll out their electric cars in 2012
(6) Fisker $90K car in 2010 and more affordable sedan in 2012
(7) Think - Great seller in Europe in 2011
(8) BYD and CODA (new to US markets) in 2011
I think we will see the birth of the move away from foreign oil in 2011. 125 million cars on the road in 2010. Hopefully by 2015 2.5% will be electric (2.5 mil), 2020 16% (20 mil) and 60% by 2025 75 mil. Obviously numbers don't take into account increase in population and number of drivers.
WikiAnswers - How many cars are currently on the road in the US
Top 10 Electric Cars for 2010 and 2011 including Nissan Leaf, Prius Plug-in, Chevy Volt, Ford Focus EV | Clean Fleet Report