Congress and the bureaucrats in Washington, the presidents of the last thirty years or so and others who are supposed to be responsible have known for a long time that new sources of energy are desperately needed to compensate for the eventual disappearance of existing fuels as well as to slow the buildup of climate-changing "greenhouse gases" in the atmosphere. In fact, wind and solar power have gained significant footholds in some parts of the world. A number of other innovative energy solutions have already been developed and even tested out in university and corporate laboratories. In view of the reality of how fast that these solutions need to be advanced into widespread useage, though, we are lagging way behind. We are simply moving way too slowly if we hope to avoid a global train wreck in the not too distant future.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, renewable fuels, such as using the elements for power as well as wood and fertilizer, supplied but about 1/15th of all of the energy worldwide in 2004; biofuels accounted for another 1/3rd of a percentage point but the switch to biofuels, specifically corn and such crops is giving us a global food shortage disaster. So how much of the energy production worldwide was from fossil fuel? About 17/20ths! And nuclear power another 6%. The scariest news of all is that the Dept of Energy projects that two decades from now that percentage will be the same.
In global warming terms, the implications are nothing short of catastrophic: The increase in dependence upon coal as highly indicated by trends in India, China and in the rhetoric of George W Bush is going to trigger an increase in CO2 gasses of over 60% in the next twenty five years. The meaning of this is simple. If these figures hold, there is no hope of averting the worst effects of climate change.
As for Peak Oil, this projection is equally depressing. We are well poised to have a worst case scenario perfect storm because of our lack of preparation and lack of forward progress on alternative energy solutions.
In all of my research I have found only one really hopeful glimmer of light in all of this dismal depressing darkness lol. And that is from a grassroots, internet based phenomenon called Water4Gas
is sharing information for a nominal fee which people can use in their garage or wherever to put together a small assembly which infuses hydrogen into the gasoline/air mixture that their vehicle runs on.
Using Water4Gas you can minimumly expect to improve your gasoline mileage by 30-50% or even more. With W4G gasoline is made usable so you can improve your gasoline mileage.
It also helps reduce emissions significantly.Happy members number about 99%! Isn't it your turn now?