The luxuries and necessities that we have grown so accustomed to are the reason why the switch from oil to a renewable source of energy will not happen soon enough for us to shed our dependence on a finite resource. People talk and say that we need to cut back, we are destroying our world, but many are not doing anything about it.

It was trendy to boycott, to conserve, and to act when the gas prices shot so high. Talking about solar power, hydro electric power, global warming, and alternative fuels was the Hollywood thing to do. Now that the prices at the pump have fallen back to a reasonable rate, people have fallen back into their habits of traveling more, filling up the gas tank, turning the heat up just that little bit so they can be warm instead of just ‘not cold.’

A Way of Life Obtained through Progression Cannot Be Sustained Without Progression

These habits are not bad habits, but they are the actions that perpetuate the dependence on oil.

They are not wrong doings in and of themselves, but they are hurting the environment immensely.

It is not inherently evil, but it is destroying the world.

It is not intentional, but it is real and now, what other choices do we have?

It Needs to be Practical to Be Applicable

Convenience most likely will be the determining factor. Fuel Cell cars, poised to be the rescuer of the ozone and our wallets, cannot yet sustain a vehicle for more than 35 miles without a refill. Outside of California, filling up is out of the question because there are no refueling stations. The environment will benefit now if the changes are made, but people will not benefit, and that will hold people back. The Earth cannot be saved without sacrifice.

Home energy solutions are in the works but they are too distant, too impractical, too expensive. Things like hydro electric power and solar power feed off resources we already have, but to make them practical the technology would have to sustain a home with all of the necessities and most of the comforts and be affordable to the majority of Americans. While both alternative energy resources are on the way to doing this, neither is there yet.

Questions that Need to be Asked

What switch will we see when we have the ability to sustain our houses with alternative energy? Will houses throughout Arizona, Nevada, and California have large photovoltaic cells on their roofs? Will the coastal cities like New York, Boston, and Miami take in their energy from generators on the ocean floor? Will people be asked to spend their own money, or will the government offer incentives? Will that increase taxes? And for who? What will happen to those who don’t convert? What will be the socioeconomic impact be?

Long term, the effects will no doubt be positive, but it’s likely that in order to take that great leap forward we will have to take several steps back first. We must come to grips with the possibility that if we do not sacrifice a little now, we will have to sacrifice a lot more painfully later.

With all of these possibilities for alternative fuel it’s no surprise that the most prevalent and practical is the one that doesn’t need to be manufactured, it comes to us like the breeze—Wind Power. Gigantic windmills pepper the hill lines of many states giving a safer, cleaner, and more economic power source.

With the exception of Don Quixote’s vicious and unprovoked attack of windmills, they are in general widely accepted as an efficient way to lower costs of electricity. Energy from windmills is significantly cheaper than the usual cost of electricity. Wind powered turbines yield three times as much energy for the cost as compared to gas turbines.

New York, Dedicated to Alternative Electric Power; New Yorkers, eh…not as much.

Big plans are in the works for New York City, who are so invested in the idea of a windmill it has been on their state crest for 400 years. It will take another 15 or so years to actually construct the windmills though. The windmills will be set up on bridges and buildings and could provide 10-20% of the city’s energy. So during the next city wide blackout in New York, a smooth 10-20% of the city won’t get looted.

The project is an ambitious one and, depending on the economy, it could be an unrealistic one. When approached with the possibility of windmills on his building, Donald Trump said he likes the idea of windmills in the city, but not necessarily on his building.

Why would he? It’s not like he has any trouble paying that extra 10-20% difference in his electricity bill.

Save the Birds Now, or Save Ourselves Later?

In Puerto Rico, windmills made some unlikely enemies: wildlife conservationists. Those who want to protect the environment by using a safe, clean, renewable form of electricity for humans were in direct confrontation with those who want to protect the innocent little Nightjar, a grey night bird who dwells in the forest that was the desired area to construct the windmills.

There were merciless battles of folk songs, free love, and picket signs. The battle field was riddled with burned out victims of protest, herbal tea, and Volkswagen vans. Needless to say, the need of the Nightjar beat out the need of the humans. Puerto Rico will not have the windmills that could sustain power for more than 20,000 families, but they do have Nightjars!

The rationale for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the opposition to the humbled windmill, was that Puerto Rico is all set with its oil, which burns more than enough to provide electricity for the island. A tip of my hat goes to you, Puerto Rico, and boy am I glad to know there is somewhere in this crazy world where I can still hunt Nightjars!

Whether it is Don Quixote, Donald Trump, or those at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, they show what a truly self sacrificing bunch we humans can be, if not downright masochistic. Whether it’s a keeping your corner office view windmill-free or keeping an ugly grey bird fat and happy, don’t ask us to sacrifice what we want, we will only sacrifice what we need: a renewable energy source and our earth.

Hydrogen fuel cells are viewed as the great savior of our massive oil consumption.  They seem to be the answer to finite energy resources and they are said to be good for the environment too. 

This technology works by combining hydrogen with fuels cells.  The Fuel cells operate by taking in hydrogen which reacts with a catalyst.  That catalyst separates the atomic particles known as protons and electrons and they travel two different paths.   The electrons pass through a cathode, which generates energy, while the protons mix with oxygen and releases the byproduct: environmentally safe, clean water.  Sounds simple enough that it just might work, but not anytime soon.

Hydrogen fuel cell technology is not advanced enough to make owning hydrogen fueled cars a legitimate possibility just yet. The goal is by 2015 to have a fuel cell that will last for more than 5,000 hours durability and 300 miles per fill up.  A massive gas station to hydrogen refueling station conversion must also take place, and who knows how long that will take. 

High Quality Vehicles Equals Cheaper Fuel Costs for You

The cost of hydrogen fuel for auto owners is going to be completely dependent on how well vehicles will operate.  If the fuel cell vehicles have a 250 mile range and 2,000 hours of durability it will be about $3.00/gge (gasoline gallon equivalent). With the 300 mile range and 5,000 hours of durability, the goal of 2015, the prices will be $2.50/gge.  As we all know, that fifty cents per gallon makes a very big difference.

Hydrogen Fuel, the Revival of the American Dream

Billions of dollars will make an extremely large difference when it comes to funding all things hydrogen fuel. The fuel cell industry has asked President Barack Obama to set aside 1.2 billion dollars for research, development, and stimulus. 

The industry has stated that the 1.2 billion dollars will provide several opportunities:

·         Shake our dependency on foreign oil

·         An environmentally safe alternative to gas

·         Create jobs

With bail outs abundant, why not toss some money to something that could potentially save the economy, save the environment, and save the country in one swoop?

Arnold to the Rescue

There have been steps to making the transition to a fuel cell adapted society.  In California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger began setting up hydrogen refueling stations.  Although it seems a bit premature, if you have seen Total Recall then you have confidence that Arnold knows what the future holds.  He has made stations in urban areas for those few who have hydrogen fuel cars, mostly incentive projects from the auto industry or environmental companies.  

Though the fuel cell automobile technology is available, at this point it is very impractical.  Hydrogen fuel cells for cars can only provide a driver with about 35 miles before another fill up is required.  This makes driving anywhere, with the exception of the Gov. Schwarzenegger’s urban hydrogen refueling hotspots, nearly impossible. 

Strides are being made but not at the pace many would like.  Much more funding and focus will be needed to make this alternative a reality. It may be a while before the hydrogen fuel cell is needed, but it also may be a while before they become a realistic alternative to our gas powered cars.  As Plato aptly put it, “necessity is the mother of invention.”  So now we wait for the necessity.