The full cost of fossil fuels has recently become glaringly apparent. The oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico claimed 11 lives and has already taken a huge toll on the economy and ecology of that region. In early April the Massey Energy coal mine explosion killed 29 miners and was the worst US mine incident in 40 years. These tragedies shed light on the need for a shift in thinking and investment in alternative energies.

Everyone knows that oil and coal reserves will not last forever (with oil projected to run out in 40 years and coal in 155) and the recent catastrophes make very clear the external costs of such heavy reliance on these energy sources. The need for research and spending on alternatives like hydrogen, wind, and solar energy technologies has never been more obvious.

Dictating the Future of Energy

It is nonsensical to continue to depend on finite sources of energy that are so environmentally and economically damaging. Alternative energies on the other hand are:

- More abundant and renewable (the sun and wind are all around us)

- Cleaner (far less environmental impact)

- Safer (have you ever heard of a solar spill or wind explosion?)

If oil and coal were the only options we had on this planet, modern life as we know it would be doomed. They are, of course, not the only power sources we can utilize and mankind’s outlook does not need to be so grim. However, by failing to recognize and develop alternative energies, this is the bleak future we are choosing. The good news is that governments and the people don’t have to make this dismal choice. There is no time like the present to initiate forward thinking energy programs to ensure the future of the planet and our children.

Impetus for Alternatives

As horrible as the recent oil and coal catastrophes have been, there may be some good that can be salvaged from them. They have clearly illustrated our dependence on fossil fuels, an addiction that has been ignored for too long. Unfortunately, it might just take devastating events like these to move the government away from fossil fuels to greener options.

The anger and frustration within the public over the oil and coal accidents is palpable and it seems like a very advantageous time to promote alternative energies. The human, economic, and environmental impacts of the latest coal and oil accidents have shed light on the less obvious, yet devastating, costs of these energies.

Global warming is now a well known and researched product of fossil fuel consumption, yet it cannot be felt or seen by most people in their daily lives. The Gulf oil spill and West Virginia coal mine explosion on the other hand have had very visible and poignant effects. Perhaps this observable impact will be the impetus for change the world has needed for so long. Here’s hoping it doesn’t take another fossil fuel disaster to compel lawmakers and the rest of us to take action on promoting alternative energies.

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.