Even if implemented to the maximum, renewable energy sources would replace only about half the U.S. consumption of oil, natural gas and coal, according to an analysis by ecologists at Cornell.
Furthermore, the analysis states alternative energy systems -- such as hydroelectric, solar and wind power and biofuels -- if fully developed would occupy up to one-sixth of America's land area. And some of the so-called renewable energy sources aren't really renewable, the ecologists say, calling for energy conservation as a proven alternative.
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"We wish this had turned out differently -- we really do -- but it's hard to argue with the facts," said David Pimentel, the Cornell professor of ecology who led a team of graduate students through an objective analysis of future energy needs of the United States. Their findings are reported in the December 2002 issue of the journal BioScience (Vol. 52, No. 12) as "Renewable Energy: Current and Potential Issues."
"If all the best renewable energy technologies were implemented to the fullest, those hydroelectric dams, wind farms and other installations would take up 17 percent of the land and still replace less than 50 percent of our fossil-fuel consumption. The biggest problem is our extraordinary rate of energy consumption to maintain our standard of living -- or should we say standard of burning," Pimentel explained.
"With less than 4 percent of the world population, we are emitting 22 percent of the carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels. Developing countries use the energy equivalent of 500 liters of oil [132 U.S. gallons] per capita per year; in the United States each of us, on average, uses 8,000 liters [2,113 U.S. gallons] of oil equivalents annually -- 16 times as much. The only way to change the equation -- to make renewable energy sources go further and kick our addiction to fossil fuels -- is to reduce energy consumption, and that means conservation."
The ecologists reviewed 10 alternative energy sources but called two of these -- geothermal systems and the biofuels ethanol, methanol and vegetable oils -- not truly renewable and sustainable.
The other eight alternative energy systems reviewed in the analysis are: hydroelectric; biomass energy; wind power; solar thermal conversion, including solar ponds and parabolic troughs, photovoltaic systems; hydrogen and fuel cells; and passive heating and cooling of buildings.
This recommendation was made by the ecologists: "The first priority of the U.S. energy program should be for individuals, communities and industries to conserve fossil fuel resources by using renewable resources and by reducing consumption. Other developed countries have proved that high productivity and high standards of living can be achieved with the use of half the energy expenditure of the United States."
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