Energy Crisis: Is America In Trouble :: essays research papers fc

Global energy crisis threatens, scientist saysCHICAGO (April 17, 1997) -- An impending global energy crisis with emfly massive impact on American industry and jobs can be avoided if America strives for a portfolio of energy systems, a distinguished scientist said here today. In advocating an end to name-calling between energy advocates and environmentalists, Alan Schriesheim said, "We cannot set effective energy constitution in an environmental vacuum, nor can we set effective environmental policy in an energy vacuum." Schriesheim, director emeritus at Argonne National Laboratory, spoke at a gathering sponsored by the Chicago Academy of Sciences at the University Club of Chicago. Energy demand will soar worldwide over the next 20 historic period, he said. "What do you think might happen," he asked the audience, "to the worlds energy needs and environmental concerns if we added a new United States to the planet every three years for the next 20 years? This is n ot an academic question. The world population today is growing at exactly that rate, and it is projected to continue growing at that rate through 2020." The bulk of that population growth will come in the poorer countries, Schriesheim said, "places where talk of energy policy comes second to talk of food and comfort and survival places where, if the only affordable fuel is growing in the rain forest, you will take that fuel today without a moments thought of the consequences tomorrow." The Argonne scientists talk was call "What any High School Graduate Should Know About Energy," and was part of the Chicago Academy of Sciences lecture series "Science Literacy for the 21st Century What Should Every High School Graduate Know?" Schriesheim told the audience that world population growth of more than 86 million people per year is "the equivalent of adding both cities the size of Chicago to the planet each month." "So not only will all the Earths current population demand more energy in the years ahead," he said, "those billions of new people are going to want their share too." Schriesheim chided energy executives who dismiss environmental concerns, and environmentalists who dismiss the energy production potential of fossil fuels, flowing water, and uranium in favor of so-called "renewable" energy sources such as solar energy. He said that for the next some(prenominal) generations renewables -- such as solar, wind, and farm-grown energy crops -- are expected to provide only 2 to 4 percent of global energy supplies.