Citizens Guide to Sustainable Energy: Fossil Fuels
Beyond the fossil fuel economy
Given the consequences of air pollution and climate change from fossil fuels and radiation poisoning from nuclear power, not to mention wars over decreasing fossil fuel deposits and weapons of mass destruction from increasing nuclear products, the current energy system is unsustainable. With the beginning of the new century, we are witnessing the sunset of the old energy system which fueled Industrial Society.
However, despite the limitations and consequences we now see, we find ourselves institutionally and personally addicted to the old ways. For many of us, automobiles are indispensable. We may recycle and turn off unnecessary lights, but we do not have to wait until the next big energy crisis or blackout to know we need to make much bigger changes, changes just as revolutionary as the transition from agricultural to industrial society. We are now building the foundations for a sustainable society, which in turn calls for the transition to sustainable energy.
Fossil fuels: Myths, facts, questions and policy options
Our dependence on fossil fuels results in air pollution, global warming and a range of destructive environmental and health impacts. Because of that dependence our country and others have been increasingly embroiled in wars and national security threats. Such conflict will only worsen as competiton rises over decreasing fossil fuel resources.With the beginning of the new century, we witness the sunset of the old energy system which fueled Industrial Society. However, despite the limitations and consequences we now see, we find ourselves institutionally and personally addicted to the old ways. For many of us, automobiles are indispensable. We may recycle and turn off unnecessary lights, but we do not have to wait until the next big energy crisis or blackout to know we need to make much bigger changes, changes just as revolutionary as the transition from agricultural to industrial society. We are now building the foundations for a sustainable society, which in turn calls for the transition to sustainable energy.
links:
Environmental Literacy Council
National Energy Technology Laboratory - Devoted to fossil energy technology
Sustainable Energy and Economy Network - Introduction to fossil fuels
Union of Concerned Scientists - Fossil fuels
WorldWatch - Fossil fuels continue to cloud the sky (2003)
International Energy Agency - Clean fossil fuels
Oil
Environmental Litearcy Council
US oil production and imports - Energy Information Administration (EIA)
US Strategic Petroleum Reserve - DOE
Peak Oil Crisis - The end of cheap oil
Center for Public Integrity - The politics of oil
Out of Balance - Exxon Mobil's impact on climate change
Peak Oil - Begin making a difference
Greenpeace - Mobilize against Exxon
Greenpeace - Fueling Global Warming: Federal Subsidies to Oil in the U.S.(1998) [pdf]
Consumer Energy Council of America - Fueling the Future: Better Ways to Use America's Fuel Options (2006) [pdf]
Taxpayers for Common Sense - Oil and gas subsidies
Union of Concerned Scientists - How oil works
Worldwatch - Changing the oil economy
UN Economic Commission for Europe - ECE Gas Centre
International Energy Agency - oil
International Energy Agency - Oil Market Report (2006)
Coal
links:
Environmental Literacy Council
US coal production and consumption - EIA
President's Clean Coal Initiative - DOE
Coal systems - National Energy Technology Laboratory
Renewable Energy Policy Project - Impact on the land
World Wildlife Fund - The biggest cause of climate change
Coop America - Say no to coal and climate change
Taxpayers for Common Sense - Subsidies to coal industry
Union of Concerned Scientists - How coal works
UN Economic Commission for Europe - ECE and coal
International Energy Agency - coal
Natural gas
links:
Environmental Literacy Council
US natural gas production and consumption - EIA
natural gas regulation - DOE
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy - The next energy crisis?
Taxpayers for Common Sense - Oil and gas subsidies
Union of Concerned Scientists - How natural gas works
International Energy Agency - natural gas
Energy and Climate Change
In the United States, as in other parts of the world, citizens are increasingly concerned about the threats to our future posed by climate change and our addiction to fossil fuels. In turn, many US citizens recognize the need to take responsibility for ourselves and our country in transforming the ways we produce and consume energy -- in our households, communities, regions and nation.
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