U.S. Energy Policy
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U.S. energy policy is a matter of ongoing concern. Our society makes use of massive amounts of energy of various types, and the need for energy is growing. Energy policy is tied to a number of other policies, from the economic to foreign affairs. The costs of energy have an impact on every aspect of society, and energy policy relates to foreign affairs in that the dependence of America on foreign energy sources creates a situation whereby the nation can be held hostage to the whims of external powers. In such an atmosphere, more and more concern has been raised that the United States discover a source of renewable energy, something that will not be depleted as will fossil fuels, something that is cleaner and safer for the environment than are fossil fuels, and something that is still economically viable, producing sufficient energy at a cost comparable to the present energy-economic structure. Solar energy has been suggested as such a source because the energy of the sun is, if not infinite, at least consistent, ubiquitous, and infinite in human terms. Solar energy is not yet economically viable for large-scale use, though it does have certain specific energy-efficient uses to which it has been put in hearing homes or powering small engines. Proponents claim that solar energy could be made more powerful and more economically viable with research and development, and they call on the U.S. government to subsidize such research for the long-term benefit of all. What woul
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from traditional sources. There has also been a declining demand for nuclear power, which never matched projections. Among the reasons for this have been increasing energy efficiency and slower population growth than projected.
Coal has been an alternative to oil for some time. It was once the most important energy source in the United States, and it still supplies about one-quarter of our energy needs. Supplies are abundant, but there are major problems in both mining and burning coal, health hazards for workers and pollution problems for society at large (Currie and Skolnick 318-327).
Solar energy is another energy source that has been suggested as being potentially limitless and that does not have the safety problems of nuclear power. However, to date it has not proven to be cost-efficient enough to provide more than a marginal if important amount of energy. Solar energy may play a much larger role in the future if we support research and development in this area.
One of the great unknowns in American energy policy remains the extent to which solar energy in its various forms will contribute to the nation's energy supply in the future. Proponents of solar energy claim that solar energy could supply 40 percent of th
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Approximate Word count = 1896
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)
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