Most of the proposals for future energy sources include electricity sources replacing fossil fuel sources as one of the main considerations. These sources include wind turbine, photovoltaic, nuclear, and hydroelectric. All but one of these are increasing their capabilities—hydroelectric is declining in its overall share of generated electricity due to its high cost, extremely long lead, and high environmental impacts.
Electric cars, heating units, public transit, and steadily increasing household, factory, and office usage all put increasing demands on the power grid. These increased demands also put equal demands on nuclear fuel sources, PV materials and processing capabilities, and wind turbine infrastructures.
The existing infrastructures for each of these alternative energy sources are attempting to scale up, but the level of scale-up needed is beyond their limited capabilities, even at the current high energy costs. The most publicized alternative proposed by the current Administration is to increase drilling for fossil fuels in areas not currently allowed. This solution is neither a short-term fix, nor a prudent choice from a global warming consideration.
The remaining alternative energy source is that of developing biofuels, which also have numerous short-comings in terms of competing against food stocks, and still continuing to create greenhouse gases.
Nuclear power is a very good energy source for mobile applications like naval vessels. More than 40% of the U.S. Navy’s fleet is nuclear powered and the new generation of Aegis cruisers proposed could operate their entire 35-year lifetime on just one fueling cycle. Nuclear is also a good option for land-based generating stations, but the overall demand growth and continuing hesitance against them from local communities may doom this from becoming the blockbuster electric source of the future.
That whittles the prospective candidates down to PV and wind turbines. The new administration would be well advised to invest this country’s resources into building these energy sources into the blockbuster industries they deserve to become. Heavy duty mobile requirements like long-haul trucking would still need an as-yet undetermined alternative, but could utilize the remaining fossil fuels or be at least partially replaced by electric rail systems.
