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The fossil fuels addresses here are:
Go to the individual pages for a
complete write-up of each item.
The following paragraph is the
Department of Energy's assessment of the future of fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas --
currently provide more than 85% of all the energy consumed in the United States,
nearly two-thirds of our electricity, and virtually all of our transportation
fuels. Moreover, it is likely that the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels to
power an expanding economy will actually increase over at least the next two
decades even with aggressive development and deployment of new renewable and
nuclear technologies.
From the U S DOE 1999
THE
LIFESTYLE U.S. CITIZENS ENJOY, THE ENVY OF MUCH OF THE
world, was built in large measure on reliable, affordable oil and natural gas
supplies. Over the past century, these valuable resources have been instrumental
in transforming America’s economy from agrarian to industrial to
high-technology, steadily improving our standard of living. • Energy remains the
lifeblood of our economy, powering our factories and communities, heating and
cooling our homes, and moving people and goods. We rely on oil and gas to supply
two-thirds of our energy needs. Fuels derived from oil and gas provide virtually
100 percent of our transportation demand, and an ever-increasing proportion of
our electricity
My comment: What a difference 9
years make. We are now close to four dollars for a gallon of gasoline and the
price of natural gas goes up every year. Where will it end? Nuclear energy
any one?
The
price of electricity increases continually due to
increasing
cost of fossil fuels.
According to the EIA. Approximately two-thirds of all
electricity generated in the U.S. during 2005 was coal and natural gas.
According to industry source Platt’s, delivered coal prices increased almost 113
percent, from $54.95/standard ton in 2004 to $117/standard ton in 2005, while
the Energy Information Administration reported that natural gas prices jumped
approximately 68 percent around the country over the same time period. With such
substantial increases in fuel costs, it should surprise no one that electricity
prices are increasing as well.
Increasing cost of fossil fuels.
According to the EIA. Approximately two-thirds of all
electricity generated in the U.S. during 2005 was coal and natural gas.
According to industry source Platt’s, delivered coal prices increased almost 113
percent, from $54.95/standard ton in 2004 to $117/standard ton in 2005, while
the Energy Information Administration reported that natural gas prices jumped
approximately 68 percent around the country over the same time period. With such
substantial increases in fuel costs, it should surprise no one that electricity
prices are increasing as well.
Will the Fossil Fuels fill the
bill for two more decades?
They will if we are not adverse to significant
rises in prices. Can we improve the current energy situation? Under the Clinton
administration the US has spent several billion dollars to develop renewable
energy options. So far none have been developed to the point of being
economical. I don't think they ever will be. It is time that the US commit the
same resources to development of the nuclear options. And this appears to
starting in the Bush administration. Write your legislators and President and
suggest we amplify the nuclear option. As you have seen from the Religion page
in this Web site, the Religions are suggesting the US stop both the nuclear and
fossil fuel options. I urge you to step to the plate and tell them this posture
is ridicules. In the mean time we also need to drill for oil and
natural gas in Alaska to relieve the pressure on the current prices of oil and natural
gas. Also we need to construct a NG pipeline through Canada to the US.
Energy Information
Administration's (EIA) cost projections for fossil fuels.
|
Year |
Percent Change |
|
|
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
03-04 |
04-05 |
|
|
WTI Crudea ($/barrel) |
31.12 |
41.44 |
58.77 |
63.46 |
33.2 |
41.8 |
|
|
Gasolineb ($/gal) |
1.56 |
1.85 |
2.33 |
2.40 |
18.8 |
25.6 |
|
|
Dieselc ($/gal) |
1.50 |
1.81 |
2.41 |
2.50 |
20.3 |
33.1 |
|
|
Heating Oild ($/gal) |
1.36 |
1.54 |
2.09 |
2.26 |
13.5 |
35.7 |
|
|
Natural Gasd ($/mcf) |
9.51 |
10.74 |
13.03 |
15.33 |
12.9 |
21.4 |
|
a
West Texas Intermediate. b Average regular pump price.
c On-highway retail. d Residential
average. |
Due to the weather conditions of the
hurricanes, the price of natural gas has accelerated to that of the year 2006
and may keep going. The price of gasoline has gone past the projected price of
the year 2006. These prices should be mitigated some when the platforms in the
gulf have been reinstalled.
Natural Gas
Replacing Coal
Alliant Energy's business strategy is shifting.
With coal-fired generation becoming cumbersome, the utility is committing itself
to use more natural gas.
It is increasingly difficult in many states
to get coal plants sited, resulting in a dramatic decline in the number of
planned units. States such as Florida, Kansas and Oklahoma have recently
rebuffed efforts by companies to build such facilities and have instead forced
them to consider plants that use alternative fuels.
While coal may be relatively abundant and
economical when compared to natural gas, coal-fired plants have become expensive
headaches that now cost 40 percent more to build than they did in 2000,
This had to happen. But the
price of electric energy will go up significantly as natural gas supply
increases in cost. We should save out natural gas for home heating and other
vital needs.
Alliant Energy's business strategy is shifting.
With coal-fired generation becoming cumbersome, the utility is committing itself
to use more natural gas.
It is increasingly difficult in many states
to get coal plants sited, resulting in a dramatic decline in the number of
planned units. States such as Florida, Kansas and Oklahoma have recently
rebuffed efforts by companies to build such facilities and have instead forced
them to consider plants that use alternative fuels.
While coal may be relatively abundant and
economical when compared to natural gas, coal-fired plants have become expensive
headaches that now cost 40 percent more to build than they did in 2000,
This had to happen. But the
price of electric energy will go up significantly as natural gas supply
increases in cost. We should save out natural gas for home heating and other
vital needs.
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