The United States relies heavily on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels currently satisfy approximately 84% of U.S. energy demand. Even the volatile oil price market wasn't able to stop U.S. hunger for oil and U.S. dependence on foreign oil continues to grow. The current numbers show that that the nation's dependence on foreign oil has grown for about 25% in the last 30 years.
U.S. is also producing more oil than ever before. In 2009 and 2010 U.S. managed to increase its oil production more than any other country in the world. Is there any way for U.S. to cut its heavy dependence on oil?
Since Fukushima accident nuclear energy lost much of its appeal so the only remaining solution to cut nation's dependence on oil is renewable energy. Judging by the latest U.S. polls renewable energy is the most preferred option for most Americans as long it doesn't cost too much.
The costs are still the main stumbling block on the road to clean, renewable energy future. Renewable energy technologies are still connected with higher costs when compared with fossil fuels and this is really the main reason why renewable energy sector still wasn't able to offer a decent challenge to oil, coal and natural gas.
The fossil fuels will eventually become exhausted because they are finite resources. This means that world needs to start thinking about the future energy security. Renewable energy is the only logical option to replace fossil fuels but it needs to become more efficient and most of all cheaper.
Fossil fuels are the laying foundations on which our entire industry was built upon but they are also responsible for rapid increase in greenhouse gas emissions which has led to climate change phenomenon. If we want to make sure to avoid the worst possible climate change scenario we need to end our dependence on fossil fuels as quickly as possible.
The transition to renewable energy sources isn’t going fast enough, leaving us with very little hope that we will be able to halt climate change. The good news is that world is investing billions of dollars into renewable energy research in hope of finding solutions that would make renewable energy technologies cheaper and more efficient. Whether climate change will give us enough time to make this transition possible still remains to be seen.
In the meantime world will still require energy and fossil fuels will still be the ones making the delivery.
