Energy and Our Fossil Fuels: ABSTRACT

Abstract

America has a high energy society, and as our demand for energy increases, our reserves of fossil fuels steadily decline. Oil provides 43% of our energy needs, natural gas 33%, electric power 20%, and coal 4%. Although electric power provides only one fifth of our energy needs, 83% of all electricity is created by burning the fossil fuels. Hydro (16%), nuclear (1%), and geothermal End_Page 434------------------------------ (0.1%) power account for a relatively small share of the electric budget. During 1920, America consumed slightly more than a half billion bbl of oil. By 1935 our needs had grown to over 1 billion bbl and in 1950 we exceeded 2 billion bbl annual consumption. A 3 billion bbl yearly need was approached in 1960 and today 5 billion bbl will not meet the needs of 1972's demand for oil. In the past 10 years, our consumption of natural gas has risen from 13 Tcf to a present rate of 23 Tcf. Should this rate of increase continue at its present trend, we could deplete our known reserves in 10 years. Possible future sources of gas are coal degasification, western oil shale, and imports (Alaska pipeline and LNG). Drawing on any of these alternate sources for oil or gas will have a profound impact on our environment. End_of_Article - Last_Page 435------------