Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
the Gulf of Mexico, and instability in the Middle East and other oil producing
regions. However, by October 2006, crude oil prices had once again declined,
though at higher levels than previously. Despite these periodic price shocks and
related energy crises, the United States' dependence on imported crude oil and
natural gas continues to increase—crude oil imports have grown from 40.5
percent of the U.S. supply in 1980 to 65.5 percent of the U.S. supply in 2005,
according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), within the Department
of Energy (DOE). Without dramatic change, the United States is likely to become
ever more reliant on imported oil and natural gas with all the attendant threats to
the U.S. economy and national security.
EIA projects that total U.S. energy demand will increase by about 28 to 35
percent between 2005 and 2030. Specific sectors reflect even more dramatic
growth in energy demand: (1) the transportation sector is expected to grow by 43
percent, with annual crude oil consumption increasing from about 4.8 billion
barrels in 2004 to about 6.8 billion barrels by 2030 (a barrel of oil is equivalent to
42 gallons of gasoline), and (2) the EIA projects that total U.S. energy demand
will increase by about 28 to 35 percent between 2005 and 2030. Specific sectors
reflect even more dramatic growth in energy demand: (1) the transportation sector
is expected to grow by 43 percent, with annual crude oil consumption increasing
from about 4.8 billion barrels in 2004 to about 6.8 billion barrels by 2030 (a barrel
of oil is equivalent to 42 gallons of gasoline), and (2) the electricity sector is
expected to grow by 50 percent, with electricity consumption increasing from
about 3.6 billion megawatt-hours in 2004 to about 5.3 billion megawatt-hours by
2030 (a megawatt-hour is sufficient to meet the demand of 750 households for 1
hour). EIA projects that the proportions of energy derived from renewable, fossil,
and nuclear sources for both transportation and electricity generation will remain
about the same through 2030.
Since its creation in 1977, DOE has had leadership responsibility for energy
research, development, and demonstration programs (R and D) to enable the
nation to deploy advanced energy technologies for meeting future demands and
diversifying its energy portfolio.[1] During the past 29 years, the Congress has
provided DOE about $50 billion for R and D in renewable, fossil, and nuclear
energy technologies.[2] Specifically:
•
DOE's renewable energy R and D program has primarily focused on (1)
developing cost-effective technologies for producing ethanol from
biomass sources, such as agricultural residues and forest waste, and (2)
making wind and solar energy technologies more cost-competitive
sources of electricity. DOE has also funded R and D for geothermal and
