Our Future Depends on Finding Alternatives to Oil

By J. Hope Babowice

For more information

To learn more about alternative fuel sources, the Warren-Newport Public Library in Gurnee suggests

– “Alternative Sources of Energy” by Warren Brown

– “Our Energy Supply” by John Marshall, Ed.D.

– “Alternative Energy Sources” by Sally Morgan

– “Fueling the Future” by Janet Pack

– “Energy Alternatives” by Robert Snedden

You wanted to know

Hannah Diamond, 14, of Libertyville wanted to know:

What most likely will replace oil as our energy source?

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“What most likely will replace oil as our energy source?” asked Hannah Diamond, 14, an eighth-grader at Libertyville’s Highland Middle School.

In the U.S., consumers spend $2 billion each week on oil and gas. Worldwide, the need for oil continues to increase. A recent report made by the International Energy Agency said oil demands will grow 50 percent by the year 2030. More oil can be produced in Africa and the Middle East to meet that demand, but it would require a $20 trillion investment to produce the oil. An increase in oil consumption will also bring an increase in carbon dioxide gasses, also by 50 percent, which will impact global warming and air quality.

Research shows links between car emissions and poor air quality and ultimately global warming. People are tired of relying on foreign countries to purchase oil and they don’t like using energy resources that are nonrenewable – that means once the resources are used, there are no replacements.

“Live green – go yellow” is the slogan for E85, a fuel source that is already at the pumps. It’s a mix of 85 percent fuel made from corn called ethanol and 15 percent gas. Some newer cars are equipped to use E85. The Web site www.e85fuel.com shows which cars can use E85 and which gas stations offer it for sale. The extra bonus is that E85 burns cleaner than gasoline.

Biofuels are another source. Biodiesel uses soybean and vegetable oil that is added in a 20 percent mixture to 80 percent diesel fuel. Any diesel car, truck or bus can use biodiesel fuel.

“Biodiesel and ethanol work with today’s technology,” said Jenna Higgins of the National Biodiesel Board. “Biodiesel fuels work with any diesel engine. It will help us to move away from petroleum immediately. The fuel economy is similar to diesel and it is a much cleaner fuel reducing emissions by half.”

Already, there are cars, trucks, school bus fleets and public buses running on biodiesel fuel.

Like ethanol, using biodiesel fuel is much cleaner for the environment.

“Biodiesel reduces the compounds in emissions that cause cancer by 80 to 90 percent,” Higgins said.

The organization’s Web site www.biodiesel.org answers questions about biodiesel fuels including where to buy them.

If we could look in a crystal ball, we might see hydrogen fuel cells powering cars, buildings and homes in the future.

Hydrogen fuel is one of the best fuel alternatives because it burns completely clean.

There are no emissions that come from using hydrogen cells – just emissions from making the product.

Don’t look for hydrogen fuel cells anytime soon.

Using that technology will require a complete redesign of cars and other energy delivery systems.

Finding solutions is important, not only because it could reduce dependence on other countries for our energy needs, but because of the savings over time to our environment.

The amount of electricity used by the average household in a year puts more carbon dioxide in the air than two average cars.

World leaders are actively seeking answers that will not only help the environment but also make cost-effective energy sources available.