Download Kanellos, Michael. “Michigan governor asks voters to fund high tech.”

Rutgers Model Congress 2007
Michigan (Democrat)
House Committee on Science
Alternative Oil Resources
Representative Ken Bier
East Brunswick High School
Bier 1
At the turn of the twenty-first century, as the limitations and repercussions of
fossil fuels surface, the United States addiction to oil becomes increasingly dangerous.
The burning of fossil fuels, such as petroleum and coal, releases harmful compounds into
the air, damaging the environment. Fossil fuel emissions consists of carbon dioxide, the
primary causes of global warming, sulfuric dioxide, the leading cause of acid rain,
nitrogen oxide, which causes smog, and poisonous particles such as carbon monoxide,
mercury, and arsenic, and lead (Bergquist 1). These emissions can eventually lead to
ozone depletion, acid rain, respiratory and cancerous disease, and environmental
pollution (Bergquist 1). United States’ dependency on foreign oil could potentially lead
to economic crisis, as increases in price or decrease in supply will effect both the
economy and numerous consumers. A large amount of imports from foreign nations
causes an unfavorable balance of trade in the United States, and further escalate
dependency on foreign oil. Of all United States crude oil imports, 43.4% of imports came
from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a Middle Eastern based oil
organization that is suspected of terrorist affiliation. Any future attempts by OPEC to
increase oil prices or cease the sale of oil to the United States could drastically affect oil
prices and the economy. George H. W. Bush explained the danger in oil dependence,
“Our nation now imports nearly half of the oil it consumes and could face a major threat
to its economic independence” (Klare 5) Shifting the United States from fossil fuel
consumption to alternative energy has become a necessity to protect our economy and
consumer interests.
Throughout our history, American dependence on foreign oil has created several
economic crises. On October 17, 1973, the members of OPEC announced that they would
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no longer ship petroleum to nations supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur War, including
the United States (Hakes 1). The embargo shook the American economy and public,
increasing oil prices to unprecedented rates. The price of one gallon of gasoline jumped
from 30 cents a gallon to over a dollar a gallon, and the price of a gallon of oil
quadrupled from $12 to over $75 (1). The government instituted windfall profit taxes on
domestic oil companies that were receiving such tremendous profits (1). A national speed
limit of 55 miles per hour was instituted in an attempt to conserve oil (1).
The
Department of Energy and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve were created by the
government to prevent any future oil crises, and fuel conservation programs were
immediately initiated (Hakes 1). New York Stock Exchange shares lost $97 billion in
value in six weeks (Hakes 1). The 1973 oil embargo shocked the American economy and
public, and is an example of the precariousness of dependence on foreign oil. In 1979, an
Iranian Revolution caused another oil crisis. Panic spread through the United States as it
had during the 1973 oil embargo (1). Long lines appeared at gas stations, and Americans
wasted 150,000 barrels of oil just idling and waiting at the stations (1). President Carter
gave his famous malaise speech, in which he urged Americans to conserve energy (1).
This energy crisis was another example of the panic and chaos caused by dependence on
oil. Other crises, such as the California Electric Crisis of 2000, demonstrated the
disastrous effects of public dependence of one type of energy. As a series of blackouts
began due to the unorganized and deregulated California electric system, wholesale
prices of electricity skyrocketed from an average of $30 per megawatt hour last year to
$330 in January (Feldman 1).
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As a Representative from the Glorious State of Michigan, and a member of the
Democratic Party, I feel inclined to represent my State and Party’s viewpoint on
alternative energy. The State of Michigan, although the capital of car production in the
United States, recognizes the importance of alternative energy and is planning
adjustments and alternatives for the future. As pioneer in automotive technology,
Michigan wishes to implement an alternative energy system that will not require much
change in the cars it produces. As of the moment, the Rust Belt State favors research for
the practicality of hydrogen energy, biodisel, and wind power. In 2002, the Michigan
legislature passed the Michigan Next Energy Authority Act, which promotes alternative
energy technology and economic growth throughout the state (Roush 1). Funding is
appropriated for the research of fuel cell technology, wind power, solar power, turbine
power, and biomass fuel (1). Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm announced a plan to
create 72,000 high wage jobs to entice research in alternative energy (Kanellos 1).
Grnaholm stated, “Imagine Michigan, the state that put the nation on wheels, as the state
that made those wheels run on pollution-free fuel cells the state that made these United
States independent of foreign oil” (Michigan governor asks voters to fund high tech).
Michigan established NextEnergy in 2002, a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to
stimulate commercialization of various energy technologies, especially hydrogen fuel
cells (Roush 1). Nextenergy is the main department for alternative energy research in
Michigan, and is continuing to research the safest and most practical energy for the state
of Michigan. The Democratic Party supports the research of alternative energy resources.
As witnessed in the past, American dependence on foreign oil is dangerous to the nation
and the economy. Alternative oil can also reduce massive imports and possibly increase
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exports, depending on the energy source. Air pollution is also a major concern to the
party. Continued pollution can lead to global warming, ozone depletion, and life
threatening diseases. Limits on emissions are necessary for the protection of our
environment.
It is obvious that American dependence on foreign oil and the pollution caused by
fossil fuels must be eliminated. The limitations of fossil fuels are becoming more
apparent each day. The necessity for alternative energy is increasing, yet we are still
unsure which energy source is the most practical and safe. Therefore, it is necessary for
the government to initiate a national research program to determine the most useful
resource available. As witnessed in the past, the dependence on one energy source can
lead to crisis. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the nation does not become
dependant on another energy source. The combination of several alternative energy
sources is probably the most practical and reasonable approach to implement alternative
energy nationwide. In order to protect the environment, emission standards must be
strengthened to limit pollution. The amount of pollution in the United States can be
eliminated by the use of alternative energy and other effective environmental programs.
The government can implement reverse profit system, as in California, where companies
that reduce the use and waste of energy per customer will receive benefits. This will put
pressure on both the corporate America and the public to decrease the amount of energy
that is wasted. The shift from fossil fuels to alternative energy will not be an easy task.
The government must ensure that industry is capable and ready for the switch to
alternative energy. A general phasing out of the use of oil is necessary. Research should
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also consider application methods for factories. If factories can utilize alternative energy
instead of smog and pollutant creating coal and other fossil fuels, pollution will be greatly
reduced, as will the demand for fossil fuels. To encourage corporations to switch factory
systems and transportation systems to alternative energy based systems, benefits should
be instituted. Taxes on fossil fuels should be increased at the end of the general phase out
period. Emission standards should be increased yearly during and after the phase out
period to create a nearly impossible system for automotive cars using fossil fuels to
cooperate with. This will cause corporations to build alternative energy based vehicles for
the public, regardless of profit. The alternative energy plan will consist of research,
guidelines, and long-term goals to ensure a smooth transition from fossil fuels to
alternative energy.
The enormous American consumption of fossil fuels is polluting the environment
and harming the atmosphere. Growing United States dependence on foreign oil is
becoming more precarious and endangers the interests of thousands of consumers and the
American economy. Through intensive research and guidelines, new environmental
standards and programs, and long-term goals, the United States government can protect
the environment and the economic interests of its people.
Bier 6
Works Consulted
Bergquist, Lee. “Our insatiable appetite for coal.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. February
2007. Online. Internet. <http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=564173>
28 February 2007.
Cooke, Ronald R. “Alternative energy: evaluating our options.” Energy Bulletin. March
2006. Online. Internet. < http://www.energybulletin.net/14120.html>. 2 March
2007.
Deffeyes, Kenneth S. Beyond Oil: The View From Hubbert’s Peak. New York: Hill and
Wang, 2005.
Feldman, Charles. “California power crisis sends shock waves nationwide.” CNN.com.
Online. Internet.
<http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/power.crisis/backgrounder.html>. 28
February 2007.
Hakes, Jay. “25th Anniversary of the 1973 Oil Embargo.” The Energy Information
Administration. March 2000. Online. Internet.
<http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/25opec/anniversary.html> 28 February 2007.
Kanellos, Michael. “Michigan governor asks voters to fund high tech.” News.com.
February 2006. Online. Internet.
<http://news.com.com/Michigan+governor+asks+voters+to+fund+high+tech/210
0-1014_3-5572954.html>. 1 March 2007.
Klare, Michael T. Blood and Oil. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2004.
La Monice, Paul R. “Power Surge.” CNN Money. September 2005. Online. Internet.
<http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/27/technology/techinvestor/lamonica/index.htm>
3 March 2007.
Roush Matt. “Michigan Energy Report.” Next Energy. January 2007. Online. Internet.
<http://www.nextenergy.org/cm/attach/6EE1B815-0733-4F62-BBCCC168FA4C218D/Jan07MER.pdf>. 26 February 2007.
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“US dependence on foreign oil.” BBC News. February 2007. Online. Internet.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4669980.stm> 27 February 2007.