My response to Wendell Berry

After reading the excerpt titled "The Use of Energy" from his book "The Unsettling of America Culture and Agriculture," I was just amazed. I never sat down and thought about energy in such a way that Wendell Berry did. Berry talked about the differences between the energy that our body uses, and the energy that is produced by man kind. The energy that we use from our body can be recycled, while the energy that is produced by man kind does not. Instead, energy gets changed into different forms that will just eventually harm our planet. He then talks about how important the soil is for humans and the earth. Soil is the circle of life, especially healthy soil. Because the soil is where life will be recycled through, it is full of dead microorganisms, dead plants, and even dead humans. The dead will decompose and get eaten up by bugs and plants, that will soon be eaten again by humans giving them energy, and starting all over again. I always thought of energy as harmless and just something that I took for granted, because I know far more about energy, the way that Berry explained, I am more grateful for energy. Not just energy alone, but also a healthy soil and what it contributes to us that are still living.

America and India comes together

A meeting was held on April 28-30, 2009 at Idaho National Laboratory involving the United States and India. This was the second meeting of the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Energy Working Group, while the first was held on October 2008. In October the U.S.-India Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation agreement was signed with lots of ambitions. This agreement was aimed to help India with its demanding energy needs in a safe environmental way. This will create new jobs for both countries. There were many things discussed at the meeting, such as, understanding of each country’s nuclear energy development plans; including light water reactors; near term reactor deployment; licensing,; management of nuclear waste; research and development programs as well as international best practices.The United States looks forward to working with India and will hold their next meeting in India towards the end of 2009. I think that the world is finally coming together to help each other. This is a smart move that America and India made, because it will benefit both countries. Slowly, more countries will realize that they too will need help to create a safer, more reliable planet for the future. Want to read more? Click Here

U.S. Department of Energy. (2008). Retrieved on November 16, 2009 from
http://www.energy.gov/news/7368.htm

What else is America doing for energy?

President Obama does not want America to be followers anymore, instead he wants Americans to be leaders again. In his eyes, America will get there one day. So far there have been progress towards a better, more green future. Such as, saving the people more money on cars by changing the fuel economy standards for the upcoming 2011 cars and trucks. Also, on Earth Day the President presented a new project that will be built on water of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. For the first time ever, the nation will be able to tap into our ocean’s resources to generate clean energy in an environmentally sound and safe manner. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have contributed a lot towards the jump start of the new green future, by giving 5 billion to low-income home weatherization projects; $600 million in green job training programs; $100 million to expand line worker training programs; and $500 million for green workforce training, and much more. I love the fact that America is just not sitting around anymore, they are taking action to the increasing problems that energy brings. If we keep our plans and promises, we will be right next to China, and possibly be the country that they turn to when they need help. Want to read more? Click Here

The White House. (2008). Energy and Environment. Retrieved on November 16, 2009 from
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/energy-and-environment/

What's happening in Alaska?

On January 16, 2009,Governor Sarah Palin announced a plan that identifies energy options for Alaska, because Alaska relies mostly on diesel generators; this new plan is designed to help Alaska use more renewable energy instead. Its goal is to have 50 percent of Alaska's electricity generated by renewable energy by 2025. This goal will be achieved only if Alaskans, the legislature, local and regional governments, the University of Alaska, and the private sector to work together. This plan can work if Alaskans use local resources to generate heat and electricity. I think that once Alaska achieves this goal, the other states will start to follow our foot steps. Want to find out more about this article or Alaska's energy projects? Click Here

U.S. Department of Energy. (2008). EERE State Activities and Partnerships. Retrieved on November 15, 2009, from
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/states/news_detail.cfm/news_id=12202

What is China Doing about Energy?

China has recently announced that they have decided to go green and have made a plan. They are expected to boost renewable energy capacity up by 10 percent by 2020. They passed a law requiring power grid operators to purchase from renewable energy producers only. If they cannot afford to purchase renewable energy products, the government will provide incentives. Because China's economy grew so rapidly, it lead to a rise in harmful emission and more power shortages. China's new law was designed to help prevent problems like the power shortages, the environment, and help reduce the dependency on foreign energy sources. According to the law, renewable energy includes: hydroelectricity, wind power, solar energy, geothermal energy and marine energy. According to Yu Jie, China will become the world's leader in renewable energy development and people from all over the world will want to become like China, where it is all about conserving energy. I think that China is great for thinking about this idea. Actually, a lot of other people have thought about it too, but they are the first to take action. If Americans and the other countries do not act fast, we will not be able to ever catch up. And like Jie said, they will become the world's leader.
If you want to read more about this please Click Here.

Renewable Energy World. (2009) . Retrieved on November 14, 2009 from
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea//news/article/2005/03/china-passes-
renewable-energy-law-23531

More Jobs Comes With Renewable Energy

This article talks about how renewable energy can actually create more jobs than fossil fuels already do. In the recent years, renewable energy has given our country over 2.3 million people jobs. There could even be a further 2.1 million jobs for wind power, and 6.3 million jobs for solar power by the year 2030. This means that there would be an additional 20 million jobs! What a great way to invest in a more dependable and stable future. I witnessed the people affected by the recession and do not wish to witness it again.

Hydroelectric power in the U.S.

Hydroelectric energy is still being used in the United States, although the more popular energy is now coal. Hydroelectric energy still accounts for 10% of the U.S. electrical outputs. Critics wants the hydroelectric dams to be destroyed in regards to the high demands for solar and wind power. Also, they want the natural river flow back so more fishes would be restored. Critics think that, because of these dams, the fish's population have decreased. On the other hand, we have supporters of hydroelectric powers. Supporters says that hydroelectric powers reduces air pollution due to the unnecessary need to burn fossil fuels. Not just that, but it creates healthy drinking water for citizens. Another point made by supporters is that if the dams are destroyed, America would rely more on foreign oil.