As we strive to deflect the United States’ dependence on foreign oil sources for energy, the question begins to arise as to whether there is truly an energy source which is completely renewable. A renewable energy source is defined as one that is continually naturally replenished, and the first forms of this energy that come to mind are typically solar and wind energy. As technology develops in both of these fields the fact remains that there are costly modifications to be made in the industries currently supplying our energy. Whether these be modifications of existing systems to coordinate with new energy sources, or construction of entirely new systems to harness and distribute the alternative energy sources, the cost considerations must include the potential longevity of the energy source.

For example, we consider the sun to be a permanent source of energy, and indeed it is for all practical purposes. The question of it’s usability becomes an issue when considering the climate changes that are occurring all over the world. While it seems that the greenhouse effect may actually work in favor of solar energy harnessing, we must also consider increases in air pollution, which disrupt the collection of solar energy, as well as the patterns of intense rain and snow which make solar cells inoperable until weather conditions are cooperative.

The use of wind energy is the fastest growing industry in renewable energy sources, and can also be dramatically altered by the effects of weather and the greenhouse effect. If the wind direction changes, how efficient will the fields of wind turbines continue to be? Will constant changes in wind shear cause the components of the turbines to age prematurely? Is it possible for the wind and weather patterns to change so abruptly that the wind farms will be rendered useless? Can we predict the life expectancy of these machines and plan ahead for the possibility of forced relocation? Of course, these are all questions which should be addressed in the planning phases of staging wind turbine farm locations.

As scientific research technology is beginning to focus more on wave energy harnessing, again we must consider the shift in weather patterns due to global warming, and the effect it may have on the oceanic levels and the directions of the currents. While the ecological impact of current redirections could be detrimental, a compounded issue with loss of energy resources would be devastating. Dramatic rises and drops in water levels due to polar ice cap depletions could result in entire reservoir dams being under water.

The questions seem extremist and paranoid, but considering the dramatic shift in weather patterns in the last thirty years, it seems evident that the climate can rapidly change. In planning for a future where the nation is independent from foreign oil and relies on domestic sources of alternative and renewable energy sources we must prepare for the contingency that dramatic shifts in weather may negatively impact our harvesting of what currently appears to be an unending renewable energy source.

As discussions and concentrated efforts continue in the United States to emphasize personal efforts to recycle and conserve energy, many question the responsibility of the state and federal government bodies to convert our current dependence on foreign oil sources for energy to cleaner alternative for domestic energy. As it turns out, although we have not heard much about it until recently, the U.S. has been preparing for an energy crisis for several decades, and has funded many programs to develop renewable energy source harnessing. Now that the impact of wasteful use of energy is becoming evident, the past research can now be implemented to resolve many of the fuel shortage problems we are all experiencing.

The United States Department of Energy is a branch of the federal government which is responsible for assuring that residential and commercial consumers of utilities are provided with a continual supply of energy at reasonable cost. There is a specific budget within the Department of Energy set aside for research and development of renewable energy sources. That is, energy sources which do not deplete a finite supply of natural resources to provide usable energy. This is not a new concept. The highest budget allotted for renewable energy development was during the energy shortage of the 1980’s, under President Jimmy Carter. When President Ronald Reagan took office, he slashed the budget by 75%, and since this time, the budget has increased and decreased according to current administration principles.

Overall, the U.S. trails both Europe and Japan in research and development of alternative and renewable energy sources. Long standing developments in solar energy and wind energy harnessing and conversion to usable electricity, are now being revisited by the domestic alternative fuel industry and require the cooperation of the state and federal government to implement the technological advances on a broad scale.

One good example of the government stepping up to the plate on the issue of renewable and alternative energy development is the continued support of Clean Cities act which was enacted in 1993 and is comprised of over 90 coalitions which strive to shift the energy infrastructure of the U.S. to use of alternative fuels in its government vehicles, and low carbon print energy consumption in government buildings. To date, more than 157,000 alternative fuel vehicles have replaced gasoline driven vehicles within the Clean Cities organization, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Program. The programs’s ultimate goal to to shift dependence on foreign oil suppliers for domestic transportation to a domestic source that dramatically reduces or eliminates harmful emissions into the environment.

By continuous cooperation between private corporations and research organizations and systematic funding by government entities, the hopes for renewed excellence in the fields of science and development will once again push the United States into the foreground of technology. The initial steps are small, and each individual has the responsibility to impact the overall conversion to renewable energy in any way he can. Corporations hold additional responsibility, as their impact on the overall environment can be more devastating and they hold the power to influence other manufacturers and suppliers to concede to alternative fuel sources such as solar and wind energy to power their manufacturing plants.