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 the debates on how to best facilitate the United States’ independence from foreign fuel sources heats up, a resurgence of the industry that helped build this country may be the catalyst to the newest generation of renewable alternative energy. Farming. Specifically, farming plants that are used in the production of fuels to take the place of gasoline. Biofuels is the general term used for fuels derived from plant sources. Specifically, a biodiesel an alternative fuel produced from soy and ethanol is a grain-based alcohol derived from corn. This advent of technology is thereby creating the need for additional farming communities as well as processing plants for converting the natural raw materials into usable fuel. For example, alternative liquid fuels used in an increasing number of cars and trucks can be extracted from switchgrass, corn, cornstalks, sugar beets or sugarcane. These crops can then be planted with the intended end use being fuel, thereby being known as “energy crops”.

Other biofuels are being developed using the waste products of other energy sources. Cattle manure, for example, is a very rich source of potential energy. Since the excrement from cattle still contains 66% of the original components of the originally ingested food grain, current research is focused on developing similar fuel sources which recycle cow manure as a raw material.

Ironically, as the United States continues to strive to advance the research, development and use of alternative and renewable fuel sources to reduce the impact of fuel uses on the environment, the biofuel industry is hostage to the weather and climate patterns which are dramatically impacted by continued global warming. Currently, the biofuel industry is suffering because of the severe weather conditions which are affecting crop production. Hopefully, the efforts to reverse the greenhouse effect of pollution emissions in the atmostphere will eventually aid in relieving the weather related plight of the American farmer. Unfortunately, the resolution will not come in a reasonable amount of time to benefit the producer or consumer.

The logical solution to the environmental problems the biofuel energy crop farmers are facing may be in the production of large scale greenhouses where climate control can be more easily managed. Government subsidized farmland is a perfect opportunity to expand the necessity for mass greenhouses, by use of commercial grants and pre-orders for energy output from utility companies.

Opponents of the bio-fuel farm crop system are not necessarily opposed to the idea of plant use in production of alternative fuels, but rather are concerned with the ratio of energy used to produce the crop and energy extracted from the crop. Studies are being conducted to gauge the relative productivity levels of one crop to another. For example, the process of growing and cultivating soybeans for production of bio-diesel is much less labor intensive than the growing and production of ethanol from corn. Therefore, bio-diesel may be a more sustainable energy source than ethanol. Research and development is also being conducted to simplify the refining processes of plant based fuels to balance the production cost with the energy output for more profitable results.