Problem 1
Suppose that a developer has proposed building a wind farm near where you live (Core Case Study). Would you be in favor of the project or opposed to it? Write a letter to your local newspaper or a blog for a website explaining your position and your reasoning. Include the concept of net energy yield in your arguments. As part of your research, determine how the electricity you use now is generated and where the power plant is located, and include this information in your arguments.
Problem 2
Should governments give a high priority to considering net energy yields when deciding what energy resources to support? What are other factors that should be considered? Which factor or factors should get the most weight in decision making? Explain your thinking.
Problem 3
Some analysts argue that in order to continue using oil at the current rate, we must discover and add to global oil reserves the equivalent of two new Saudi Arabian reserves every 7 years. Do you think this is possible? If not, what effects might the failure to find such supplies have on your life and on the lives of any children and grandchildren that you might eventually have?
Problem 4
During much of the time since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the United States and European nations fueled their economic growth by burning coal, with little effort to control the resulting air pollution. Eventually, as they became more affluent, they established air pollution standards and sought cleaner energy sources. Now China, which has been fueling its rapid economic growth largely by burning coal, says it is being asked to shift to cleaner energy resources before it becomes affluent enough to do so, even though most countries have not made such a shift. Do you think this is a fair expectation? Explain.
Problem 5
List five ways in which you unnecessarily waste energy during a typical day, and explain how these actions violate each of the three scientific principles of sustainability.
Problem 6
What do you think should be the top three energy resources? Explain. What do you think should be the three least-used energy resources? Explain.
Problem 7
Explain why you would support or oppose each of the following proposals made by various energy analysts: a. Government subsidies for all energy alternatives should be eliminated so that all energy choices can compete on a level playing field in the marketplace. b. All government tax breaks and other subsidies for conventional fossil fuels, synthetic natural gas and oil, and nuclear power (fission and fusion) should be eliminated. They should be replaced with subsidies and tax breaks for improving energy efficiency and developing renewable energy resources. c. Development of renewable energy resources should be left to private enterprise and should receive little or no help from the federal government, but the nuclear power and fossil fuels industries should continue to receive large federal government subsidies and tax breaks.
Problem 8
Congratulations! You are in charge of the world. List the five most important features of your energy policy and explain why each of them is important and how they relate to each other.
