Fossil Fuels and National Energy Policy
The question what to do about the nation’s energy, fossil fuels, and renewable resources has been on the forefront for the majority of my life. ... They preached that we use too much oil; we are polluting our earth, and that there are alternative sources of energy that we are not using or developing. ... Now that our country is faced with hostility with the world’s biggest oil producers, the politicians in Washington have once again place the energy questions on the front burner in order to avoid another energy crisis like the one in the 70’s. ... Bush administration offered in 2001 their national policy on energy, and in 2002 Senator John Kerry presented his opinion his counter opinion on which direction the country should go on the energy question. ... NATURE OF THE ARGUMENT Energy Secretary Abraham made a speech to the National Petroleum Council where he laid out the Bush administration’s energy policy. Abraham clearly states that the nation is in an energy crisis, but he says that it is not a scarcity issue. ... Abraham states that the problem lies in the “enormous amount of energy [used] in this nation. And yet we are reluctant to do the things that need to be done to maintain a secure supply of energy” (Hird 408). ... There then becomes an extreme possibility of increased prices and a threat of being cut off from Middle Eastern and OPEC supplies, Abraham and the Bush policy offer a plan that gives a solution for all of the American energy challenges (Cummins A-2). The Bush policy is intended to be long-term, comprehensive, balanced, and reaches every aspect including the environment security and a search for new energy sources. ... energy crisis can be solved. According to Senator Kerry the energy problem lies in the fact that “alternatives, renewables, efficiencies, clean technologies, global warning, clean air, have met with only occasional, marginal success” (Hird 417). He however never states the United States energy problem is a crisis, like the Energy Secretary did. Kerry does feel that America needs to gain more energy security.