By Adam Piner and Katherine Hales

College Republicans

Participatory Politics

As Thomas Paine put it, "Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." Thomas Paine also reminded us that each person has a natural right to sit and discuss at that first table. And so we control who runs our government, and we choose who guides the policy. But sitting at the table requires having an opinion and participating in the process. So let's talk a little bit about one issue: Energy. Energy Policy is still a national security issue. We are in the age of energy wars: the recent Russian aggression in South Ossettia was all about the pipeline, and now we have rogue nations seeking nuclear development and desiring the added threat of becoming death, the destroyer of worlds. Oppenheimer would cringe.

Check Out My Hybrid

This isn't just about conserving, or buying a hybrid - though neither of those are bad ideas. This is about increasing our overall energy supply. This is about increasing the available American energy supply. As an "all of the above" conservative, I believe we need more non-CO2-producing nuclear, clean coal, oil shale, drilling, wind, tide and solar energy to increase our overall energy independence. This lessens the risk of being held hostage by energy tyrants. Think OPEC in 1973.

Oil From A Rock

OK, so how does Utah fit into this? Two words: oil shale. About 2.6 trillion barrels exist worldwide, and at least 1.5 trillion, yes trillion, barrels of this enormous reserve exists right here in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado, and until recently has been blocked from exploration. To put that in context, a 1,200 square mile area of western Colorado potentially holds more oil than three times the proven reserves in Saudi Arabia. Oil shale exploration and production is the key to our energy independence.

Eskimo Energy

More than 75 percent of the local Alaskans support careful energy exploration in ANWR, including the Inupiat Eskimos who live in ANWR's coastal area and have been stewards of the land. New technology now allows us to drill with a small footprint, 2,000 acres, the size of a small regional airport. The last major Arctic oil field took just seven years to bring online, and the companies themselves project it can be done in five years - that's half of the 10 years critics claim. It's projected that ANWR has 30 years worth of oil and gas supplies.

All Of The Above

America needs to take an "all of the above" approach to become energy independent. So my questions to you: Do you know where you stand on these issues? Do you get involved or vote? Or do you just think politics is too divisive to bother? It is your natural right as a citizen to form and express your opinion to your representatives. Voting is the strongest form of expression.

College Democrats

Protecting our world's resources

In recent years an increasing emphasis has been placed on conserving energy and finding new sources of energy. It's apparent by the price we have to pay for gas and the constant worries about how and where to drill that our current source of energy just isn't going to cut it in the long run. Many people like to think that the answer to our energy woes is just to find more places to drill for oil and more effective ways to use the oil we have, but the real answer to the energy problem is to move away from the methods we're currently using and to find new ways to fuel our lives.

Oil currently accounts for more than 40 percent of total energy demands in the United States, and fossil fuels in general produce 85 percent of our energy. Not only are these sources non-renewable, but they also largely come from outside of the United States and have a detrimental effect on our environment. With all the negative effects of our heavy oil and fossil fuel consumption, it seems backward that we still focus so heavily on these sources for our energy needs.

The beauty of alternative energy sources is where they come from. With the technology we have today, we can use energy from the sun, wind, ocean tides, dams and the heat of the earth, among others. These sources are set apart from oil in the fact that they can never be depleted, no matter how extensively we use them. We could use solar power from now until the end of the world and never use up all the energy that comes from the sun. These types of energies focus on tapping into energy that's always there, always available for our use. Not only does this mean we don't have to worry about it ever running out, but we also can get this energy on our own, without having to depend on other countries to do it for us. Another beautiful advantage to these sources of energy is that they do not release pollution. To reap the energy out of fossil fuels, including petroleum and coal, it is necessary to burn them, releasing millions of tons of undesirable byproducts such as carbon dioxide (which many believe to be the leading cause of global warming), sulfur dioxide (which causes acid rain), and nitrogen oxides (which lead to the formation of ozone or smog.)

In contrast to this, the negative environmental effects of alternative, "clean" energies are mostly related to possible changes to animal habitats, which also happen every time a house is built. Hydroelectric dams especially can affect the ecosystem of the river on which they are employed, and windmills have been accused of having an effect on the migratory patterns of birds. As with any human activity, it is not reasonable to believe that we will be able to eliminate any effect that we might have on the natural environment, but by focusing on sources with less direct association with natural ecosystems, such as solar and tide energy, and increasing research and funding, any negative effects can be kept to a minimum.

What really needs to be done to increase the efficiency and extent of clean energy sources is simply to make a commitment. The federal government needs to increase funding to the development of renewable energy sources, and make sure that there are definite regulations regarding what amounts of emissions should be allowed by large corporations or vehicles. Currently only 7 percent of U.S. energy is provided by renewable sources. With the right funding and commitment, this number could be increased drastically in a relatively short amount of time, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, reducing pollutants in the air and water and giving us the promise of energy sustainability in the future.

Copyright Brigham Young University 30 Oct 2008