Throughout just last year alone, the United States consumed a daily average of 384 million gallons of gasoline (“U.S. Energy Information Administration”). Gasoline is a type of crude oil pumped from deep underground. It is refined from fossil fuels, dead and decayed remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago, to gasoline by adding a multitude of additive chemicals such as ethanol. After the gasoline is refined, it is pumped into storage terminals so it can be loaded into trucks to be distributed. The production of gasoline has a negative economic and environmental impact on the United States and the world as a whole. In order to prevent any further negative effects, money needs to be invested into researching alternative,
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Currently, the United States relies greatly on foreign energy sources and owes large amounts of money to foreign countries; many of which are in hostile territory or have unstable political or economic environments. The U.S. Energy Information Administration stated, “In 2015, the United States imported approximately 9.4 million barrels per day of petroleum from about 82 countries” Among these countries is Saudi Arabia, a country known for its Sunni Islam ways of harsh public punishments and its restrictions on women’s role in society. As the U.S. makes deals with foreign countries, these countries become more and more industrialized and wealthy. Not only does the United States need to cut ties with unstable foreign countries, but the U.S. needs to be in control of its own debt. In their collaboration for the Wall Street Journal article “Big Oil Companies Binge on Debt” Olson and Williams state, “Exxon Mobil Corp., Royal Dutch Shell PLC, BP PLC and Chevron Corp. hold a combined net debt of $184 billion—more than double their debt levels in 2014…” Hundreds of thousands of these gas stations are found in the United States and contribute to the nation’s overall debt of $19 trillion. As other countries become more industrialized, their own consumption needs will increase, and therefore, they will increase the price of the oil the United States purchases from them or cut the export of oil off completely. The U.S. cannot rely on foreign countries for over half of its energy needs. An alternative, more environmentally friendly option that will position the United States for both environmental and economic independence and success must be
Currently, the United States relies greatly on foreign energy sources and owes large amounts of money to foreign countries; many of which are in hostile territory or have unstable political or economic environments. The U.S. Energy Information Administration stated, “In 2015, the United States imported approximately 9.4 million barrels per day of petroleum from about 82 countries” Among these countries is Saudi Arabia, a country known for its Sunni Islam ways of harsh public punishments and its restrictions on women’s role in society. As the U.S. makes deals with foreign countries, these countries become more and more industrialized and wealthy. Not only does the United States need to cut ties with unstable foreign countries, but the U.S. needs to be in control of its own debt. In their collaboration for the Wall Street Journal article “Big Oil Companies Binge on Debt” Olson and Williams state, “Exxon Mobil Corp., Royal Dutch Shell PLC, BP PLC and Chevron Corp. hold a combined net debt of $184 billion—more than double their debt levels in 2014…” Hundreds of thousands of these gas stations are found in the United States and contribute to the nation’s overall debt of $19 trillion. As other countries become more industrialized, their own consumption needs will increase, and therefore, they will increase the price of the oil the United States purchases from them or cut the export of oil off completely. The U.S. cannot rely on foreign countries for over half of its energy needs. An alternative, more environmentally friendly option that will position the United States for both environmental and economic independence and success must be