Renewable Energy: Current and Potential Issues

Abstract
The United States faces energy shortages and increasing energy prices within the next few decades (Duncan 2001). Coal, petroleum, natural gas, and other mined fuels provide 75% of US electricity and 93% of other US energy needs (USBC 2001). On average, every year each American uses about 93,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh), equivalent to 8000 liters of oil, for all purposes, including transportation, heating, and cooling (USBC 2001). About 12 kWh (one liter of gasoline) costs as much as $0.50, and this cost is projected to increase significantly in the next decade (Schumer 2001).