Power Surge

The PBS documentary “Power Surge” discusses modern energy uses and the energy issues that our society faces. They propose several possible solutions to the energy crisis. Coal mines are a good place to start when discussing these the energy crisis; coal can be up to 86% carbon and is a key contender when considering pollution from carbon emissions.

There isn’t one simple solution for the energy crisis. Stephen Pacala, an environmental biologist at Princeton University, has come up with a “wedge theory” to break up the task of freezing production of harmful emissions. In this theory, the total amount of carbon dioxide pollution that must be removed is represented by the stabilization triangle shown in Figure 1. This triangle is broken up into seven pieces, each representing 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide. The red, green, yellow, and blue wedges represent technologies that could fill in the triangle.

Figure 1: Stabilization Triangle

These technologies can be grouped into four different categories: efficiency, nuclear power plants, cleaning coal plants, and harnessing the sun. Efficiency is the easiest and cheapest method, dealing with increasing the efficiency standards of appliances, cars, buildings, etc. Nuclear power plants represent a wedge if the number of plants triple in fifty years. Cleaning coal plants is done by collecting carbon dioxide emissions and burying them underground; however this is expensive and would increase the price of coal usage. Harnessing the sun is powerful and can be used towards solar power, wind power, biofuels, and other sources of renewable energy. China is a leader in solar power, and Zhengrong Shi, the C.E.O. of Suntech, is largely responsible; twelve years ago, it would have taken Suntech an entire year to produce what the company can now turn out in two days. Shi has been working continuously on improving solar power efficiency and decreasing the cost of solar power.

            I agree that there is not one universal solution to the energy crisis; many technologies and methods are needed to resolve such a widespread issue. There are many different and innovative types of renewable energy, they only need to be implemented and integrated into peoples’ lives and into society. The wedge theory proposed by Pacala is a good way to visualize the many ways to remedy the energy crisis in society today.

            The impact these proposals have on the environment is generally beneficial. However, methods such as capturing and burying carbon dioxide emissions are most likely not sustainable and will have serious repercussions in the future. Technologies for solar power are overall helpful in reducing carbon emissions, but the effort of making solar panels, wind turbines, and other apparatus’ must also be taken into account. The economy will benefit by the addition of new jobs and added investments and loans into new, innovative technologies. One additional issue with society is the current apathy. People need to be made aware of the issues with fossil fuels and the energy crisis in general. There have been attempts at increasing general awareness. Many documentaries have been released, such as Chasing Ice, a film that shows the rapid melting of ice glaciers in the northern regions; movies such as Beasts of the Southern Wild have shown through storytelling the impact on communities of ice glaciers melting and ocean levels rising; and many energy companies are stressing the importance of efficiency and using renewable energy when possible.