How We Can Move Towards Energy Sustainability – Research Proposal

Background

A discussion of a sustainable energy future must include a discussion of the three dimensions of sustainability – environmental, protecting our resources; economic, maintaining a strong economic system; and, social, the continued health, safety and welfare of our people.

The potential for catastrophic climate change impacts all three of these dimensions, demanding that the U.S. move towards a sustainable energy future by embracing energy sources with little or no carbon impact. But such a transition will require significant technological adaptations, particularly in storage and transmission. Storage is critical, given the intermittent nature of many renewable energy sources such as wind power. The economic challenge is to produce storage solutions at a lower cost than the refinement of fossil fuels. Secondly, the grid was not created with renewables in mind. Overhaul of the grid and building hundreds of thousands of miles of transmission lines would be an economic, environmental and political nightmare. One possible solution is to increase the utilization of distributed energy, renewable energy produced locally by small, and even individual, producers.

Research Questions

Given the reality of climate change, what sustainable energy sources are viable at this time? What are the current impediments to their increased usage and how might those impediments be addressed? Would increasing the use of distributed power help move the U.S. towards a sustainable energy future?

Policy Implications of the Study. The study will inform the policymaker on the possible alternatives available for the USA to achieve sustainable energy use. This will be crucial to decision making organs on the issue pertaining to sustainable energy in the USA to refer to hence making an informed decision relation to sustainable energy future policy formulation.

Conceptual Framework

I will interpret existing research in light of my research questions.

References

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