america's energy challenges
DESCRIPTION
When looking at America’s long-term energy security picture, there are several critical issues that present national security challenges. Growing global demand puts price pressure on energy resources; security disruptions threaten energy supplies; price volatility saps the U.S. economy; and fossil fuels exacerbate climate change. It is a national security imperative that the United States invests in long-term R&D to develop new energy technologies. Unfortunately, current R&D funding levels are woefully inadequate – and at a time when infrastructure is crumbling around the country. The slides below outline the critical energy challenges facing America over the next several decades. With the urgent need to invest in R&D, upgrade infrastructure, and replace existing power plants that are set to retire, there is an enormous opportunity for American leadership. If America makes a national commitment to develop energy technologies to power the economy for the next-century, we can ensure stable and affordable supplies of energy, reduce greenhouse gases, and enhance U.S. energy security.TRANSCRIPT
THE PROBLEM: Energy, Security and American Leadership
The Challenges
• Growing Global Demand for Energy • Security of Energy Supplies • Economic Stability • Environmental Sustainability • Aging Infrastructure • Declining American R&D for the Future
Challenge: Growing Global Energy Demand
EIA ProjecEons:2011-‐2035 • 91% growth in Asia (ex. Japan)
• 62% growth in the Middle East
• 65% growth in Africa • 69% growth in Central and South America
• 9% increase in US
Challenge: Security of Energy Supplies
• Energy Dependence Creates Military Missions
• Oil Dependence Undermines American Foreign Policy
Challenge: Economic Instability
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Oil Price ($WTI) January 2007-‐Present
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U.S. Natural Gas Wellhead Prices (Henry Hub)
Challenge: Environmental Sustainability
• 82% of the US energy supply is fossil fuels, which produce greenhouse gases
• A changing climate is creaEng new missions for an already overstretched military.
Challenge: Declining American R&D
• Investment in basic research and development is about 2.6% of GDP – significantly less than the 3% that we held as a standard through the 1960s
• PrioriEes? – The U.S. spends more annually on a tax break for employee parking ($3.1 billion) than the Department of Energy spent on applied R&D ($2.27 billion)?
THE OPPOTUNITY:
for American Leadership and Security
Aging Energy Infrastructure
New Energy Infrastructure needed to meet rising demand
Electricity-‐GeneraEng Power Plants in the U.S.
• Over 500 Coal-‐fired Electricity Plants • 104 Nuclear Reactors • Over 1,500 Natural Gas Electricity Generators
All of these will have to be replaced or
substan5ally refi8ed before 2050 • What will replace them?
The Challenges
“by the year 1980, the United States will not be dependent on any other country for the energy we need to provide our jobs, to heat our homes, and to keep our transportaEon moving.” – President Richard Nixon, 1974
