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Our reliance on fossil fuels is a serious problem that, if not dealt with soon, could cause irreversible and disastrous problems. As Earth’s supply of oil diminishes, further exploration of alternative energy needs to be stressed. Unlike petroleum, certain alternative energy sources like wind and solar are virtually infinite and, with funding by the government to switch to such a source, quite possibly more efficient as well. It would help to lessen the damage oil pollutants have been causing to the ozone layer and the ecosystem and would be beneficial to our economy as well. People take for granted the oil available to them, and although it has been well known for many years that an oil crisis could occur soon, not much has been organized to prepare for it. The Bush administration recently proposed to spend $1.2 billion on hydrogen research over the next five years, but they also proposed to increase domestic production of fossil fuels to generate electricity, power cars, and produce hydrogen itself (CQ Researcher). More needs to be done, or else we may find ourselves unprepared for a world without oil.
As enormous as Earth seems, its supply of oil and fossil fuels will inevitably run out, forcing onto us a necessary switch to something else, such as wind or solar energy, both renewable. According to some projections, oil reserves on Earth will officially run out in about 41 years (askquestions.org). When ready oil supplies begin to decline, the world will see a catastrophic situation take place. Two years ago, the price of a barrel of oil was about $28, whereas now, it is up to $51 per barrel. The Energy Information Administration predicts oil prices will decline to $25 a barrel in 2010 as new supplies reach the market but then climb to $52 a barrel by 2025, which some environmentalists say is a huge understatement (CQ Researcher). It is a simple concept that is not difficult to understand. As population increases, so will the demand for...