Professors speak on future of fossil fuels
Abby Harvey
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Campus News
Eighty-one percent of the energy Wisconsin uses come from fossil fuels, professor Lori Snyder said during an "Ask a Scientist" presentation at Acoustic Café in downtown Eau Claire.
Snyder presented with professor Brian Mahoney about the future of fossil fuels as a part of the "Ask a Scientist" series. The series have been running once a month since March 2007, according to a university press release.
Issues addressed included the high consumption rates of oil, coal and natural gas in the United States and the declining reserves of these resources.
"We run into this issue that we really need to consider what are we using these fossil fuels for, how much do we have left, and how are we going to deal with these … upcoming challenges with the declining recourses."
In the 50s, Snyder said, the U.S. was able to sustain itself with the coal and oil reserves in the country. While there is still enough coal to support the country for another 250 years, Snyder said, oil reserves have been all but depleted.
"We now import over 60 percent of the consumption (of crude oil and petroleum) and that has changed our role in the world," Snyder said. "It has changed our relationship with oil-rich countries."
Another issue addressed was the difficulties the country could encounter trying to change over to a more renewable energy source. Among these difficulties are the miles of pipelines and other transportation developments that would have to be restructured.
"We have developed, in this country, an enormous extensive infrastructure based on fossil fuels, this is a very important consideration when we talk about changing our ways into the future," Snyder said.
Following the presentation, audience members were encouraged to participate in a discussion with Snyder and Mahoney. Of the topics brought up by the audience, much of the conversation centered on alternative energy sources, including hydrogen power, wind power and nuclear power.
Snyder presented with professor Brian Mahoney about the future of fossil fuels as a part of the "Ask a Scientist" series. The series have been running once a month since March 2007, according to a university press release.
Issues addressed included the high consumption rates of oil, coal and natural gas in the United States and the declining reserves of these resources.
"We run into this issue that we really need to consider what are we using these fossil fuels for, how much do we have left, and how are we going to deal with these … upcoming challenges with the declining recourses."
In the 50s, Snyder said, the U.S. was able to sustain itself with the coal and oil reserves in the country. While there is still enough coal to support the country for another 250 years, Snyder said, oil reserves have been all but depleted.
"We now import over 60 percent of the consumption (of crude oil and petroleum) and that has changed our role in the world," Snyder said. "It has changed our relationship with oil-rich countries."
Another issue addressed was the difficulties the country could encounter trying to change over to a more renewable energy source. Among these difficulties are the miles of pipelines and other transportation developments that would have to be restructured.
"We have developed, in this country, an enormous extensive infrastructure based on fossil fuels, this is a very important consideration when we talk about changing our ways into the future," Snyder said.
Following the presentation, audience members were encouraged to participate in a discussion with Snyder and Mahoney. Of the topics brought up by the audience, much of the conversation centered on alternative energy sources, including hydrogen power, wind power and nuclear power.
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