Susquehanna Valley Center Unveils Alternative Energy Reports

In the summer of 2006, the Susquehanna Valley Center began an extensive analytical research project that examined what the net costs would be to use alternative energy sources in the United States to equal the daily amount of foreign oil that the U.S. currently imports. The findings to be presented here will show what the alternative energy sources are, how usuable and functional energy can be tapped from these sources, the costs involved to achieve this usuable energy, the pros and cons of each source, and provide current examples of where these sources are currently being used or have been used in the past.

In his January 2007 State of the Union address, President Bush set a national goal of replacing more than 75% of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. With America on the verge of breakthroughs in advanced energy technologies, the best way to break the addiction to foreign oil is through new technology. Since 2001, we have spent nearly $10 billion to develop cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable altnerative energy sources.

Susquehanna Valley Center researchers have examined a variety of alternative energy sources. Among these are: ethanol; butanol; biodiesel; coal; solar; sea solar; waste to energy; tidal; geothermal; wind; nuclear; and hydrogen. The pros and cons of each possible source are explored as well as the following analysis is provided: how it is currently used (or used in past), as well as providing examples and the effectiveness; the costs to obtain the energy source will be projected; projected time taken to be brought on line; the most efficient use of fuel produced; and the projections of most effective placements in US for alternative energy sources.

The ultimate goal of this research is to show what viable alternative energy sources are presently available in the United States that can lessen our country’s reliance on foreign oil and thereby lead to greater energy independence.

The complete reports are available under the Policy Reports section and Alternative Energy Reports section.