Burlington
High
School
Burlington,
Kansas
Teacher:
Devra
Parker
Blessed
Alternative
Fuel
By
Chris
Hall
12th
grade
America:
land
of
the
free
and
home
of
the
brave.
It’s
a
simple
description
which
every
citizen
has
heard
countless
times
throughout
his
or
her
life,
and
what
many
would
declare
to
be
the
most
important
aspect
of
our
livelihood
to
preserve.
However,
in
recent
years
events
have
come
to
pass
which
have
led
to
the
sacrifice
of
some
degree
of
these
standards.
In
order
to
keep
ourselves
happy
as
American
people,
we
find
comfort
in
our
oversized
vehicles
that
guzzle
down
gasoline
in
massive
quantities,
and
in
other
luxuries
such
as
cruises,
which
use
unfathomable
amounts
of
gas.
All
of
this
leads
to
something
which
no
proud
American
would
like
to
admit,
but
which
all
know
is
currently
taking
place.
We
are
extremely
dependent
on
foreign
oil,
and
this
dependence
has
led
us
to
be,
for
the
first
time
in
a
long
time,
not
entirely
free.
We
are
under
the
hold
of
powerful
foreign
leaders
and
countries,
which
are
so
powerful
only
because
of
their
large
reserves
of
oil,
which
they
oh-so-generously
dole
out
to
us
in
acceptable
amounts.
We
are
in
the
grip
of
these
powerful
oil-land
owners,
and
something
must
be
done
about
it.
However,
it’s
not
just
about
gas.
As
a
people,
we
need
to
bravely
step
forward
in
our
energy
usage,
becoming
more
efficient
and
more
wisely
using
our
precious
resources.
We
must
explore
the
frontiers
of
energy
usage,
and
there
is
a
bill
which
can
help
us
do
all
of
this.
The
Energy
Policy
Act
of
2005
aims
to
move
our
America
in
a
more
effective
and
self-sufficient
energy
direction.
One
of
the
main
goals
that
this
bill
will
accomplish
is
to
reduce
our
energy
from
other
countries
and
increase
our
energy
production
here
in
the
states.
This
will
be
done
by
increasing
our
use
of
other
domestic
energies
and
domestic
oil.
The
many
methods
of
going
about
this
offered
by
the
Energy
Policy
Act
are
staggering.
Some
of
those
mentioned
as
domestic
energies
include
geothermal,
coal,
oil,
gas,
nuclear
power,
hydropower,
and
hydrogen.
Trillions
of
barrels
of
oil
could
also
be
extracted
from
oil
shale
and
tar
sands
here
in
America.
In
addition,
the
bill
mentions
Indian
energy,
which
in
itself
is
comprised
of
wind
energy,
geothermal
energy,
solar
power,
hydropower,
and
also
oil,
gas,
and
coal
energy.
If
we
make
use
of
even
a
fraction
of
these
as
stated
in
the
bill,
then
that’s
that
much
less
we
rely
on
imported
energy.
The
methods
by
which
new
energy
will
be
created
using
our
nation’s
power
are
numerous
and
intelligently
crafted.
New
regulations
make
what
we
have
more
efficient
and
maximize
the
potential
of
our
energy
resources.
For
example,
hydropower
could
be
put
to
a
much
higher
level
of
use.
The
bill
points
out
that
hydroelectric
dams
are
America’s
largest
renewable
energy
source
and
that,
as
a
nation,
we
could
get
much
more
out
of
them.
With
the
possibilities
introduced
in
this
bill,
providing
for
the
improvement
of
regulations
on
the
dams,
while
sustaining
a
healthy
environment,
we
could
take
input
from
whoever
has
an
interest
in
the
matter
and
create
a
new
system
with
improved
functioning.
As for the problem of foreign oil, the bill…attacks that issue with gusto. It is well known that hydrogen-powered cars, while seeming like a futuristic possibility, are, in fact, possible. Once they can be produced cheaply, an affordable hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle would have zero emission, expelling water vapor. Not only is this a great step in the fight to get off of foreign oil, but it is also easy on the environment. The role this bill plays in the hydrogen car world is that it creates a hydrogen research program to design hydrogen cars. This program would work with universities, federal labs, and auto manufacturers. It has been found that if a mere 20 percent of vehicles made use of fuel cell technology, our imports of oil would be reduced drastically by around 1.5 million barrels daily.
Thus,
it
seems
obvious
that
the
Energy
Policy
Act
of
2005
is
definitely
a
step
in
the
right
direction.
Maybe
someday
our
country
can
move
to
an
eventual
goal
of
100
percent
American-produced
energy.
However,
for
now,
the
progress
towards
home
made
fuel
such
as
ethanol,
hydrogen
or
solar
power
presented
in
this
bill
will
have
to
do,
and
is
vastly
better
than
the
current
situation.
A
bill
such
as
this
truly
shows
what
Americans
can
be
capable
of
if
they
set
their
minds
to
it.
Research
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061026/AUTO01/610260347/1148. 1. Slight pro reform bias.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/altfuel/altfuels.html. 5. Heavy pro reform bias.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/current.shtml. 5. Heavy pro reform bias.
http://www.altfuels.com/. 3. Heavy pro reform bias.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_fuel. 1. Slight pro reform bias.
Questions
Based
on
Required
Reading
Q1- Gassahol is a byproduct exclusively from alcohol fuel and gasoline whereas cellulosic ethanol can be produced from agricultural waste such as corn stover, cereal straws and sugarcane.
Q2- Why did auto makers produce cars that could operate using ethanol as well as gasoline before there was an adequate number of service stations that could provide ethanol?
Auto makers produced cars that could operate using ethanol to get a break from fuel economy standards.
Q3- When were the first cars produced that were capable of using ethanol?
The first cars capable of using ethanol were produced in 1979.
Q4- In a paragraph, describe Brazil’s experience with ethanol. What did the Fortune article claim was Brazil’s key to success?
Brazil has experienced great success in converting its fuel usage from gasoline to ethanol. Brazil is an ideal country for producing its own ethanol, given its sugarcane crop, which is one of the world’s largest. Much of Brazil’s success can be attributed to the fact that its citizens are choosing to switch over to ethanol, and not being forced.
Q5- What is the significance of a yellow gas cap?
Yellow gas caps are being used by GM in a marketing campaign to draw attention to E85 and the company’s E85 ready vehicles.
Q6- Describe bio-diesel.
Bio-diesel is a processed fuel that is derived from biological sources. It is a diesel equivalent that can be used in diesel engine vehicles.
Q7- Explain the term “flex-fuel engine”. What American auto manufacturer introduced the first prototype of a flex-fuel engine?
A flex fuel engine is an engine designed to run on either gasoline or ethanol, and it was first introduced by Ford.
Q8- Trace the progress of H.R. 6 for viewers to our web site. (dates introduced, amended, pass or rejected) http://www.eei.org/industry_issues/electricity_policy/federal_legislation/index.htm
It was first introduced in the House of Representatives on April 18 2005, where it was put into committee until it was passed by the House on April 21. It then moved to the Senate, where it was introduced on June 9, and passed on June 28. The Bill was presented to President Bush on August 4, and he signed it on August 8.
Q9- What is the purpose of the fuel hybrid vehicle commercialization initiative?
The purpose of this initiative is to modify the hybrid vehicle by creating new technology to improve its functioning.
Q10- What is the nation's largest renewable energy resource?
America’s largest renewable energy resource are hydroelectric dams.
Q11- What is the purpose of the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative?
The purpose of the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative is to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. This would be done by developing new technology that would make hydrogen powered fuel cells marketable and available.
Q12- List seven items mentioned in the 2005 energy tax bill that taxpayers can claim as credits against their tax bills.
Solar powered water heating systems, contractors who build energy efficient new homes, a new hybrid gas electric car or truck, businesses who buy hybrid vehicles, businesses who install solar power energy cells, energy efficient appliances, and energy efficient windows or insulation can all be clamed as credit.