Issues Surrounding Alternative Sources of Fuel - Essay Example

Issues Surrounding Alternative Sources of Fuel Introduction The evolution of man’s quest for sources of energy began at its ultimate source – the sun. Obviously, man had to utilize the earth’s natural resources to makes lives better. Wood, wind, running water were creatively utilized to provide heat, to do work, to travel and explore, to develop and produce. However, continued growth and development necessitated enormous amounts of energy sources that nearly exhausted the natural fuel sources. This inevitably resulted in search for alternative energy sources which would ensure fueling the world in the future. It is in this regard that this essay is written to determine the rationale of man’s inexhaustible quest - despite the cost, research and development involved in exploring and implementing alternative fuel sources. These sources have ultimately been proven and needed to sustain life and uphold the objective of providing a cleaner and healthier environment as a legacy to the next generations to come. To attain the aim, the essay would provide a summary of the case entitled, “Fueling the World: What Are the Alternatives for Energy?” In addition, from the perspective of the stakeholders, the essay would explore the benefits and challenges of switching to an alternative fuel sources and determine ethical and environmental issues concerning alternative fuels. Case Summary The author of “Fueling the World” emphasized the implications of continued over reliance to traditional fuel sources. An introduction of the discourse was presented by utilizing the most innovative invention of all times, the car. With all its functionality and aesthetic value, the fact remains that vehicles consume a vast amount of fuel. Elliot (2004) averred that “about 70 percent of our oil consumption is used for transportation”. The United States is identified as the biggest consumer of oil from among all the countries in the world. With this issue at hand, the author stipulated the problematic state of conventional energy sources, to wit: coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power. The source and potentials for coal remain vast but the risks to humans and to the environment are tremendous. Oil, on the other hand, is running out and the world is currently besieged by price increases due to its depleting reserves. Natural gas was found to be the most environmentally sound but is difficult to mine and to ship. Nuclear power had already achieved such notoriety despite its potentials. Having determined the state of traditional energy sources, alternative fuel sources were highlighted: hydropower, solar energy, fuel cells, and by simply engaging in energy conservation. Potentials for alternative energy sources abound. Ironically, despite man’s rapid growth and development, the most plausible alternative sources which remain to be available are the wind, tide and sun. These, according to the author, are not only renewable but perpetual. But, the greatest identified source of alternative energy is conservation which requires a substantial deal of political determination and American ingenuity. Stakeholders Identified Stakeholders are defined as persons, group, or organization that has direct or indirect stake in an organization because it can affect or be affected by the organization's actions, objectives, and policies. Key stakeholders in a business organization include creditors, customers, directors, employees, government (and its agencies), owners (shareholders), suppliers, unions, and the community from which the business draws its resources. (BusinessDictionary.com 2009) In case of identifying stakeholders for alternative fuel sources, these include governments, local and international agencies, private and public organizations that promote the utilization of energy sources (including their shareholders), supplies, and the society who benefits or are disadvantaged from the alternative energy source(s). Stakeholders Perspectives with regard to Alternative Resources To examine the issue of morality in environmental situations is the concept of rights and duties made famous by Immanuel Kant. According to Gilbert (2000), this approach is better explained, to wit: “the basic position here is that individuals have rights, either as humans, as citizens of a given country or state, or as occupants of a particular position. These right rights confer duties on others, and the morality of a given decision or act can be determined by an analysis of these rights and duties.” The rights of the concerned citizens of any nation affected with problems on sources of energy remain the protection and preservation of their natural resources to be regarded as a legacy to their children. It is a responsibility to preserve natural resources to assist in an immediate rehabilitation of the earth’s natural resources such as lands, mountain ranges and water resources to address the still impending threats and depletion due to the continued over reliance to conventional energy sources. However, the utilization of alternative energy sources with emphasis on utilizing solar energy, the tides and the wind could provide man with the following benefits. There are advantages which are clearly identified in utilizing alternative fuel sources. Among these are: (1) tax incentives, (2) reduced emissions, (3) long term cost savings and revenues from stored solar energy, (4) gets more mileage per gallon. (Bright 2009) Of course, utilization of these would help preserve the conventional energy sources. On the other hand, one of the biggest disadvantages of alternative energy is that it cannot be stored like coal and natural gas can. These alternative sources can be expensive to implement into our already set up infrastructure. Most of the alternative energy resources available today require a different type of wiring system than what we currently have in place. Further, the ease and accessibility of fossil fuels make the more expensive alternative sources more challenging to utilize. (Chapo 2007) Conclusion One relevant solution to environmentally ethical dilemma such as addressing alternative sources of energy is to call the attention of government officials to reduce government subsidy that encourage growth in high-risk natural resources areas. There are numerous conservation, recreation and civic organizations that call on local government officials to unit with their efforts and be the representative to establish a unified and coordinated government leadership for natural resource. An immediate action, specifically, conservation, is the only recourse to save our natural resources. It is time to update policies to prevent continued deterioration and unconcerned destruction of an irreplaceable natural resource. This environmentally ethical dilemma would continue to persist and put the energy sources and the natural resources in serious danger if not immediately addressed – all at the expense of our future generation. References Bright, P. (2009). Advantages of Alternative Fuels. Retrieved on August 25, 2009 from BusinessDictionary.com. (2009). Definition of Stakeholder. Retrieved August 25, 2009 from Chapo, R. (2007, April 11). Disadvantages of Alternative Energy. Retrieved August 24, 2009, from Elliott, M. (2004). “Kicking the Big-Car Habit,” Time, p. 5. Gilbert, J.T. (2000). Sorrow and Guilt: An Ethical Analysis. Retrieved August 25, 2009 from < http://www.allbusiness.com/management/543491-1.html> Read More