Fossils

Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas -- currently provide more than 85% of all the energy consumed in the United States, nearly two-thirds of our electricity, and virtually all of our transportation fuels. Moreover, it is likely that the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels to power an expanding economy will actually increase over at least the next two decades even with aggressive development and deployment of new renewable and nuclear technologies.

The price of electricity increases continually due to increasing cost of fossil fuels.

According to the EIA. Approximately two-thirds of all electricity generated in the U.S. during 2005 was coal and natural gas. According to industry source Platt’s, delivered coal prices increased almost 113 percent, from $54.95/standard ton in 2004 to $117/standard ton in 2005, while the Energy Information Administration reported that natural gas prices jumped approximately 68 percent around the country over the same time period. With such substantial increases in fuel costs, it should surprise no one that electricity prices are increasing as well.

Will the Fossil Fuels fill the bill for two more decades?

They will if we are not adverse to significant rises in prices. Can we improve the current energy situation? Under the Clinton administration the US has spent several billion dollars to develop renewable energy options. So far none have been developed to the point of being economical. I don't think they ever will be. It is time that the US commit the same resources to development of the nuclear options. And this appears to starting in the Bush administration. Write your legislators and President and suggest we amplify the nuclear option. As you have seen from the Religion page in this Web site, the Religions are suggesting the US stop both the nuclear and fossil fuel options. I urge you to step to the plate and tell them this posture is ridicules. In the mean time we also need to drill for oil and natural gas in Alaska to relieve the pressure on the current prices of oil and natural gas. Also we need to construct a NG pipeline through Canada to the US.

Energy Information Administration's (EIA) cost projections for fossil fuels.

Year				Percent Change
	2003	2004	2005	2006	03-04	04-05	05-06
WTI Crude^a ($/barrel)	31.12	41.44	58.77	63.46	33.2	41.8	8.0
Gasoline^b($/gal)	1.56	1.85	2.33	2.40	18.8	25.6	3.4
Diesel^c($/gal)	1.50	1.81	2.41	2.50	20.3	33.1	3.8
Heating Oil^d ($/gal)	1.36	1.54	2.09	2.26	13.5	35.7	8.1
Natural Gas^d ($/mcf)	9.51	10.74	13.03	15.33	12.9	21.4	17.7
^a West Texas Intermediate. ^b Average regular pump price. ^c On-highway retail. ^d Residential average.

Due to the weather conditions of the hurricanes, the price of natural gas has accelerated to that of the year 2006 and may keep going. The price of gasoline has gone past the projected price of the year 2006. These prices should be mitigated some when the platforms in the gulf have been reinstalled.