"Understanding the Future of Sustainable Energy"

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Challenges

Electric Power

Transportation
Small Gasoline
Coal-to-Liquid
Ethanol
Hydrogen
Battery Electric
Hybrid
Direct Electric

Future Grid of 2060

What can you do?

Transportation in  the U.S. is based on petroleum (gasoline), which has been increasing and will continue to increase in price as the world competes for limited petroleum resources.  As the price of petroleum increases, alternative modes of transportation will become economically viable.  With increased gasoline prices, people will consider transportation alternatives much more aggressively particularly if alternatives are cost effective.

In addition, to increase gas prices, changes are needed in the transportation sector to mitigate global climate change and to continue the decrease of urban pollution.  Energy requirement of the transportation sector is projected to grow and meeting transportation needs effectively is critical for the countries economic growth and prosperity. Changes in transportation from petroleum are starting to take place and will continue as technologies develop and become more economically viable. Potential transportation alternatives include small gasoline, coal-to-liquid, ethanol, hydrogen, battery electric, hybrid, and direct electric. 

Delivered energy consumption by sector, 1980-2030 (quadrillion BTU)  [Energy Information Administration/Annual Energy Outlook 2008]

Header: Boeing 747 (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Virgin_atlantic_b747-400_g-vbig_arp.jpg)