Fossil fuels seem to be one of the current topics of debate, but it is not a new debate. We have been using fossil fuels for centuries. If we think about it a little, without fossil fuels modern society would not have developed to its current state. So the real question is, what is the future of fossil fuels, and do they still have a beneficial role in society?
My answer is yes, they do.
Some people say that fossil fuels are ruining the climate. But when we think of energy and the environment, which includes our climate, it is important to look at the whole picture and consider the benefits of fossil fuels, as well as the adverse effects. Looking at the whole picture, we may find that we still need fossil fuels, and that there are many benefits to not getting rid of them just yet.
Earth’s Livability
The benefits of fossil fuels could be measured by Earth’s livability if they suddenly disappeared. The earth is a challenging place to live — in fact, it can be a dangerous place to live. Without the use of machinery to help us produce food and build houses, apartments, and freeways, we could find life very difficult.
Life without Electricity
A lot of our electricity is created by burning fossil fuels. And currently, no other form of energy can produce the electricity we need in the quantity we need — which is a lot.
To envision how much a lot of electricity is, imagine living with only six or eight hours of electricity a day. Would your refrigerator keep things cold enough, or would things spoil? What about cooking that dinner you planned? You couldn’t even go out to eat!
But electricity generated by fossil fuels is more than a mere pleasantry. Hospitals also use a lot of this electricity. Just imagine if doctors could only use electricity for, say, three or four hours a day. Suppose part of the way through your surgery the lights went out or the oxygen stopped. Will you wish we used fossil fuels then?
Another big user of electricity produced by fossil fuels is air conditioning. In 1910 the population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was 100 people. With the invention of air conditioning, the city boomed so it is now over 600,000. In many areas of our world, people would not survive without air conditioning. So, in this way, fossil fuels actually help to combat climate change.
Finally, more and more people each year are switching to electric cars, but how is that electricity made? Those people might be disappointed to find that electric cars also depend on electricity generated by fossil fuels. Does switching to an electric car accomplish anything in saving the planet? A little bit, but not without burning some of those hated fossil fuels.
So you see, even if we switch to electricity, we can’t do it without some dependence on fossil fuels. Losing fossil fuels means losing valuable electricity, and that is a switch we just can’t make right now, especially because many of our modern machines rely on low cost, reliable energy that can reach billions of people throughout the world.
Renewable Alternatives
At this point some of you might be wondering, “But what about renewable alternatives?”
Unfortunately, there is no renewable energy source that comes close to the benefit fossil fuels give us today. Nuclear energy comes closest, but some of the same people who hate fossil fuels also dislike nuclear energy.
Wind farms might seem like a viable alternative (windy as it is in Southern Utah), but they still use fossil fuels in their operations.
Wind farms also have other environmental consequences. According to studies reported in the book Fossil Future, by Alex Epstein, the blades are made of toxic fiberglass which are buried in landfills in Wyoming when they are no longer usable. They are not biodegradable. Each windmill has to spin for seven years to replace the energy it took to make just the turbine. It also had to last for 50 years to pay for the cost of manufacture and installation. And what about the birds? Wind power just costs more than it pays.
Of all our sources of energy, hydro, nuclear and fossil fuels are the only three that can pay for themselves without government subsidies. Maybe in the future, geothermal will be a viable option but that remains to be seen. For now maybe we need more fossil fuels.
So, Yes, Fossil Fuels Are Still Beneficial
Through the years people have learned to adapt to climate change largely with the help of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels did not take a safe planet and make it dangerous; they took a dangerous planet and made it safe.
We live on a beautiful planet, and we all want to keep it this way. In order to understand the steps needed to do that, sometimes we need to look at the big picture. For now fossil fuels need to be a part of that big picture.
– The Byway
Feature image courtesy National Wildlife Federation.
Read more about fossil fuels versus renewables in Energy Independence: Pitting Oil Against Renewables.
Read about Utah’s use of fossil fuels and how that connects to energy bills in Utah Ranks 1st for Lowest Energy Bills.