The Federal Governments Effect on Renewable Energy in the United State

The Federal Government's Effect on Renewable Energy in the United States In an article posted by Reuters on October 24, 2006, the global conservation group, formerly known as the WWF, stated that â€Å"humans are stripping nature at an unprecedented rate and will need two planets' worth of natural resources every year by 2050 on current trends† (Blanchard). The report indicates that, if every other country were to use the same amount of energy as America does, five planets worth of resources would be needed to support the world. America, as one of the largest consumer countries of energy, has been making attempts to implement methods for using alternate energy sources in order to preserve the already dwindling resources of its environment. Although many advances have been made in alternate and renewable energy research, one major factor appears to stand in the way of its development: the federal budget. President George W. Bush and his administration have been making budget cuts in solar and other renewable energy programs due to the pro grams’ lack of popularity in the marketplace and little success in research and developmental advancements throughout the years. However, many advocate groups for the use of renewable energy blame the field’s slow advancement on the lack of funding it is being allotted by the federal government. Without interest, the government will not increase funding, but without funding, the opportunity for interest to expand is minimal. The question of why the federal government has allowed outside interest groups to play an influential role on the decisions it makes regarding the nation’s environmental well being comes into play, as the American public’s national opinion continues to be overlook... ...r Beyond Planet's Means: WWF." Reuters News Service. 24 Oct. 2006. 24 Oct. 2006. n.pag. Doggett, Tom. â€Å"UPDATE 2-Bush budget cuts solar, renewable energy programs.† Reuters New. 9 April 2001. 1-4. Morris, S.C. â€Å"Coal Conversion Technologies: Some Health and Environmental Effects.† Science Magazine. 206. 4419 (1979): 654-662. O'Neill, Brian C. and Michael Oppenheimer. â€Å"Climate Change: The Untold Story.† 13 Sept. 2006. Greenpeace UK. 15 Oct. 2006. 1971-1972. . Skylar, Scott and Kenneth Sheinkopf. Consumer Guide to Solar Energy. Chicago: Bonus Books, 2002. 2-24. "U.S. Public Favors Use of Renewable Energy." Xinhua New Agency. 3 Nov. 1998. 2 Oct. 2006. n.pag. The Federal Government's Effect on Renewable Energy in the United State The Federal Government's Effect on Renewable Energy in the United States In an article posted by Reuters on October 24, 2006, the global conservation group, formerly known as the WWF, stated that â€Å"humans are stripping nature at an unprecedented rate and will need two planets' worth of natural resources every year by 2050 on current trends† (Blanchard). The report indicates that, if every other country were to use the same amount of energy as America does, five planets worth of resources would be needed to support the world. America, as one of the largest consumer countries of energy, has been making attempts to implement methods for using alternate energy sources in order to preserve the already dwindling resources of its environment. Although many advances have been made in alternate and renewable energy research, one major factor appears to stand in the way of its development: the federal budget. President George W. Bush and his administration have been making budget cuts in solar and other renewable energy programs due to the pro grams’ lack of popularity in the marketplace and little success in research and developmental advancements throughout the years. However, many advocate groups for the use of renewable energy blame the field’s slow advancement on the lack of funding it is being allotted by the federal government. Without interest, the government will not increase funding, but without funding, the opportunity for interest to expand is minimal. The question of why the federal government has allowed outside interest groups to play an influential role on the decisions it makes regarding the nation’s environmental well being comes into play, as the American public’s national opinion continues to be overlook... ...r Beyond Planet's Means: WWF." Reuters News Service. 24 Oct. 2006. 24 Oct. 2006. n.pag. Doggett, Tom. â€Å"UPDATE 2-Bush budget cuts solar, renewable energy programs.† Reuters New. 9 April 2001. 1-4. Morris, S.C. â€Å"Coal Conversion Technologies: Some Health and Environmental Effects.† Science Magazine. 206. 4419 (1979): 654-662. O'Neill, Brian C. and Michael Oppenheimer. â€Å"Climate Change: The Untold Story.† 13 Sept. 2006. Greenpeace UK. 15 Oct. 2006. 1971-1972. . Skylar, Scott and Kenneth Sheinkopf. Consumer Guide to Solar Energy. Chicago: Bonus Books, 2002. 2-24. "U.S. Public Favors Use of Renewable Energy." Xinhua New Agency. 3 Nov. 1998. 2 Oct. 2006. n.pag.