America’s lost opportunity was so close to providing clean energy.
The United States has developed several energy projects over the years that have been halted for a myriad of reasons, but one project promised to change everything before being canceled for a bizarre reason. How the energy sector develops more power depends on the government’s input.
New and astonishing technologies have emerged for energy generation, but one specific method has been abandoned in the US. The question is why?
We need to generate more energy than ever before, but not just any source will do
America needs an inconceivable amount of energy, with data revealing the US requires roughly 93.59 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) annually.
That is approximately 16% of the total global energy consumption. Nuclear power and oil have served us well, but they are hardly sustainable, even with the recent advancements made by Bill Gates’ Natrium project, which aims to develop next-generation nuclear power that overcomes conventional nuclear energy issues.
Despite this, the reality is that the United States had the answer to our collective energy needs, but abandoned the plan due to a bizarre reason.
Decarbonization has become a major trend across the industry as the world aims to move away from the harmful fossil fuel-based energy industry into a world powered by the renewable energy sector.
But what if our energy needs could be met by our most common element, water? We had the answers, but failed to follow through.
Yes, we were able to use water to power cities. But we discarded the idea
Over the past century, oil and gas powered the world, much to the detriment of our ecosystem.
In states like Texas, Kentucky, and Virginia, natural gas was so prevalent that it was almost pouring out of the wells. This has transformed the US into the number one gas producer in the world by capacity. Recent developments in South America have led to an influx of oil as well.
Advancements in energy generation have impacted everything from bees to the fish in the ocean.
Recent blizzards and wildfires earlier last year have raised the alarm levels. As such, change is needed in the energy industry, and one method of energy generation that was planned in the 60s may have given us hope. Turning water into energy sounds like a science fiction movie plot, but it is a real possibility.
The long, winding road to energy freedom led us to Alaska.
We were about to provide energy to 5 million homes. But something happened
The Rampart Dam hydroelectric facility was the answer to our energy needs. The facility aimed to harness the untapped power of the Yukon River.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers developed a plan for the project in the 60s, but in the energy industry, not all plans come to fruition. The project would have been larger than Lake Erie if it ever made it past the planning phase.
It would have generated upwards of 5 GW of clean energy, or enough to power five million homes. Some view solar power as a waste of time, but another form of clean energy generation is needed to meet our needs.
The project was ultimately abandoned after significant backlash from the tens of thousands of Alaskans who would have been displaced if the development passed muster. It would also have submerged what is now the National Wildlife Refuge, erasing pristine and essential habitats for migratory birds and other animals.
Without the need for tidal turbines, the project could have saved the US billions by making energy from water. Following a complete feasibility study by the Army, President Jimmy Carter created the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Sanctuary, ending the plan for good, and, as it turns out, for a truly noble reason.