America May Be Too Limited in its Energy Diversity

The most common energy sources used to power American homes include petroleum products, natural gas, and electricity from coal or hydroelectric power. These sources are used daily by citizens, and the country has invested heavily in their extraction, refinement, and delivery to ensure the nation can handle the daily energy requirements it has. Some analysts fear that the US may be too reliant on these sources and should develop new energy methods and technologies. There is a possibility that America is not yet fully utilizing its resources and can find smarter ways to use its natural gas, oil, and renewable energies.

The United States stands at the forefront of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production. LNG energy is in high demand worldwide; it's used for heating homes across Europe and Asia, and its portable nature makes it a great choice for export. Russia has traditionally been responsible for LNG production in most of the European and Asian markets, but America is developing new ships and refining technologies along with major pipelines that may allow it to close in on the virtual monopoly enjoyed by Moscow-based suppliers. At home, this likely means more jobs for utilities workers in the American energy sector, particularly in the export market.

The oil wells of the past have given way to new procedures that can extract raw petroleum from shale rock and capture the natural gas that is also often trapped in hydrocarbon-containing deposits. Recent American advancements in technology now allow the country to tap into shale formations, which the United States has in abundance, for even greater energy production. This allows the nation to use these relatively new energy sources to reduce reliance on foreign oil, which was previously blamed for various economic issues.

Workers in the American energy sector have likely encountered the push to alternative energy sources. Solar energy, wind energy, and even nuclear energy are receiving attention as ways to further diversify energy production across the nation. The nation authorized its first new nuclear power plant in three decades in 2012, and government investment in research and development of renewable energy sources continues. The addition of electricity generation capacity from these sources may help further diminish reliance on nonrenewable fuel sources.

A diverse selection of energy sources is especially important for national security. The ability of the country to function normally if one or more sources is taken offline or lost due to natural disasters or acts of aggression is paramount. Development of additional energy sources may take a large investment of time and money, but it's likely to pay off greatly once the initial facilities and transfer components are in place.

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