Energy_EN_1 - Bulgaria

The development of modern civilization has been dependent on both the availability and the advancement of energy. We have witnessed a progression from animal and steam power, to the internal combustion engine and electricity generation and to the harnessing of alternative sources of energy. Because of our reliance on energy sources, it is also important to understand the effects of energy use on the environment. All aspects of energy the way it is produced, distributed, and consumed can affect local, regional, and global environments through land use and degradation, air pollution, the acidification of water and soils, and through global climate change via greenhouse gas emissions.
The majority of our energy stems from fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas; yet, the burning of these fuels is a large source of carbon dioxide emissions which contributes to the greenhouse effect. Coal is dominant in the production of electricity, while oil is the world's primary transportation fuel. Natural gas use, most commonly for heating, is growing quickly; however, while cleaner and less carbon intensive than coal and oil, natural gas also emits significant amounts of carbon dioxide.
While fossil fuels will remain our largest source of energy for the foreseeable future, they are ultimately finite resources. With concern over domestic supply and reliance on foreign supplies, increasing costs and environmental impacts, there is an increasing push to utilize alternative fuel sources.
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and could be an important factor in our energy future since it can both carry and store energy. As such, hydrogen can be used in a wide variety of applications, from portable devices and stationary sources to transportation vehicles through the use of fuel cells, with the only byproducts being water and heat. Yet, while it can be manufactured from renewable energy sources, the majority of hydrogen is produced by processing fossil fuels which emit pollutants in the process. A significant challenge in the availability of hydrogen energy is the large amount of energy fossil, nuclear, hydro that will be needed to generate the hydrogen.
Nuclear energy provides nearly a fifth of the world's electricity without harmful by-products. Yet, concern over safe storage and disposal of radioactive waste, along with the potential for accidents, radiation contamination and exposure continues. This concern, along with those opposed to nuclear energy, has blocked its advancement as a practical and sustainable energy source.
Between increasing costs and concern over the environmental effects related to fossil fuel use, and controversy over the use of nuclear power, research and development in the area of renewable sources of energy continues to flourish. These sources wind, solar, geothermal, and water have been used in one form or another for many centuries, but require additional advancement before they can become cost-competitive with conventional energy sources. They also face the challenge of providing sufficient amounts of electricity to be a meaningful contributor to our growing power needs.
The 2005 Energy Policy Act established a practical approach toward energy development and energy independence for the country. In late 2007, Congress passed another energy bill which will increase CAFE (fuel economy) standards, implement a Renewable Fuels Standard, and seek to improve America’s energy efficiency. However, rather than providing significant economic and environmental benefits, some believe it is a politically-motivated measure that fails to take into consideration economic and market forces.