Science CAPT Lab Dylan Fischler 6/15/11

After analyzing the Energy Consumption in Connecticut graph, I have observed that Nuclear Electric energy is the most used energy source in the state. While it hasn't always been the case (19961999), the usage of this energy source has been rapidly increasing over the past 40 years. This pattern is a result of our nations large emphasis on Nuclear Energy, mainly to support self dependency, because the US is the world's largest producer of nuclear power. We alone account for more than 30% of the worldwide nuclear generation of electricity. Our second most prominent fuel source in Connecticut is Natural Gas, a non-renewable source of energy. While the country has been taking steps to greatly reduce the use of non-renewable energy like Natural Gas, Coal (Connecticut's decline in coal is very evident on the graph), and Oil, Companies such as GE have been taking large steps to making Natural Gas a renewable source of energy. Natural Gas, unlike Coal and Oil, has very few negative effects to our atmosphere. Overall, at this moment in time, we are using very little renewable energy in Connecticut. Nuclear Energy is powered by Uranium, a very scarce resource, which is estimated to last another 60 years at the most. As we begin to transition into using natural gas as a renewable form of electricity, we will begin to transition into a more environmentally conscious state. The current energy uses have mixed effects on our environment and economy. Nuclear energy can be very dangerous and risky, and produces radioactive waste, which is very harmful to our environment if not looked after very closely. Also, Nuclear Power plants are very costly to our economy, ranging from $2-$6 Billion. Natural Gas however, has a much smaller effect on our environment and economy, with very little harm to our atmosphere, and a much lower cost than Nuclear Energy. I believe Connecticut is not achieving its goal to decrease the usage of non-renewable energy because our highest used and most rapidly increasing fuel source, Nuclear Energy, is far from renewable. One area that we have succeeded in however is reducing the amount of coal used, which is also a non-renewable energy source. In the future, I believe our strongest and safest bet, is to invest in renewable natural gas technologies, because this has a very high consumption rate, and little harmful effects to the atmosphere.