American energy for America's future : the role of the U.S. Department of the Interior

2004·3.4 MB·English

by  United States. Bureau of Land Management

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He^ri America's Future
The Role of the U.S. Department of the Interior
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Introduction
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The way oflife that we Americans take for granted world. It is vital to our national economic and 5
every day depends upon a stable and abundant military security.
supply ofaffordable energy. Energy shortages
can quickly affect our everyday lives and harm As the American economy has grown, so has our
our national economy. No other factor, short ofa demand for energy. Our energy use increased nearly
terrorist attack or a major war, can affect our lives 20 percent during the economic boom ofthe 1990s.
as pervasively and as quickly as an energy crisis. In 2002, Americans consumed nearly 98 quadrillion
Btus ofenergy (about 1 million Btus every day for
We are totally dependent on energy. It keeps our every man, woman, and child). Fortunately, our
homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. investments in energy efficient technologies have
Energy is critical to producing, processing, begun to have an effect. Although our economy
transporting, preparing, and preserving our food. has grown by 126 percent since 1972, our energy
It powers our communication and computing use has increased by only 30 percent. Still, energy
networks. Energy allows us to move people and experts predict that our energy use will increase 40
goods safely and quickly to all corners ofthe percent by 2025.
So,WhatlsaBtu?
A Btu or Britishthermal unitisa measureofenergy. One Btu istheamountofenergy
requiredto raisethetemperatureofone pound ofwater (aboutone pint) exactlyone
degree Fahrenheit. So,ifyou heatone pintofwaterfrom 100degreesto200degrees
to maketwocupsofmorning coffee,youwill use 100 Btus. Everyelectricapplianceand
light bulb in ourhomes usesenergywhen it ison. Forthis reason,theaverage single-
familyresidence in America consumesa little morethan 100 million Btusofenergyper
year. America'saveragedailyenergyconsumption isaboutone million Btusforevery
man,woman,and child inthecountry.
To put Btus in perspective,1 billion Btus istheenergycontained in approximately
971,000cubicfeetofnatural gasorthegas used in 11 averageAmerican homes in one
year. Onetrillion Btus isthe energycontained in 7.5 million gallons ofgasoline,and one
quadrillion Btus istheenergycontained in 40 milliontonsofcoal. Becauseour national
energyuse is so large,we must measure it in quadrillion (1015) Btus.
As our energy use has increased, so has our need originates from lands managed by the Department
to import energy resources from foreign countries. ofthe Interior. Development ofour domestic energy
This is especially true for crude oil, from which we resources provides America many benefits: energy
make the fuels for our automobiles, trucks, trains, to support our economy and national security,
ships, aircraft, and other products such as plastics, high-payingjobs, and contributions to our national
fertilizers, paints, and medicines. Today, we import treasury.
58 percent ofthe oil we use. Energy experts predict
that we will import 70 percent ofthe oil we use in The Department's contribution to domestic energy
2025. Our rapidly increasing use ofnatural gas to production is made principally through five of
heat and cool our homes, generate electricity, and its Bureaus. The Bureau of Land Management
provide raw materials for chemicals and fertilizer administers more than 261 million surface acres of
will also require that we double our imports ofthis public lands and 700 million acres ofsubsurface
critical energy resource by 2025. mineral estate (Federal land beneath surface lands
owned or managed by other parties, such as the
Except for oil, America has abundant energy USDA Forest Service). The Minerals Management
resources. America has large reserves ofnatural gas Service manages the development ofenergy and
and coal. We are also developing alternative energy mineral resources on the outer continental shelf
sources such as hydropower, wind, geothermal, (OCS) lands beneath the oceans along our coasts.
biomass, and solar. These energy resources can The Bureau ofReclamation produces electricity
be produced to support our continued economic from many ofthe dams under its supervision.
growth and our national security in a manner that The Office ofSurface Mining Reclamation and
also protects our environment. All Americans can Enforcement works with States and Indian Tribes to
contribute to the energy situation by using energy regulate coal mining. The Bureau ofIndian Affairs
wisely and not wasting it. assists Indian Tribes in developing their energy and
mineral resources. In addition to these five Bureaus,
The U.S. Department ofthe Interior is a significant the U.S. Geological Survey studies, inventories, and
contributor to America's energy supplies. About maps onshore energy resources.
one-third ofall energy produced in America
American Energy Consumption by Fuel in 2002
Geothermal,
Biomass
Wind,and Solar
Hydropower
(2.8%)
(less than 1%)
(2.7%)
1
Nearly 60 percent ofall American homes use
Oil
natural gas. In a single year, the average American
iLil home uses about 84,000 cubic feet ofnatural gas
Americans currently use about 830 million gallons for heating and cooling, heating water, cooking, and
ofoil every day, but only produce about 387 million other purposes.
gallons a day from domestic resources. To make
up the difference between domestic production and About 1 1 percent ofour domestic natural gas is
demand, we must import crude oil at an average produced from onshore public and Indian lands.
rate of384 million gallons every day and refined Our onshore public lands are believed to overlie 201
products, such as gasoline, at an average rate of59 trillion cubic feet ofgas that we can produce with
million gallons every day. current technology.
Nearly 230 million cars, buses, and trucks are About 25 percent
Contributions of Public,
registered in America. Americans traveled nearly ofour domestic Indian,and OCS
2.9 trillion miles in these vehicles in 2002 and used natural gas is Lands to America's
an average ofmore than 370 million gallons of produced from the
Natural Gas Supply
gasoline every day. outer continental
shelf. Our outer Other
Domestic
About 5 percent ofour domestic oil is produced continental shelfis
from onshore public and Indian lands. Our public believed to overlie
lands are believed to overlie 328 billion gallons of 362 trillion cubic PLuabnldisc ,nd,an
Land,s
crude oil. feet ofnatural gas.
About 30 percent ofour domestic oil is produced Coal
from the outer continental shelfalong our coasts.
Our outer
continental Contributions of Public, Coal is America's most abundant fossil fuel. At our
shelfis Indian,and OCS Lands to current rate ofuse, we have a 250-year supply.
believed to America's Oil Supply
overlie more America produces and uses about 1 billion tons of
than 3 trillion coal every year. The electric power industry uses
gallons of about 90 percent ofthe coal to produce about 5
crude oil. percent ofall the electricity generated in America.
About 41 percent ofAmerica's coal is produced
from public and Indian lands. The remainder is
produced from State and private lands.
Natural Gas The coal mining
industry has Contributions of Public
reclaimed more and Indian Lands to
Natural gas is the cleanest burning ofall fossil fuels. than 2 million America's Coal Supply
Americans currently use about 23 trillion cubic acres ofmined
feet ofnatural gas, but produce only 19 trillion land during the
—
cubic feet from domestic resources. To make up past 20 years an
the difference between domestic production and area about the size
demand, we import about 4 trillion cubic feet ofgas. ofYellowstone
Canada is our largest foreign natural gas supplier. National Park.
Renewable Energy ofAmerica's electricity. Wind generates about 3
percent ofall electricity produced from renewable
resources.
Renewable energy resources (hydropower, wind,
geothermal, biomass, and solar) are used to generate About 18 percent ofFederal lands, principally in the
nearly 9 percent ofall electricity in America. western United States, have high potential for the
development ofwind energy.
Energy experts expect American renewable energy
production to increase by 55 percent between 2002 About 10 percent ofAmerica's installed wind
and 2025. capacity is on Federal lands.
Hydropower In California, 2,960 wind turbines on public land
near Palm Springs generate 3 5 megawatt hours
1
ofelectricity, enough electricity to supply 300,000
Hydropower resources provide about 2.7 percent of
people.
America's total energy supply and generate nearly
7 percent ofAmerica's electricity. Hydropower
About 46 percent ofthe 261 million acres managed
generates 76 percent ofall electricity produced from
by the Bureau ofLand Management has commercial
renewable resources.
wind-energy development potential.
The Department ofthe Interior's Bureau of
Several wind farms have been proposed on
Reclamation is the second largest producer of
America's outer continental shelf. Experts believe
hydroelectricity in America.
that offshore wind energy has enormous growth
potential.
The Bureau manages 58 hydroelectric power plants,
which annually generate more than 42 billion
kilowatt-hours ofelectricity, enough electricity to Geothermal
satisfy the needs of9 million people, or the energy
equivalent of70 million barrels ofoil.
Geothermal energy in the form ofnaturally
The Bureau's 6.8 million kilowatt power plant at occurring steam or hot water is used to generate
Grand Coulee Dam is the largest hydroelectric electricity or to provide heat.
power plant in America.
Americans consume more than 300 trillion Btus of
energy generated from geothermal resources.
Hydropower
Contribution ofthe
plants typically U.S.Department ofthe
Geothermal resources provide 0.3 percent of
operate at 85 to 90 Interiorto America's
America's total energy supply and generate about
percent efficiency, Hydropower Supply
0.3 percent ofAmerica's electricity. Geothermal
more than twice
generates nearly 4 percent ofall electricity produced
the efficiency
from renewable resources.
offossil fuel
plants, and do not
Almost halfofAmerican geothermal energy
emit significant
production occurs on Federal lands, primarily in the
amounts of
western United States.
greenhouse gases.
The Bureau ofLand Management administers 34
Wind
geothermal power plants with a total capacity of
1,275 megawatts, enough capacity to supply the
Wind resources provide 0.1 percent ofAmerica's electricity needs ofover 1.2 million homes.
total energy supply and generate about 0.3 percent
Biomass The Department ofthe Interior operates more than
400 solar-powered facilities and 40 solar hot-water
systems.
Biomass energy is the energy released through the
burning ofwood, other plant material, products
Energy
made from plant material (such as ethanol), and
organic wastes. Nearly 75 percent ofbiomass
Conservation
energy is produced from the burning ofwood and
other plant materials.
Energy conservation is one way all Americans can
Biomass resources provide nearly 3 percent of
help reduce our energy demand.
America's total energy supply and generate about
1.5 percent ofAmerica's electricity. Biomass The Department ofthe Interior spent $26 million for
generates 17 percent ofall electricity produced from facility energy improvements in 2003.
renewable resources.
The Department's energy consumption in 2003 was
About 24 percent ofFederal lands, principally in the about 3.2 percent less than its consumption in 1985.
western United States, have high biomass resource
potential. The Department purchased 923 million watts of
electricity generated from renewable resources in
The Departments ofthe Interior, Energy, and 2003.
Agriculture have entered into an agreement to
jointly promote the development ofbiomass energy Environmental
production from public lands.
Considerations
The National Fire Plan estimates that about 100
million acres offorest and rangeland managed
by the Department ofthe Interior contain large The Department ofthe Interior is committed to
quantities offlammable brush and small trees that the environmentally responsible development of
provide fuel for wildfires. Experts estimate that domestic energy resources. In providing energy for
thinning ofthis material could provide enough America, the Department is guided by numerous
electricity to supply 400,000 households for a year. laws to ensure protection ofpeople and the
environment and the participation ofaffected people
Solar in its decisionmaking process. Some ofthese laws
include the following:
Solar energy is energy captured from sunlight as
National Environmental Policy Act
heat or through conversion oflight to electricity
Federal Land Policy and Management Act
through photovoltaic cells.
Outer Continental ShelfLands Act
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
Solar resources provide less than 0. 1 percent of
Clean WaterAct
America's total energy supply and generate less
Clean AirAct
than 0.1 percent ofAmerica's electricity. Solar
Endangered Species Act and other wildlife
generates about 0.1 percent ofall electricity
protection acts
produced from renewable resources.
Marine Mammal Protection Act
About 67 percent ofFederal lands in the lower 48 Coastal Zone Management Act
States, principally in the western United States, Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act
have a high potential for concentrated solar thermal National Historic Preservation Act
energy production. About 74 percent ofFederal Native American Grave Protection and
lands in the lower 48 States, principally in the Repatriation Act
western United States, have a high potential for American Indian Religious Freedom Act
photovoltaic solar energy production. Administrative Procedure Act
summer,
In all
that remains
ofthe drilling
operation at
the site above
is this solitary
well head.
ModernEnergyProductionMinimizesItsFootprintandRestoresLandscapes
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Surface coal
mining is a
temporary
use ofthe
land.
Surface coal
mines are
reclaimed for
other uses.
Want Know More?
to
Would you like to learn more about how the
Department ofthe Interior is providing energy for
America's future? Visit the following websites or call
the following telephone number.
Department ofthe Interior www.doi.gov
Bureau of Land Management www.blm.gov
Minerals Management Service www.mms.gov
Office of Surface Mining,
Reclamation and
Enforcement www.osmre.gov
Bureau of Reclamation www.usbr.gov
U.S.Geological Survey www.usgs.gov
Bureau of Indian Affairs 202-208-7163
For information from the U.S. Department of Energy,
visit the Energy Information Administration at
www.eia.doe.gov.
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