Sustainability-dd

The author, a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force, argues that fuel cell technology has the potential to transform the world, both in terms of climate and in terms of geopolitics. The author models four potential fuel cell scenarios and concludes that the Air Force can and should lead the way in developing and using fuel cell technology. This article provides a valuable look at how the government, using the armed forces, could pioneer the use of sustainable technologies in order to prevent the military from having to enter conflict to secure oil for U.S. consumption. (Katie Ertmer)
 * Blanks, David P. “Fuel Cells: Powerful Implications.” __Air and Space Power Journal__** **(Spring 2004): Retrieved June 1, 2007**
 * http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj04/spr04/blanks.html.**

The author, a chemical supervisor at a power plant with a B.S. in chemistry from Iowa State University, lists several “biomass to energy” research projects currently underway at ISU and other institutions. Buecker, like several other authors, argues that using crop residue and other vegetation can significantly reduce the U.S. dependency on foreign oil. Despite the fact that the author briefly touches on a research project that examines the negative environmental impacts associated with growing crops for energy, this article appears to be a thinly veiled promotion of corn-based ethanol. For example, the article never examines the critical issue of whether there would be a net energy savings as a result of growing crops for energy. (Katie Ertmer)
 * Buecker, Brad. “Hitting the Gas.” __Environmental Protection__ 17.6 (July 2006).**

Jackson, T., Oliver, M. “The Evolution of Economic and Environmental Cost for Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaics,” __Energy Policy__ 28 (2000): 1011-1021. http://dx.doi.org.libproxy.usc.edu/10.1016/S0301-4215(00)00088-4 This article focuses on crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) technology and where it has been and where it is going. The goal of the article is to provide policy makers with an understanding of how the CSP technology has applications in Europe have evolved to become less cost prohibitive when weighed against the environmental benefits, specifically the abatement of carbon dioxide emissions. There are a number of research methods employed, including a comparison study of a PV plant and a conventional electricity plant, as well as analysis of the benefits associated with integrating PV’s into buildings. There is also a detailed analysis of multiple issues within PV system performance. --Kristine