Running head: THE FUTURE OF CLEAN ENERGY IN THE UNITED STATES

The Future of Clean Energy in the United States Annotated Bibliography

Jonathan Schweinefuss
James Madison University

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Introduction
The United States has been dependent upon foreign oil for far too long. The time has come to
break that addiction and begin on a new path of clean and renewable energy. A path that is better
for the environment and the economy of the United States. It is the 21st century, there are so
many new options for harnessing energy. The US should not still be dependent on fossil fuels.
There is solar power, wind power, and hydropower just to name a few; yet the United States is
still pouring money into fossil fuels that hurt the environment and will eventually run out. Is it
not obvious that the only logical solution for the future is to begin investing in clean and
renewable energy technology? In my research I explore what the United States is doing now for
energy production, and what they should be doing to get on the right path to a future of clean and
renewable energy.

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Bazilian, M., Mai, T., Baldwin, S., Arent, D., Miller, M., & Logan, J. (2014). Report review:
Decision-making for High Renewable Electricity Futures in the United States. Energy Strategy
Reviews, 2(Sustainable Energy System Changes), 326-328. doi:10.1016/j.esr.2013.11.001
The goal of the authors of this article is to inform the reader of the research they have
done. The research that proves by the year 2050 it is possible for 80% of the United States total
electricity to come from renewable energy technologies. The article uses different graphs and
sources to provide evidence of the research being done. The information in this article is all fact
and statistics. The scientist that wrote this article are experts in their fields and the information
they provide should be taken seriously. The article is not all just facts and information, the
authors intent is to not only inform the readers but also to persuade them. They include a three
part plan to get the United States to the point the research suggests it should be by 2050.
The authors of this article can all be deemed credible because they are all respected
scientists in their fields and affiliated with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory or the
United States Department of Energy. The main audience for this article is policy makers in the
US government as well as businesses in the energy industry, and other scientists researching this
topic. As those groups are the main part of the three point plan, three categories, namely:
policies and regulation, markets and operations, and research and development (Bazilian et al.
2014, para. 4). The authors do not use opinion or emotion, they use science and factual
information supported by research to deliver an unbiased article. The research and publication
was within the past two year making it current with new ideas and developments. The
information is very relevant to because it is discussing and issue that the American people are
facing now.

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This source works well with my other sources for this topic. This source is definitely one
of the more scholarly articles. It provides strong unbiased information by experts, while being
supported by high quality research. This source has shaped my argument in that it gives me more
facts and research to use to support my thesis. This source has not changed how I think about my
topic, in fact it has reinforced it. It has reinforced that the US government and citizens need to
work together to get our country as efficient as possible with regards to energy use.

Clean energy finance : hearing before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United
States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, first session ... July 18, 2013. (2013).
Washington : U.S. Government Printing Office, 2013.
This document by, The United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources, is of a hearing that discusses the future of clean energy finance in the US. The
purpose of the information is to inform and persuade the members of the Senate committee. The
members of the Senate are the policy makers of the United States and it is important that they are
fully informed, so that they can make smart decisions for policy that affects the future of clean
energy in the US. The information is a mix of facts and statistics by expert scientists, but also the
opinions of members of the Senate committee. The main claim is that now more than ever the
US needs to work hard to move away from fossil fuels that harm the environment, toward clean
and renewable energies.

The author, The United States Senate Committee, describes the discussion between
Senate committee members over the topic of clean energy finance. The intended audience would

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be other members of the Senate and policy making groups. About half of the information fact
and reliable, although they are politicians so a good amount of the information can be considered
bias. Chairman Ron Wyden, in favor of investing in new energy technology, suggests that the
path forged through technology and innovation will get the US to where it needs to be in
regards to clean energy technology. Wyden also suggests that domestic investment [in clean
energy will] create high-skill and high-wage jobs in the country (as cited in clean energy
finance, 2014, p. 2). Using fact, as well as biased opinion Wyden tries to persuade the other
committee members to vote in favor of clean energy investment. The information presented
throughout the book is relevant and current information, as it was published in 2014 and the
Senate hearing took place in 2013. The information discussed is a large topic in politics all over
the US now and is drawing the attention of millions of citizens, so it is very relevant.
This source is quite different from my other sources. It is a government document written
and published by the United States so it is very official and reliable. However what makes it so
different is that it is a book of the Senate committee hearing so it contains a lot of political
jargon, but also firsthand accounts of what the US policy makers think about the topic of clean
energy investment. I can use this in my research project as a primary source to policy makers and
their views on the topic to support my argument. This source does not change how I think about
my topic, it gives me two different positions to consider, but my argument will remain the same.

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Denhaan, N. (2012). United States of America. Renewable Energy Law & Policy Review, 3(3),
213-216.
In the article Renewable Energy Law & Policy the author, Nicholas Denhaan, explains
some of the new energy policies that have been put into place since President Obamas reelection. The articles main goal is to inform the reader of the new renewable energy programs
that have come into place in the recent past. The information presented is all fact and statistics,
the author does not include much of his own opinion. The main claim of the author is the many
types of renewable energy programs that have been developed, and describes them in brief detail.
There are so many new programs and ideas to make the US more clean energy friendly, the
author shines light on these ideas and expresses how the rest of the country can follow and also
partake in some of these new programs and policies. The author does include references to
support his claim, however he uses footnotes to show the references. The conclusion of this
article is based on evidence throughout the document and references.
The author, Nicholas Denhaan, can be considered semi credible. He is a Student at the
American University Washington College of Law, so he is not an expert but seems to know what
he is talking about. The intended audience of this piece would be policy makers in government as
well as the average American citizen. Policy makers should read this article want to try to create
programs like the ones described in their state. Denhaan (2012) states that Iowa offers tax
credits to individuals and corporations for the installation and use of solar technology (para 6).
This small act can make a huge difference, this program should be one that American citizens
and policy makers want to create in their state. The information presented throughout the article
is unbiased and reliable, the author does not mix in opinion it is all facts and statistics. This
article is very relevant because the question of what the US should be doing to become a more

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clean energy society continues to rise as people become more concerned. Written in 2012 this
article is still very current with todays issues.
This article is not the most scholarly article I have found for my research but it does
examine helpful topics and is reliable. It can help my research by providing examples of simple
yet helpful renewable energy programs that can be initiated at the state or even local level. This
piece is more directed toward the American people than any of my other sources, so that is also
helpful with my argument. The article has not changed what I think of my topic though, it has
given me good information and strengthened my research.

Renewable Energy Sources - Energy Explained, Your Guide To Understanding Energy - Energy
Information Administration. (2015, March 27). Retrieved October 31, 2015, from
http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=renewable_home
The main goal of the web page Renewable Energy Explained is to inform and teach the
reader about renewable energy. The information presented in the web page is all facts and
statistics about renewable energy. The main claim of the article is that renewable energy in not
just a concept for the future anymore, it is a realistic and efficient way to harness energy. To
support this claim the web page provides charts and many statistics to prove the reliability of
renewable energy.
The average US citizen would be considered the audience of this article. It does not use
to much scientific jargon yet it thoroughly explains renewable energy and its uses. The reader
can gain knowledge to inform themselves on how the country uses renewables, for example the
article states about 13% of U.S. electricity was generated from renewable energy sources in

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2014 (Renewable Enrgy, para. 2). Statistics that are good to know but not common
knowledge to most people. The information presented is not biased, it sticks to facts and statistics
about renewable energy, without using bias to persuade the reader. Published in March of 2015
the information is current, and it provides insight into issues rising in politics in the present so it
is relevant as well.
This source is quite different from my other sources in that it is a web page, so it is less
scholarly. However none the less it still provides me with helpful information that can be used in
my research and argument. Many statistics and definitions used will help provide a solid base for
my research. My thoughts on my topic have not changed from the information in this source, it
has only given me a better understanding of renewable energy use in the United States.

Weekly Address: Taking Control of Our Energy Future [Video file]. (2012). United States.
White House. Retrieved November 1, 2015, from American History in Video.
This video message from The President of the United State Barack Obama outlines how
the auto industry is working toward creating new vehicles that are more fuel efficient and can
even run on electricity. These new investments in clean energy technology from the auto industry
create millions of jobs and help boost the economy. President Obama uses facts and statistics to
inform the viewer of the new improvements of the auto industry. He also attempts to persuade
the viewer to contact their local representative to vote to end subsidies for the oil industry and
move toward clean energy technology.
President Obama directs this message to all citizens of the United States, especially those
of voting age. Obama contains bias toward the side of renewable energy, but uses facts to back it

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up; he states that because of the investments we've made, our use of clean, renewable energy
has nearly doubled and thousands of Americans have jobs because of it (2012). The information
about the auto industry was three years ago so it is not current anymore, however the plans the
auto industry had for the future of their cars is still very relevant. Fuel efficiency of cars has
grown to be a very important factor in the auto industry: especially with rising gas prices. The
fuel efficiency in automobiles will continue to be a relevant topic long into the future.
All of my other sources are written texts, this video source is a good addition to diversify
my sources. With a video source it is very easy to hear tone and understand what the speaker is
trying to convey to the viewer. This source helps to shape my argument by providing credible
information on a specific industry where clean energy technology would help better the industry
and the economy. The video would also be one of my most credible sources since it is directly
from The President of the United States. This source has helped how I think about my topic, it
has shown me an example of how clean energy technology has helped a specific industry in so
many ways. If clean energy can improve the auto industry it can improve all industries.