Energy and the Environment
Is $4 gas here to stay? Should we still drill in the Alaskan wilderness after what we just saw happened in the Gulf of Mexico? What are the consequences of buying oil from OPEC? Why are there so many new wind farms in the North Country? Should we fund more nuclear plants or rely instead upon hydro-electric dams? Is there such a thing as “clean coal”? What about new technologies? Questions like these, and dozens of other energy-related issues, have figured prominently in American politics during the past few years. Decisions being made today about energy production and consumption will lead to economic, political, social, and environmental consequences that will remain with us for decades, maybe even centuries. As a result, thoughtful citizens across the country are demanding to be a part of the decision-making process. In this course, students will delve into aspects of the energy debate through their own research projects.