Interesting factoids, regarding energy progress...

Maybe a bit technical, but it is thought provoking. Click on the title to check out this site:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/brochure/renew05/renewable.html

• In 1850, about 90% of the energy consumed in the United States was from renewable energy resources. Now the United States is heavily reliant on the non-renewable fossil fuels: coal, natural gas, and oil. In 2004, about 6% of all energy consumed and about 9% of total electricity production was from renewable energy resources. (OK, so we traded indoor plumbing and cable for some fossil fuels, but seriously?)

Now some good news...

• Waste-to-energy facilities burned 29 million tons of MSW in 2004 to produce heat and electricity. There are also about 380 landfills that recover methane, which forms as waste decomposes in low-oxygen (anaerobic) conditions. The methane is burned to produce electricity and heat. Methane is also produced in anaerobic “digesters” for heat and electricity generation at municipal sewage treatment facilities, concentrated livestock operations, and dairy farms. (Way to put those landfills full of department store furniture to work! :-) )