'Ice That Burns' May Yield Clean, Sustainable Bridge To Global Energy Future

Is "ice that burns" the next untapped source of energy? Derived from chunks of ice from the bottom of the ocean and beneath the permafrost in the artic, this frozen natural gas also known as gas hydrates, in many eyes is the next form of energy that will potentially reduced our dependence on oil for good. Many scientists believe that these gas hydrates will act as a bridge between oil and renewable energy, until the technology used in renewable energy is perfected.

In terms of amount, scientists estimate that around 85.4 trillion cubic feet of these hydrates could be extracted from Alaska alone. However, the problems still present in the gas hydrate business are the true cost of extracting the hydrates, the ability to make convert hydrates on a large scale, and the environmental impacts associated will the above processes. Stores of these hydrates are not only found in Alaska, they can be found in great amounts in the Gulf of Mexico, Japan, and regions of India.

However, gas hydrates bring with them a gas more atmospherically damaging then CO2. Methane being the main constituent of gas hydrates; they represent a climate changing force that is in motion everyday. Scientists stand by the fact that since methane has a quicker short-term effect on the atmosphere, that using gas hydrates will convert that once released methane into CO2 which has somewhat less burdening qualities on the atmosphere.

In terms of the policy involved in this growing hydrates business, I believe that we are still not making enough progress on renewable energies and still relying on nonrenewable ones that will ultimately warm our planet. In addition the environmental impacts associated with extracting and processing gas hydrates is very intensive when you consider the fact that most the reserves along continental shelves (where there is an abundance of people and wildlife) and in the diverse regions of the arctic where small impacts can have lasting effects. There are many unsolved factors and dangers still lurking around gas hydrates and I believe our current policy must look towards renewable energy such as wind or solar before we decide to use another energy source that could have even a bigger impact on the planet.