Alternatives to Fossil Fuels (College Board AP® US History)

Summary

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the United States faced significant challenges related to energy and the environment, driven by both domestic and international events. The country’s heavy reliance on oil from overseas, particularly from the Middle East, left it vulnerable to global disruptions. The 1973 Oil Embargo triggered a severe energy crisis, leading to gas shortages and increasing prices. 

Global environmental awareness brought public attention to the ecological costs of industrialization, Policy makers responded with landmark environmental legislations, such as the Clean Air Act (1970). The Iranian Revolution in 1979 further exacerbated the energy crisis as the upheaval disrupted oil exports. By the end of the 1970s, public and governmental interest led to a new push for alternatives to fossil fuels and a broader shift toward environmental responsibility.

OPEC, Nuclear Energy & Environmental Legislation

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

• OPEC was founded in 1960 by oil-producing countries, mainly in the Middle East

• Their goal was to control the supply of oil production to regulate global price rates 

  • This was to avoid price fluctuations

The oil embargo, 1973

• OPEC placed an oil embargo on all countries that supported Israel during the Yom Kippur War (1973), including the US

• This caused the US to experience high gas prices and shortages, leading to long lines (queues) at gas stations

• The crisis led to attention turning to alternative energy solutions, for example:

  • electric cars

  • nuclear energy

Nuclear energy

• The US government first developed nuclear energy in the 1940s

  • using uranium to produce energy through nuclear fission

• Advantages of nuclear energy 

  • Nuclear power has no carbon emissions

    • It does not contribute to greenhouse gases or global warming

  • Uranium, the fuel for nuclear reactors, is easily available in the US and other US-friendly countries

• Concerns about nuclear energy were exacerbated by nuclear accidents:

  • Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania (1979)

    • A partial meltdown at a plant caused public fear about the safety of nuclear energy

    • No harm was done to the public and no damage was done to the environment

    • It led to calls for stricter safety regulations for the industry 

  • Chernobyl, located in Ukraine (1986)

    • This was a catastrophic nuclear disaster, caused by the release of radioactive materials 400 times more powerful than the atomic bombing at Hiroshima

    • The nuclear disaster caused widespread contamination which affected the local population causing health issues and damaging the environment 

    • brought attention to the negative consequences of using nuclear energy

Environmental legislation

Silent Spring by Rachael Carson (1962)

• Carson’s book raised awareness about the harmful effects of farmers using pesticides, including DDT. For example, effects on the:

  • environment

  • wildlife

  • human health through consumption

• It played a key role in the environmental movement and led to changes in governmental policies regarding pesticide use

Earth Day (1970)

• The first Earth Day was established to bring attention to environmental issues and promote the protection of the planet

  • Millions of Americans took part in teach-ins, marches, and rallies to raise awareness about pollution, deforestation, and the harmful effects of industrialization

  • It helped embed environmental concerns into American culture, making sustainability and conservation mainstream values

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (1970)

• A federal agency was created to protect the environment and the public health of the US population 

• The EPA addresses issues such as:

  • pollution

  • air quality

  • industry regulations

Clean Air Act (1970)

• The Clean Air Act law was passed to regulate air emissions from industries to ensure air quality is safe for the environment and human health