Beginning this blog project, I simply appreciated the need for renewable fuels and did not look skeptically about renewable fuels and the numerous issues surrounding them. Thorough investigation of the issue enabled be to notice the connections between the different types of renewable fuels, global warming, national security, the economy, and the election. In the realm of researching, I have learned to filter and absorb quality information on the Net with greater clarity and efficiency.

I began to think skeptical in my second post which I write about Boone T. Pickens plan, a highly publicized plan that calls for increased drilling for natural gas drilling and wind power plants. I lacked deep knowledge about the issue. However, I began to think critically. My first critical thinking started with theorizing that Pickens may not want to seek renewable fuels out of the "goodness of his heart". The reasons being that natural gas is not renewable and that he has major investments in wind power and natural gas. My analytical skepticism continued to the election.

I explored how this issue will be deeply affected by the upcoming election and examined the two candidates views: McCain favors increased domestic oil drilling, will not lower emission standards for cars, will give “prize money” for the person who perfects the hybrid car, and others. Whereas, Obama will invest actual money ($250 billion spanning 10 years), he plans to tax oil companies to fiscally support struggling families pay for gas, he has other specific plans and projected deadlines to increase renewable fuel production. Then, I endorsed somewhat mildly Obama as the best president to advance renewable fuels properly. My endorsement for the issue stemmed from my research and thoughtful analysis of the many different posits and implications of the campaigns’ plans.

Throughout this project I started to more clearly realize that this issue is a keystone issue; related and dependent on many other issues. Global warming is tightly woven into the issue. Nonrenewable fuels, fossil fuels, heavily contribute to warming by producing greenhouse gases. Our national security depends on America’s ability to find fuels to satiate the energy needs of American people in the common years. Because in the future we will have to compete with other countries for foreign oil that will have an increasing demand with decreasing supply. Our economic well-being is also balanced on finding renewable fuels. As oil prices rise, jobs and the overall economy falls. I also believe through my research that renewable fuels can help create domestic jobs, domestic being the operative word, thus stimulate our economy.

I was stimulated to seek reasons for our continued dependence on foreign oil the previous outpouring of corporate tax cuts to oil companies. In my search, I quickly learned that big oil lobbyists hold much influence in Washington for their sustained fiscal "endowments". Also, I now recognize that external events that control public sentiment can decrease or increase the perceived necessity of renewable energy independence. The current financial crisis has decreased the need to seek renewable energy because gas prices have plummeted due to the fear of a global recession.

Continued writing on the issues I deemed most important has allowed me to form all of the aforementioned connections. Also, responding to blog posts has tested my knowledge on the issue and, many times, has forced me to reevaluate my thinking and research more about topics especially types of fuels that should be advanced. In my website, I give detailed description about the pros and cons of many different types of renewable fuels/energy. I have reasoned for or against many renewable fuels in my posts.

In conclusion, this project extends beyond renewable fuels because I have already begun to think analytically, skeptically, and personally about the myriad of controversial issues and current events. I will take the skills (especially research strategies) I have learned from my deep analysis of this issue and impart them on other issues.