Resolved: The USFG should substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the US.

ROUND 1; JUDGES: Mitch Dunn and Henry Chen I affirm: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the United States. Resolutional Analysis: The resolution specifies that ONLY incentives need to be "substantially increased" for the affirmative. Certainly the debate can talk about these effects (good and bad) but affirmative must only provide a plan to increase the incentives of the specified energy source. INHERENCY A. Fusion energy -Wikipedia -"The basic concept behind any fusion reaction is to bring two or more atoms very close together… If two light nuclei fuse, they will generally form a single nucleus with a slightly smaller mass than the sum of their original masses… If the input atoms are sufficiently massive, the resulting fusion product will be heavier than the reactants, in which case the reaction requires an external source of energy." B. The Sun -Wikipedia - "The Sun is a natural fusion reactor." -Spider-Man 2 -"The power of the sun in the palm of my hand." C. There currently is no useable form of fusion energy. (common knowledge) D. Fusion is the energy of the future. -From- http://www.davidpace.com...... -"We need fusion because it has the highest energy yield and is completely controllable. Fusion energy is a source that is most useful for all of the future problems that have not been foreseen, for the energy crunches that lie ahead and strike without warning." E. Fusion energy needs more funding -From- (Same source as "D") -"More funding for fusion research for non-energy applications and more funding for fusion research for energy applications will help keep the US on top of science research and development." HARMS A. Gasoline Prices -www.feulgaugereport.com -‘The approximate gasoline price is around $3.50 per gallon and $115 per barrel' (approximately) B. Lack of Fusion Power -Wikipedia -"Fusion power commonly proposes the use of deuterium, an isotope of hydrogen, as fuel and in many current designs also use lithium. Assuming a fusion energy output equal to the current global output and that this does not increase in the future, then the known current lithium reserves would last 3000 years, lithium from sea water would last 60 million years, and a more complicated fusion process using only deuterium from sea water would have fuel for 150 billion years." C. We are heading for an energy crisis. -From- http://www.wtrg.com...... -"Various measures of US energy security indicate that the US might be heading for an energy crisis. Many of the warning signs that existed before the energy crises of 1973 and 1979 exist today and they indicate that the current situation could be even worse. US dependence on petroleum imports has grown steadily for over a decade and has been at record levels for several years. Petroleum inventories are low and the ability of Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) and commercial petroleum stocks to cope with an interruption in imports matches the historic lows preceding the 1973 and 1979 energy crises. -Further evidence from: http://www.energycrisis.org...... -""There are currently 98 oil producing countries in the world, of which 64 are thought to have passed their geologically imposed production peak, and of those 60 are in terminal production decline." D. Substantial harms to the environment: 1) Global Warming -From- http://www.ucsusa.org...... -"Motor vehicles are responsible for almost a quarter of annual US emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary global-warming gas. The US transportation sector emits more CO2 than all but three other countries' emissions from all sources combined. And motor vehicle emissions will continue to increase as more vehicles hit America's roads and the number of miles driven grows." 2) Air Pollution -From- http://www.alphanutrition.com...... -"Driving a car is the most polluting act an average citizen commits. Emissions from passenger vehicles are increasing in Canada and the US despite attempts to make engines more fuel efficient and despite the addition of antipollution devices. The two main reasons are: 1. vehicle use has increased; 2. cars are getting bigger and pick-up trucks, vans and sports vehicles are often replacing smaller, lighter passenger cars." PLAN A. Government will create a group of scientists to specifically study fusion energy. B. The plan will allow the $150 million dollars "zeroed out" by Congress. -From- http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org............ -"The 2009 request includes $214.5 million for work on the international fusion experiment, ITER, after Congress zeroed out the promised $150 million U.S. contribution for 2008" C. The US Federal Government will increase the money stated (from B) by 17%. D. The US Federal Government will create a emergency fund for necessary purposes for the group of scientists. E. The agenda of the scientists will be to create a useable form of fusion energy for the people of the United States and the world. F. I claim the rights to fiat, clarification and legislative intent. G. Funding will be from normal means. SOLVENCY: Incentives of Fusion energy will be substantially increased. Advantage 1: All Status Quo harms will be solved (if evidence is pushed for please ask) Advantage 2: Abundant Fuel Supply to decrease tensions and save money -From: http://www.pppl.gov......... -"The major fuel, deuterium, may be readily extracted from ordinary water, which is available to all nations. The surface waters of the earth contain more than 10 million tons of deuterium, an essentially inexhaustible supply. The tritium required would be produced from lithium, which is available from land deposits or from sea water which contains thousands of years' supply. The world-wide availability of these materials would thus eliminate international tensions caused by imbalance in fuel supply." Advantage 3: No risk of Nuclear Accident -Same Source -"The amounts of deuterium and tritium in the fusion reaction zone will be so small that a large uncontrolled release of energy would be impossible. In the event of a malfunction, the plasma would strike the walls of its containment vessel and cool." Advantage 4: No Air Pollution -Same Source -"Since no fossil fuels are used, there will be no release of chemical combustion products because they will not be produced." Advantage 5: No High-Level Nuclear Waste -Same Source -"Similarly, there will be no fission products formed to present a handling and disposal problem. Radioactivity will be produced by neutrons interacting with the reactor structure, but careful materials selection is expected to minimize the handling and ultimate disposal of activated materials." Advantage 6: No Generation of Weapons Material. -Same Source -"Another significant advantage is that the materials and by-products of fusion are not suitable for use in the production of nuclear weapons." Advantage 7: Substantial increase in energy. -Chris Warrick (the UK Atomic Energy Authority) -"You need 50 megawatts of power to heat it and you should get around 5,000 megawatts out." Advantage 8: The energy crisis will be over. The power of the sun will make any energy problems completely obsolete. I reserve the right to add evidence, extend on any arguments, and create new arguments in the next round. With the increase of fusion energy incentives, many advantages will be reached. We are in the age of new energy and it is about time that we begin looking to many new forms of energy. With the increase of fusion energy incentives, that becomes possible. Therefore, I urge a PRO vote!!!