Alternative Energy Sources

Paper Summary:

The paper states that, in light of the effects of global warming,
it presents the case for alternative energy sources, which are becoming popular. both because they do not contribute greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and also because they are less expensive for the most part than electricity produced by coal, oil and gas. The paper reviews the positives and the negatives for wind energy, and discusses in depth the reasons why solar energy and biomass energy sources are very attractive and offer consumers practical ways to spend less on heating and cooling homes.

Outline:
Wind Energy
Problems with Windmills
Biomass
Solar Energy
Passive Solar
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), among the most visible and powerful advocacy and conservation organizations in the U.S. (www.nrdc.org), explains that currently California has the most wind power generation in America. Texas ranks second on the list of states with wind power, with "about half" of the wind plants that California has. The good news for consumers is that the cost of wind energy now is competitive with new coal-fired or gas-fired power plants, NRDC reports. Indeed the cost of wind energy has come down "85 percent in the past 20 years," according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Wind of course is free, and it blows significantly, consistently, hard enough to turn rotors of windmills and produce reliable electricity in about one-fourth of the land area of the U.S., the UCS explains. The NRDC points out that windmills can be built "in a fraction of the time it takes to construct coal or natural gas power plants." Moreover, it takes just three to eight months for a windmill farm to "recoup its investment in building and installation" (NRDC). Why are windmill farms needed? About 68% of the energy produced in the U.S. today, the NRDC explains, comes from "burning polluting fossil fuels." Nuclear power plants and hydropower produce the rest, "with only a fraction coming from clean, renewable sources such as the wind, the sun, underground steam and biomass." But in 15 states laws have been passed that require power companies to produce "a percentage of electricity from renewable sources." In some states, like Texas for example, consumers can choose "Green Pricing" on their utility bills; that means the electricity that family uses will be exclusively from wind power, or other renewable sources. Meanwhile, in some countries, like Denmark, windmills have been put to use in massive numbers. According to the magazine www.Scandinavica.com, fully 20% of all the electricity in Denmark comes from wind energy."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Natural Resources Defense Council "Wind, Solar and Biomass Energy Today." Retrieved April 7, 2008, from http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/renewables/solar.asp.
• Natural Resources Defense Council. "A Consumer's Guide to Buying Clean Energy." Retrieved April 8, 2008, from http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/gcleanen.asp.
• Ritter, John. "Wind Turbines taking toll on birds of prey." USA Today 4 Jan. 2005. Retrieved April 7, 2008, from http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-01-04-windmills-usat_x.htm.
• Scandinavica.com. "The world's leader in Wind Power." Retrieved April 6, 2008, from http://www.scandinavica.com/culture/nature/wind.htm.
• Schoof, Renee. "Pace quickens in quest for new energy sources." Miami Herald 9 March 2008. Retrieved April 8, from http://0-infoweb.newsbank.com.

More papers on Alternative Energy Sources:

• Term Paper # 125216 : "Alternative Energy Sources"
• Essay # 83690 : "Alternative Energy Sources"
• Persuasive Essay # 93558 : "Current US Energy Demands and the Need for Alternative Energy Sources"
• Term Paper # 30137 : "The Future of Alternative Energy Sources"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: