Geothermal Energy In Alberta Essay

508 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Effects Of Coal Mining On Health

On behalf of the citizens of Alberta, I am writing this letter to request that you consider the idea of promoting the use of geothermal plants in Alberta. The idea behind this is that Alberta's current system for electricity production is not the most adequate for this province as the environmental and social consequences are very considerable. Burning fossil fuels can pollute the environment by adding smoke particles and other chemicals to the air, water, and soil. Extracting coal from Earth can disturb the environment because large areas of land are ripped up to expose the ore for mining. Removing the top layer (called overburden) to expose the coal also destroys the habitat and food supply for the plants and animals that live in the area. Besides having a serious impact on the environment, coal mining also has many social side effects. Working conditions are poor, the work is dangerous and there are significant health risks for both miners and local residents. Local people are often forced to relocate and there are poor union rights. These are the reason why we are proposing a new source of energy for Alberta's citizens, such as geothermal energy. …show more content…

Geothermal energy is the thermal (heat) energy within the planet. Its is considered a renewable source of energy as it has always been around for for an abundant amount of years it will probably still be used in the next years because its source is the almost unlimited amount of heat generated by the Earth's core. Even in geothermal areas dependent on a reservoir of hot water, the volume taken out can be injected, making it a sustainable energy

Show More
Related

  • The Benefits Of The Alberta Oil Sands

    543 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Alberta Oil Sands are large deposits of bitumen in north-eastern Alberta. Discovered in 1848, the first commercial operation was in 1967 with the Great Canadian Oil Sands plant opening, and today many companies have developments there. The Alberta Oil Sand development is very controversial, as there are severe environmental impacts and effects on the local Aboriginal peoples. This essay will discuss the need for changes that can be made for the maximum economic benefit for Canada, while reducing the impact on the environment and limiting expansion, as well as securing Alberta’s future. Changes need to be made to retain the maximum economic benefits of the Alberta Oil Sands while mitigating the environmental and geopolitical impact. This will be achieved by building pipelines that will increase the economic benefits, having stricter environmental regulation and expansion limitations, and improving the Alberta Heritage Fund or starting a new fund throu...

    Read More

  • Alberta Tar Sands in Canada

    1676 Words  | 4 Pages

    The reason for this report is to increase the reader’s knowledge on the Alberta Tar Sands, which will allow them to create their own opinions on the situation. It is a very pertinent issue in politics and will have a very large effect on the carbon emissions of Canada. Also, I wanted to further my understanding of the Alberta tar sands and learn the side effects of the tar sands. How the tar sands are different from other oil and energy procurement methods and which method is more energy efficient? Would the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline in the United States be an intelligent way for the US to involve itself in the tar sands? I wanted to answer these questions by knowing the real facts about the tar sands versus what the oil companies are telling the consumers. The ability to assess the entire situation will allow both the reader and I to formulate our own opinions about the tar sands and whether the extraction of oil at the tar sands should continue.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On The Keystone Pipeline

    1244 Words  | 3 Pages

    The opposition to this project is increasing because the people living in those areas are already feeling negative consequences. The large communities living in Boreal Forest and other Natives lands are being affected by the extraction and process of tar sands. Not only this people are being rushed away from their lands, but also, the rate of cancer, renal failure, lupus, hyperthyroidism and other decease, are higher than ever. This health conditions increased because of the air pollution and the high quantities of metals and chemicals in the drinking water. Yet, lots of precautions are being taken by the company, oil spills keep happening over and over. The external metal corrosion caused by extreme temperatures and the corrosive acid components of the bitumen are factors that contribute to accidents like explosions and oil

    Read More

  • Fort Mcmurray Case Study

    323 Words  | 1 Pages

    The issue here is that the industries, alongside with the government that is currently ruling, still continues to dig out from this Earth and extract oil from the sands, most especially in Alberta which is located in the North America or also known as Canada. The Fort McMurray, the biggest land for mining oil from its sands in the country, is the best candidate of examples of this current issue that the country is facing when it is concerned about public safety and also, the water pollution. Fort McMurray's temporary tailing lakes contain a great volume of water, sand, clay, hydrocarbons, naphthenic acids, salt and other byproducts of the bitumen extraction and upgrading process. Even in -30 degrees, the hot waste sends a great amount of steam

    Read More

  • Alberta Oil Sands Case Study

    1139 Words  | 3 Pages

    The oil sands have encouraged massive economic growth in Alberta. The province had suffered an economic recession however the oil sands helped produce huge profits and provide thousands of jobs. Due to the oil sands Canada has became the top top supplier of oil to the United States and this has helped strength economic ties between both countries. Over 121,500 people were employed in the oil sands in 2012.The goods, materials, and services used to construct and operate in oil sands projects, come from across Canada. For example financial services in Ontario, engineering firms in British Columbia, and steel mills in Saskatchewan. The tar sand employs 112,000 people outside the province of Alberta. It is expected that in the next few years there

    Read More

  • Alberta Energy Regulator

    1106 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) was formed on June 17th of 2013 under the creation of the Responsible Energy Development Act, which was passed on December 10th, 2012. This act currently provides the AER with all responsibilities for all projects ranging from application to reclamation in regards to the Public Lands Act, Water act and Environmental Protection Act. The AER main purpose is to use the acts it has responsibility over to ensure the safe development of all hydrocarbon resource over their productive life. This entails protecting the environment, conserving water and managing public land. As the board continues to develop their range of responsibilities and acts will increase. The board is taking over these responsibilities from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. As stated in the act the AER are not agents of the crown and is responsible for its own general management and affairs. This change is to help Alberta’s oil and gas industries in preparation for the next era of regulation.

    Read More

  • Oil Sands: The Impact Of The Alberta Oil Sands

    1406 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since the rise of the Alberta oil sands, the contribution of greenhouses gas emissions has been increasing dramatically. Alberta has only 10% of Canada’s population but emits the most greenhouse gases than any province. Also, the oil sands are the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in Canada ("Oil Sands Truth." Para 4). Additionally, although it takes a lot of energy going into producing the bitumen from the oil sands, the energy output is relatively low. A about three times water is needed for one portion of bitumen when it is being processed after being accessed from the oil sands. Not only is water wasted, but the water supply n the area is heavily polluted. There is more than three million gallons of toxic run off from the plants every day. To contain this, majority of polluted water and tar is segregated and turned into toxic pools which are deposits of a combination of chemicals and polluted water. These pools now cover about fifty square miles in the oil sands location ("Tar Sands Oil: Pros and Cons." Para 1). To make room for the industry, the boreal forest is being cut down at a rapid pace. This not only depleted forest cover but the boreal forest counters the carbon emissions from the sands but with less forests, there will be an even greater rise in carbon emissions. The land is also being harmed due to the construction of large pipelines to access consumers far away. Not only do the oil sands harm the inorganic aspects of the environment in the location but animals are harmed due to their habitats being destroyed both on land and in the water ("Pros and Cons: Alberta Oil Sands." Para 4). The rivers and streams near the oil sands are being polluted and more fish and other aquatic animals are getting sick and dying. This in turn affects the individuals who fish for a living or acquire the fish as a main dietary source. With less fish to obtain,

    Read More

  • Canadian International Trade

    1250 Words  | 3 Pages

    Canada is great economic superpower that has yet to reach its potential. As the second largest nation by area, we possess vast natural resources. We are a massive importer and exporter on the world stage, who a play a vital role in the stability of the northern hemisphere. Through Canada’s international trade, we export vast quantities of many different foods stuffs, minerals and manufactured goods like cars, while we tend to import lots of Iron, Aluminum and Steel. Our relations with neighbouring nations have been integral in the success of our trade. In 1994 Canada became a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA with the US and Mexico. NAFTA reorganized Canada’s and America’s trading systems to work as one. The trade issue of recent months is about the rising costs of energy in Canada and in the United States. Newly elected President George W. Bush now is proposing a North American energy initiative for a continental power grid. This proposal puts Canada in a very uncomfortable situation. On the one hand we would love to share our resources and appease our super-power to the south. But on the other we prefer to leave our pristine land alone. The growing trend nowadays is that politicians are the ones wanting to please the Americans by giving away our resources, while it is the activist who is concerned about the vast environmental damage this energy legislation could entail.

    Read More

  • Essay On Geothermal Energy

    565 Words  | 2 Pages

    The amount of heat and quantity is very high to produce geothermal energy; even though it is a very good source of energy there are downfalls. Geothermal is not a widespread source of energy. Because it isn’t a common source of energy, there is a lack of equipment, employees, and infrastructure to develop this type of energy. Along with this ...

    Read More

  • Mining In Canada

    2005 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Importance of Mining Industry The importance of mining is definitely significant to Canada. Mining, is an important industry, and Canadians are very advanced in their mining technology, but during the mining process, there is certain level of pollution produced. The Canadian government and the mining companies have very good plans and controls toward this problem, while ensuring the smooth running of the industries, and also helping to create strong economy and employment. The world of today could not exist without mineral products. Canada produces about 60 minerals and ranks first among producing countries1. As well, Canada is the largest exporter of minerals, with more than 20 per cent of production shipped to world markets2.

    Read More

  • Athabasca Oil Sands

    1392 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Athabasca oil sands are the second largest producer of crude oil in the world, with a surface area of approximately 100 000 square kilometres (Anderson, Giesy & Wiseman, 2010). The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board estimates that the oil sands contains approximately 1.7 trillion barrels of crude bitumen, however only 19% can be ultimately recovered (Raynolds, Severson-Baker & Woynillowicz, 2005; Humphries, 2008). The availability of recoverable bitumen makes Canada’s oil sands deposit larger even than that of Saudi Arabia (Czarnecki, Hamza, Masliyah, Xu & Zhou, 2004).The process of surface and in situ mining of the Athabasca oil sands is causing rapid and significant degradation of the regional environment surrounding Fort McMurray and the Athabasca River. Production is expected to increase to three million barrels per day by 2015 from approximately 2 million currently (Humphries, 2008). This increase will further exacerbate the existing environmental impacts of crude oil production. The Canadian oil and natural gas industry is extremely lucrative, but despite the short-term economic benefits of the mining of the Athabasca oil sands, the remediation of the negative environmental impacts of the extraction of oil on terrestrial and aquatic environments, biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions are a priority.

    Read More

  • isu

    1215 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The most important environmental issue is one that is rarely mentioned, and that is the lack of a conservation ethic in our culture” – Gaylord Nelson. Energy has become an extremely hot topic over the last couple of years, with arguments for our energy worries ranging from environmental to political to economical or financial problems. The variety of energy sources available for Ontarians has been a positive outcome for citizens, but the consequences of using some of these sources has not been. The situation, although severely thought through, has been the root of inflamed quarrel among people. With approximately thirteen million citizens living in Ontario, the future of the environment and sustainable energy source is questioned. While there are many different types of energy sources that Ontarians can get their power from, the Premiere of Ontario should focus on renewable energy for the sake of future generations, the economy and the province. The majority if not all Ontarians utilized energy sources originate from; nuclear power plants, hydro power plants, and renewable energy sources.

    Read More

  • Essay On Geothermal Energy

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    The race for a sustainable efficient power source has been an ongoing problem for the world. Global users are now waking up to the facts that these will not sustain us forever as they have made a large human footprint upon the earth that we so desperately depend on. This race has resulted in a very positive effect on the global pursuit of greener more sustainable energy and has helped in developing new technologies. These technologies range from wind powered turbines, solar paneled power stations and harnessing and using the heat from the molten layer of rock below the surface called geo thermal energy. This article is going to be focusing on the renewable natural energy of geo thermal, from the history to what is geothermal energy, and even what the advantages and disadvantages are.

    Read More

  • Canadian Natural Resources Case Study

    1025 Words  | 3 Pages

    Canadian Natural Resources is an oil and gas exploration, development and production company with its corporate head office in Calgary, Alberta. CNR is Canada’s largest oil and gas company and one of the world’s largest independent oil and gas producer. CNR was founded in Calgary, Alberta in 1989 but there is no specific man or women who have found the company. The company started off with drilling shallow gas basin, which is a big contributor of their success. Slowly they shifted into bitumen and crude oil. CNR headquarters are located in Calgary, Alberta and all the other offices are located in Alberta except for one, Fort St.John which is located in British Columbia. Their factories and offices are located in Alberta because Alberta is the

    Read More

  • geothermal energy

    702 Words  | 2 Pages

    Geothermal energy is one of the oldest sources of energy. It is simply using and reusing (reusable energy) heat from the inside of the earth. Most of the geothermal energy comes from magma, molten or partially molten rock. Which is why most geothermal resources come from regions where there are active volcanoes. Hot springs, geysers, pools of boiling mud, and fumaroles are the most easily exploited sources. The ancient Romans used hot springs to heat baths and homes, and similar uses are still found in Iceland, Turkey, and Japan. The true source of geothermal energy is believed to come from radioactive decay occurring deep within the earth.

    Read More

More about Geothermal Energy In Alberta Essay

Open Document