Clean energy is emerging as a major part of the economy and is creating many jobs right now and will in the near future. Not only is it just creating jobs, but it creates them for all types of education and skill levels. The reality of global climate change due to fossil fuels and rising carbon emissions makes it a necessity that the U.S. economy dramatically cut its consumption of traditional energy sources. The primary source of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is from human activity. As carbon dioxide rises in the atmosphere, global warming will increase not only rapidly but exponentially. It is crucial for the American people to understand the possible outcomes of the effects of global warming and extreme climate change as much as possible. The clean and renewable energy industry is rapidly expanding to meet the needs of a huge and growing international and global market for clean and also secure energy. This growth is predicted to continue to grow rapidly more than eight-fold from 2009-2035, provided countries continue their existing commitments, and draw close to $3 trillion in US currency in investment. The industry is rapidly changing therefore opening up many jobs and changing the competition all the time therefore opening the door up for all countries and all types of people. Renewable energy can be produced in many different ways: they can include hydro, solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, biofuels, and waste-to-go energy processes. Most of these renewable energy types carry the same or common characteristics: large fixed costs and low or no variable costs, and have average costs that are very dependent on output levels. Solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, tidal and waste-to energy is generated, but h... ... middle of paper ... ... construction process of these big power plants. Hydroelectricity is also very reliable. Unlike solar and wind power, hydro is always available because there is always water. However, the energy output is not quite as much as wind and solar. Flexibility is also a big aspect of hydroelectric energy. Adjusting water flow and output of electricity is easy. At times where power consumption is low, water flow is reduced and the magazine levels are being conserved for times when the power consumption is high.adjusting water flow and output of electricity is easy. At times where power consumption is low, water flow is reduced and the magazine levels are being conserved for times when the power consumption is high. Lastly, hydro energy is safe. Unlike fossil fuels and nuclear energy there is no fuel involved other than water which has a 0% chance of being contaminated
It uses flowing water to generate electricity. It does this by using dams and reservoirs for storage. This method gives us the most electricity rather than any other renewable energy source. Not only do the dams and reservoirs create electricity, they also control flooding (Sambu). Hydropower is the least expensive procedure to generate electricity. This is true because “once a dam has been built and the equipment installed, the energy source—flowing water—is free. It's a clean fuel source that is renewable yearly by snow and rainfall. Hydropower is also readily available; engineers can control the flow of water through the turbines to produce electricity on demand”
Instilling this new way of energy usage into off-grid communities will inevitably increase the state of living for those in cities and other well-populated areas. The change to renewable energy sources could drastically lower the pollutants currently being dispersed into the atmosphere by coal mines and other harmful power options, increasing the supply of renewable energy would allow us to replace carbon-intensive energy sources and significantly reduce U.S. global warming emissions. a 25 percent by 2025 national renewable electricity standard would lower power plant CO2 emissions 277 million metric tons annually by 2025—the equivalent of the annual output from 70 typical (600 MW) new coal plants (“Benefits of Renewable Energy Use”). Electricity production accounts for more than one-third of U.S. global warming emissions, with the majority generated by coal-fired power plants.
Our new leaders in Congress have vowed to do everything in their power to stop him” (Environment America, n.d.). It is statements like this that makes us think that political involvement could be paramount in the step to solving our global warming issues, at least a strong start. We are aware the renewable energy is the wave for a more sustainable future and to make this happen politics must be involved, we need our government to take a stand in producing energy that does not pollute the earth causing such catastrophic events as “tsunamis” that kill thousands of unsuspecting people. This article talks about what types of things our government can get in pace with such as, “renewable energy via solar, wind and energy efficiency” (Environment America, n.d.). In June 2014, the President has moved forward starting with the “clean power plan” per the article “Global Warming Solutions” (Environment America, n.d.) we need and must demand future political involvement for this
Investing in a clean-energy economy is the clear path toward re-establishing our economic stability and strengthening our national security. Content, T. 2011. Works Cited Content, T. (2011, July 12). Report finds Wisconsin 13th in clean-technology jobs.JSOnline.com. Retrieved April 1, 2012, from http://www.jsonline.com/business/125463128.html.
As the world is literally heating up, so is the pressing, controversial topic of climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) publishes a climate change report every 5 years; the 2014 report is the most alarming report thus far. The long report is the collaborative work of more than 800 climate scientists and governmental representatives. The report is shocking, and it should be. The IPCC concludes that human activity is the cause of climate change, just as smoking causes cancer. The increasing living standards of industrialized nations are resulting in an increased use of coal energy. Along with the growing population, coal is being used at extravagant rates and increasing. Unfortunately, coal poses a threat to the future of humanity, and we are the direct cause (Richardson, 2014).
Some advantages of using water power are it is cheap, little pollution, and can be used for multiple things. Even though building a hydroelectric dam is expensive, after it is built,the energy production is free. As was mentioned above, power is generated by water flowing through a turbine and rotating blades. Because nothing is being burned, there is little pollution created using a hydroelectric dam. Part of a hydroelectric dam, is a reservoir.
Do you ever think about how our world might deplete our coal or oil resources? Fossil fuels, which are made of coal or natural gas, and oil have all supplied a majority of our energy. Fossil fuels burn carbon fuels such as; oil, coal, and gas to create steam to have large turbines generate electricity. Fossil fuels provided more than 80% of America’s energy in 2017. Those sources have been providing our country since the industrial revolution, but their production, limitation, and use have significant health and environmental impacts, environmental degradation, and global warming. Wind power in Illinois provided 5.7% of the state's electrical power in 2016. The issue I focused on resolving was finding renewable ways of generating
The year is 2200. The world is going through a fossil fuel shortage. Oil reserves are almost completely consumed and it is becoming impossible to find new fossil fuel sources. Not prepared for this event to occur, The United States, has no alternative options. As a result of the oil shortage, the standard of living deteriorates. Heat in homes, supermarkets full of food, and transportation, all basic necessities taken for granted, will be depleted because fossil fuels are used to power almost everything. The key to the prevention of this future is renewable energy. Unfortunately the support for the use of renewable energy is weak and ineffective. Unless the US puts forth effort to research and promote the use of renewable energy to consumers, conversion from fossil fuels to renewable energy will no longer be an option.
Energy is the basic necessity of daily life. Nowadays, dependence on fossil fuels for energy needs becoming lower in numerous countries due to the potential of renewable energy to supply sustainable energy to the huge populations in many developing countries who are short of clean and continues energy. Generally, renewable energy can be defined as energy that is derived from natural resources which are constantly replenished and theoretically inexhaustible. Fossil fuels on the other hand can be described as energy that cannot be renewed and will eventually diminish. Thus, in many developing countries renewable energy is the alternative energy to replace non-renewable energy or commonly known as fossil fuels. In addition, according to Sorensen (2004), there is a greater demand for renewable energy sources nowadays due to the uncertainty of fuel price rise in living expenses. Commonly, there are many types of renewable energy available in our world such as wind power, biomass energy, solar energy, hydroelectric power and geothermal energy. However, the main three example of renewable energy are hydroelectric power, solar and biomass energy (Refer to Figure 1 in Appendix 1).
He likely does not have access to adequate resources to inform or persuade the public in this manner. Furthermore, the complexity of the social and political landscape makes this discussion remarkably difficult to find success in. However, the prospective energy engineer is in a position to make an informed decision wherein the public cannot adequately. In this case, the prospective energy engineer should recognize that decisions about global warming are proper engineering decisions. The decision about what resources to use for energy production should be assessed by engineers, within their professions.
There are three parts to a typical hydropower plant. The first part is an electric plant where electricity is produced. The second is a dam that open and closes to control the flow of water. Water behind the dam goes into an intake and is pushed against blades in a turbine which causes them to turn. Then the turbine rotates a generator to create electricity.
Hydropower, the use of water to power machinery or produce electricity, provides the most renewable energy in the United States, and uses alternating current in most modern plants ("Hydropower…”). Hydropower relies on the water cycle and is a clean fuel source; it doesn’t pollute the environment like plants that burn fossil fuels. It is by far the most efficient way to generate electricity, being half the cost of using nuclear power, two-fifths the cost of using fossil fuels, and a quarter the cost of using natural gas ("Wind and Water…”). Also, hydropower is not subject to market fluctuations of embargos, and the average lifespan of a facility is 100 years. Hydropower also has many non-energy benefits such as water supply, flood control, navigation, irrigation, and recreation. However, it does face many environmental challenges such as impacts to aquatic habitats, aesthetic alterations of landscapes, changes to water quality, and interruptions of marine life ("Hydropower…”).
Nelson, V. (2008). The 'Standard'. Introduction to Renewable Energy. Chicago: Springer University Press, Inc.
Hydroelectricity is a renewable source that can be used for years and cam be expanded in many different ways. It also can produce energy from running water without reducing its quantity and can be utilized with other renewable sources that promote energy. Hydroelectricity contributes to the storing of drinking water by collecting rain water, which can then be used for irrigation; however it can also improve the air you breathe because it doesn’t release any toxins or pollutants. For a century, hydroelectricity has made long term improvements environmentally and can continue to do so for many years to come because of how affordable this technology is. (Lamb)
Using fossil fuels such as coal and oil is inefficient, dangerous, and otherwise a process that is known to eventually fail as a long lasting energy source. Yet, there is hope for the future of energy, this new hope has many shapes and forms, but requires a chance to be fully implemented in our everyday life. Such energy sources like solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, and hydro power are the key to our future. These energy sources are proven to be long lasting, safe, more reliable, and the next innovation. In short, all Americans should switch to renewable energy, resulting in a safer and more efficient world.