The Benefits Of Geothermal Energy

Ever since the Industrial Revolution, fossil fuels have been used to power the World’s economy. When the world first discovered oil as an energy source in 1859, it seemed like an ideal source of energy. Energy that had no limits and no negative effects. It is now clear that thinking of fossil fuels as a limitless supply of free energy without any negative effects is a very foolish mindset. However, this mindset was so prevalent throughout the entire twentieth century that America and many other nations around the world have become totally dependent on fossil fuels as their main source of energy. The problem with being so dependent on fossil fuels is that they are in limited supply in the world and they are non-renewable. In fact, the world

Geothermal energy is found in the form of heat from magma and decaying radioactive materials deep beneath the Earth’s surface. It is completely renewable because energy is constantly being produced in the mantle. There is a huge amount of energy beneath our feet just waiting to be harnessed. There is more energy within 10,000 meters of the Earth’s surface than there is in the world’s entire supply of oil and natural gases combined (Union of Concerned Scientists 1). If only a small fraction of this energy were to be collected and used to power human necessities, dependence on fossil fuels and the pollution they cause could be significantly reduced. A study done in 2007 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology concluded that, using current geothermal energy harnessing technologies, 6% of the United States energy needs could be provided by geothermal energy at a cost of just $40 million per year (Rich 1). Additionally, future research on geothermal energy could produce technologies capable of harnessing energy even more efficiently in the future. Geothermal energy is a powerful tool that could be used to decrease the use of fossil fuels and carbon-dioxide

Wind is a completely renewable source of energy and converting it into usable electricity does not produce and harmful emissions. Using wind to produce energy is a science that is very successful and on the rise. The world’s capacity to generate energy from wind is growing by 29% each year, in comparison to a 1.7% growth rate for oil (Rich 1). With scientific advancements making wind energy more and more valuable each year, investing in windmills and other machines that harness wind energy should be a no-brainer. Many countries in Europe, in fact, have already put major funding into wind energy and are reaping the benefits of doing so. By 2020, it is expected that half of Europe’s energy needs will be met using wind power (Rich 1). Other nations can experience the same success many European nations have had if they stop using fossil fuels and start using wind energy. According to a study done by the Department of Energy, the United States receives enough wind in the states of Texas, North Dakota, and Kansas alone to power the entire nation (Rich 1). Harnessing this energy would reduce America’s dependency on fossil fuels drastically. Energy from wind is one of the most reliable and renewable energy sources in