Renwable Energy

Renewable Energy Alternatives

There were three renewable energy alternatives that were presented in the video. These resources are wind power, solar energy, and biomass formation.

Wind Power is an indirect form of solar energy. This is being generated by huge wind turbines. They are about 100 ft tall and have long blades that harness wind energy efficiently. Some challenges with this is that they require lots of wind in open areas. It is not a feasible source in all areas of the United States. The use of wind power does not create major environmental problems but has reported bird and bat kills.

Biomass formation or energy is one of the oldest fuels known to humans. This consists of materials like wood, sawdust, wood chips, fast-growing plant and algal crops, crop wastes, and animal wastes. Some of the challenges with managing biomass is the use of land and water that might could have been dedicated to agriculture.

Solar Energy is used for heating water and buildings. There are two forms of solar energy direct and indirect. Some challenges of this is converting solar energy into electricity.

A source not mentioned in the video would be Geothermal Energy. This is the natural heat within the Earth, which arises from the Earth’s core.

Nonrenewable energy resources contain not only coal, oil, and natural gas but also nuclear energy. One challenge with managing the mining of coal is that it has substantial effects on the environment. Surface mining, such as mountaintop removal, is one of the most land-destructive types of surface mining. Mountaintop removal has leveled 15 to 25 percent of mountaintops in southern West Virginia; and if continued at the current rate, by 2020, there will be no more mountaintops. Oil and natural gas provide managing challenge as well. It is hard to manage the burning and transporting of oil and natural gas. Burning oil leads to acid deposition and the formation of smog. Both oil and natural gas pose a risk when transporting them...