Running head: ENERGY SOURCES

Energy Sources: A Review of Literature

Monica Denisse Pinon Martinez
University of Texas at El Paso

Running head: ENERGY SOURCES

Abstract
Energy sources can be classified into two major groups: Renewable energy sources and
nonrenewable energy sources. From generation to generation, energy has become ideal for
human existence. Researchers keep exposing new knowledge and developing new technology
with the purpose to help the planet. However, new findings have led to a serious conflict between
new and old fashion methods. The ongoing energy controversy: Nonrenewable energy (fossil
fuels) vs. renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass energy) have
raised concerns about the consequences and benefits from both types of energies. The purpose of
this literary review is to understand the controversy between them and to know the economic and
environmental impacts from both energies. The method used for the creation of the literacy
review was by constant research and the use of reliable secondary sources and primary sources.
The secondary and primary sources were combined in order to give strength to the literature
review and also to express the issue from two different perspectives. Interviews with
Environmental Chemical Engineer, Jorge Holguin, and Environmental Science specialist,
Vanessa L. Lougheed were used as primary research; the interviews were conducted by phone
with the permission of the specialists. Thanks to primary research, it is possible to conclude that
both types of energies have their own positive and negative consequences. And according to J.
Holguin, fossil fuels continue to be primarily used in the US due to their ability to sustain high
energy demand. However V. L. Lougheed defends her point that renewable energy does have the
capability to satisfy the energy demand. With primary research it can be concluded that there are
currently different things being done to solve the controversy between both types of energy, for
example: The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and the program called: Islands and
our renewable energy future, realized by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Running head: ENERGY SOURCES

Energy Sources: A Review of Literature

The world runs on many different types of energy, whether its renewable or
nonrenewable, options do exist. Todays research has opened doors to so many of those options,
but also to many questions. How is the world being affected by human decisions on the type of
energy used? Will energy be consumed? The primary energy source currently used comes from
fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable raw material due to the fact that it takes about a
million years for them to reproduce. Fossil fuels provide a very large amount of energy from the
combustion process, energy that is later used for almost anything in todays world. The most
commonly known fossil fuel is in the form of petroleum. Millions of barrels of petroleum are
drilled every day. The continuation of drilling and mining for this energy source can lead to an
extinction of it. For this reason the Energy Department of the U.S maintains emergency
petroleum reserves (Energy, 2014).
However, the usage of nonrenewable energies is being considered as a solution for
energy shortage. More than that, renewable energies have made a great impact for the
consideration of planet Earth. Nonrenewable energies are clean and dont contaminate the
atmosphere. This types of energies are slowly becoming a popular topic and of great interest for
scientists all around the world. Nonetheless, there is a big controversy between renewable and
nonrenewable energy. People question the effects that changes might bring upon the economy
and environment. Many questions need to be considered before an action can be taken, such as:
1. What are the economic and environmental consequences of using renewable
sources and nonrenewable sources?

Running head: ENERGY SOURCES

2. Why is fossil fuel energy (nonrenewable energy) continuing to be the primary

source of energy in the US instead of renewable energy?
3. What is being done to solve the controversy between renewable energy and
nonrenewable energy?

The following review on literature will: describe nonrenewable and renewable energy sources and
provide information on their efficiency, as well as give an idea of the advantages and
disadvantages between them.
What are the economic and environmental consequences of using renewable energy and
nonrenewable energy?
It is believed that renewable energy will bring a positive turn for the American economy.
Renewable energy has been quoted as being labor-intensive by the National Renewable energy
Laboratory (Sustainable Energy, 2014) because it creates more jobs and greater earnings.
According to the Wisconsin Energy Burea (Sustainable Energy, 2014), clean sources originate
more than double the occupations than fossil fuels. Renewable energy industry provides all kinds
of different jobs such as manufactures of photovoltaic components and maintenance jobs at wind
power. Also, renewable energy means cheaper energy and as a consequence a great economy in
the future (Brenes, 2006). But, according to research, cheaper energy from clean energy sources
will not come until a long time once they are put into action, while in the mean time the economy
will be seriously affected. From this perspective, it does not matter if renewable energy is
creating more jobs, the lack of technology and money needed to produce large amounts of
energy from clean sources (Karim, 2013) will harm the economy, all while fossil fuels do the
contrary. Fossil fuels are the top source used to facilitate everyones needs. Fossil fuels supply

Running head: ENERGY SOURCES

energy for the appliances used everyday, (J. Holguin, personal communication, October 17,
2014). It will take too long before renewable energy can accomplish the goal of helping the
economy, besides the fact that it will be very costly.
On the other hand, fossil fuels do not always bring a positive aspect to the economy.
Even though fossil fuels create large amounts of energy, the dependency of fossil fuels is
negatively affecting the economy, leading it into a crisis. The dependency of fossil fuel hurts the
US because most of the fossil fuels are imported, meaning less jobs. However, the Energy
Department of the United States assures times are changing little by little, and fossil fuels are
starting to help the economy again. In Figure 1, according to the Energy Department (Energy,
2014), for the first time in 18 years, oil production has over past the amount of oil import, and as
a result there has been growth in the economy and more jobs.

Figure 1 . This figure shows the amount of barrels per day that were
produced and imported into the US since the year 1994. Developed by
Daniel Wood, Energy Department (2013). Retrieved from:
http://energy.gov/articles/us-domestic-oil-production-exceeds-importsfirst-time-18-years

Running head: ENERGY SOURCES

Unfortunately, one thing the Energy Department cant deny is the impact fossil fuel
shortage will bring to the global economy. The shortage will affect the prices on energy; gasoline
will become more and more expensive, not to mention how natural resources (oil, natural gas,
and coal) are currently being exploited in a bell-shaped curve, and there will be a peak where
resources will be incredibly expensive or impossible to obtain (Nelder, 2009). According to
Nelders article (2009) Americans that consume 25% of the worlds energy, will have a drastic
change in their lives. And this is where renewable sources start to get strength again. Renewable
sources will help reduce the crisis and reestablish the economy. If varieties of clean energy
sources are used this will help improve industry in the US and as a result it will open a new
market. The development of different industries will give the US a great advantage on
technological research due to the need of new clean energy technologies. And as mentioned
before, expertise in manufacturing, maintenance, equipment, etc. will be needed, bringing more
jobs to the table (Conrad, Gevergian, & Baring-Gould, 2013).

An environmental consequence from using nonrenewable energy is global warming. The

emissions of concentrated carbon dioxide from fossil fuels are making climate changes (M. Cox,
Betts, Jones, Spall, & Totterdell, 2000). This is one of the reasons why renewable energies are
starting to be considered. During an interview, J. Holguin (personal communicator, October 17,
2014), Environmental Chemical Engineer, discussed that the energy from fossil fuels contributes
up to 57% of CO2 emissions causing climate changes (global warming), which meant higher
temperatures, damaged crops, and impacts on human health. As a consequence of using
Renewable energy, contamination and pollution decreases and global warming stops increasing.
Renewable energies help decrease carbon dioxide emissions. J. Holguin claimed these alternative

Running head: ENERGY SOURCES

sources are the solution to eliminate CO2 emissions in the atmosphere (personal communication,
October 17, 2014).
However, renewable energy does have negative consequences. It can affect the habitats
of different wild life. Hydroelectric dams have caused the death of salmons and other types of
fish. Wind turbines have been the cause of many bird and bat deaths due to collisions and
changes in air pressure (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2014). Also, this type of clean energy
comes along with visual and sound impact. The wind turbines produce vibrations and sound that
can bother houses living nearby (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2014).
Why is fossil fuel energy (nonrenewable energy) continuing to be the primary source of
energy instead of renewable energy?
One of the reasons the US continues to be dependent of nonrenewable energy is because
fossil fuels have the power to sustain the high energy demand (J. Holguin, personal
communication, October 17, 2014). In figure 2, according to the US EIA (US Energy
Information Agency), 86% of US energy consumption is fossil fuels. The dependency of the US
on fossil fuels is evident.
.

Figure 2. This figure shows the percentages of types of energy

used, making it clear that fossil fuels dominate the US energy

consumption. Developed by US energy information Agency
(2014). Retrieved from: http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/

Running head: ENERGY SOURCES

It provides energy to light buildings, run car engines and more. Not to mention, the
technology for this type of energy is already very advanced, while in the other hand renewable
energy is relatively new, stated J. Holguin (personal communication, October 17, 2014).
Renewable energy currently makes up less than 2% of the worlds primary energy supply, and
although growing very rapidly, it is not on course to fill the fossil fuel gap, either, (Nelder,
2009).
However, some believe the contrary. Renewable energy is very powerful and can be
considered to sustain high energy demand in places where they are harvested efficiently.
Renewable energy in the form of wind power generates more than 250 billion kilowatt-hours that
energize over 22 million households, (V. L. Lougheed, personal communication, October 19,
2014). And even though renewable energy can be considered expensive because of the need of
further research needed on clean technology, according to the article written by Chris Nelder
(2009), fossil fuel shortage could cause renewable energy to become less expensive as fuel prices
increase.

What is being done to solve the controversy between renewable energy and nonrenewable
energy?

It seems like the never ending controversy between energies is only increasing, however,
different things are being done to bring an end to it. Industries that want to continue to use fossil
fuels are trying to fight the problem of fossil fuel shortage by having emergency petroleum
reserves like the US Energy Department (Energy, 2014). Besides that, the US Energy
Department is working on finding ways to be able to continue using fossil fuels without harming

Running head: ENERGY SOURCES

the environment. They are working on the development of technologies that will reduce carbon
emissions in order to make fossil fuels a clean energy source (Energy, 2014). Also, the Regional
Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is an important regulatory program in the US. The objective
is toward reducing greenhouse gas transmissions by setting a limit amount of carbon dioxide
allowed to be emitted. It is currently active in the states of: Vermont, Maryland, Connecticut,
Maine, Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York, (V. L.
Lougheed, personal communication, October 19, 2014). The RGGI states implemented a new
2014 RGGI cap of 91 million short tons. The RGGI CO2 cap then declines 2.5 percent each year
from 2015 to 2020, (Inc., 2014). With this program, industries will continue to use fossil fuel
energy but in moderate measures. However, all this projects cant really solve the fact that fossil
fuel will come to an end in the future.
Other projects, such as the program called: Islands and our renewable energy future,
realized by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), wants to focus on the use of
renewable energy. The goal of this innovating program is to slowly introduce the translation of
renewable energy sources, in places where there is not much energy demand, for example in:
Hawaii, Alaska, and the islands by the Caribbean, with the purpose to show the possibility of
energy change from nonrenewable sources to renewable energy is possible. (Conrad, Gevergian,
& Baring-Gould, 2013). The NREL is advancing in new technologies that could one day exploit
the full potential of clean sources. In order to help the advancement in new technologies for the
use of renewable sources, in 2009 the United States created the Green Patent Pilot Program,
based on the examination of patent applications dealing with green technologies (V. L.
Lougheed, personal communication, October 19, 2014). Yet according to Karim (2013) no

Running head: ENERGY SOURCES

combination of renewable energy sources could overpower fossil fuels. Karim states that
renewable sources are weak because they are limited by factors that cannot be controlled,
making it almost impossible to relay on them.

Another important act that has been implanted is the Energy Independence and Security
Act of 2007. This policy fights for energy efficiency and energy independence, (V. L. Lougheed,
personal communication, October 19, 2014).

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Running head: ENERGY SOURCES

Conclusion
Both renewable and nonrenewable sources provide energy that is necessary for human existence.
However, there are constant differences between them that are causing a nonstop controversy.
New research has opened new opportunities for cleaner energy. However, fossil fuel energy has
always been used to energize households, and the advancement on this type of energy to produce
almost anything is extraordinary. On the other hand, the shortage of fossil fuel and the global
warming effect are alarming. Alternative energies can be a promising solution if implanted
effectively, but they too come with disadvantages. The intentions of this literature review is to
give information to the audience from both sides of the issue, and hopefully help guide the reader
into a better understanding in order for them to make their one decision in the future.

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Running head: ENERGY SOURCES

Bibliography
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Conrad, M., Gevergian, K., & Baring-Gould, E. I. (2013). National Renewable Energy Laboratory Website.
Retrieved October 14, 2014, from Islands and Our Renewable Energy Future:
http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo27755/55060.pdf
Energy, U. D. (2014). Fossil. Retrieved October 8, 2014, from ENERGY.GOV: http://energy.gov/scienceinnovation/energy-sources/fossil
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Inc., R. (2014, October 6). Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Retrieved October 19, 2014, from An
initiative of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States of the U.S.: http://www.rggi.org/
Karim, G. (2013). Fuels,energy, and the environment. Boca Raton,FL: Taylor & Francis Group.
M. Cox, P. M., Betts, R. A., Jones, C. D., Spall, S. A., & Totterdell, I. J. (2000). Acceleration of global
warming due to carbon-cycle feedbacks in a coupled climate model. Nature International weekly
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Nelder, C. (2009). The End of Fossil Fuel. Forbes , 1.
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