Camden Rehak

Research Paper

December 20, 2018

Alternative Energy

What are fossil fuels? What is alternative energy? With environmental issues

growing, our use of fossil fuels compared to alternative energy has become a big

debate. If public concern for our environment has increased, why hasn’t the use of

energy alternatives increased in the U.S.? With the concern for our environment

increasing the use of alternative energy should increase.

What are fossil fuels? Not many people know the specifics. When referring to

fossil fuels, non-renewable resources are included. Fossil fuels are energy sources

formed beneath the earth's crust from organic material. Coal, crude oil, and natural

gases are common forms of fossil fuels.(“What Are Fossil Fuels?”). Coal is the altered

remnants of prehistoric plants that accumulated in swamps, forming organic

sedimentary rock. Crude oil is a concoction of liquid hydrocarbons held in natural

underground reservoirs. Natural gas liquids are similar to crude oil in the way they are

liquid at surface conditions. Natural gas liquids are hydrocarbons that are in the

gaseous phase when in natural underground reservoir conditions. When natural gas

liquids enter surface conditions they become liquid(“What Are Fossil Fuels?”).

What are energy alternatives? Alternative energy is any fuel source that is not

derived from fossil fuels. Renewable energy resources are naturally replenished in a

relatively short period of time. They include biomass, hydropower, geothermal energy,

wind energy, and solar energy (“What Are Alternative Energies?”). Biomass, also
referred to as biofuels, is fuels made from plant materials. Biomass goes through

thermochemical and biochemical processes to form fuel containing carbon. The most

common biofuel is ethanol, which is made from corn kernels (“What Are Biofuels?”).

Hydropower is when the movement of water as it flows downstream creates kinetic

energy that can be converted into electricity. A hydroelectric power plant converts this

energy into electricity by forcing water, often held at a dam, through a hydraulic turbine

that is connected to a generator (“Should US Build More Hydropower Dams?”).

Geothermal energy is heat energy collected from the Earth’s core (Haugen et al. 92).

Wind energy is when the wind's kinetic energy is harnessed by a wind turbine, a device

that looks like an extremely tall, skinny fan. When wind moves the blades of the fan,

they spin a central hub. The spinning hub moves a series of gears connected to a

generator, which converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy for

distribution(“How is Wind Power Produced”). Solar power is when the sun's energy is

captured to generate electricity or heat through a system of panels or mirrors (“Different

Methods of Solar Power Generation”).

Carbon is stored in the atmosphere, ocean, and soil. The carbon is exchanged

between the atmosphere and carbon storage pools in huge quantities naturally, this is

called the carbon cycle. Humans use and burning of fossil fuels only contributes roughly

five percent of all carbon dioxide released from the land and ocean each year (“Are

Humans Substantially Responsible”). Even though the percent of carbon humans

produce seems low, in 2005 the global atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide had

grown from 280 ppm at pre-industrial value to 379 ppm. Over the last 650,000 years the
carbon dioxide concentration has gone from 180 to 300 ppm, 2005 measurements

surpass that natural range (“Are Humans Substantially Responsible”).

Biofuels provide a cleaner transportation fuel and reduce the emission of

greenhouse gases. The energy used to grow and harvest biofuel crops affects the level

of greenhouse gas emissions. Corn ethanol has potential to reduce emissions by as

much as 52% compared to petroleum-based fuels. Ethanol from switchgrass or corn

stover has the potential of reducing as much as 86% of emissions compared to

gasoline. Biofuels also have the benefit of a ‘carbon sink’, as biofuel crops grow they

absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere(“Top 10”). The use of corn and other food

crops for fuel raises ethical and nutritional concerns. According to the World Health

Organization, almost 60 percent of people on earth are malnourished. Using crops for

fuel misuses land, water, and energy that is valuable for human food production. The

use of corn for ethanol has also caused increased prices of U.S. beef, chicken, pork,

milk eggs, cereals, and breads. Using biofuels to solve energy complications is ethically,

economically, and environmentally problematic (“Top 10”).

Renewable energy in the U.S. has many untapped opportunities. The available

wind energy resources in the midwest and Rocky Mountain regions is about 2.5 times

the total electricity manufactured in the United States. If solar energy production is

focused in strong sunlight areas, like the Southwest, resources can produce about three

times the energy as wind energy can; in only one percent of the area. With the new

technologies it is possible to completely eliminate carbon dioxide as early as 2040. The

use of coal and nuclear electricity could be obsolete(“Top 10”). Even with these
speculations the reliability of nuclear, fossil, and hydroelectric power stations cannot be

replaced. It is easy to stick with what is known.

Going green can create many jobs. A shift to alternative energies and a clean

economy creates more jobs and brings health to disadvantaged communities. If the

U.S. were to switch our main energy sources there would be wind turbines needing to

be built, solar panels to install, and hydropower dams to manage(“Top 10”). An

estimated 5 million new jobs would be created in renewable energy in the Green

Recovery plan. The plan would also give us clean air and end our reliance on imported

oil. This all sounds great but it would all be government and tax founded. The U.S.

Energy Information Agency also projects that with the increasing electricity demand, the

renewable sector would have to grow by 19 percent every year for 22 years to meet the

projected electricity demands in the year 2030(“Top 10”).

The biggest debate between alternative energies and fossil fuels is the cost.

Since 1978 the U.S. government has spent more than $11 billion to subsidize wind,

solar, biomass, and geothermal power. Global warming is still considered unproven,

and using government subsidies to bring the prices of renewables down is, to many, a

waste of money (Taylor et al.). Renewable energy costs from .4 to 20 cents per Kilowatt

more than conventional power, which is averagely priced at 2.5 cents Kwh. The cost

gap between the two has lowered in the past 22 years (Taylor et al.). "For at least the

last thirty years the alternative energy industry has been claiming they are almost ready

to be economically competitive with fossil fuel. Wind, solar, geothermal, and others keep

begging for government subsidies to help them stay afloat until they can reach a size at

which economies of scale kicks in, price per kilowatt hour drops, and then they can
 survive on their own. Now we are seeing this has been a blatant grab for taxpayer

dollars and the subsidies were more about industry executives and shareholders getting

rich than about reaching a green industry future…”(“Should the US Subsidize”).

Many big corporations such Exxon, Shell, and Mobil have initiated aggressive

research and developmental projects towards renewable energy (Taylor et al.).

Because of the rise in heavy corporate investment in renewable energy technologies,

the potential competitiveness has increased and the prices will hopefully drop. Two

percent of total U.S. electricity generation is produced by solar, geothermal, wind, and

biomass. The wind industry has grown by 70 percent between 1997 and 2000 (Taylor

et al.). “Congress are(is) working hard to accelerate the clean energy transformation

already underway. And we believe that if subsidies for fossil fuels are permanent, the

tax credits for clean energy should be as well”(“Should the US Subsidize”).

The debate between renewable and nonrenewable will continue. Until we find a

cost efficient way to harness alternative fuels their prices will still be higher than fossil

fuels. If fossil fuels are not priced to the cost they have on the environment, then people

will still choose them over the slightly more expensive alternative energies. The

discussion on the U.S. use of land for alternative energies is ongoing. Both sides of

alternative versus fossil fuels have many complications, there will always have to be a

comprise in going either way.

Citations

“Are Humans Substantially Responsible for Global Climate Change Today? - Alternative

Energy - ProCon.org.” Can Alternative Energy Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels?,

 alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001280. Accessed 18 Dec.

2018.

Haugen, David M., et al. Energy Alternatives. Greenhaven Press, 2010.

“How Is Wind Power Produced?” Can Alternative Energy Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels?,

alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001275. Accessed 18 Dec.

2018.

“Should the US Build More Hydropower Dams? - Alternative Energy - ProCon.org.” Can

Alternative Energy Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels?,

alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001414. Accessed 18 Dec.

2018.

“Should the US Subsidize Alternative Energies?” Can Alternative Energy Effectively Replace

Fossil Fuels?, alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001251.

“Top 10 Pro & Con Arguments.” Can Alternative Energy Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels?,

alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=001792#2.

“What Are Alternative Energies?” Can Alternative Energy Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels?,

alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001246. Accessed 18 Dec.

2018.

“What Are Biofuels?” Can Alternative Energy Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels?,

alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001176. Accessed 18 Dec.

2018.

“What Are Fossil Fuels?” Can Alternative Energy Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels?,

alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001245. Accessed 18 Dec.

2018.
“What Are the Different Methods of Solar Power Generation?” Can Alternative Energy
Effectively Replace Fossil Fuels?,
alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001272. Accessed 18 Dec.
2018.