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“What are the viable alternatives of fossil fuels?”

I. Title: Alternative Fuels: The Necessary Step

II. Introduction

A. We have relied on fossil fuels such as oil and coal for hundreds of years.

These natural recourses are finite and create air-damaging fumes when burned.

Scientists and archeologists estimate that we are on the path to depleting the

world’s fossil fuel reserves, which could lead to an economic meltdown.

B. Thesis Statement: If we continue to rely only on fossil fuels to generate

electricity, and power our vehicles, we will undoubtedly consume the world

reserve of these limited forms of energy. Hydrogen, solar and wind power can be

alternatives to fossil fuels.

III. Necessary Background

A. Fossil fuels have created a negative environmental impact through their

burning process. And the supply of these fuels is diminishing, and this has

helped spur interest in alternatives. Currently, renewable energy only

accounts for 9% of US domestic energy production. Hydropower accounts for

about 5%. There is currently a higher cost to benefit ratio for using renewable

energy, and fossil fuels are still relatively cheap to use (Renewable Energy

Sources).

B. Fossil fuels are finite recourses. Finite means having definable limits. We

know oil and coal are finite and will eventually be consumed. Alternative
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energy is usually renewable energy, which means this energy can be replaced

by ecological cycles.

C. We have been looking at this issue more closely because of the increasing gas

prices to fuel our cars and heat our homes. In a recent study, 55% surveyed

said they would consider an alternate fuel vehicle as their next car purchase

(PR Newswire).

IV. Subtopic #1

A. Companies and individuals are considering different, more efficient forms of

fuel for cars and for the production of electricity. This is due in part because

of greater conservation awareness and fears that gas prices may become too

high. There are many viable alternative fuels being considered.

B. Private civilians and companies of the United States have considered

Hydrogen for a long time as a powerful and abundant fuel to power

everything from cars to power plants. “Hydrogen is the 3rd most abundant

element on Earth” (World Almanac). Solar energy is also considered as a

productive form of generating electricity without the emissions and chance of

the source being depleted.

C. Hydrogen-Fuel Cell vehicles would have to be built with a high pressure

storage cylinder or a method of producing its own hydrogen fuel to run on.

Fuel cells remain a suitable solution to rising gas prices (PR Newswire). At

the 2007 International Auto Show in Seattle, a Hydrogen-Gas vehicle was

demonstrated to journalists. The vehicle was a converted Ford Ranger truck

that can run on either Hydrogen or Gasoline. What makes the truck unique,
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though, was its ability to produce hydrogen on demand. The patented method

of hydrogen fuel production in the truck was developed by Hydrogen Power

Inc. and it “involves a chemical reaction between water, aluminum, and an

environmentally friendly catalyst to cleanly and efficiently produce hydrogen

on site and on demand” (Hydrogen Power). Some companies and countries

are realizing the benefits of having hydrogen as a main fuel source. Drew

Winter for Ward’s Auto World says that “[Iceland] is the first country in the

world to commit to developing a hydrogen-based economy” (Winter).

D. Using renewable recourses such as Hydrogen is efficient, safe, and a logical

alternative that can substitute our use of oil products and produce the same

result.

V. Subtopic #2

A. Solar power is already catching on with home and office building

owners. Solar electricity is generated by the sun’s light when collected by

photovoltaic panels that charge large batteries with electricity. These

batteries are connected to the building’s electrical wiring. Solar power is

another great alternative to buying electricity from a polluting power

plant, because they are not expensive to set up, and maintenance costs are

minimal. Solar power may be the fastest growing alternative to home

electricity.

B. In California, solar power output “has grown from about 3 megawatts

in 2000 to 177 megawatts this year, a remarkable 5,900% increase” (St.

John). State’s around the US, realize the environmental benefits to solar
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electricity, and have organized initiatives to provide rebates to business

and homeowners who install solar power systems on their property.

C. Instead of using individual solar panels to generate electricity, another

proposed method would be to have large mirrors direct sunlight to boil

water, thus generating steam to run turbines. The Department of Energy

states that homes that use a scaled down version of these solar heating

designs “can save as much as 50% on heating bills” (Renewable Energy

Sources).

VI. Subtopic #3

A. Wind energy can be a great alternative to outside electricity in rural

communities or in farmland. Wind power works by using large tower-

mounted propellers that are spun by natural winds. The large propellers are

connected to generators at the base of these wind towers that generate

electricity from the spinning propellers. These windmills are usually placed in

large clusters, called wind farms, to maximize energy production either for a

large farm or medium sized town.

B. Wind is an energy source that will never be depleted, but many windmills are

needed to equal the electricity production of a small power plant. Brian

Sweany says that states, such as Texas, have adopted the Renewable Portfolio

Standard that calls for Texas to increase alternative energy production to 2,880

megawatts by January 2009- a lot of this power will come from windmills

(Sweany).
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C. The implementation of a wind project in Alberta was so successful that “the

Alberta Electric System Operator, or AESO, is concerned about there being

too much on the electrical grid” (Scotton).

VII. Conclusion

A. As our energy consumption increases and our fossil fuel reserves decrease, we

must look toward different, renewable forms of electricity. Hydrogen can be

utilized to fuel our cars, solar power can be used to provide cheaper electricity

to homeowners, and wind power can be applied to supply towns and large

facilities with very cheap electricity.

B. While some of these options are still in development, they provide a cleaner

renewable means of energy production, and can be able to replace the use of

finite fuels.