Student Article High School Science Journal Author: Karen Chen

Alternative Energy

August 05, 2007

As more and more fossil fuels are getting used up, the world should take steps toward alternative energy. Fossil fuels are sources of energy such as coal, oil, and natural gas. There is only a limited source of fossil fuels in the world; they are unrenewable. On the other hand, alternative energy sources are renewable. They include solar energy, waterpower, energy harnessed from the wind, and energy from biomass (trees and other plant material). If the world wants to have reliable energy in the future, we should start implementing more and more alternative energy into our lives to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels before they become scarce.

      There are two general energy policies, the hard path and the soft path. The hard path involves finding more fossil fuels and extracting all of it from the earth, even if it means damaging the environment, and building larger power plants. People want to stay on the hard path because it is easier to do things the way we have been doing them instead of changing our energy sources. Political, economic, and social conditions would not be realigned. The soft path is pro-alternative energy. Alternative energy sources are renewable, as well as less damaging to the environment.

      There are many negative effects of fossil fuels on the environment and on people. Fossil fuels emit a large amount of air pollution and green house gases, such as carbon dioxide, which contribute to global warming. Vehicles using petroleum also emit carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons, each having a negative effect. In sunlight nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons make ozone, ozone is an irritant to lungs, nitrogen oxides form nitric acid in water, carbon monoxide competes with oxygen in the blood, and some of the organic molecules are carcinogenic.

      Alternative energy usage will lessen pollutants in the air, creating a better standard of living. The amount of alternative energy based on the sun, water, wind, and biomass is unlimited; it will be implemented in full after the fossil fuels are all used up. Although each type of alternative energy has its benefits and is a step away from the dependency on fossil fuels, they also have some disadvantages. For example, building dams disrupt the migration of fish such as salmon in the river and windmills may harm birds. The sources may not be dependable, as well. There may not always be wind blowing the windmills or sun out to activate the solar panels. In addition, alternative energy equipment affects the scenic view of landscapes in a negative way.

      However, it is in the world’s best interest to start implementing alternative energy. Already, the United States is importing fifty percent of the oil used in this country. Unless the nation acts quickly to spread the usage of alternative energy sources, the United States might end up completely dependent on the Middle East for oil, since they have sixty-five percent of the world’s oil reserves. Using alternative energy will help the United States become less dependent on the Middle East for oil, make for a cleaner environment, and be prepared to become completely independent on fossil fuels. For now, scientists just need to work on improving alternative energy methods, people will also need to inform others of alternative energy, and the impact on the economy will need to be figured and worked out.

 
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