Solar energy vs. Fossil fuels
Is solar energy a legitimate alternative to fossil fuels?
Background Information
Solar Energy Positive Effects
- Doesn't contribute to global warming
- More expensive than normal sources at first but cheaper in the long run
- 10,000 to 15,000 times more powerful than humans, hydroelectric power, and nuclear power in one day
Solar Energy Negative Effects
- At first it is more expensive than fossil fuels, so it can only be used by people who can afford it.
- If most of the world went solar it could have a long term effect on the economy
- Not all places in the world could rely on solar energy as it requires sunlight. Places in the world with frequent rain would not have reliable power (Mason)
Effects on the carbon cycle
- Fossil Fuel energy has an effect on the carbon cycle, It gets carbon from the ground in the form of fossil fuels, and puts it in the atmosphere.
- Solar energy stops this part of the cycle from happening, possibly altering the access to the carbon life depends on.
Effects on the economy
- Fossil fuels are the basis of the modern day economy.
- If the whole world went solar, the economy could crash leading the world into another depression.
- Fossil fuels however, already are leading the economy on a downward slope as they will run out eventually. By then it will be too late to start using solar energy as the economy will no longer be stable.
But is it an alternative?
Work Cited
Frederick:
#1: Source Citation (MLA 7th Edition)
"Energy: The Solar Prospect." American Decades Primary Sources. Ed. Cynthia Rose. Vol. 8: 1970-1979. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 589-591. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 Nov. 2015.
URL
#2: Source Citation
Naseri, Muthena, and Douglas Smith. "Alternative energy sources." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 5th ed. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2014. Science in Context. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
Mason:
#1: "Renewable Energy." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2015. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 6 Nov. 2015.
Michael:
#1: Solar Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Act (1974)." Environmental Encyclopedia. Gale, 2011. Science in Context. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
#2: Solar Energy." Alternative Energy. Ed. K. Lee Lerner, Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, and Kathleen J. Edgar. 2nd ed. Detroit: UXL, 2012. Science in Context. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.