Energy for the Future
By Simon DiRienzo
Introduction
Three types of renewable energies are biomass, hydropower, and wind. All three of these can be very helpful. Here is a quick look into each.
Biomass
Biomass is organic material made from microorganisms(plants/animals). Some examples are manure, some garbage, wood, and crops. We can always raise more animals and grow more crops, so biomass is a renewable resource. When burning biomass fuels, like wood, you can release chemical energy. Garbage can be burned for steam, which can be converted for electric energy.
In my opinion, this is a very good source of energy. It will be around until there is no more Earth, so we should keep this resource throughout our life.
In my opinion, this is a very good source of energy. It will be around until there is no more Earth, so we should keep this resource throughout our life.
Hydropower
Hydropower is energy from moving water. It accounts for 7% of the U.S.'s total energy generation. It is a very renewable source of energy because we have so much water on the Earth. Dams are what mainly create hydropower. They use huge turbines, that when spun by rushing water, generate electric energy.
Wind
Wind is used to generate energy using wind turbines. Wind is never going to run out, so this is an extremely renewable resource. Wind keeps us humans going, it "powers our lives". You can find wind turbines spinning away all over the U.S., and will only keep growing.
Persuasive
To me, wind is the most efficient and renewable source of energy out of these three. At the end of the 2006, global generation was at a whopping 70,000 megawatts. That is 17,500,000 homes powered. Although wind power only contributes to 3% of the U.S.'s total energy, it is predicted to to become a very big source.
There are many pros and cons to wind power. First off, there is so much wind. If we build much more efficient and green turbines, wind will become a big part of energy creation. Some cons are that wind turbines take a long time to map out and build. It could really take a lot of money to use all wind turbines.
There are many pros and cons to wind power. First off, there is so much wind. If we build much more efficient and green turbines, wind will become a big part of energy creation. Some cons are that wind turbines take a long time to map out and build. It could really take a lot of money to use all wind turbines.
Citations
"Energy Sources."Energy Kids. U.S. Energy Information Administration. 3/13/14.
<http://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=biomass_home-basics>
<http://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=biomass_home-basics>
"Wind Power."National Geographic. National Geographic Society. 3/13/14.
< http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/wind-power-profile/>