What is conventional energy?
sources include oil, natural gas, nuclear, and coal
What are sources of renewable energy?
energy sources that resotre themselves such as the sun, wind, moving water, organic plant and waste material (biomass), the earth's heat (geothermal).
Energy myths
US gets most of its oil from the Middle East, our air is becoming more polluted and US forests and landfills are shinking, offshore drilling causes significant environmental damage, earth is warming at a steady rate, humans are he main drivers behind the earth warming
Exhibits 4.1-4.3 page 82-83
Exhibits 4.1-4.3 page 82-83
Halo effect
respondents had a highly positive view of solar and wind as energy sources from the myths
Solar Energy, hydroelectric
is actually the most expensive form of energy, costing 22 cents/kwh.Hydroelectric is the cheapest form, costing about 3 cents/kwh
indepednet energy
the main route to energy independence is actually to minimze the importation of petroleum products from foreign countries because they are used predominaly for transporation
Exhibit 4.5 page 85
Exhibit 4.5 page 85
Challenges with wind
very expensive due to cost of manufacturing, installing, and shipping of wind turbines, and most of the technology and equipment is imported, and also inconsistent wind speed. Second issue is transmission costs and road costs
Whats wrong with solar?
capital investment is very expensive due to cost nature of semiconductors used in manufacuting the panels
exhibit 4.6 page 87
exhibit 4.6 page 87
exhibit 4.7 page 87
exhibit 4.7 page 87
Exhibit 4.10 page 91
Exhibit 4.10 page 91
exhibit 4.11 page 92
exhibit 4.11 page 92
exhibit 4.17 page 97
exhibit 4.17 page 97