RENEWABLE ENERGY ALTERNATIVES: CURRENT STATUS AND CAPACITIES

A key to the United States’ economic growth is an ever-increasing demand for energy, which has traditionally been met primarily by combusting the hydrocarbons found in fossil fuels. As environmental concerns grow, renewable energy resources are gaining increasing attention. To aid both researchers as well as educators, this paper examines historical energy data for both traditional as well as alternative energy sources. Even with the progressive developments of non-traditional energy sources over the years, the U.S. still receives more than 90% of its energy from fossil and nuclear fuels. Explicit examination of the alternative energy sector has revealed that hydroelectric power and wood combustion constitute the majority of the nation’s renewable energy base. While still much smaller in scale, waste combustion, alcohol (i.e., fuel ethanol), and wind appear to be rapidly increasing in capacity, and are well-positioned to add significantly to the nation’s energy supply in the coming years. The trends discussed here and their implications will be critical for both educators as well as researchers, because contrary to conventional wisdom, simultaneously meeting the energy needs of our society as well as that of the environment are not mutually-exclusive.

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