The Rise of Renewable Energy Notes: Solar cells, wind turbines and biofules are poised to become major

r energy sources No plan to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions can succeed through increases in energy efficiency alone To counter global warming, US and other countries must start developing renewable energy sources that generate little or no carbon 3 decades ago renewable energy became popular, but it was neither supported nor sustained in recent years, big improvements in performance and affordability of solar cells, wind turbines and biofuels mass commercialization renewable sources reduce U.Ss dependency on other countries for fossil fuels switching to renewable sources will require a long-term investment of scientific, economic, and political resources Solar: photovolatics use semiconductor materials to convert sunlight into electric current; easy to use because they can be installed in so many places (walls, roofs) Wind: .5 percent fraction of us elect. Produced by wind turbines; 1.9 cents tax credit for wind power, per kilowatt-hour of electricity; 60000 megawatts global generating capacity of wind power Green fuels: 16.2 billion liters of ethanol produced in the US in 2005; 2.8 percent (ethanols share of all automobile fuel by volume); $2 billion annual subsidy for corn-based ethanol Summary: The Earth is currently in a dangerous state where the greenhouse effect is rapidly increasing. We could try to increase energy efficiency, but no plan to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions can succeed through this alone. In order to counter global warming, we must begin to develop, and put into action, renewable energy sources that generate little or no carbon. About three decades ago, renewable energy started to become popular, but it was neither supported nor sustained. In recent years, however, there have been big improvements in the performance and affordability in solar cells, wind turbines and biofuels, which has led to a higher popularity and mass commercialization. Solar power is mainly photovolatics, which use semiconductor materials to convert sunlight into electric currents. It is becoming popular due to its ability to be installed in so many places without taking much space. Wind power is created using wind turbines. When the turbines spin, it moves gears inside of it and produces electricity. Another renewable source is biofuel. Biofuel is simply what it sounds like: fuel made from life. This can include fuel made from the lipids in algae, and fuel made from plants. Overall switching to renewable sources will require a long-term investment of scientific, economic and political resources, but it is possible.

Opinion: This article was very interesting and provided a lot of information. In the article, it was said that the only way to successfully substantially reduce our greenhouse gas emissions is through switching our energy source to renewable sources. I completely agree with this statement, but also realize how difficult this would be. We currently have so many factories built for the sole purpose of making electricity from substances like coal, oil and uranium. However, we could make this our benefit if we could find a renewable source that can use these types of plants without releasing emissions. I believe that if countries were to work together to find renewable energy sources, we could make it happen much quicker than any country working on its own to gain money through those sources. So What? This is a very important issue that we should consider due to our current environmental situation. If we were to use a combination of different renewable sources, we could live like we normally do without emitting as many toxins and atmosphere-depleting chemicals. What if? What if we could completely change our energy sources to solely renewable sources? Says Who? The author and various scientists Reminds me of: The videos we watching in class about the alternative energy sources