Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy

Oil, along with coal and natural gas are fuels that human beings have relied on for energy for over 200 years. The supply of these fossil fuels is limited and is known to pollute the environment.   Some experts even claim that the world’s supply of oil could be depleted within only a few decades. (Dauncey 2003). Because oil is non-replenishing—therefore it will run out, it is only logical that renewable energy resources need to be implemented to reduce the world’s dependency on oil. The five most common forms of renewable energy: biomass; solar power; wind power; hydropower; and geothermal energy, are already being used in many areas of the world.   These sources, if produced on a larger scale, will help the transition the use of fossil fuels to a self-renewing energy usage. (Illinois Clean Energy Foundation 2008). The most common and well known fossil fuels are oil, coal, and natural gas. These energy resources, though once abundant, are quickly being drained—never to be used again.   These fossil fuels are limited and they are known to pollute the environment. Coal is the leaning pollutant, as it accounts for 43% of all annual global carbon emission.   The ten most polluted cities in the world—one in India and the rest in China—all use coal as their primary energy source. Such pollution that is visible to the naked eye as smog.   Smog is a mixture of pollutants. It is not an innocent fog or mist that will simply dissipate.

Coal is more abundant than all the other forms of energy and can be mined in nearly every part of the world. Because of this, coal seems like a perfect choice for energy production. However, coal should not be used just because there is a large number of it.   There are many health dangers associated with turning coal into electricity such as air pollution, acid rain, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Petroleum, or crude oil, accounts of 40% of the world’s energy supply.   The world’s industrial nations have been using the oil...