Running Head: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY CONTROVERSY

Alternative Energy Controversy

Fernando Cortez
University of Texas at El Paso

Running Head: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY CONTROVERSY

Abstract

Alternative energy are energies that can be used for free. They all have low carbon
emissions, these include: geothermal Energy, Wind Energy, Solar energy, and Tidal Energy.
These energies are very useful for obtaining energy without having to pollute the air in which we
breathe. Although these energies can be very useful, the problem is that they can be expensive.
Since they are eco-friendly they are more expensive to build, especially since over time they save
you much more money rather than using gasoline or other fossil fuels. On the other hand,
gasoline is much cheaper then any of the alternative energies. There are many options when
discussing uses of energy, in this paper I will be highlighting the major benefits from each source
of energy. I will also be discussing how alternative energy is changing the way we use energy
and how it is revolutionizing our energy uses.

Running Head: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY CONTROVERSY

Since the invention of the first gasoline powered motor, us humans have been using
mainly gasoline to power our machines. In 1885, the first ever gasoline powered vehicle was
invented. This invention would start the first ever form of transportation and energy, which came
in its most basic form. This would change over time as our technology would revolutionize our
uses of energy.
Alternative energy was never necessarily discovered, because it has always been present
in our existence. The only discovery was putting the use of energies that are given off of by
nature, into use to power a multiple of engines. Alternative energies are convenient because there
is not need to extract a certain type of substance from the earth. For example, you must drill in
areas all around the globe to obtain oil. There is chances of there being an oil spill and it also
harms ecosystems that are within that area. With alternative energy, at most all that is needed is
to set up a system in which is more beneficial to ones location. For example, someone who lives
in Arizona would most likely have solar panels on the roof of their home, because the sun strikes
down at the equator making it more reasonable to have that in that location. Wind energy would
be used somewhere that constantly has windy weather, this would maximize the energy extracted
from the environment. There are many differences between alternative energy and fossil fuels,
these four questions will highlight the differences and the controversy between the two:
1.What is alternative energy?
2. How effective are current sources of energy?
3. What could possibly happen if we do not change our sources of energy?
4. How should alternative energy be utilized?

What is alternative energy?

Running Head: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY CONTROVERSY

Alternative energy is the energy that is used in alternative to fossil fuel. It includes
several benefits as it minimalizes the concerns that fossil fuels have. It significantly decreases the
amount of carbon dioxide by 98%. ( Kultz. 2008)What is so great about alternative energy is
how it is so flexible to use in near any specific location, or purpose. The main types of
alternative energy include: geothermal electricity, wind energy, solar energy and tidal energy.
Geothermal energy is the heat from the earth that is stored into energy for multiple uses. The
resources obtained from the energy ranges from shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found
a few miles beneath the Earths surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high
temperatures of molten rock called magma. The hot water is collected using a system that
converts the hot temperature of the water into electricity.
The best part about geothermal energy is that it can be used anywhere because it directly
goes into the ground collecting energy form the hot water. This water can also be pumped
directly back into the ground and be reused. It also does not release any harmful gases like
greenhouse gas that can be harmful to the atmosphere and ultimately all living things.
Geothermal is the least used type of alternative energy. However, in Europe it is one of the top
sources of energy.
Wind is the use of air flow through wind turbines to mechanically power generators for
electricity. It is useful because it can be used almost anywhere there is wind. Wind energy is one
of the top producers of energy in the United States. This method of storing energy goes back
centuries using windmills, which pumped water, ground grain, and did other work. In todays
world, it is the most advanced version of a windmill. There are millions of windmills places
across the nation, although they are places mainly where there is more wind of course. The way
it works is it harnesses the winds kinetic energy and converts it into electricity using a generator

Running Head: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY CONTROVERSY

that is placed usually at the bottom of the wind mills. The sizes of wind mills vary depending
where they are being used, in a wind mill field they are usually about 80 feet tall turbines that
can power one single home to utility scale turbines that can power hundreds of homes at once.
The turbines activated when wind is blow past it and the blades capture the energy as they rotate.
The rotation activated an internal shaft to spin, which is connected to a gearbox increasing the
speed of rotation. The energy produced from the spinning motion is transferred to a gearbox
generator. This is where the electricity is stored to power homes/companies/buildings.
One of the fastest growing type of alternative energy is solar energy. Reason being is, it is
the easiest to set up and is relevant to use in nearly any location. As said by the SEIA The sun is
probably the most important source of renewable energy today. Traditionally, the sun has
provided energy for practically all living creatures.( Dent 2007) Being able to extract the energy
given off by the sun is extremely useful since 97% of all sunlight reaches the earth according to
ecoworld.com. The way in which solar energy is used is set up by a solar panel. These solar
panels are placed in areas in which receive the most sunlight to be the most effective. These
panels are then heated up by the level of sunlight of the sun. These panels are designed to absorb
the energy and transfer the energy into an electric generator. Solar energy has been around for
several years and is as of recently is starting to get more recognition because of how effective it
is.
How effective are current sources of energy?
In the United States, by far the most used source of energy is gasoline. When compared
to the rest of the world the United States ranks #1 in oil consumption per year according to
ecology.com. Gasoline, oil, and coal are all fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are compounds that have
been stored in the earths ground for millions of years, that have been dug up for our use. This has

Running Head: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY CONTROVERSY

been our primary use of energy to power our cars, homes, and big industrial companies. Gasoline
has played a huge role in providing energies to our cars and motors for several year, and has been
quite effective. When comparing an electric car to a gasoline car, the numbers show that a
gasoline car can out perform an electric car. Gasoline burns slowly when heated up an engine,
therefore can last much longer than electricity. One full tank of gasoline in a standard car can last
roughly 200-300 miles. While on the other hand, an electric car with full charge can last only
about 100 miles.
However, the biggest difference between the two are the costs and its environmental
concerns. Although gasoline is much more effective than electricity in regards to transportation.
For an electric car, over time the cost is much cheaper. According to transportservices.com, in an
electric car you have to pay an average of 2 cents per mile, whereas in a gasoline powered
vehicle the average cost per mile is more than at least 12 cents. (Coreym 2012)
In a personal survey that I conducted, I asked 30 random students around campus if they
would prefer to use electricity or to continue using gasoline to power their cars. I found that out
of the 30 students, 17 preferred electricity because of the cheap costs. However, the other 13
preferred gasoline to power their cars because they believed that electric cars battery burns out
quickly and that gasoline might be more expensive, they found it to be more effective for them.
When regarding the environmental issues between alternative energies and gasoline, alternative
is much more effective in terms of cleanness. All types of alternative energies do not pollute the
atmosphere in any way, the reason being is because of their naturalness. Since they are made up
of existing energies like the sun, heat, wind, and moving water. All they consist of is using a
system to collect the energy. With fossil fuels on the other hand, must be heated and burned in
order to use its energy. When they are heated they create carbon dioxide which is then released

Running Head: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY CONTROVERSY

into the atmosphere polluting the air in which we breathe. in which I create Which then leads to
the next question.
What could possibly happen if we dont change our sources of energy?
Using gasoline has proven to be more effective than alternative energy. However, using
gasoline can cause many other problems that are very problematic. According to scientists, the
use of fossil fuels gives off carbon dioxide that rises into the atmosphere. Over the past few years
there has been a significant increase in the over all temperature of the earth. This is known as the
greenhouse effect. What happens is, when the carbon dioxide rises up into the air

it stays trapped into the atmosphere because of the thickness of the compound. While a
small quantity of carbon dioxide leaves the atmosphere, most of it stays in the atmosphere. This

Running Head: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY CONTROVERSY

has had a significant impact on animals as well. In Alaska, the number of polar bears are
decreasing drastically by nearly 65% according to nwf.org. (Lorey 2015)
Fossil fuels have hurt the atmosphere but on the other hand, has been very useful for us at
it is the most used resource on the planet. Another problem is that since it is a non-renewable
resource it will not be around forever. According to ecotricity.co, if the world steps up production
to get as much fossil fuels as possible we would have enough energy to take us as far as 2088.
(Mont 2009) There are many arguments on whether we should continue to use our fossil fuels or
not because of its negative affect on nature. Nonetheless, alternative resources are strongly
encouraged by scientists across the world. Having another source of energy that does not hurt
that planet is a great back up plan. For many its an even better plan than to keep consuming fossil
fuels and destroying our atmosphere. As of today, many countries continue to use fossil fuels as
their main source of energy.

In this picture it shows how China and the United States continue to be the top consumers
of the world. This study was taken in 2014 by data.worldblank.org.( Banks 2010) All the
countries in the world combined would still not be more than China itself, which is scary how
much more they could continue to consume if we continue to use our fossil fuels.

Running Head: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY CONTROVERSY

How should alternative energy be utilized?

Alternative energy is set to become the replacement for fossil fuels in the distant future as
many believe. It is encouraged by many scientists that it should be utilized to its full potential.
Scientists believe this could drastically change the way of life. For many it would revolutionize
our cities in how they look right now. Alternative energy could be utilized to power our
companies around the globe to drastically decrease the amount of carbon dioxide that is given off
by most industrial companies. It could also be the source to all energy in the entire world. Car
would run on electricity using a combination of solar panels and wind turbines to collect
electricity. Some cars in the market today already have solar panels installed on the roof of
vehicles. Homes could even have their own personal systems of alternative energies. All homes
in the future could be powered by solar panels, and even wind turbines. It would cost people less
money to do so as it would greatly help the environment and keep the air cleaner. Utilizing these
alternative energies would greatly affect all living things in the planet, although it may be
expensive it is a long term investment that will pay off itself.
Conclusion
Over all, alternative energy and fossil fuels offer many benefits to use as a source of
energy. Both have positive and negative affect of their use. Alternative energy keeps the
atmosphere clean and can be used forever, but can be very expensive to maintain and create to
distribute to places all over the world. While on the other hand, fossil fuels offer to pollute the
atmosphere but can maintain more energy that alternative energy can. However fossil fuels come
cheap to relatively everywhere. The point is there has to be an equilibrium for the choice of
energy that is used. The atmosphere and the air we breathe must be protected, while also
allowing use of fossil fuels to a certain extent. This may be the only way in which the greenhouse

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effect could come to a conclusion. As it traps carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causing a drastic
rise in temperature across the world.

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References
Gevorkian, P. (2010) Alternative Energy Systems in Building Design. Chicago, IL. McGrawHill.
Issa R. (2014) Computing in civil engineering. Reston,VA. American Society of Civil Engineers.
Godoy, M. (2014) Modeling Alternative Energy Systems. Dallas, TX. CRC Press.
Goldemberg, J.(2007) Solar Energy for a Sustainable Energy.Sao Paulo, Brazil. Science Mags.
Turner, J.(2009) A Realizable Renewable Energy Future. Phoenix, AZ. Science Mags.

In-Text Citation:
Seawalk(2016)According to US Partnerhip for Renewable Energy Finance (US PREF) estimates,
the United States deployed approximately $3.6 billion in tax equity in 2012 to 2013 and is slated
to grow up to $10 billion by 2020 with a majority going to solar power.(p.154)