It is inevitable.  We (the earth) will eventually run out of oil.  How will a world that relies so much on oil continue to exist?Some say there are many different alternative energy sources that we can use, while others say that the earth has plenty of untapped sources of oil in places such as Alaska.  There are, however, many problems associated with alternative energies.  Before one can fully understand alternative energy and the controversy surrounding it, it is crucial for an environmentalist to examine the background information on alternative energies, the problems associated with each of them, and the possible solutions to these problems.

       Before one can see the flaws in alternative energies, he must first learn background information on each of them.  One type of alternative energy is wind power.  This is where a windmill is used to harness electricity by the wind blowing.  When the wind is blowing hard enough, the blades on the windmill spin around and transfer electricity through cables to a generator.  More and more people are using wind power.  According to the American Wind Energy Association, wind is now powering more than 4.5 million homes.  It is also being used in over half the states and many countries.  Some of these countries include Germany, Denmark, Spain, and Portugal.  Wind energy is one of the most widely used alternatives to oil in the world.

       Along with wind power, there are many other types of alternative energies.  One other type is solar power.  Solar power is when photovoltaic material, also known as solar panels, made up of highly-purified silicon collects sunlight.  When sunlight hits these panels, they convert the sunlight directly into electricity.  This creates an electrical current that can be captured and harnessed.  Solar energy also is used to power communications equipment and highway construction signs, pump water, and a great quantity of other small uses.  Solar power can be used for a multitude of things.

       Not including tose two types, there are many other types of alternative energy around today.  One type is hydroelectric (water) power.  According to the United States Geological Survey, or USGS, hydroelectric power is when there is a dam used to power electricity.  The water moves into an intake are under the dam where it spins a turbine, creating electricity in the generator.  The electricity then goes from power lines in the generator to other places, such as houses and skyscrapers.  The water that was spinning the turbine then goes down into an outflow river.  Another type of energy is geothermal.  Also said by the USGS, geothermal energy is when one of three things happens.  The first thing that can happen is when water from a hot spring is piped directly from the spring to buildings and industries to generate heat.  A second way is when high pressure hot water is converted into steam to power generator turbines.  The water is then injected back into the ground to “reheat.”  The final way is for heat from hot water to be transferred to another liquid to power the generator turbines.  There are many different types of alternative energy.

       Along with advantages to alternative energies, there are also problems associated with each of them, including wind power.  One major problem, according to “A Problem with Wind Energy” by the American Wind Energy Association, is that the turbines are huge.  In order to support the huge structure, a 7-feet deep 42-feet diameter octagon shaped hole filled with 25,713 pounds of reinforced steel and 181 cubic yards of concrete.  Building the foundation would require either massive machinery or even blasting into bedrock, which in turn can disrupt water sources for wells in the area.  A second problem is wildlife.  According to the AWEO, the spinning blades kill many animals per year, mainly because the blades are spinning at over 100 miles per hour.  A 2002 study in Spain estimated that 11,200 birds of prey (many of them already endangered), 350,000 bats, and 3,000,000 small birds are killed each year by wind turbines and their power lines.  Another analysis found that it is officially recognized (and hidden, generally by stating monthly figures as annual) that on average a single turbine tower kills 20-40 birds each year.  These are a few of the problems with wind power.

       Wind energy is not the only alternative with problems: there are also problems with solar power as well.  One problem is that it is less economic than wind power.  Unlike wind power, according to the National Center for Policy Analysis, new solar power is triple the cost of new gas-generated electricity and quadruple the cost of surplus power.  The Department of Energy has spent approximately $5.1 billion on solar energy since 1978, more than $12 million per megawatt.  Looking ahead,funding to attempt to commercialize photovoltaics and solar thermal is estimated to be $1.05 trillion, triple the estimate for wind power.  A second problem with solar power is environmental damage.  A 1978 study found that the materials required for thermal solar projects were 1,000 times greater than for a similarly sized fossil fuel facility, creating greater energy consumption and industrial pollution.  In addition to heavy land requirements, bird deaths (”the birds died primarily from collisions with the picture-like surface of the heliostats”) are as much as 10 times the kill at Altamont Pass (a heavily congested mountain pass on I-580) per megawatt, although endangered species and other high-profile birds have not been at risk.  There are also a few problems with solar power.

       Continuing on with problems, there are also problems with the other alternative energies.  One such alternative, hydroelectric power, affects the environment in multiple ways.  The construction of dams disrupts natural habitats.  For instance, in the Columbia River, salmon must swim upstream to their spawning grounds to reproduce, but the series of dams get in their way.  The salmon cannot get where they need tot because of dams built to harness electricity.  A second alternative, geothermal, also has problems.  There are not many places to build a geothermal power plant.  They need to basically be built in the Ring of Fire, because that is where the most geothermal activity takes place.  All alternatives to oil have problems.

       Because of the problems with alternative resources, there must also be solutions.  There are multiple solutions for wind energy.  One possible solution stated by the AWEO is to try to be able to reduce the size of the turbines, and yet keep the same usefulness as the large ones.  This way, the turbines would be just as powerful as before, and as a bonus they would be much smaller and they would also cost less to build.  A second possible solution is to find a way to prevent wildlife from going near the blades.  This would keep the animals safe from the blades, and less would be killed each year.  These are just a few possible solutions to the problems with wind energy.

       There are also solutions for solar power problems.  One of these solutions is to create  cheaper but just as effective photovoltaic panels to collect the energy from the sun and create electricity, as said by the USGS.  This would help because the government would not spend as much money on solar energy, thus allowing it to focus on more important topics such as national security or the economy.  A second possible solution is to minimize the amount of land required to build a solar energy factory.  The extra space will allow other things to occupy the space, and the solar company would still function at full capacity.  These are a few solutions for solar power.

       The two major alternatives are not the only ones, however, and the other typeshave solutions as well.  For hydroelectric power, says the NCPA, it would help the environment tremendously to find a way to harness the same power but without dams.  The natural habitats would not be disturbed as much and salmon, for example, would be able to swim upstream.  Also, the environment would look better without the big dams all over the place.  Geothermal power also has solutions.  A solution for geothermal energy is to figure out places other than the Ring of Fire to harness heat from the center of the earth.  That way the buildings would be protected from the elements better.  Also, the cost would be less to harness energy from somewhere “out in the middle of nowhere.”  These are a few solutions for other alternative energies.

       Now one has heard about the background on alternative energy, the problems with it, and the possible solutions for these problems.  That is the reason why it is important to learn about alternative energy before it is decided on which one is the best.  So… will the world ever run out of oil?  Only time will tell.