America and Alternative Energy

       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.