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Unit 12: Alternative Energy Page 14 of 31
substances is released by burning Burning fossil fuels (oil, coal,
these fuels. When fossil fuels burn, gasoline, and natural gas)
they combine with oxygen in the produces carbon dioxide gas.
air and produce heat and light. Carbon dioxide is one of the main
greenhouse gases that may
Fossil fuels are not renewable. contribute to global warming. In
When they are used up, they are addition, burning coal and gasoline
gone forever. However, renewable can produce pollution molecules
energy sources such as wind, sun, that contribute to smog and acid
geothermal, biomass and water rain.
power are renewable. They can be
used over and over to generate the Using renewable energy-such as
energy to run our society. solar, wind, water, biomass, and
geothermal-could help reduce
Tremendous amounts of renewable pollution, prevent global warming,
energy are available. For example, and decrease acid rain. Nuclear
the solar energy that falls on just energy also has these advantages,
the road surfaces in the United but it requires storing radioactive
States is equal to the entire energy wastes generated by nuclear power
needs of the country. Although plants. Currently, renewable
there are sufficient amounts of energy produces only a small part
renewable energy, we must of the energy needs of the
improve our methods of collecting,
concentrating, and converting United States. However, as
renewable energy into useful technology improves, renewable
forms. energy should become less
expensive and more common.
Sources and Savings of
Energy Hydropower (water power) is the
least expensive way to produce I
The United States has large electricity. The sun causes water to
reserves of coal, natural gas, and evaporate. The evaporated water
crude oil which is used to make falls to the earth as rain or snow
gasoline. However, the United and fills lakes. Hydropower uses
States uses the energy of millions water stored in lakes behind dams.
of barrels of crude oil every day, As water flows through a dam, the
and it must import about half its falling water turns turbines that
crude oil from other countries. run generators to produce
electricity.
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