Chase's+Content+Essay

 Wind energy has myriad benefits. Wind energy is cheap, reducing the amount spent on converting it into usable energy. Also, wind is perpetual. This means that wind is always available to harness for its energy. Because wind is caused by differences in the Earth’s surface pressure, and this pressure is dependent on the Sun’s radiation, wind is always blowing. And last, but not least, it emits very little pollution compared to other types of clean energy. This will be very important in the coming years because pollution will be a very big problem. If we want the Earth to be habitable, the human race will need to cut down on their carbon footprint, and wind energy can greatly help with this. Wind energy has many advantages over solar energy. One, wind turbines do not take up as much space as photovoltaic panels, because “to convert the country to solar power, huge tracts of land would have to be covered with photovoltaic panels and solar heating troughs” (Zwiebel). If these ideas were implemented, large amounts of money would fund very expensive technology and the installation of photovoltaic panels. Two, wind power is perpetual, which means that power can always be obtained. Three, solar energy is most collected in the Southwest area of the country. Thus, the energy would have to be transferred almost all the way across the country for use.  Wind energy is better than Biofuel energy, too. Biofuel fuel is renewable, but not perpetual. If we run out of fuel, the biofuel industry will falter. This will result in a very quick decline in energy availability. Also, the energy in plants must be broken down first, and then converted to energy. “ To release the energy inside it, scientists must first untangle the molecular knot that evolution has created” (Huber). This process is extensive and expensive, and is not efficient enough for full time energy production.  Nuclear doesn’t hold a candle to wind energy, either. The main reason dates all the way back to Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. Who would want a nuclear power plant spreading toxic waste over an expanse of land and water, polluting everything it touches? Another reason why nuclear energy is not the way to go is because the internal temperature must reach upwards of 1,600 degrees Celsius. Nuclear energy is a very complex type of energy conversion. Unlike wind, the process of converting the energy is very d rawn out and difficult. Nuclear energy also is about costs about “$1,500 per kilowatt” (Lake). Hydroelectric doesn’t have as many advantages over wind energy, either. The first, and most important, is that it is only renewable. Thusly, if a drought occurs, the hydroelectric industry is out. And if this occurs, thousands of kilowatts of energy are nonexistent, and an energy crisis is in the making. Water turbines also have to be near running water. The industry might be tempted to put the turbines in a national park, decimating the beauty of the landscape and reducing the number of visitors to Denali. Also, “ the industry also faces unique environmental challenges. Potential environmental impacts include changes in aquatic and stream side habitats; alteration of landscapes through the formation of reservoirs” (U.S.).  Bibliography: Huber, George W., and Bruce E. Dale. "Grassoline at the Pump." Web. 9 Dec. 2009. Lake, James A., Ralph G. Bennett, and John F. Kotek. "Next Generation Nuclear Power." Web. 9 Dec. 2009. U.S. Department of Energy. "Hydropower- Setting a Course for Our Energy Future." 2003. Web. 9 Dec. 2009. Zwiebel, Ken, James Mason, and Vasilis Fthenakis. "A Solar Grand Plan." Web. 9 Dec. 2009. 

Home