Summer's+Solar+Power+Essay

In my essay i described why solar power is the best and most reliable energy source to use. Solar energy is not only low maintenance but it is also very easy to install. Not to mention it is a renewable energy source and non-polluting. So choose solar power!

Summer Dulaney Block F Tech Essay Solar Energy is the most reliable and efficient energy source. It is an everlasting supply of energy and does not pollute the earth. In the meantime, “power plants that burn coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as vehicles everywhere continue to poor millions of tons of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere annually, threatening the planet” (Solar Grand Plan 64). Solar energy does nothing to harm the earth, and that is part of the reason why solar energy is the energy for you. Also, by 2050, “solar energy could provide sixty nine percent of the United State’s total electricity and thirty five percent of our total energy” ( Solar Grand Plan 64). Solar energy is a renewable resource and requires very little maintenance. Although solar energy is expensive now, it will save you money in the long- run. As you can see, the advantages of solar power far outweigh the disadvantages, so choose solar power!

Hydroelectric power may have many advantages, but it contains numerous environmental challenges. Some of these challenges include, “changes in aquatic and stream side habitats, alteration of landscapes through the formation of reservoirs, effects on water quality and quantity, and interruption of migratory patterns for fish” (Hydropower 2). Solar power does not have any environmental challenges and will last forever! However, “the average lifespan of a hydropower facility is 100 years” (Hydropower 2). Solar energy will last as long as the sun and is also non-polluting, so it does not hurt the environment at all. Solar energy is also very versatile; it can power cars, water heaters, fountains, buildings, and satellites. These are just a few reasons on why solar power is a better choice than hydropower!

Solar power can be put anywhere in the U.S., but is more efficient in areas with low population and open fields. Unlike nuclear power where, “no new nuclear plant has been ordered in the U.S. since 1978, nor has a plant been finished since 1995” (Next Generation 73). Although nuclear does not require a lot of space and is non-polluting, nuclear plants are big targets for terrorism and can be very dangerous if hit. Also, another big disadvantage is the expulsion of radiation. These radiations are harmful to the body and damage the cells in our bodies. Nuclear power can also create a “meltdown”, where the fission reaction goes crazy causing a nuclear explosion and the release of huge amounts of radiation. However, the Next Generations states, “today 438 power plants generate about 16 percent of the World’s electricity. In the U.S., 103 nuclear power plants provide about 20 percent of the country’s electrical production” (76). While this may be beneficial, nuclear energy can only last for about forty to fifty years. If you use solar power, then you do not have to worry about any of these problems. Solar energy will never run out on you, nor will it cause harm. Solar energy is the best energy for the environment.

While wind energy may be one of the cheapest types of energy, large turbines have to be built in order to generate a proper amount of wind energy. Wind energy is costs about “1.9 cents tax credit per kilowatt hour of electricity” (The Rise of Renewable Energy 89). Wind energy is not efficient and where wind energy is produced is far away from where it is needed. Wind turbines only produce “0.5 percent of the nation’s electricity, the potential for expansion is enormous, especially in the windy Great Plains states” (The Rise of Renewable Energy 89). This percentage is no where near the big percentage of solar energy’s electricity that is produces. Wind is not predictable, so the amount of energy it produces depends on different factors such as wind speeds and the turbine characteristics. People need energy they can count on when they need it, and wind energy is not reliable, unlike solar energy.

Biofuels reduce greenhouse gas emissions when compared to the traditional transport fuels. Biofuels are any solid, liquid, or gas that result from biomass. Also, “biofuels can be made from anything that is, or ever was, a plant” (Grassoline at the Pump 52). The production of biofuels can lead to environmental destruction due to the carbon emissions from coal and gas. Running modes of transportation with plant oil would decrease our self reliance but increase our food and energy susceptibility because we would have to use some of it as fuel for cars. An advantage of this type of energy is that, “the U.S. can grow enough of these feed stocks to replace about half the country’s total consumption of oil without affecting food supplies” (Grassoline at the Pump 52). Biofuels increase the demand for agricultural land which can lead to deforestation and reduce the amount carbon dioxide. Solar Power does not lead to deforestation and is only beneficial to the earth. Solar power does not have any of these problems, and is trusted by many people. Go green and start using solar power today!