Chapter+Nine+Energy+Resources

**Energy Resources**  ** Chapter Nine ** ** Energy Resource Comparison ** ** Purpose: ** · Research and compare current U.S. electric power production technologies · Outline and defend a power production policy, including feasible alternative technologies, for the coming century ** Introduction: ** There are many possible approaches to electric power production in the U.S. Some of the technologies have been on line producing power, with various problem and degrees of success and efficiency. As some conventional fuels for these technologies become more scarce and expensive or geopolitically problematic, the need grows to look to the development of alternatives. At the same time the population and its residential and industrial demand for power never cease to expand, creating the need for more generating plants over time. The means of power production listed in the left columns of the attached data table include conventional fossil fuel-fired plants and nuclear reactors as well as alternative technologies that have the advantage of being renewable. For many of the renewable ones, there remain challenges in implementing their cost efficient use. Some are in their second to third generation of improvements and yielding some power into the national grid. There remain many questions to be answered as to what areas will provide the most promise for providing resources in our energy future. Procedure: Complete the following table. This is not a time to use what you already know …it is a time to do some research and ten give some detail!
 * Everyone should do a minimum of two **.

Source || Availability || State of Technology || Economics || Environmental and Health Considerations || (depends on location) || Developing, annual growth of 27.6% || $0.01-$0.06 per KWH || renewable, clean, produces no greenhouse gasses, uses little land ||
 * Energy
 * Coal ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Hydroelectric ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Natural Gas ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Nuclear Fission ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Nuclear Fusion ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Wind || Moderate
 * Solar ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Geothermal ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Tidal || High || Developing, small-scale use || $0.02-$0.05 per KWH || Location, interference with marine enviornment ||
 * Biomass || High || In use, produces 1.4% of US elctricity supply || $0.052- $0.067 per KWH || renewable, however possibly the second largest contributer to global warming ||
 * Ocean Thermal Gradients || High || In development, small-scale in use || $0.05-$ 0.07 per KWH || Relatively none, station locations ||
 * solid waste ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Gas Hydrates ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Oil ||  ||   ||   ||   ||

Come to our session of Friday Feb 10, 2012 ... ready to share and discuss ideas about our energy future. We will meet as a U.S. Energy Cabinet level meeting. Your can choose to argue for either of the energy resources you research.