| Most people don't think about where it comes from, | | | | Wind energy solutions capture the power of the |
| until it is gone. Then you flip that useless light switch, | | | | wind with windmills or wind turbines. The blades of |
| and miss it horribly. We're talking about electricity, | | | | the wind turbine harness the wind to turn the |
| that pervasive source of everything we think of as | | | | generator, instead of creating steam with fossil fuels. |
| "modern day life." | | | | A wind farm the size of ten percent of the State of |
| For most people, electricity comes from a power | | | | Nevada could provide the energy needs of the entire |
| plant. In its simplest form, electricity resources come | | | | United States. |
| from a spinning generator. Something has to make | | | | Hydro energy is harnessed by building a dam on a |
| that generator spin. In most power plants, that | | | | major water source. Again the force of the moving |
| something is steam. | | | | water turns the generator, creating electricity. More |
| What is the source of that steam? The most | | | | than 6% of our current electricity resources are |
| common source for the steam is the burning of fossil | | | | provided by hydroelectricity. Building a dam on a |
| fuels. Coal, oil and natural gas currently provide most | | | | major water source can cause difficulties for the |
| of our electricity resources. Burning fossil fuels has | | | | plants and animals using that water source. Careful |
| some very negative effects on our environment. We | | | | studies of the ecosystem of a water source are |
| have all heard of the ill effects of the emissions that | | | | needed to minimize the impact. |
| come from consuming fossil fuels. | | | | The sun shines on every part of the planet, which |
| These emissions contribute to global warming, | | | | means that solar energy is available everywhere on |
| endangering various ecosystems. It may lead to the | | | | the planet. It's free and readily available. Instead of |
| rising of ocean levels, the melting of glaciers, | | | | turning a generator, solar energy systems excite the |
| increases in powerful hurricanes and other weather | | | | electrons from the sunlight. They collect them for |
| events, droughts in some areas, and even a mini-ice | | | | use in powering your appliances or send them to a |
| age in Western Europe. | | | | group of batteries. The batteries store the energy |
| So what are the alternatives? Are there other | | | | for use as alternative electricity resources. You can |
| sources of steam to turn those generators? | | | | do more than just wish you weren't using fossil fuels |
| Absolutely. Some alternative electricity resources are | | | | to create your electricity. |
| in use right now. Nuclear power plants provide steam | | | | Wind and solar powered systems are available for |
| to create electricity. Unfortunately, nuclear power | | | | use by private individuals. These systems are easy to |
| plants also generate nuclear waste, which we have | | | | install and maintain. They are becoming more and |
| yet to figure out how to safely dispose of. | | | | more affordable as new technology is developed. |
| There are also renewable sources of energy and | | | | After your initial investment pays itself off, you will |
| therefore alternative electricity resources; all of which | | | | even find yourself saving a great deal of money. |
| have significantly fewer adverse effects on the | | | | Consider taking yourself out of the fossil fuels and |
| environment. These include wind energy, hydro | | | | global warming equation. |
| energy and solar energy. | | | | |