By Alec Bhaskaran
As the whole world know it, daily life surrounds around fossil fuels, especially for transportation. Unfortunately, the world also knows that those resources are not renewable and can cause permanent environmental harm. In other words, these particular sources cannot be created again, and thus more needs to be found. However, these fossil fuels used today are also cheaper, providing benefits to the economy. What can it take for fossil fuels to become a minority source for daily human activities?
Alternative energy refers to energy that is renewable and/or has better qualities to it. Examples include solar, wind, or hydroelectric power. Alternative energy has been something countries around the world have been thinking about. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), “production from known oil and gas reserves will fall by around 40-60 per cent by 2030. If everyone in the world used oil at the same rate as the average Saudi, Singaporean or U.S. resident, the world's proven oil reserves would be used up in less than 10 years” (Opposing Viewpoints in Context, 2012). And as shown in the graph (above left), the United States is the leading culprit in producing carbon dioxide from using fossil fuels. The question is, why haven’t many countries made this switch from fossil fuels that are killing planet Earth to renewable energy sources that can last for eternity? For one, as mentioned before, they are replaced at the same rate that they are used, making them sources of energy that never run out. Renewable energy is also called “green energy” because of how little pollution is produced when it is generated. Depletion of natural resources is not a problem with renewable energy either. There are many benefits to using alternative energy instead of fossil fuels.
However, there are also disadvantages to using alternative energy. People against the switch of fossil fuels to alternative energy say that renewable energy is extremely expensive. This goes back to asking the question why countries are not switching to alternative energy. It is solely because fossil fuels are cheaper to use. Also, despite one side claiming that renewable energy is clean and environmental-friendly, the other side thinks otherwise. For example, experts say, “Wind farms irritate with low-frequency noise and thumps, blight landscapes, interfere with TV reception, and chop birds and bats. At the Altamont windfarm in California, the mills kill 40-60 golden eagles per year. Dams kill rivers” (Opposing Viewpoints in Context, 2009). This concludes that almost all forms of renewable energy harm the environment in some way, and also reason that the progress of switching from fossil fuels to alternative energy will be very minor. “Since 1980 the US DOE [Department of Energy] alone has spent about $6 billion on solar, $2 billion on geothermal, $1 billion on wind and $3 billion on other renewables. The nonhydro renewable energy remains about 2% of US capacity, much of that the wood byproducts used to fuel the wood products industry” (Opposing Viewpoints in Context, 2009). There are many reasons as to why renewable energy is negative towards the environment, but despite that, there are also many benefits to making the big switch.
The switch to alternative energy is one of the most important decisions to the entire world. Their resources being able to last forever while still producing little pollution makes them an ideal source of energy. However, it is also that solar, wind, and other forms of renewable energy are especially costly, mostly to building the power plants. Are fossil fuels here to stay, or will they back down to a new form of energy?
As the whole world know it, daily life surrounds around fossil fuels, especially for transportation. Unfortunately, the world also knows that those resources are not renewable and can cause permanent environmental harm. In other words, these particular sources cannot be created again, and thus more needs to be found. However, these fossil fuels used today are also cheaper, providing benefits to the economy. What can it take for fossil fuels to become a minority source for daily human activities?
Alternative energy refers to energy that is renewable and/or has better qualities to it. Examples include solar, wind, or hydroelectric power. Alternative energy has been something countries around the world have been thinking about. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), “production from known oil and gas reserves will fall by around 40-60 per cent by 2030. If everyone in the world used oil at the same rate as the average Saudi, Singaporean or U.S. resident, the world's proven oil reserves would be used up in less than 10 years” (Opposing Viewpoints in Context, 2012). And as shown in the graph (above left), the United States is the leading culprit in producing carbon dioxide from using fossil fuels. The question is, why haven’t many countries made this switch from fossil fuels that are killing planet Earth to renewable energy sources that can last for eternity? For one, as mentioned before, they are replaced at the same rate that they are used, making them sources of energy that never run out. Renewable energy is also called “green energy” because of how little pollution is produced when it is generated. Depletion of natural resources is not a problem with renewable energy either. There are many benefits to using alternative energy instead of fossil fuels.
However, there are also disadvantages to using alternative energy. People against the switch of fossil fuels to alternative energy say that renewable energy is extremely expensive. This goes back to asking the question why countries are not switching to alternative energy. It is solely because fossil fuels are cheaper to use. Also, despite one side claiming that renewable energy is clean and environmental-friendly, the other side thinks otherwise. For example, experts say, “Wind farms irritate with low-frequency noise and thumps, blight landscapes, interfere with TV reception, and chop birds and bats. At the Altamont windfarm in California, the mills kill 40-60 golden eagles per year. Dams kill rivers” (Opposing Viewpoints in Context, 2009). This concludes that almost all forms of renewable energy harm the environment in some way, and also reason that the progress of switching from fossil fuels to alternative energy will be very minor. “Since 1980 the US DOE [Department of Energy] alone has spent about $6 billion on solar, $2 billion on geothermal, $1 billion on wind and $3 billion on other renewables. The nonhydro renewable energy remains about 2% of US capacity, much of that the wood byproducts used to fuel the wood products industry” (Opposing Viewpoints in Context, 2009). There are many reasons as to why renewable energy is negative towards the environment, but despite that, there are also many benefits to making the big switch.
The switch to alternative energy is one of the most important decisions to the entire world. Their resources being able to last forever while still producing little pollution makes them an ideal source of energy. However, it is also that solar, wind, and other forms of renewable energy are especially costly, mostly to building the power plants. Are fossil fuels here to stay, or will they back down to a new form of energy?