Benefits Of Fossil Fuels

Benefits of Alternative Energy

On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil drill exploded; thirteen people were killed and many were injured. 206 million gallons of oil was dumped into the Gulf of Mexico. This event attracted many new supporters of alternative energy (Issitt & Warhol). Alternative energy refers to any energy source other than fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are materials including natural gas, coal, and oil; they are cheap to produce, easy to distribute, and provide most of the electricity used in the world’s technology. However, they are nonrenewable, cause many harmful environmental effects, and take millions of years to create. Thus, many modern energy companies are researching new ways to develop alternative fuel sources (Issitt

Fossil fuels have been a very crucial source of energy since the discovery of coal. Because they are available and meet economic demand, popularity of fossil fuels has grown, but the pollution they emit has gained attention of many modern energy companies. Between the 1940’s and 1950’s, concerns began to rise about fossil fuel pollution when smog, created by burning these fuels, emerged in Europe and the United States. It caused many illnesses and deaths among humans as well as animals (Issitt & Warhol). Fossil fuels generate eighty percent of the world’s energy: this energy system is the cause of two thirds of global CO2 emissions (Foster & Elzinga). Without question, fossil fuels are environmentally unsafe, as well as dangerous to human health. Evidently, others feel that they are the best source of energy, however alternative energy creates very little to no pollution. Alternative energies, such as solar and wind energy, emanate no pollution. Solar power uses energy from the sun to produce electricity. A flat-plate collector, or solar panel, is the most common collector of this type of energy. The panel contains solar cells that change light from the sun

Nonrenewable resources are resources that take millions of years to replenish. In 2006, BP, the British Petroleum Company, released research indicating that there are only around 1,200 billion barrels of oil left in all of the world’s reserves (Issitt & Warhol). That means there are approximately 368 years until all of the world’s fossil fuels are used up entirely. Therefore reductions and changes need to be made; alternative energy can substitute and take place of the nonrenewable fuels. All alternative energies are renewable resources; there will always be sun, wind, water, and geothermal heat. These resources restore themselves and will never run out as opposed to fossil fuels; there won’t be any concerns about scarcity or frantic searching among energy corporations if they start investing in building alternative energy companies