May 12, 2008

Home > Alternative Energy

View All 102 Topics:
A-Z Index

The Candidates’ Positions

Hillary Clinton
U.S. Senator from New York.

Barack Obama

U.S. Senator from Illinois.

John Edwards
Former U.S. Senator from North Carolina.

Mike Gravel
Former U.S. Senator (AK)

>> More on Election 2008

Online Survey

Tell us what you think about WiseTo!
Take our online survey

Fast Facts

Renewable energy sources accounted for 6% of U.S. energy consumption in the early 2000s. Among the renewable sources was biomass (47%), hydroelectric (45%), geothermal (6%), wind (2%), and solar (1%), according to a 2004 report from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Fossil fuels accounted for 86% of U.S. energy consumption in the early 2000s. Petroleum accounted for 40% of U.S. energy consumption, and natural gas and coal each accounted for 23%.
The amount of energy consumed to generate electricity for residential uses in the early 21st century is twice as much as the amount of electricity consumed by the residential sector, according to a 2004 report from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Of the four major sectors of energy use in the U.S., only the industrial sector has shown steady decline in energy consumption since the mid-1990s. The transportation, residential, and commercial sectors continue to consume more energy annually.

Alternative Energy

Alternative energy refers to non-fossil fuel sources of energy, such as wind, solar, and hydro (water) power as well as nuclear reactors, hydrogen, bioenergy, such as ethanol, and geothermal energy. Today, fossil fuels provide over 85% of the total primary energy used around the world; they also contribute to the world’s pollution problem and, some believe, global warming. Alternative sources of energy are under research in an effort to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Alternative Energy Overview

At the present time 89 percent of all the energy consumed in the United States is derived from fossil fuels---oil, coal, and natural gas. About 10 percent is derived from nuclear power and 1 percent from renewable sources such as the sun, wind, and water.

Although they are finite resources, fossil…>> (read more)

Alternative Energy Points of View

4 Improved Technologies Make Coal a Clean Fuel
5 Fossil Fuels Will Help Relieve Global Poverty
6 Nuclear Power Benefits the Environment
7 The World Is Running Out of Oil
8 Fossil Fuel Use Causes Global Warming
9 Coal-Fired Power Plants Produce Dangerous Mercury Emissions
10 Poor Nations Need Alternatives to Fossil Fuels
11 World Oil Supplies Are Not Running Out
12 Advances in Hydropower Technology Can Protect the Environment
13 Wind Farms Can Be Designed to Minimize Bird and Bat Kills
14 Nuclear Power Threatens the Environment
15 Damming Rivers for Hydroelectric Power Harms the Environment
16 Wind Power Causes Too Much Environmental Damage
17 Wind Power Can Benefit Farmers and Rural Communities
18 Solar Power Is Becoming More Economical
19 Geothermal Heat Pumps Save Consumers Money
20 Wind Power Is Not Economical
21 Ethanol Can Replace Gasoline
22 Plug-in Gasoline-Electric Cars Are Efficient
23 Hydrogen Will Not Become a Viable Fuel for Many Years
24 Vegetable Oil Should Not Replace Conventional Diesel Fuel
25 Ethanol Has Hidden Costs
26 Gasoline-Electric Cars Do Not Reduce Fuel Use
27 Nuclear Power Is More Costly than Other Energy Sources
28 Hydrogen Fuel Can Power Cars
29 Vegetable Oil Can Replace Diesel Fuel

Unlock the
Alternative Energy
Expert Pass Now