| In the United States and most parts of the earth, fossil | | | | small portion of the dams that live were reinforced for |
| fuels have shouldered much of the load for providing | | | | power generation. As a new method, more efficient |
| energy. Increased demands cause to population | | | | systems come online, and more energy is produced |
| growth and expanding industries need more and more | | | | by existing systems, then more hydroelectric power |
| energy. Also, since many countries do not produce | | | | will be useable. |
| much oil and gas for their needs they are dependent | | | | Solar Power - This natural energy source has been |
| on other countries for much of their supply. Now a | | | | providing passion for humans throughout the ages. The |
| days this has resulted in baseless price fluctuations, | | | | problem has always been in developing ways to |
| which have had a spectacular affect on our everyday | | | | accumulate and harness this energy so that it can be |
| lives. There are many substitute to fossil fuels -- not all | | | | used smartly long after the sun has gone down. Solar |
| are virtual, but here are some alternative energy | | | | PV panels are used to collect sunlight and turn it into |
| sources that have been proven to be costly in the | | | | usable electricity. unluckily, today's accepted solar |
| past, and still have quite a bit of future potential. | | | | panels are only able to convert a little over 15% of the |
| Nuclear Power - In the United States there are over | | | | sunlight energy into electrical power. skillful progress |
| 100 nuclear reactors, which presently return around 20 | | | | continues to be made, though, making this one of the |
| percent of our energy needs. Atomic power produces | | | | most hopeful methods of substitute energy usable |
| over 75 percent of France's energy, and large | | | | today. |
| amounts for many other nations. There have not been | | | | Wind Power - Some areas are far more better suited |
| any atomic power plants built in the United States | | | | for using wind power than others since wind speeds |
| since the 1970's, but in 2007 a company in New Jersey | | | | changes vastly all over the world. Wind power is |
| filed a license to build a new plant, and other | | | | produced by wind turbines or windmills. These windmills |
| companies have also applied for licenses. Because of | | | | can orbit in size from small private units that provide |
| past issues associated with nuclear waste, nuclear | | | | some or all of a home's energy, to large commercial |
| energy often has a stigma attached to it, but we have | | | | wind turbines distributed in wind farms to power full |
| come a long way in our ability to safety store waste | | | | communities. In the United States, California and Texas |
| temporarily and then reprocess the waste for | | | | currently generate the most wind energy, but there is |
| additional energy or medical isotopes. | | | | still much untapped potential not only in these states, |
| Hydroelectric Power - This sort of power is widely | | | | but all across the country. |
| used in many parts of the United States. Electricity is | | | | Each of us has heard the phrase "don't put all your |
| generated by dams when high water pressure flows | | | | eggs in one basket" probably many times over the |
| through turbines and causes them to rotate. Grand | | | | years. Even so, we have relied on fossil fuels for most |
| Coulee Dam, located in Washington State, is the | | | | of our nation's energy needs for far too long. Fossil |
| nation's largest hydroelectric benefits. and is one of the | | | | fuels are necessary, but alternative energy sources |
| essential reasons why Washington State generates | | | | must be developed so that our country can have a |
| approximately 30% of all the hydroelectric power in | | | | more diversified approach to our energy production. |
| the country. There is still plenty of possible for | | | | The energy sources mentioned in this short article are |
| increased hydroelectric power, especially since only a | | | | just a few of the many alternatives to fossil fuels. |