Technology for solar power—capturing the radiant energy of the sun—is
rapidly improving, and governments are increasingly subsidizing it.
HYDroELECTrIC One of the NATurAL GAS Former oilman T. NuCLEAr Some environmentalists
oldest forms of renewable energy, Boone Pickens recently announced a are calling for reexamination of nu-
hydro technologies today use the controversial plan to massively boost clear power, because it can produce
power of flowing water to turn tur- U.S. investment in wind power and large amounts of electricity with no
bines and generate electricity. Hydro is run our transportation fleet on cleaner significant global warming emissions.
emission-free, but impedes the natural natural gas. This mostly methane fos- Obstacles include difficulty in financ-
flow of rivers and streams, blocking sil fuel must be processed to remove ing, licensing and building nuclear
passage for migratory fish. other elements in order to burn in plants in time to have an impact in the
home heating systems and internal- next 15 to 20 years, as well as detri-
HYDroGEN The fuel cell that
combustion engines. mental effects of uranium mining and
converts lighter-than-air hydrogen
“Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) waste disposal. Some countries, such
into electricity and clean water is 150
are already available and combine as Germany, are phasing it out, while
years old. Still, hydrogen, because
top performance with low emis- France derives 77 percent of its energy
it’s extracted mostly from natural gas
sions,” Pickens writes, citing Califor- from nukes.
these days, is not yet the renewable
nia Energy Commission figures that
resource it could be if produced solely
put greenhouse gas emissions from
oIL The modern industrial complex
from solar or wind power. It’s also
burning natural gas 30 percent lower
runs on gasoline refined from crude
considered a “future fuel” because,
than those from gasoline. Currently,
oil deposits, and the Central Intelli-
despite advantages, it’s currently
only 150,000 NGVs operate here, and
gence Agency reports that the United
expensive to produce. Fuel-cell cars,
insufficient fuel stations exist to make
States is the world’s single largest oil
which are virtually emission-free, face
his plan soon viable. Too, many of the
consumer. The DOE notes that, “The
cost hurdles as well.
largest untapped natural gas deposits
decline in U.S. consumption in the
are in politically sensitive regions—
first half of 2008, reflecting slower
just like oil.
economic growth and the impact of
Pr i n t e d o n re c y c l e d Pa P e r t o Pr o t e c t t h e en v i r o n m e n t
October 2008 25
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44