Energy Source Solar Energy

Pros Nonpolluting Most abundant energy source available Systems last 15-30 years

Cons High initial investment Dependent on sunny weather Supplemental energy may be needed in low sunlight areas e!uires large physical space "or #$ cell panels %imited availability o" polysilicon "or panels

Wind Energy

No emissions &""ordable %ittle disruption o" ecosystems elatively high output

'utput is proportional to wind speed Not "easible "or all geographic locations High initial investment(ongoing maintenance costs )*tensive land use

Hydropower

No emissions eliable +apable o" generating large amounts o" power 'utput can be regulated to meet demand

)nvironmental impacts by changing the environment in the dam area Hydroelectric dams are e*pensive to build Dams may be a""ected by drought #otential "or "loods

Natural Gas

,idely available +leanest-burning "ossil "uel

-ransportation costs are high

%ac. o" in"rastructure '"ten used in combination ma.es gas resources unavailable "rom some with other "uels to areas decrease pollution in electricity generation /urns cleanly0 but still has emissions Made sa"e by adding arti"icial odor so that people can easily smell #ipelines impact ecosystems

the gas in case o" a lea. Petroleum )""icient transportation "uel "or the world High +'1 emissions

2ound in limited areas /asis o" many products0 Supply may be e*hausted "rom prescription drugs to be"ore natural gas(coal plastics resources )conomical to produce #ossible environmental )asy to transport impact "rom drilling(transporting Source must be near usage to cut transportation costs )mits some pollution as gas(li!uid waste

Biomass

&bundant supply 2ewer emissions than "ossil "uel sources +an be used in diesel engines

3ncreases emissions o" &uto engines easily convert to run on biomass nitrogen o*ides0 an air pollutant "uel 4ses some "ossil "uels in conversion Coal &bundant supply +urrently ine*pensive to e*tract )mits ma5or greenhouse gases(acid rain

High environmental impact "rom mining and eliable and capable o" generating large amounts burning0 although cleaner coal-burning technology is o" power being developed Mining can be dangerous "or miners Uranium No greenhouse gases or +'1 emissions )""icient at trans"orming energy into electricity 4ranium reserves are abundant e"ueled yearly 6unli.e coal plants that need trainloads o" coal every Higher capital costs due to sa"ety0 emergency0 containment0 radioactive waste0 and storage systems #roblem o" long-term storage o" radioactive waste Heated waste water "rom

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nuclear plants harms a!uatic li"e #otential nuclear proli"eration issue

Geothermal

Minimal environmental impact )""icient #ower plants have low emissions %ow cost a"ter the initial investment

8eothermal "ields "ound in "ew areas around the world )*pensive start-up costs ,ells could eventually be depleted