CER Document
Argument: Renewables are the energy source of our present and future.
Pro - Yes, renewables should be the energy
source of the present and future.
COST
Claim: Renewables can be quites cost
effective once in full swing and has plenty of
incentives.
Evidence (include a source):
When you look at efficiency or energy input
compared to output renewables are the most
efficient. (Wind Turbines being the most efficient).
Chart in resources document.
Wind and solar energy prices have been dropping
since 2009 making it a cheaper source of energy
and this makes it more attractive to those who may
want to invest in these sources of energy.
https://medium.com/americas-power-plan/wind-
and-solar-are-our-cheapest-electricity-sources-
now-what-do-we-do-b323082239de
Reasoning:
ENVIRONMENT
Claim: Have little to no carbon emissions.
Evidence (include a source):
To the environment replacing fossil fuels with
renewable energy has been found to reduce
premature mortality and lost work days. Wind and
solar systems generate electricity with no air
pollution. Also require usually very little water to
operate. ALso has low carbon and greenhouse
gas.
(http://www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/renewable-
energy/public-benefits-of-renewable-
power#.WS8kUpArLrc)
Biomass helps reduce the amount of waste in
landfills. Landfills produce gases that can be
collected and combusted for energy. They also
collect biodegradable matter that can also be used
as a fuel source.
http://www.conserve-energy-
future.com/advantages_disadvantages_biomassen
ergy.php
Reasoning: Renewable helps keep the air clean
and reduce air pollution compared to fossil fuels.
Con - No, renewables should not be the energy
source of the present and future.
COST
Claim: Renewables can be expensive to
create and maintain.
Evidence (include a source): As a general
way to describe renewables is that they do cost
more especially because when making plants and
etc they require more intricate non-conventional
designs.
http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/panora
ma/new-energy-storage-design-inspired-by-
american-20170407
Reasoning: Cost a lot more money and are
very expensive to build
ENVIRONMENT
Claim: Interfere with wildlife
Evidence (include a source): Now, as
concentrated solar farms start to sweep the globe,
solar energy developers are facing similar outcries
and opposition for the harm that their clean energy
facilities can cause to wildlife. 233 birds have been
recovered from the sites of 3 california desert solar
power plants The laboratorys wildlife says that
many of the birds had been fatally singed, broken,
or otherwise fatally crippled by the facilities. In total
wind and solar are estimated to cause 141,000
total birds a year.
(https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/solar-
farms-threaten-birds/)
Dams can cause a build up of decomposing
organic material that would otherwise flow
downstream and this can cause a degrade in
oxygen as well as water quality making it less safe
for local wildlife.
(https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-
dams-hurt-rivers/)
With older model wind turbines they produced
noise that the wildlife did not enjoy as well as it
wasnt entirely uncommon for bats and other flying

HEALTH EFFECTS
Claim: Reduce a lot of health cost that fossil
fuels create and make cleaner sit to breathe into.
Evidence (include a source):Has been found
to reduce premature mortality and lost work days,
also has reduced the overall cost of health care
since fossil fuels cause a lot of breathing
problems, neurological damage, heart attacks, and
cancer. According to a study by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Americans
spend approximately $361.7 to $886.5 billion every
year on overall health of the population.
(http://www.conserve-energy-
future.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-
renewable-energy.php)
(http://www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/renewable-
energy/public-benefits-of-renewable-
power#.WS8kUpArLrc)
Reasoning: Good Because has been found
too really help communities with their health we can
reduce emissions by getting rid of toxic coal plants
and etc and replace them with non-toxic turbines
and solar panels.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Claim: There are already a few plants of all
kinds all we need to do is place new renewable
plants where fossil fuel ones stand.
Evidence (include a source): A lot of coal
plants can be converted into biomass. Making them
more carbon neutral. This also means that more
money doesnt need to be spent towards building
new power plants.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Coal_plant_
conversion_projects
animals to run into the rotors.
http://www.windeis.anl.gov/guide/concern/index.cf
m
Biomass is an example of a renewable energy that
is not entirely clean. With biomass you risk
deforestation as you need to grown plant life that
can used as fuel to powers such power plants.
http://www.conserve-energy-
future.com/advantages_disadvantages_biomassen
ergy.php
Reasoning: There has been many bird killings
due to the facts of renewable energy and wind and
solar turbines mainly.
HEALTH EFFECTS
Claim: The process of acquiring materials for
renewable energies is dangerous.
Evidence (include a source): Biomass is a
source that still releases methane and releases
disgusting odors which are unpleasant to humans.
http://www.conserve-energy-
future.com/advantages_disadvantages_biomassen
ergy.php
Solar panels use heavy metals meaning that when
making and mining the metals those building and
collecting can be at risk.
https://1stlightenergy.com/health-concerns-come-
installing-residential-solar-panels/
Reasoning: The metals used for solar panels,
lubricates used for wind turbines, and etc, are
always a bit of a risk the oil can seep into the
ground and mining is always a danger to one's
health.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Claim: Many renewable are based on
geography and cant be placed everywhere.
Evidence (include a source): Dams can only
be built on water sources, solar panels wont be as
effective in cloudy regions of the world or where the
sun doesnt shine as much, and wind turbines cant
be built in the atmosphere where they would be
much more useful. (source is common knowledge)
Reasoning: Many forms of renewable energy
will be useless or much less effective when it

Reasoning: It wont be difficult to convert
certain plants to be more clean.
SUSTAINABILITY/LONGEVITY
Claim: With all the forms of renewable energy
we have an untapped market of easy to access
energy.
Evidence (include a source): On the Earth's
surface alone a study found that there is 400
terrawatts worth of untapped energy. The world
only uses about 18 terawatts so this is quite a lot of
power.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/20
12/09/10/is-there-enough-wind-energy-to-meet-the-
worlds-needs/?utm_term=.8e7f8389835f
Reasoning: Uses a lot of the power that the
world does not use much of.
comes to where they are built, meaning not all
parts of the world will get it.
SUSTAINABILITY/LONGEVITY
Claim: Renewable energy mainly depends on
the weather and how powerful the sun or wind is.
Evidence (include a source): A lot of
renewable energy relies on the weather like sun
and wind. If the conditions are not good they would
lack the ability to generate any electricity.
(http://www.conserve-energy-
future.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-
renewable-energy.php)
Reasoning: Depends on the weather which
can be very unpredictable.