Cool energy. Renewal solutions to environmental problems

Book · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:7102188

Brower, M

This book begins with a chapter describing some of the economic and environmental consequences of America's fossil-fuel-based economy. It makes the case that, despite some progress in reducing pollution from fossil fuels, no lasting cure for the deteriorating environment - in particular, the looming threat of global warming - is possible without developing alternative fuel sources. That renewable energy can provide the bulk of the new supplies needed is the theme of the second chapter, which discusses the relative advantages of these resources compared to fossil fuels and nuclear power and evaluates their long-term potential. The bulk of the book considers five broad categories of renewable energy sources: solar, wind, biomass (plant matter), rivers and oceans, and geothermal. For each of these sources, the book describes its current application, discusses its costs, analyzes new technologies under development, and assesses its positive and negative environmental impacts. This book shows the vital role renewable sources can and should play in America's energy future. It cites studies indicating that, with the right policies, renewable energy could provide as much as half of America's energy within 40 years, and an even larger fraction down the road. Such a rapid shift from existing energy sources would be dramatic but not unprecedented. In 1920, coal supplied 70% of US energy, but within 40 years its share had dropped to just 20% as oil and natural gas use increased. Sooner or later, oil and natural gas will also fade in importance. The real question is when. This book makes the case that the time to move decisively toward a renewable energy economy has arrived.

• OSTI ID: 7102188
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290301* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety-- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects-- (1992-)
294000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Fossil Fuels
299000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation
ABSTRACTS
BIOMASS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HYDROELECTRIC POWER
LEADING ABSTRACT
NORTH AMERICA
POWER
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOLAR ENERGY
TIDAL POWER
USA
WAVE POWER
WIND POWER