Part II: Energy Options

I often hear people arguing how solar power is better than wind power, or wind is better solar, or neither are really good solutions, or how everyone should use electric cars or that electric cars are not a good solution, etc. Yes, it's true that some methods of clean energy production are more efficient than others. Yet, in my opinion, we are not going to solve this energy crisis using one or two methods of energy production. I think (or at least hope) that is is a pretty common and apparent observation throughout the country.

What we really need is to maximize each technology where it is most productive throughout the country. For example, develop wind farms on the coasts and in areas with strong and continuous wind patterns. Use solar arrays in areas receiving a constant supply of solar energy. Develop an infrastructure of electric car charging stations in cities and densely populated areas. We hear a lot about these popular clean energy technologies. What we don't hear too much about are the many smaller and less developed technologies that, in my mind, will be equally necessary to integrating a sustainable energy network. So what options are out there for clean energy solutions?

WIND

The fundamental idea behind wind power is simply to convert the kinetic energy that exists in moving wind currents and, using a wind turbine, electrical gearboxes, transformers and generators, convert it into electricity. The American Wind Energy Association is a great resource to learn more about the basics and the details of wind energy.

Opponents to wind power pose the argument that it is not a viable method because it only works in very windy places. This is true. It wouldn't make any sense to put a windmill where the wind doesn't blow. But, surprisingly, there are a lot of places in America that have great potential for wind power. And, the windiest of the windiest places aren't on the coasts or along the shore but in the open plains of the midwest, like North Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. Research institutions have shown that if used to its full potential, wind could produce about 20% of the nation's energy requirement. So why don't we see these wind mills everywhere?

Like any technology, wind power has its advantages and disadvantages. There are many obvious advantages of wind power: GHG emissions would be reduced, jobs would be created to manufacture these turbines, there would be less demand (and thus cheaper costs) of current power options like natural gas, etc. However, certain problems do exist. First, costs of electricity produced by wind power plants are still not as cheap as current electricity prices. Though they have decreased significantly in the last decade, cheaper materials and better manufacturing processes are needed in order to allow wind power to be competitive solution on the market. Also, the national electrical transmission grid needs to be refined in order for wind, and various other alternative power solutions, to reach its full potential. The best sites for wind power are often far away from densely populated areas requiring the most energy. Also , current wind turbine designs have little storage capacity, creating problems when the wind isn't blowing. However, as battery and capacitor technology continues to develop, combining these technologies may help to solve this problem. Finally, in my opinion, one of the biggest inhibitors to wind power development is the "not in my backyard" attitude of many residents in areas with high wind potential. It is true, there will be some visual impact when large wind mills are built, but who says this is a bad thing? Growing up in Bourne, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy installed a fairly large windmill just of the Cape Cod Canal. Personally, I think it made the landscape look better, adding a clean and progressive touch to something that hadn't changed in decades. But, there is a large population on the Cape, and elsewhere in the US, that are opposed to wind power plants because of this change of scenery. This is a major problem with the development of Cape Wind, an offshore project that would generate power for the entire Cape. That's a lot of power, and to me the advantages far outweigh the small change to the Cape Cod shoreline.

If we as a country hope to solve this energy crisis, we have to accept the fact that things are going to have to change. We cannot live the way we do and expect to solve these problems without changing the way we live our every day lives. I bet when the first telephone poles or electricity lines were put up, people complained. Now, you probably don't even think twice about it as you drive down the street, but enjoy the use of your phone and lights in your house. Sometimes you have to give a little to get a lot.

That's it for now...more to follow soon.