About Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy, often also referred to as “Green Power”, is energy generated from resources that are commonly accepted as having a relatively low impact on human and animal health, and the ecosystem. The most promising Renewbale Energy sources currently include:
- Wind
- Solar
- Biomass
- Landfill gas
- Geothermal
- Some types of certified hydropower, including that generated in the ocean
Renewable Energy sources are often juxtaposed with fossil fuels. Unlike fossil fuels, Renewable Energy resources do not contribute to emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). Although power derived from nuclear energy is not polluting at the source, it is not considered a Renewable Energy resource because its primary fuel is not renewable and its spent nuclear fuel can pose significant health risks.
The World Resources Institute notes that “the U.S. Energy Information Administration has stated that the 55.15 million MWh of renewable energy generation in 2005 was equal to 1.5 percent of the country’s total electricity generation. In 2030, 177.13 million MWh of renewable electricity are expected to be generated, equal to 3.3 percent of the total electricity generation.”
A growing commitment to developing Renewable Energy resources and rapidly maturing technology means that Renewable Energy will continue to grow in its signifigance as a component of our energy production infrastructure.