Renewable & Alternative Resources

Geothermal

• Geothermal energy refers to the emission-free renewable heat drawn from the Earth through heat pumps. This type of energy comes from shallow ground water, hot rocks below the Earth's surface and magma (molten rocks that reach extreme temperatures) situated deep down near the Earth's core. Shallow water located up to 10 feet below the surface reaches temperatures between 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Program works with private industries, college and universities and DOE national laboratories to develop innovative geothermal technologies, which identify, access and employ geothermal energy sources. The major objectives target research and development to improve geothermal systems technology, hydrothermal power and low-temperature resources.

Solar Energy

• Solar energy consist of various technologies that use the sun's radiation and light to provide usable energy as heat, electricity, light, cooling and hot water for residential and commercial buildings. Concentrating solar energy harnesses power for large power stations. Passive solar technology absorbs the sun's energy to warm homes and businesses. Solar photovoltaic technologies convert energy from the sun into electricity for residential and commercial buildings. Solar water heating provides heat and cooling for commercial and industrial applications.

Wind

• Wind power has provided energy for hundreds of years to pump water from rivers, operate mills for logging or grind the grains of farmers. Modern wind turbines generate electricity. Some wind turbines can reach 200 feet or more into the air. Generally, turbines have three rotating blades that face the wind to draw kinetic energy, or motion of the wind, into a shaft that powers an alternator. The alternator makes electricity. Technologically sophisticated wind turbines have a mechanism called an anemometer that measures the force and speed of the wind. A yaw motor attaches to a swivel mechanism that aims the propeller in the wind's direction. Wind turbines must have at least an eight mile per hour wind for a minimum of 18 to 20 hours per day to produce electricity.

Biomass

• Biomass consists or energy provided by living or recently living plants or plant-derived materials, including wood, crops, hydrogen gas, manure and alcohol fuels. Wood is the most common biomass material. The basic process of creating the fuel entails causing a chemical reaction by which water and carbon dioxide changes to oxygen gas and glucose, from the radiation of the sun, through the process of photosynthesis. Plants produce glucose as a source of energy. Like fossil fuels, biomass produces carbon dioxide. However, biomass uses the same amount of carbon dioxide it captures from the environment during the photosynthesis process. Therefore, it does not release additional carbon dioxide into the environment.