Alternate Energy Sources
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Fossil Fuels Becoming Extinct
Specific purpose:
I will inform my audience of how alternate energy sources help protect the environment, different types of energy sources, and the most plausible alternate energy to be used in the future.
Central idea:
Alternate Energy sources are being developed to address not only the global effect of fossil fuels on the environment but the ever decreasing quantity of fossil fuels as well.
INTRODUCTION
Imagine you are on your way to the gas station for your weekly fill up and you have to
wait in line at the gas pumps for up to an hour just to get a tank of gas. No it is not the
early 70?s during the ?gas shortage?, however it is a possible scenario in the not so distant
future if an alternate energy is not used to replace fossil fuels.
Alternate Energy sources are important to understand based on known oil reserves and
the worldwide consumption rate, most estimates suggest this reserve has only 50 more
years of production left in it according to AlternateEnergies.com.
I first witnessed the high gas prices, as I?m sure all of you have, after September 11, when
our country went to war with Iraq.
I thought back to my mother and father in the early 70?s waiting in line for gas,
wondering if alternate energy sources had been on the minds of the Department of Energy
then the way it is now would high gasoline prices even be an issue.
Tonight I would like to inform you as an audience of how alternate energy sources can
help protect the environment, different types of energy sources, and the most plausible
alternate energy to be used in the future.
(First, let?s look at how alternate energy sources help protect the environment.)
Our most abundant form of Energy is also our biggest polluter.
Fossil Fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, are our primary sources of energy
today, are inefficient, non-renewable, and most importantly, they release CO2
upon combustion.
In the US, 89% of our total Energy Budget is Fossil Fuel Based.
Fossil Fuel combustion represents a global environmental problem.
Most alternative energy sources have little polluting side effects.
(Now that we have established that alternate energy sources are more environmentally friendly let?s look at some different types of alternate energy sources.)
Most of the common alternate energy sources are already in use.
Wind can be harnessed to produce large amounts of energy. Wind energy is very
site specific. If you do not have a good wind site to start with, results will be
disappointing no matter what you do.
Solar-Electric (photovoltaic) harnesses the sun?s energy and converts it into
electricity. It is the simplest form of alternative energy, it?s also the most
expensive.
Micro-hydro harnesses the energy of falling water and produces electricity. It is
the most cost effective of all alternate energy. If you have a source of