Alternatives to Coal Power

Coal continues to be a major source of energy in the United States. Coal power supplied about 49 percent of the nation's electricity in 2007, according to the Energy Information Administration. Unfortunately, America's reliance on coal has taken its toll on the environment. This is especially true when it comes to global warming. Coal accounts for 81 percent of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the electric power sector in the U.S, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Luckily, a number of renewable sources of energy are being developed that will help America move away from coal and toward a clean energy future.

Geothermal Power

Geothermal power is a renewable source of energy that taps into the energy produced by Earth's heated core.

Solar Power

Solar power is a renewable energy that taps into the power of the sun. Residential solar panels have been a popular source of homemade energy for many years now. The solar power industry continues to expand, building large-scale solar power plants and developing new ways to make solar power an efficient and affordable energy source for the future.

Wind Power

Wind power is a renewable energy produced by tapping into the natural power of the wind through the use of turbines. Wind power capacity in the U.S. increased by 46 percent in 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Hydropower

Hydropower is a form of renewable energy that has been around since pre-electricity days when water was used to power factories and other operations. Innovations in hydropower will soon make it possible to produce energy using the power of the ocean's waves and tidal forces, as well as by using the currents of rivers without building new dams.

Methane Gas

As the materials found in landfills decompose, methane gas is produced. This gas can be trapped and used as a clean, renewable source of energy. Preventing the escape of methane, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere also contributes to the fight against global warming.

References

• Energy Information Administration: Annual Energy Review
• U.S. Department of Energy: Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Landfill Methane Outreach Program

Resources

• U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Greenhouse Gas Emissions