ALTERNATIVE
ENERGY SOURCES
THE EAST GROUP OF ENERGIZERS
Chris Sims
 Tina Smith
 Derek Studards
 Tyler Quinn

Instructor Dianne Phillips
 Environmental Geology

WHAT HARM DOES ELECTRICITY DO TO THE
ENVIRONMENT?

Electricity generation is the leading cause of industrial air pollution
in the U.S. Most of our electricity comes from coal, nuclear, and
other fossil fuels power plants.
Electricity generation is responsible for:


38% of the nation's carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas and major
contributor to climate change.
66% of the nation's sulfur dioxide (SO2) when combined with rain water, creates
acid rain.


40% of the nation's mercury contributes to contamination of soil and waterways.
25% of nitrogen oxides (NOx), which react with sunlight to create ground level
ozone and smog.
Representative Countries & Energy Usages,
2002
Country
Population in Millions
Energy Consumption in quadrillion
China
India
1295
1050
126 .6 kilowatt hour
30.7 kilowatt hour
United States
288
285 .7 kilowatt hour
Brazil
Pakistan
Russia
Bangladesh
Japan
Nigeria
Mexico
Germany
France
United Kingdom
Italy
South Korea
Canada
176
150
144
144
128
121
102
82
60
59
57
47
31
25.2 kilowatt hour
52.7 kilowatt hour
80 .5 kilowatt hour
1.7 kilowatt hour
64.4 kilowatt hour
2.6 kilowatt hour
10.6 kilowatt hour
32.6 kilowatt hour
27.3 kilowatt hour
2.78 kilowatt hour
2.27 kilowatt hour
2.46 kilowatt hour
13.4 kilowatt hour
ENERGY USAGE BY STATE
State Name
1. Wyoming
2. Kentucky
3. South Carolina
4. Alabama
5. Louisiana
6. Tennessee
7. Idaho
8. Indiana
9. Arkansas
10. Mississippi
kWh (million)
Estimated
Population
Per Capita
Electricity Use (kWh)
12,950
494,118
26,208
79,975
4,067,781
19,661
74,832
4.061.209
18,426
79,234
4,468,031
17,734
74,681
4,466,532
16,720
95,320
5,748,038
16,583
21,096
1,321,228
15,967
97,734
6,127,732
15,949
41,732
2,692,134
15,501
44,287
2,858,325
15,494
ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY HOUSEHOLD

Households consume 1/5 of total energy in US

American households used approximately 866kilowatt hours per month in 1999 costing them
$70.68.

The typical U.S. family spends almost $1,500 a
year on utility bills. About 60 percent is in the form
of electricity; the remainder comes mostly from
natural gas and oil.
SOLAR POWER PANELS
One of the most valuable and environmentally-friendly sources of
energy is solar power.
How do solar panels work?
The sun is collected by the silicon that is
located on these panels.
The UV rays make the electrons that are
located in the silicon move around.
As this movement takes place, the energy
begins to form.
After this occurs, the energy is then moved
out of the panels and into a battery or other
kind of collector.
SOLAR POWER PANEL ADVANTAGES
1. Saves you money

After the initial investment is recovered, energy from the sun is practically free

The savings are immediate and for many years to come.
2. Environmentally friendly

Solar Energy is clean, renewable (unlike gas, oil and coal) and sustainable,
helping to protect our environment.

It does not pollute our air by releasing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur
dioxide or mercury into the atmosphere like many traditional forms of electrical
generations does.
3. Independent/ semi-independent

Solar Energy can be utilized to offset utility-supplied energy consumption. It not only
reduces your electricity bill, but will also continue to supply your home/ business with
electricity in the event of a power outage.

A Solar Energy system can operate entirely independent, not requiring a connection to a
power or gas grid at all.
4. Low/ no maintenance

Solar Energy systems are virtually maintenance free and will last for decades.

Once installed, there are no recurring costs.

They operate silently, have no moving parts, do not release offensive smells and do not
require you to add any fuel.
WIND POWER
As the wind
flows past the
rotors of a wind
turbine, the rotor
spins and drives
the shaft of an
electric generator.
Running the wind power along with adding the
utility grid costs can range from $15,000 to
more than $50,000 per mile, depending on
terrain.
WIND POWER ADVANTAGES
1. Saves You Money

Wind energy is one of the lowest-priced renewable energy technologies
available today, costing between 4 and 6 cents per kilowatt-hour

Wind energy systems involve a significant initial investment, but can be
competitive with conventional energy sources when you account for a
lifetime of reduced utility costs
2. Good For The Environment

Wind energy is fueled by the wind, so it's a clean fuel source

Wind Energy is widely distributed and also reducing toxic gas emissions.
3. Wind Generating The World

By 2020, wind-generated electricity is projected to satisfy the
residential needs of 195 million Europeans—half of the region's
population.

The United Kingdom is requiring an investment of over $12 billion in
off-shore wind farms that should satisfy the residential electricity
needs of 10 million of the country's 60 million people.

Tiny Denmark, which led Europe into the wind era with the
development of its own wind resources, now gets an impressive 20
percent of its electricity from wind.

Germany overtook the United States in terms of wind-based
generating capacity in 1997. Now Spain is close to overtaking the
United States as well.
YEARLY ELECTRICITY COSTS VS RENEWABLE RESOURCE COSTS
Electricity
Burns Hall
$285,600.57
Student Center
$272,500.00
Parking Garage
$46,072.60
Total:
$604,173.17
Solar Power
*Yearly Electricity Costs For All NWACC Buildings: $718,366.20
Wind Power
TECHNOLOGIES USED
Internet
 PowerPoint
 Cell Phone

COMMUNITY CONTACTS
-Gerry Weatherford- GWEATHER@nwacc.edu 1-479-619-3100
-Purchasing Department of NWACC
-Jim Lay- development and expansion- jlay@nwacc.edu 1-479-619-4130
-Dean Galloway- knows future NWACC plans- mgallowa@nwacc.edu 1-479-619-4158
-Deborah Deville- ddeville@nwacc.edu provided annual energy costs
- Jennifer Elam- Western Regional Sales Manager at GroSolar jennifer@grosolar.com
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://www.energy.ca.gov/electricity/us_perca
pita_electricity_2001.html
 http://www.spheralsolar.com/solarpanels.html
 http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sour
ces/renewable/solar.html
 http://www.eere.energy.gov/states/us_energy_
statistics.cfm
 http://www.energy.ca.gov/electricity/us_perca
pita_electricity_2001.html

TIMELINE
November 1, Research NWACC costs of energy, find
out prices of alternative sources, make contacts
November 11-13th, Finish PowerPoint, finish webpage,
December 1, Finalize proposal, finish project and report
http://faculty.nwacc.edu/EAST_original/Environ
mental%20Geology2007/Alternative%20Fuels,
%20Fall%202007a.htm
 Power point
