Name ______________________________________
Period _______
The Two Sides of Energy Resources
Energy
Resources
Fossil Fuels
Definition:

Formed from
the buried
remains of
plants &
animals
millions of
years ago
 Coal, Oil/
Petroleum, &
Natural Gas
(Propane)
Advantages
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Provide a large amount of
thermal energy per unit of
mass
Easy to get and easy to
transport
Can be used to generate
electrical energy and make
products, such as plastic
Easy to find
Easy to get out of the ground
Abundant supply of coal
Efficient
Safe to use
Cost Effective
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Very concentrated form of
energy
Power plants do not produce
smog
No greenhouse gases
Produces a lot of energy with a
small amount of fuel
No ground level pollution
Small amount of waste
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NONRENEWABLE
Nuclear
Definition:

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Formed from
changes in the
nucleus of an
atom (nuclear
fission - split
nuclei to
harness
power)
Uranium
NONRENEWABLE
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Disadvantages
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Example in the World
Nonrenewable
Burning produces smog
Burning coal releases
substances that can cause
acid precipitation
Risk of oil spills
Need a huge amount of
reserves
Coal Mining is dangerous
Gas leaks can have dangerous
side effects
Global Warming (greenhouse
gases)
Destroys habitats
Prices raise over time
Can contaminate well water

Oil reserves: Middle East
countries, Texas, Alaska, Gulf
of Mexico, Canada, Venezuela

Natural Gas: Pennsylvania,
Texas, Florida, Ohio, Middle
East countries

Coal: Pennsylvania, West
Virginia, China, England,
Russia
Produces radioactive waste
Radioactive elements are
nonrenewable
Waste is hard to dispose of
Waste lasts for many years as
radioactive material
Could be made into weapons
or become a target for
terrorists
Unstable/reactor
malfunctions
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All over Europe
Korea
Japan
East Coast of U.S.
Geographic Features
That Allow This
Resource to Thrive

Oil & Natural Gas : Areas that
used to be underwater or are
currently underwater – places
with lots of fossils

Coal: Mountains
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Densely populated areas
Water source readily available
Energy
Resources
Solar
Definition:
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Energy from
the sun
Radiant
Energy
Converts
energy from
sun to
electrical
energy in
photovoltaic
cells
Advantages
●
Disadvantages
Almost limitless source of
energy
Does not produce pollution
No noise
Cells last 30-40 years
Source (Sun) is free
Easy to install
Environmentally friendly
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Renewable
Does not produce air
pollution
●
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Reliable
Sustainable
Dams last a long time (gates
can also be shut if they have
enough electricity – to
conserve energy)
Large amount of energy
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Expensive to use for largescale energy production
Only practical in sunny areas
Pollution hinders the panels
Need a lot of space
Must be located (angled)
correctly
Materials cost a lot
Example in the World
Geographic Features
That Allow This
Resource to Thrive

California, Arizona, New
Mexico, Dubai (desert), near
the equator, satellites that
orbit the Earth

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Lots of sunshine
Open areas for solar panels
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Niagara Falls
Hoover Dam
Near Penn State University
China
Brazil
Netherlands
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Running water
Large bodies of water
RENEWABLE
Water
Definition:

Potential
energy is
converted to
Kinetic
energy as
water falls
 Kinetic
energy
converted
into electrical
energy:
Hydroelectricity
RENEWABLE

Dams disrupt a river’s
ecosystem
● Available only in areas
that have rivers
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Expensive to build
Extensive regulations
Effects water quality &
quantity downstream
Could cause flooding (dam
malfunctions etc.)
Energy
Resources
Wind
Definition:

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Wind causes
turbines to
spin
Mechanical
energy
converted to
electrical
energy
Advantages
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Disadvantages
Example in the World
Geographic Features
That Allow This
Resource to Thrive
Renewable
Relatively inexpensive to
generate
Does not produce air
pollution
Turbines take up small spaces
Not affected by power outages
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Only practical in windy areas
Expensive to build
Wind speeds vary
Noisy (noise pollution)
Bird Hazard
Appearance
Obstruct Views

Jersey Shore, Midwest farming
regions, Texas, Los Angeles,
Amsterdam, Belgium
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Windy areas
Open areas
Along coastlines
Almost limitless source of
energy
Power plants require little
land
No Pollution
Renewable
●
Only practical in locations
near hot spots
Waste water can damage soil
Expensive to build
Efficiency depends on location
Instability ex: Earthquakes
cause them to be unstable

Iceland, New Zealand, Nevada,
California, Alaska, Hawaii
(volcanoes), Wyoming (Old
Faithful geyser)
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Geysers
Volcanoes
Hot Springs
Renewable
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Requires large areas of
farmland
Produces smoke
Produces some waste
materials
Fuel energy vs. food
CO2 emissions
Greenhouse gases

Inexpensive
Reducing waste in landfills
Less pollution
Readily available
Africa, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana,
India
Almost anywhere
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Forests
Cornfields
Animals for waste production
RENEWABLE
Geothermal
Definition:

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Results from
the heating of
the Earth’s
crust
Energy from
underground
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RENEWABLE
Biomass
Definition:

Organic
matter such
as plants,
wood, &
waste that
contains
stored energy
RENEWABLE
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