Last updated 1/31/08  

 

Alternative Energy Sources

Your paper could be done on one of these central research questions
that reflect current issues about alternative energy sources:
For each question, a few sources are suggested to help you get started with your research.

  1. What are the economic issues concerning alternative energy sources versus the traditional energy sources currently in use?
  2. What new fuel systems are being used and developed for the transportation industry? What role are the big oil companies playing in these new technologies?
  3. What renewable energy sources are being used to provide general electrical power for homes and businesses? Which of these are the most promising?
  4. Choose one alternative/renewable energy source and describe it in detail; where it comes from, how it is applied, its developmental history, costs and benefits.


What are the economic issues concerning alternative energy sources versus the traditional energy sources currently in use?

Search terms:
"alternative energy"
"renewable energy"
"alternative fuel" OR biofuel
Databases:
CQ Researcher
FirstSearch
Infotrac
Opposing Viewpoints
Science Resource Center (under 'Science')
Links:

  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory http://www.nrel.gov/
  • Check out “Learning About Renewables and Energy Efficiency” http://www.nrel.gov/learning/, and the energy analysis     http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/ within this site.
  • Energy Information Administration http://www.eia.doe.gov for government statistics
  • U. S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy http://www.eere.energy.gov/

  • Within this site are links that present the costs and benefits of the different energy sources; such as:
        http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/fuelcells/fc_challenges.html
        http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/impacts.html
    Books:
    R 361.1    PRO V.4  Environment Pro/Con Volume 4
    R 603       ENG V.2 Technology in Action: Science Applied to Everyday Life Volume 2
    333.79     DUN       Micropower the Next Electrical Era
    333.79     ENE        Energy Alternatives: Opposing Viewpoints
    333.7923 SOL        Solar Power
    333.794   ALT        Alternative Energy sources
    333.794   BER        Alternative Energy: Facts, Statistics, and Issues
    333.82     ROB       The end of Oil, Chapter 8, “And Now For Something Completely Different”
    333.88     GEO       Geothermal Power
    333.92     WIN       Wind
    333.9539 BIO       BIOMASS: Energy from plants and animals
    333.9539 BIO       BIOMASS: Energy from plants and animals
    333.9539 HAY      Biofuel Powerof the Future




    What new fuel systems are being used and developed for the transportation industry? What role are the big oil companies playing in these new technologies?

    Search terms:
    biofuels
    "oil companies" AND biofuels
    "alternative energy"
    "renewable energy"
    Databases:
    CQ Researcher
    FirstSearch
    Infotrac
    Opposing Viewpoints
    Science Resource Center (under 'Science')
    Links:
  • Renewable Energy Policy Project http://www.repp.org/
  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory http://www.nrel.gov/
  • U. S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy http://www.eere.energy.gov/
  • Energy Information Administration http://www.eia.doe.gov for government statistics
  • BP Global http://www.bp.com/home.do?categoryId=1
  • Chevron http://www.chevron.com/technology/
    Books:
    R 361.1  PRO V.4  Environment Pro/Con Volume 4
    R 603     ENG V.2 Technology in Action: Science Applied to Everyday Life Volume 2
    333.79   ENE       Energy Alternatives: Opposing Viewpoints
    333.79   IS          Is the World Heading Toward an Energy Crisis?
    333.79   POV       Energy Alternatives
    333.794   ALT     Alternative Energy sources
    333.794 BER       Alternative Energy: Facts, Statistics, and Issues
    333.82   ROB      The end of Oil, Chapter 3, “The Future’s So Bright” and Chapter 8, “And Now For Something Completely Different”
    333.92     WIN     Wind
    333.9539 BIO     BIOMASS: Energy from plants and animals
    333.9539 HAY    Biofuel Powerof the Future
    333.82    GOO    Out of Gas





    What renewable energy sources are being used to provide general electrical power for homes and businesses? Which of these are the most promising?

    Search terms:
    "wind energy"
    "solar energy"
    "alternative energy"
    "renewable energy"
    "geothermal energy"
    "ocean energy" OR "tidal energy"
    ('power' can be used in place of 'energy' in the above search terms)
    Databases:
    CQ Researcher
    FirstSearch
    Infotrac
    Opposing Viewpoints
    Science Resource Center (under 'Science')
    Links:
  • Renewable Energy Policy Project http://www.repp.org/
  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory http://www.nrel.gov/
       check out “Learning About Renewables and Energy Efficiency” http://www.nrel.gov/learning/, and the energy analysis    http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/ within this site.
  • U. S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy http://www.eere.energy.gov/
  • Energy Information Administration http://www.eia.doe.gov for government statistics
  • American Solar Energy Society http://www.ases.org/index.htm
  • American Wind Energy Association http://www.awea.org/
  • Geothermal Energy Association http://www.geo-energy.org/gea/aboutGE.asp
    Books:
    R 361.1  PRO V.4 Environment Pro/Con Volume 4
    333.79     DUN    Micropower the Next Electrical Era
    333.79   ENE       Energy Alternatives: Opposing Viewpoints
    333.7923 SOL     Solar Power
    333.794   ALT     Alternative Energy sources
    333.82   GOO      Out of Gas
    333.794 BER       Alternative Energy: Facts, Statistics, and Issues
    333.82   ROB       The end of Oil, Chapter 3, “The Future’s So Bright” and Chapter 8, “And Now For Something Completely Different”
    333.88   GEO      Geothermal Power
    333.92     WIN     Wind
    333.9539 HAY     Biofuel Powerof the Future





    • Choose one alternative/renewable energy source and describe it in detail; where it comes from, how it is applied, its developmental history, costs and benefits.

    Search terms:
    "wind energy"
    "wolar energy"
    "alternative energy"
    "renewable energy"
    "geothermal energy"
    "ocean energy" OR "tidal energy"
    biofuels OR bioenergy
    "hydro energy"
    "hydrogen fuel cells"
    ('power' can be used in place of 'energy' in the above search terms)
    Databases:
    CQ Researcher
    FirstSearch
    Infotrac
    Opposing Viewpoints
    Science Resource Center (under 'Science')
    Links:
  • Renewable Energy Policy Project http://www.repp.org/
  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory http://www.nrel.gov/
       check out “Learning About Renewables and Energy Efficiency” http://www.nrel.gov/learning/, and the energy analysis    http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/ within this site.
  • U. S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy http://www.eere.energy.gov/
  • Energy Information Administration http://www.eia.doe.gov for government statistics
  • American Solar Energy Society http://www.ases.org/index.htm
  • American Wind Energy Association http://www.awea.org/
  • Geothermal Energy Association http://www.geo-energy.org/gea/aboutGE.asp
    Books:
    R 361.1  PRO V.4 Environment Pro/Con Volume 4
    333.79   DUN      Micropower the Next Electrical Era
    333.79   ENE       Energy Alternatives: Opposing Viewpoints
    333.79   KEL       Energy Supply and Renewable Resources
    333.7923 SOL     Solar Power
    333.794   ALT     Alternative Energy sources
    333.794 BER       Alternative Energy: Facts, Statistics, and Issues
    333.82   ROB       The end of Oil, Chapter 3, “The Future’s So Bright” and Chapter 8, “And Now For Something Completely Different”
    333.88  GEO       Geothermal Power
    333.92     WIN    Wind
    333.9539 BIO     BIOMASS: Energy from plants and animals
    333.9539 HAY     Biofuel Powerof the Future