Renewable Energy

Teresa Bettikofer

Wind Power

• Wind power can curb CO2 emissions by providing an alternative to fossil fuel burning
• Most inexpensive renewable energy resource
• Denmark uses wind turbines to supply 50% of electricity
• Every state in the US has wind power
• U.S. Department of Energy has announced goal of obtaining 5% of U.S. electricity from wind by 2020-consistent with the current rate of growth.

Hemp Fuel

• It would only take 6% of our U.S. land to produce enough hemp, for hemp fuel, to make U.S. energy independent from the rest of the world.
• Biodiesel can be made from domestically produced, renewable oilseed crops such as hemp.
• Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel in the US to complete EPA Tier 1 Health Effects Testing under section 211(b) of the Clean Air Act, which provide the most thorough inventory of environmental and human health effects attributes that current technology will allow.
• The Congressional Budget Office, Department of Defense, US Department of Agriculture, and others have determined that biodiesel is the low cost alternative fuel option for fleets to meet requirements of the Energy Policy Act.
• When hemp is grown it takes CO2 from the air, so when it is burned the CO2 is released, creating a balanced system and reducing the burden on the atmosphere.
• Producing biodiesel from hemp and other domestic crops reduces the United States’ dependence on foreign petroleum, increases agricultural revenue, and creates jobs.

Biodiesel

• Biodiesel is an alcohol ester of fatty acids. It is made by reacting a fat or oil with a low molecular weight alcohol.
• Biodiesel has been in use in Europe for several years on a commercial basis, but is relatively new to the U.S.
• Biodiesel is sold at over 700 fuel pumps in Germany, available to consumers.
• Volkswagen and Mercedes warranty their vehicles in Germany for biodiesel use.
• In 1972 U.S. Department of Energy became interested in emergency fuels for agriculture, DOE project found alcohol esters of vegetable oil could be substituted for diesel fuel with no engine modification and no adverse effects.
• Biodiesel is non toxic, and biodegradable in water.
• Biodiesel emits 78% less CO2 then fossil diesel fuel.

Bibliography

Wind

1) “The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Wind Energy.” www.awea.org/pubs/documents/FAQ2002%20-%20web.pdf.

Document that answers questions about wind energy. Goes from wind energy basics to energy policy issues.

2) “Renewable Energy Policy Project.” www.crest.org/.

Has information on hydro, bioenergy, geothermal, wind, solar, hydrogen energy. Lots of links to different organizations.

3) “Renewable Resource Data Center.” http://rredc.nrel.gov/

Publications, initiatives, links. Has a glossary and unit conversions for energy measurements. Links to National Center for Photovoltaics, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network, National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

4) “Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.” www.eren.doe.gov/

Programs, projects, basics of renewable energy. Biomass program to wind and hydropower technologies program.

5) “The Danish Wind Industry Association.” www.windpower.org.

guided tour, history, reference, new manufacturers. Animations to explain everything.

Hemp Fuel

1) www.artistictreasure.com/learnmoreeconomy.html.

2) www.artistictreasure.com/learnmorecleanair.html.

3) www.hempcar.org/petvshemp.shtml.

Biodiesel

1) British Association for Bio Fuels and Oils. Biodiesel: A Solution to Pollution. www.biodiesel.co.uk/fuel_story.htm. 2002.

2) Energy Primer. Solar, Water, Wind, and Biofuels. Portola Institute: CA. 1974.

3) Spedding, Colin, Sir. British Association for Bio Fuels and Oils. Biofuels and the Future. www.biodiesel.co.uk/biofuels_and_the_future.htm. 2002.

4) U.S. Government Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Biodiesel Energy and Methane Hydrate Research. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1998.

5) Williamson, Dave. Biodiesel in Berkeley. Earth Island Journal: Vol. 17, Issue 2. http://web10.epnet.com. 2002.