What are alternative energy sources being pursued in the United States? What are the current limitations of these sources?
What will be an ideal response?
Wood is one source. While it is a renewable source of energy, it is limited in availability and is costly. In addition, the pollution that results from burning wood limits its usefulness. Solar power is another renewable source of energy. It is now mainly being used to power homes and some businesses. Technical breakthroughs are needed before it can be used on a large scale. For one thing, there are parts of the United States that do not get enough steady sunlight to make solar power feasible. Also, the photovoltaic cell that converts sunlight into electrical energy is presently underdeveloped and inefficient. Large scale use of solar panels is environmentally unappealing as it would require massive land space for this purpose. Hydrogen fuel cells are another area that holds promise, but the technology is not mature yet. Currently, it would use more energy that it would save if used in cars. Wind power is another area that is currently in use, but in limited measures. Concerns surround the unreliability of the source (there is not always wind) and, like solar power, the amount of land that would be required for enough windmills to meet power needs would be substantial. Agricultural by-products are another area of development. However, it has put energy supply and food supply in competition. Energy from biomass has the advantages that it is renewable with less negative impact on the environment. Though, methane gas is a usable product, it is a problem in that it is a culprit in destroying the ozone layer.
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