...University SCIE210-1301A-05 Environmental Science Unit 3 Individual Project Instructor Beverly Hamilton Abstract There have been laws passed about the use of different energy which include fossil fuel: oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear energy, solar energy, wind power, water (hydro) power, and bioconversion (biofuel) these laws could allow the possibility of tax incentives. The use of different types of natural energy can pave the way for a greener earth. Although, some may argue that there are pros and cons of such energy. In this paper we will be discussing these pros and cons as well as two provisions of the Energy Policy Act, 2005, including its tax incentives. 1.) The law of conservation of energy states that energy may neither be created nor destroyed (The law of conservation of energy, n.d). 2.) The pros and cons of fossil fuel: oil, natural gas, and coal. The pros are its high efficient, cheaper than non-conventional forms of energy because it is easy to extract and process them and it the potential to power the entire globe. The cons are Fossil fuels are believed to be the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, responsible for global warming and climate change. It is also believed that coal mining creates earthquakes. The biggest con of all is that they are non-renewable. Nuclear Energy creates little amount of CO2 and it can generate a great amount of electrical energy in one single plant. But these plants produce radioactive waste; the energy source is...
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...isolated system is conserved eventually, energy can be changed from its original form to a different form are from one object to another. This energy law applies use which is taken energy and changing into a different form, one example is Solar Energy; energy from the sun can be changed in to useable energy for homes, schools, hospitals etc. The energy conservation law also applies to considering that some energy is wasted during the change, it’s impossible to change energy and not waste some of it. Cons and Pros of fossil fuel and oil, natural gas, and coal are pros consist of higher efficiency, it’s less expensive than none conventional reason being it’s easy to change and process them also has the ability to power the globe, the cons of fossil fuels are they have the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases which is mainly the reason for climate change and global warming. Coal mining creates quakes that’s also believed, they are none renewable so that makes it the biggest con. Nuclear Energy creates small amounts of oxygen and it generates huge amounts of electrical energy. Waste is radioactive when produced in these plants. Uranium is the energy source which has a limited supply; nuclear power plants could encourage terrorist attacks. This source of energy is renewable. Solar energy it provides energy to homes with solar panels and there’s no up keep required most of the energy is produced in the light because the panels become larger, these panels are very costly. Wind...
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...energy sources? NATURAL GAS Advantages • • • • • • • Burns clean compared to cola, oil (less polluting) 70% less carbon dioxide compared to other fossil fuels helps improve quality of air and water (not a pollutant) does not produce ashes after energy release has high heating value of 24,000 Btu per pound inexpensive compared to coal no odor until added Drawbacks • • • not a renewable source finite resource trapped in the earth (some experts disagree) inability to recover all in-place gas from a producible deposit because of unfavorable economics and lack of technology (It costs more to recover the remaining natural gas because of flow, access, etc.) Other information • • 5,149.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserve left (more than oil but less than coal) 23.2% of total consumption of natural gas is in the United States WATER POWER Pros • • • • • • • Provides water for 30-30% of the world’s irrigated land Provides 19% of electricity Expands irrigation Provides drinking water Supplies hydroelectric energy (falling water used to run turbines) Easier for third world countries to generate power (if water source is available) It is cheaper Cons • • • • • • • • Destabilizes marine ecosystems Water wars (up river and down river; e.g., the water war between...
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...Advanced Clean Coal Technology DeVry University Technology Society and Culture Professor Paul Team D Table of Contents Renee M King I A brief description of the why the technology is needed …………….page 3 II The historical development and context of the technology …………..page 5 III The technology in its cultural context, media influence……………....page 9 IV Psychological considerations and sociological effects…………..….page 10 V Economic questions and considerations VI Implications for the Environment VI Political and legal influences IX Moral and Ethical Implications References Advanced Clean Coal Technology I A brief description of the why the technology is needed The most plentiful fuel in the fossil fuel family, coal has been used since the caveman days to heat their homes. In the 1700s, people found that it would heat cleaner and hotter than wood charcoal. The Industrial Revolutions overwhelming need for energy to run the new technologies providing the real opportunity for coal to dominant as a worldwide supplier of energy. (A brief history of coal use). As other sources of energy was discovered the use of coal diminished. However, 4 decades ago it became popular again as an energy source. The 1970’s brought about an oil crisis that showed industrialized countries that any disruption in the petroleum supply line would send a shockwave through energy production. (Morse, 2012). Even though coal is considered...
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...Incineration as an Energy Source Author Institution Abstract This paper talks about incineration as a method of producing energy. The incineration sector in the country is also analyzed in the paper. The benefits that are associated with the method of incineration are outlined clearly and the costs and effects incurred as a result of incineration are also outlined. Incineration as an energy source; the pros and cons Incineration is a waste treatment technology that encompasses burning waste and transforming it into energy (Denilson et al., 1996). The wastes that are subjected to the process of burning can include residential, hazardous and commercial wastes (Denilson et al., 1996). The wastes are burnt in an incinerator which is a large furnace designed for that work. Incineration converts the materials deemed as wastes including paper, metals, plastics and food scraps into fly ash, bottom ash, combustion gases and heat (Denilson et al., 1996). In some instances the heat produced by incineration can be used to create electric power. In the United States there are a total of 113 incinerators that are working and out of these, 86 are used to produce electricity (Brebbia et al., 2014). The last incinerator in US was built in the year 1997 and ever since there has been no new incinerator built (Brebbia et al., 2014). The reasons for the halt in building incinerators in US was due to the public opposition regarding the costs of building, identified health risks and environmental...
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...killed in that explosion. Killed needlessly, for almost everybody concerned had known for months, even years, that the mine was dangerous. Yet nobody had done any- thing effective about it. Why not? Let us examine the background of the explosion. Let us study the mine and the miners, Joe Bryant and Bill Rowekamp and some others, and also the numerous people who might have saved the miners’ lives but did not. The miners had appealed in various directions for help but got none, not from their state government nor their federal government nor their employer nor their own union. (In threading the maze of official- dom we must bear in mind four agencies in author- ity: The State of Illinois, the United States Government, the Centralia Coal Company, and the United Mine Workers of America, that is, the UMWA of John L. Lewis.) Let us seek to fix responsibility for the disaster. . . . The Centralia Mine No. 5 was opened two miles south of Centralia in 1907. Because of its age, its maze of underground workings is extensive, covering per- haps six square miles, but it is regarded as a medium- small mine since it...
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...com/non-renewable-energy-sources.html What was used before to generate energy? * Fossil fuels(The term ‘fossil fuel’ refers to fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. ) * Where do it come from? How can it be used? It can be used to produce electricity, heating, cooking, transportation and manufacturing. 85% of the energy used in the industrial processes is form the non-renewable type of energy. * Transportation?... http://renewablegreen.net/?p=124 What limitations or disadvantages does non-renewable energy have? * However, after never-ending mining and ‘drill baby drill,’ we realized that there is was limitation to how much we can use them. Because one day, the mines will be empty and drilling pipes would dry out. Over the years, their demand has been far outstripping their availability. * Pollution created (air, water) => Global warming and greenhouse effect * Increasing oil price (because of limited resources) And with demand overpowering supply, prices will continue to rise dramatically. Combustion of fossil fuels emits harmful gases like sulfur dioxide (causing acid rain) and carbon monoxide (contributing to greenhouse effect). Due to the adverse affects, the globe is heating up and the polar ice caps are melting faster. A need to shift to substitutes (renewable energy) 1. Produce harmful green house gases which contribute global warming. Coal once burnt produces carbon dioxide harmful to the environment. http://www.altenergy.org/ What is it? How can it replace...
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...COUNTRY RISK ANALYSIS INDONESIA D Dr.H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono President (RI) Short facts : Short facts Official name Capital city Government type Currency Population Official language Geography The republic of Indonesia Jakarta Republic Rupiah (IDR) 236 million people Bahasa Indonesia 17,508 islands & 1,919,440 sq km of land area & coastline 54,716kms Continued... : Continued... Ethnicity GDP GDP per capita Revenues Expenses Inflation rate 85% muslims, 10% christians, 2% muslims US$932.1 billion US $3,900 $92.62 billion $98.88 billion 5.3% GDP growth : GDP growth Setting up Business Activities and a Company in Indonesia : Setting up Business Activities and a Company in Indonesia To establish a business in Indonesia, if you do not require a local legal entity for the investment proposed, you could choose to appoint an Agent or Distributor, or set up a Representative Office. Many foreign investors at the early stage of entering the Indonesia market choose to set up an Agency Agreement or Representative Office, then later after the business starts to grow they will apply for a Foreign Direct Investment Company (FDI) status. To establish a representative office, the company needs to issue 3 letters : To establish a representative office, the company needs to issue 3 letters Letter of Intent - stating the intention of the company to establish a representative office Letter of Appointment - stating the appointment of the chief representative Letter of...
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...low. On the cost side, entering the market of uranium mining is extremely expensive due to exploration cost and initial capital. Also, the government has very strict regulations on nuclear mining and usage. Since Federal government enforces the environment law on energy sector, companies, which want to entry into nuclear energy industry, need to ensure the environment safety before the business launched. According to Cameco, “We study the environment around the project area to gain an understanding of potential effects on air and water quality, wildlife, plants, noise, human health, aboriginal activities, and the use of land and natural resources.”(Cameco, 2010) This is not an easy industry to penetrate, especially since the industry has been fulfilled by numerous major players such as Cameco, Nuchem, and Areva. The majority of uranium resource has been controlled by the existing operators. In 2011, eight companies marketed 85% of the world’s uranium mine production. (World Uranium Ming, 2012) Thus, the barriers to entry the current nuclear industry are intense. Threat of substitutes Respect to the main product that Cameco, Uranium currently are principle to produce nuclear weapon and nuclear energy. The nuclear weapon industry merely has substitution from other bomb industries. However, on the energy side, there are a huge amount of energy sources can substitute uranium to generate electricity and heat. In 2008, Coal (48.7%) and Natural gas (21.4%) are used for main resources...
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...Chapter 14 Review The environmental effects of gold mining can harm the environment in many negative ways. Gold miners removed enough rock to equal the weight of 50 automobiles to extract a little amount of gold. The leftover waste is piled near the mine sites and can pollute the air and nearby surface water. Mining companies also created a new mining technology called cyanide heap leaching to level entire mountains of rock. In order for them to extract the gold, they spray a solution of highly toxic cyanide salts. This cyanide is extremely toxic to birds and mammals drawn to these ponds in search of water and they can leak into the rivers posing as a threat to fish and other life forms. Geology is the science devoted to the study of dynamic processes occurring on the earth’s surface and in its interior. The core is the earth’s innermost zone. The mantle is a thick zone surrounding the core. The crust is the outermost and thinnest zone of the earth. The tectonic plates are various sized areas of the earth’s lithosphere that move slowly around with the mantle’s flowing asthenosphere. The lithosphere is the outer shell of the earth, composed of the crust and the rigid, outermost part of the mantle outside the asthenosphere. A transform vault is an area where the earth’s lithospheric plates move in opposite but parallel directions along a fracture in the lithosphere. Weathering is the physical and chemical processes in which solid rock exposed at earth’s surface is changed to separate...
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...Nuclear Energy Research Paper Global warming is a major issue in today’s world that affects many people, animals, economies, and society as a whole. What is global warming? Global warming is the rising average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. It’s been constantly rising over the past 100 years because of major contributions which include: greenhouse gases (especially CO2) being emitted, industrialization, burning of fossil fuels, and the increase in population. Global warming was first discovered in 1896 by a Swedish scientist named Svante Arrhenius who proposed an idea that there is a relation between atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and temperature. He later then described, by comparing carbon dioxide levels, infrared absorption, surface temperature of the earth, and human activity, that global warming would rise. Other scientists didn’t believe this idea stating that natural forces would cancel out human activity that releases carbon dioxide. It wasn’t until 1988 that it was finally acknowledged that global warming is present because of how much warmer it was than the 1800s. Since then, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was founded which looks at scientific, technical, and socio-economic information that relates to human induced climate change and figures out plans and ideas to decrease and slow down the rate at which the climate is getting hotter. However, there are still disagreements to this day whether or...
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...warming. What is causing global warming? Carbon dioxide and other air pollution that is collecting in the atmosphere like a thickening blanket, trapping the sun's heat and causing the planet to warm up. Coal-burning power plants are the largest United States source of carbon dioxide pollution -- they produce 2.5 billion tons every year. Automobiles, the second largest source, create nearly 1.5 billion tons of CO2 annually. (Valentinas Mickūnaitis) The good news is there are many technologies that exist today to allow cars to operate more efficiently and use less gas. In order to reduce the amount of toxins in the atmosphere, older power plants need to be modernized and we need to reduce our electricity by putting into practice energy efficiency, these are just some suggestions to lowering the levels of CO2, we have to make sure they are implemented. Politicians are especially attracted to the restoration of nuclear power as a possible solution to averting global warming. When the subject of global warming is discussed and the methods to reduce it, it is out of the ordinary that the focus is put on the pros of nuclear power generation, and its disadvantages are rarely mentioned. As the discussion of renewing nuclear power is examined, the subject over the pros and cons top the list of dispute. Regardless of the apprehensions and concerns over nuclear energy, there are...
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...RESEARCH TOPICS Abstinence programs Do they work? Advertising Should certain kinds of ads be banned in the interest of health/morality/annoyance – alcohol, cigarettes, prescription meds, etc…? Africa Why so many wars? What’s the solution? Airplane accidents Who is responsible? Should families of victims be entitled to compensation? Airport security Should the government use invasive pat-downs and body scans to ensure passenger safety or are there better methods? Al Qaida Has U.S. policy actually spread terrorism rather than contain it? Will it get better or worse? Why and how? Alcohol Should the U.S. lower the drinking age to 18? Animal rights Should it be illegal to use animals for sports and entertainment? Arming pilots Good idea? Art A few years ago, an artist was criticized for depicting the Virgin Mary with elephant dung. When is art not really art? Athletes in high schools Should shoe companies be able to give away free shoes and equipment to high school athletes? Beauty contests Do they serve any purpose in society? Bridges, roads, waterways Why the government gets a bad report card on America’s infrastructure. Bullying laws Should the state or federal government put laws into place to prevent bullying? Cell phones How have they changed us socially? Censorship Should parents censor textbooks and other literature for children in schools? Cheap labor U.S. companies that move factories to undeveloped nations barely pay employees enough to...
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...of electrical generation comes from conventional, fossil fuel run, power plants, with nuclear power being the leading alternative. But neither source is renewable or sustainable, furthermore, nuclear energy is beset with many problems. Alternative energy refers to energy sources which are not based on the burning of fossil fuels or the splitting of atoms. There are numerous reasons for supporting alternative energy development: lower air and water pollution, reduce land disruption through mining and drilling, reduce solid and hazardous waste production and greenhouse gas emission. Only renewable energy options offer long-term hope for sustainability. Several alternative energy options already exist, such as wind, solar, wave and geothermal. I believe that we have the technology today, to power the world sustainably. Presently, nuclear energy is responsible for approximately 16 percent of the world’s electricity; in the U.S. it is the second leading source of energy next to coal. Nuclear energy is often looked at as a cleaner alternative to burning fossil fuels due to the low amounts of greenhouse gases emitted by the power plants. But the use of nuclear technology is full of security and waste-disposal problems. Despite high security standards, it is technically impossible to build a plant with 100 percent security. The consequences of an accident, like that of a meltdown, would be absolutely devastating on mankind and nature. A meltdown occurs in a...
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...What would happen to our world if our energy unexpectedly disappeared? Fossil fuels are very important to our world because they provide an overwhelming majority of our world energy. So, what happens when they run out? As the world enters a new century, new source of energy such as wind power need to be used more to help the world keep running on all cylinders. According to the American Wind Energy Association, “Wind power captures the natural wind in our atmosphere and converts it into mechanical energy then electricity. People started using wind power centuries ago with windmills, which pumped water, ground grain, and did other work. Today's wind turbine is a highly evolved version of a windmill. Modern wind turbines harness wind's kinetic energy and convert it into electricity.” Although wind turbines are always reliable, we should invest is wind energy because it creates safer jobs, it does not pollute, and will get more than your investment back. If you invest properly in wind power today and take advantage of any grants and tax incentives, even if your electric rates do not go up as they are forecast too, you will get your money back over time, well within the lifetime of the equipment, and sooner if there is a rate increase in the future. There are also environmental benefits. At one time there was an argument that a wind turbine will never produce as much power as was used to manufacture it. First of all, this is not correct. The, "Embodied Energy," in a turbine is earned...
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