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Solar technologies produce few negative environmental impacts during collector operation.

pollution spewing from a typical coal plant

3,700,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary human cause of global warming--as much CO2 as cutting down 161 million trees.

sulphur dioxide (SO2), which causes acid rain

Then we’ll present diagrams and discuss photovoltaic solar, solar hot water, and concentrated solar power. The easiest way to think about these is: am I using solar energy to heat water (solar hot water and CSP) or am I converting sunlight directly into electricity (photovoltaic cells)? Solar Energy Diagram #1 – Insolation

 The process of converting wind energy to electric energy uses a wind turbine. The wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. The mechanical power can be used for many things. In the past this meant pumping water, creating ventilation, or grinding food sources. While these things still occur, wind power is also used to generate electricity.      The wind turbine is a tall shaft with several horizontal rectangular blades attached to it. These blades are often covered with stiff material or ratting material. When turned they push against the air, causing pressure, and turning the inner shaft. This shaft connects to a generator which then creates energy.

The sun transmits energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation. When this radiation is absorbed by the solar cells, a chemical reaction occurs, causing rapid electron movement. Because of the way the cells are manufactured with layers of material with differing atomic structures, the electrons are forced to move in one direction, creating direct current, or DC. It then flows into an inverter which converts the DC into alternating current, or AC, to be usable in your home or business.

Solar energy is good for the planet because it is a clean way to produce things we need every day. It doesnt cause pollution because it is nature's own energy and is a 100% renewable resource.

electromagnetic radiation

Photovoltaic cells are made of special materials called semiconductors such as silicon, which is currently used most commonly. Basically, when light strikes the cell, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor. The energy knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely.

In January 2012 the San Onofre nuclear power plant, which provided power to 1.4 million homes in Southern California

SCE went from having 50 percent of its energy production carbon-free in 2011 to 30 percent in 2012,

It is believed that the first geothermal energy use in industry was during the late 18th century near Pisa, Italy. This history of geothermal shows energy been used to extract boric acid from the Larderello Fields through the use of steam

Wind Energy The answer is blowin’ in the wind How is man going to keep up with increasing energy demand while the amount of available fossil fuel diminishes? The answer could be wind power, the capturing of the energy contained in gusts of wind. What is wind Energy?

Man has been using wind energy for thousands of years. Windmills, sails and even kites are all devices designed to harness the awesome power produced when the wind blows. Even modern aircraft benefit from wind power. Pilots flying westward usually expend much effort trying to make sure they place themselves in the jet stream, the hundred mile per hour wind caused by the earth spinning. Now engineers are able to convert such power into electricity, pump it into grids and provide energy for homes.

Sunlight is Earth's primary source of energy.

The energy stored in petroleum and other fossil fuels was originally converted from sunlight by photosynthesis in the distant past.[119]

Geothermal energy is heat that is generated within the Earth.

Wind machines were used in Persia as early as 200 B.C

The first windmill for electricity production in the United States was built in Cleveland, Ohio by Charles F Brush in 1888, and in 1908 there were 72 wind-driven electric generators from 5 kW to 25 kW.

The first utility grid-connected wind turbine operated in the UK was built by the John Brown Company in 1954

The BLM manages 20.6 million acres of public lands with wind potential. The BLM has authorized 39 wind energy development projects, including connected-action projects that include electric transmission support authorizations, with a total approved capacity of 5,557 megawatts, enough to supply the power needs of over 1.5 million homes. 

For more than a decade, wind energy has been the fastest growing energy technology worldwide, achieving an annual growth rate of over 30%. In the United States, the current total installed capacity is over 60,000 megawatts of wind projects.

solar energy is environmentally safe and does not contribute to pollution, acid rain, global warming, or smog. it is very dependable and lasts as long as the sun does-a couple billion years.

owa ranks 2nd in the nation for wind energy production as there are almost 2,900 utility scale wind turbines in Iowa.  This creates enough electricity to power 1,000,000 homes. Minnesota is fourth in the nation for wind energy production and Wisconsin is 19th.