| The world's reliance on oil is staggering, and it | | | | continue to innovate. |
| seems that new predictions for when we will run | | | | Solar power is the process of converting the |
| out of petroleum are popping up every day. | | | | sun's rays in to energy. The vast majority of |
| World governments are moving to start drilling in | | | | sunlight which strikes the Earth is left unabsorbed, |
| new places, in a desperate attempt to secure | | | | so we might as well try to take as much as we |
| more black gold. Oil is used for a variety of | | | | can get. Solar energy is produced through the |
| products, including fuel, which is the number one | | | | application of solar cells, and several solar cells put |
| commodity that people associate oil with. | | | | together form solar panels. The solar cells convert |
| If we are to survive as a species, it is integral | | | | sunlight in to direct current energy through the |
| that we embrace the number of alternative fuels | | | | photoelectric effect. When light hits the surface of |
| that are sitting before us. Even if one alone is not | | | | the cell, electrons are released, and they are |
| enough to wean us off oil, it is surely possible that | | | | harnessed in to usable electricity. Solar engineers |
| together, we can replace oil once and for all, at | | | | are currently trying to develop more efficient and |
| least in terms of fuel. | | | | effective solar cells, so that we may one day be |
| There are innumerable benefits to embracing | | | | able to rely on them for the majority of our |
| alternative fuels, and very few negatives. In fact, | | | | appliances. |
| the only arguably bad thing about alternative fuels | | | | Wind energy uses the power of the wind to |
| is that they ultimately decrease the profits of oil | | | | generate electricity. Wind is converted in to |
| companies, although most people do not care | | | | electricity through the utilization of wind turbines, |
| about that. Petroleum based fuels are known to | | | | which have taken on a thin, three bladed shape in |
| release greenhouse gases and harmful pollutants in | | | | modern times. Currently, wind power supplies one |
| to the air. Over time, greenhouse gases have | | | | percent of the world's electricity needs, although |
| been shown to accelerate global warming, and the | | | | with coming advancements in wind technology |
| dirtier the air is, the unhealthier we are. By taking | | | | and the expansion of the industry, that number |
| advantage of alternative fuels, we can reverse | | | | could rise substantially in the next few years. |
| these downward trends, stop global warming, and | | | | Hydroelectric power is the most used form of |
| make air completely safe to breathe again. | | | | alternative energy, supplying nineteen percent of |
| Proponents of oil say that our economy would be | | | | the world's electricity. It is generated by the |
| extremely damaged by our disposal of traditional | | | | potential energy of falling water, which powers a |
| fossil fuels. It seems, however, that the onset of | | | | water turbine and generator. Large dams have |
| alternative fuels will actually be beneficial to our | | | | been constructed solely for the purpose of |
| economy. Companies that research and provide | | | | creating this kind of energy, and due to the |
| alternative energy are popping up at an increasing | | | | continuous flow of water, hydroelectricity has |
| rate, creating jobs and stimulating the economy. If | | | | proven to be quite effective. Like other |
| alternative fuels were supported more heavily, | | | | renewable energy sources, there remains a lot of |
| additional companies could enter the market and | | | | untapped potential in this field. |