Question

energy sources

1. what percentage of energy in the united states comes from renewable sources?
2. what percentage of energy in the united states comes from nonrenewable sources?

what percentage of the nonrenewables produces greenhouse gas emissions?

1. for the list of nonrenewable energy resources below, write a brief description and at least two pros and two cons for each source.

• petroleum
• propane
• natural gas
• coal
• nuclear energy

1. for the list of renewable energy resources below, write a brief description and at least two pros and two cons for each source.

• solar energy
• hydroelectric power
• wind power
• biomass
• ethanol
• geothermal energy

Explanation:

19 - 20: These require researching current energy - mix data for the US to determine percentages of renewable and non - renewable energy sources.
21:

• Petroleum: A liquid fossil fuel. Pros: High energy density, widely available infrastructure. Cons: Contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, finite resource.
• Propane: A hydrocarbon gas. Pros: Cleaner - burning than some fuels, portable. Cons: Limited availability in some areas, still a non - renewable source.
• Natural Gas: A fossil fuel mainly methane. Pros: Relatively clean - burning among non - renewables, abundant in some regions. Cons: Methane leakage, non - renewable.
• Coal: A solid fossil fuel. Pros: Inexpensive, abundant. Cons: High greenhouse gas emissions, environmental damage from mining.
• Nuclear Energy: Energy from nuclear reactions. Pros: Low - carbon electricity generation, high energy output per unit of fuel. Cons: Radioactive waste disposal issues, potential for accidents.

22:

• Solar Energy: Energy from the sun. Pros: Renewable, clean. Cons: Intermittent (weather - dependent), high initial installation costs.
• Hydroelectric Power: Energy from flowing water. Pros: Renewable, reliable. Cons: Can disrupt aquatic ecosystems, high upfront construction costs.
• Wind Power: Energy from wind. Pros: Renewable, clean. Cons: Intermittent (wind - dependent), visual and noise impacts.
• Biomass: Organic material used as fuel. Pros: Renewable, can use waste materials. Cons: Can contribute to deforestation if not sustainably sourced, may have high land use requirements.
• Ethanol: A biofuel. Pros: Renewable, can reduce dependence on petroleum. Cons: Can raise food prices if made from food crops, lower energy density than gasoline.
• Geothermal Energy: Energy from the Earth's heat. Pros: Renewable, reliable. Cons: Limited to geologically active areas, high drilling costs.

Answer:

1. Requires research for current percentage (varies over time).
2. Requires research for current percentage (varies over time).

21.

• Petroleum: Description: Liquid fossil fuel. Pros: High energy density, widely available infrastructure. Cons: Greenhouse gas emissions, finite resource.
• Propane: Description: Hydrocarbon gas. Pros: Cleaner - burning than some fuels, portable. Cons: Limited availability in some areas, non - renewable.
• Natural Gas: Description: Fossil fuel mainly methane. Pros: Relatively clean - burning among non - renewables, abundant in some regions. Cons: Methane leakage, non - renewable.
• Coal: Description: Solid fossil fuel. Pros: Inexpensive, abundant. Cons: High greenhouse gas emissions, environmental damage from mining.
• Nuclear Energy: Description: Energy from nuclear reactions. Pros: Low - carbon electricity generation, high energy output per unit of fuel. Cons: Radioactive waste disposal issues, potential for accidents.

22.

• Solar Energy: Description: Energy from the sun. Pros: Renewable, clean. Cons: Intermittent (weather - dependent), high initial installation costs.
• Hydroelectric Power: Description: Energy from flowing water. Pros: Renewable, reliable. Cons: Can disrupt aquatic ecosystems, high upfront construction costs.
• Wind Power: Description: Energy from wind. Pros: Renewable, clean. Cons: Intermittent (wind - dependent), visual and noise impacts.
• Biomass: Description: Organic material used as fuel. Pros: Renewable, can use waste materials. Cons: Can contribute to deforestation if not sustainably sourced, may have high land use requirements.
• Ethanol: Description: Biofuel. Pros: Renewable, can reduce dependence on petroleum. Cons: Can raise food prices if made from food crops, lower energy density than gasoline.
• Geothermal Energy: Description: Energy from the Earth's heat. Pros: Renewable, reliable. Cons: Limited to geologically active areas, high drilling costs.