Clean and Renewable Energy
Geothermal | Solar | Wind | Waste Recovery | Water
Alt Fuels | Non-Renwable Energy SourcesVoluntary Carbon Offsets
Worried about your personal carbon impact? Now you, too, (just like big, polluting corporations) can purchase carbon offsets. Maybe it would just be easier to bring your own bags to the grocery store.Household Emissions Calculator
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has created this calculator to help individuals figure out their impact on the environment. You'll need to plan ahead to do this, and get help from the people who pay the bills in your household.Annual Energy Outlook (pdf)
The government is keeping track of energy usage and output. This report gives the current state of the energy market, and predicts to the year 2035.Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network
Use this site, maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy, to find information about a variety of energy-saving technologies. Choose from biomass, solar and wind power, geothermal power, and many others.Renewable Resource Maps
Find out where the most solar, wind, biomass, and other resources can be found in the United States.
Geothermal Energy
Energy from Heat Inside the Earth
An overview, a brief description of how it works, and an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages.Geothermal Energy Technology
There are hot springs in the Pacific Northwest that many people use for recreation and relaxation. And where there's hot springs there's geothermal energy. The Renewable Northwest Project's research suggests that there may be enough to develop into an alternative power supply.Geothermal Basics
This site covers the basics of thermal energy, environmental impacts of using this type of power, and an FAQ.Solar Energy
Solar Power Basics
Green Living Tips offers this primer of solar energy.Solar Energy Technology
Think Oregon doesn't have strong enough solar power to supply it's needs. Think again. The Renewable Northwest Project explains how solar power can work in the northern areas of the United States.Solar Energy Technologies Program
The U.S. Dept of Energy is exploring solar capturing technology to assist with heating and lighting. The use of photovoltaic technology seems particularly promising.
Water Power
Hydroelectric Energy
How Hydropower Works
A concise description of the hydrological cycle, and how humans have tapped into it to create power. From the Department of Energy.Electricity from Hydropower
Hydroelectric power is considered a renewable energy source. Its impact on the environment is primarily in water resource usage. Fish are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of dam building.Dams
Clearinghouse for Dam Removal
Use this site for current news about dams, and the local decisions to breach them or let them stand.The Cost of Breaching Dams on the Lower Snake River (pdf)
The Bonneville Power Administration weighs in on the monetary consequences of breaching dams.The Ecology of Dam Removal (pdf)
From American Rivers.Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
What is Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion?
Very brief explanation from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. With maps, and hyperlinks to more specific information.Benefits of OTEC
Includes both economic and non-economic benefits.Energy Savers
This brief verbal introduction, gives the history of OTEC, as well as the technologies and challenges involved.Tidal Energy
Tidal Power -- Energy from the Sea
It takes a lot of energy to move the oceans twice a day, but converting that energy into useable form for humanity's needs is difficult. This page describes what's involved and gives the advantages and disadvantages.Ocean Tidal Power
The US Dept. of Energy hosts this site on the power of tides. There is a brief discussion of the three methods of harnassing the sea's tidal energy.Wave Energy
Wave Power -- Energy from Wind on the Sea
Wave power is a rare way to produce energy. This page tells why.Ocean Wave Power
Several areas of the world may be used to produce prodigious quantites of energy via ocean waves. The Pacific Northwest of the United States is one such area. Oddly, the energy may be harnessed through both off-shore and on-shore technologies.Ocean Wave Energy
"Ocean wave energy is captured directly from surface waves or from pressure fluctuations below the surface."Waste Recovery
Methane Recovery from Animal Manures (pdf)
150 pages of the current state of affairs in the methane recovery biz. Maybe you just need to check out the "Executive Summary."Agricultural Methane Recovery
This page is from the Rural Electricity Resource Council. A map of the highest concentrations of methane is provided.Biogas Technology
The State of Oregon's Department of Renewable Resources provides this informational page covering digester technology, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas, among other topics. 4-19-07Electricity from Municipal Solid Waste
Energy can be produced by burning the stuff that you throw out every day. Probably has some nasty environmental impacts, though. This page will brief you on how it works and how burning all that stuff effects the air.Incineration for Energy
Not everyone thinks that burning Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is a great idea.Refuse to Energy Incinerator
This page consists of very basic information on how solid waste to energy works in one particular plant in Southern California, including a description of the controversy that the plant created among its neighbors.Wind Energy
Windpowering America
From the US Dept. of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Provides information for consumers and others researching the benefits of wind energy. Includes a map of Oregon's wind power.Wind Energy Technology
The Renewable Northwest Project explains the environmental and economic benefits of using wind power, plus gives the locations of potential wind sources in the northwest, and suggests how best to exploit this supremely renewable energy source.Wind Energy Fact Sheets
These factsheets, from the American Wind Energy Association include the basics of wind energy, as well as state and federal policy information.Alternative Fuels
Alternative Fuels Data Center
The fuels described on this site are promoted as alternatives to gasoline.
BioFuels
Biodiesel
A good place to start on this site is called "Start Here." You'll find basic information about biodiesel fuels, plus fact sheets and FAQs. Also useful is the "In the News" section, which tracks what's happening with biofuel laws and consumer products.Clean Diesel Programs
The EPA is patting itself on the back for reducing diesel emissions over the past 10 years. Laudable, to be sure.Biomass for Electricity Generation
This paper, from the Energy Information Administration, covers the various types of technology required to create energy from biomass, as well as the various types of biomass (agricultural and forestry residues, mill residues, and energy crops), that may be exploited for latent energy. 3-2-06Biomass
The Dept. of Energy is developing alternative fuels with the aim of reducing the country's reliance on fossil fuels. These pages describe the need for various biofuels, including ethanol and biodiesel; and progress on their development.Ethanol: Separating Fact from Fiction (pdf)
The Dept. of Energy is studying the use of ethanol created by biomass ingredients.Ethanol Cars May Not Be Healthier
The BBC reports that bioethanol may not be the perfect answer to our air pollution problems.Fuel Cell Technologies
Fuel Cells
"The online fuel cell information resource." Learn the basics of how hydrogen and fuel cells work, the benefits of using fuel cell technology, and even find maps showing the location of local cells.Fuel Cell Animation
"This fuel cell animation demonstrates how a fuel cell uses hydrogen to produce electricity, with only water and heat as byproducts."The Hydrogen Power Rush
This is an article from the World and I magazine. The primary focus is on powering cars with fuel cells, but touches on the realities of the hydrogen (vs. oil) economy.Fuel Cell Today
"FCT is the global internet portal for companies and individuals with an interest in the comercialization of fuel cells." Sure, fuel cells are a good idea, but how do we produce them cleanly and economically?Fuel Cells: Green Power (pdf)
This 36 page leaflet covers the basics of fuel cell technology -- what it is, how it works -- the applications in current energy production, and the implications for the future environment.Hybrid and Flex-Fuel Vehicles
Drive Clean
This site lets drivers find the best vehicles in terms of low emissions and low fuel costs. You can also compare the car you currently own to other makes and models.Fuel Economy dot Gov
Use this page as your gateway to information on alternative fuels, hybrid and flexible fueled cars, as well as energy efficiency, and a fuel cost calculator.The Dollars & Sense of Hybrids
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
This is a brief consumer-oriented analysis of the benefits of hybrid gas-electric cars. From Consumer Reports.
This page is designed to give consumers basic information needed in order to make and informed decision about purchasing a hybrid vehicle.Electric Vehicles
Fueleconomy.gov provides this brief page on electric vehicles, (with video), that doesn't shy away from the significate battery-life challenges such vehicles pose.Non-Renewable Energy Sources
Coal | Oil | Nuclear | Natural Gas
Coal
Coal Basics
This site, from the government's Energy Information Administration, is primarily for kids, but the information is sound. The main purpose is to indicate to kids that coal is a valid and plentiful energy source.Electricity from Coal
Burning coal for fuel causes a great impact on the environment. Mining for coal devastates the countryside, and burning it creates numerous emissions.Clean Coal
The US Dept. of Energy is charged with keeping Americans powered up. So its putting a lot of its own energy toward cleaning up the image of coal as a dirty energy source.Oil
Strategic Petroleum Reserves
The United States maintains a quantity of crude oil in case of an emergency. These supplies are intended to get us through a time of disruption of oil supply from our major vendors in the middle east.Summary of Oil Supply Points
Indicates the need for oil in the future and the possible supply sources. Not a pretty picture.Peak Oil
"ASPO is a network of scientists and others, having an interest in determining the date and impact of the peak and decline of the world's production of oil and gas, due to resource constraints."Nuclear Energy
Electricity from Nuclear Energy
This EPA page discusses the environmental impacts of nuclear energy, including water discharges, and radioactive waste generation. Because uranium is a non-renewable resource, the impact on land use is also covered.Nuclear Energy and the Environment
Nuclear energy does not produce emissions, as does burning fossil fuels. This page, from the Nuclear Energy Institute, concentrates on the clean air aspects of the energy, but glosses over the radioactive waste issues.Energy from Splitting Uranium Atoms
This page gives a good overview of nuclear power, plus a list of the advantages and disadvantages of this type of energy.Natural Gas
Natural Gas dot Org
Though this site clearly is maintained by the industry it claims to give unbiased information for student learning. The most useful pages for DHS students: Overview and From Well-Head to Burner Tip.Electricity from Natural Gas
Natural gas is a non-renewable fossil fuel. The emissions it releases occur during nearly all phases of the utilization of the product, however impacts on water and land resources are minimal.Uses of Natural Gas
A brief overview of the consumer and commercial uses of natural gas. The information is provided by InfoComm, and hosted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.Natural Gas -- A Fossil Fuel
A kid's page from the Energy Information Administration, this is a good site for the basics of what natural gas is and how it is used.Top Links accurate as of 11-21-11
