How alternate forms of energy/energy sources affect the environment

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Effects of alternate forms of energy on environment

The worlds ' industrialization and globalization growth has reached unprecedented levels this growth has brought with it the increased over- exploitation of the world 's fuel /energy resources of oil , uranium and gas . It is feared that it is a matter of time before the only reserves that exist in the earth 's bowels dry up . This fear has continued to influence not only the increase of the world price of these commodities but has led to the

increased effort of developing alternate energy sources (Foley , G 21

It is said that the alternative energy sources hold the key to the world 's future , without which , the world is headed to a very bleak and black future where it is threatened of being relegated back to the middle ages (Foley , G 23

Because of this development there has been a heightened activity in the alternate energy field and more and more research is on-going of developing the cheapest and the most renewable sources of energy to fuel the growth that the world is experiencing . The alternative energies sources that are commonly used today include solar , wind , geothermal tidal , and nuclear and other bio-fuels (Flavin , C 13

Compared to the fossil fuels , the later group of fuels are readily available but not fully exploited , they are said to be safer in terms of lower pollution levels . However , it is important to point out that the alternative fuels are not as harmless as it is always said , they have their fair share of effects on the environment . This seeks to discuss some of these effects

Various forms of alternative energy affect the environment in various ways , but the effect depends so much on the type of energy and how it is generated , distributed transmitted and how it is applied . Wind energy and solar energy have no known effect on the environment especially when the particular systems have been set up . The only known effect of solar energy is in the processing of the silicon that is required for the solar cells . Wind power requires the utilization of large tracts of open land if the energy to be generated is to be adequate (Flavin , C 13

Nuclear energy on the other hand is normally rated as extremely dangerous and the nuclear reactors should be placed away from any form of human settlement just in case of leaks . The production of nuclear power is known for creating nuclear waste , which is extremely harmful to the environment . Although in nuclear plants radioactivity emission is controlled by regulation , in cases of accidents radioactive material may find their way to the environment affecting life . Uranium that is used for such plants has the ability of disrupting the environment within the mining precincts . Nuclear proliferation is a risk that is associated with the diversion of nuclear fuels to the production of weapons (Flavin , C 13

Another challenge that is presented in this energy form is the...