Adaptation of Renewable Energy Essay -- Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is generated from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat. On October 5, 2010 the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) approved the first sizeable solar energy plants to be built in California which will be divided into two developments totaling 6,800 acres of public land. This project is estimated to last 30 years while generating almost 1,000 new jobs. The solar energy technology that will be used in California’s Imperial County is called the sterling energy systems SunCatcher technology. It will require 28,360 solar dishes and will produce approximately 709 megawatts which will provide electricity to 212,700 to 531,750 homes. The second project is called the Chevron Lucerne Valley Solar Project and will use solar photovoltaic technology in San Bernardino County using 40,500 solar panels, producing 45 megawatts, and powering 13,500 to 33,750 homes. Another project planned for the San Bernardino County will use parabolic m irrors and create 250 megawatts of power. There are several solar power projects still awaiting DOI approval, such as a 1000 megawatt blythe solar power project consisting of a parabolic trough facility. This is slated to be the world’s biggest solar power plant. Companies who work on renewable energy projects receive credits from The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. ( EERE Network News) More countries are putting the transformation of solar power into electricity high on their â€Å"political agenda† (Solar Energy). In America, less than one percent of electrical use is powered from solar energy. European countries however, are eager to use solar power and promote that by making utility companies purchase expensive solar power at a fixed cost. The leadin... ...will decrease as it has slowly started to do. There are many countries in the world that was to cut down on the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the air and the more countries that get on board with that then they sooner the world will start switching over. There is still a long way to go before renewable energy can become the dominant energy source. Works Cited EERE Network News. Interior Department Approves First Solar Energy Projects on Public Land. 08 10 2010. 13 12 2010 . Fife, Mike. "Solar Power." Solar Power Reliability and Balance-of-System Designs 14 10 2010. Pebbles, Victoria. "Siting Wind Farms in the Great Lakes Region: Policy Summary and Analysis." Siting Wind Farms in the Great Lakes Region: Policy Summary and Analysis 15 10 2010. "Solar Energy." Solar Energy. New York: New York Times, 1 4 2010.