Diverse energy sources provide us with the power we require to live and work. These include solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass sources. These sources are not just the primary source of electricity, but can also be used to heat and transport. These energy sources emit greenhouse gases when burned to generate electricity. This creates a need for more green energy sources.
The most commonly used type of energy is the fossil fuels, which consist of coal oil, natural gas. They were formed thousands of years ago, when prehistoric animals and plants died and were buried under layers of sedimentary rocks. Then, under the right conditions, they were gradually converted to carbon-rich substances that, when burned create energy. They are not renewable since they will exhaust in our lifetimes or in many lives.
Renewable energy sources however, are continually replenished. The primary renewable energy source is sunlight, which produces warmth and light. We use it to power our homes and businesses, as well as to drive our cars. Wind is renewable energy source that produces electricity by spinning turbines. We have been using it since people first discovered how to harvest the wind for millennia. We also use biological processes to make ethanol (a clear alcohol that can be used as a fuel) from crops and waste.
Of all these sources hydropower is by far the most important renewable energy source in the United States, though wind and biofuels are expected to become the leading source of energy in the near future. Hydropower is based on nature’s water cycle to harness the power of rapid-flowing water, which is used to generate electricity.