Activity

Assignment: Choose one fossil fuel and one alternative or renewable energy type. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the two energy types. Then make a recommendation on a future energy mix for your location (likely western Minnesota). Justify your recommendation. Your assignment will include:

• An introductory paragraph:
  • Provide a broad overview of the energy challenges our society faces.
  • Introduce the two energy types you will discuss. Define fossil fuel. Define alternative or renewable energy.
• At least one paragraph providing an overview of the fossil fuel you chose. Give an introduction to the fossil fuel. What is it? Where does its energy originate? How do we extract, convert, and transport this energy? How is this fuel type currently being used by our society?
• At least one paragraph explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the fossil fuel. Provide an exhaustive list of the advantages and disadvantages, then explore and explain one of each in depth. When developing your list of advantages and disadvantages, give some thought to the following:
  • Environmental problems or benefits. For environmental problems, discuss each problem. What is the cause of the problem? Why is it a problem? In other words, what adverse effects does it cause? Pick the most significant environmental problem and discuss it at length. From an environmental perspective, does this energy source provide any advantages over other energy sources? If so, what are those advantages?
  • Convenience, accessibility, location. Where is the energy source located? How easy is it to convert the energy to a useful form and transport it to its point of consumption? To what applications is the energy type useful? Or not useful? For example, can it be used to power homes, cars, factories, etc.? Can it be easily stored?
  • Supply. How much of the energy type is available? Will we run out? When?
  • Economics. Is this energy type cheaper or more expensive than other energy types? Will that change in the future? If so, in what way and why?
  • Regulatory. Are there laws that curtail or promote the use of this energy? What laws and it what way do they relate to this energy?
  • Cultural. Are there prejudices in favor of or opposed to this energy type? Are there segments of society that would disproportionally feel the impacts or benefits of this energy type? For example, is the energy type or its applications only accessible to the rich? Will the extraction, processing, or use of this energy type create pollution in areas where there are a lot of low-income families? Will the extraction of this resource destroy places or things that have cultural value?
• At least one paragraph explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative or renewable energy. Provide an exhaustive list of the advantages and disadvantages, then explore and explain one of each in depth. When developing your list of advantages and disadvantages, give some thought to the following:
  • Environmental problems or benefits. For environmental problems, discuss each problem. What is the cause of the problem? Why is it a problem? In other words, what adverse effects does it cause? Pick the most significant environmental problem and discuss it at length. From an environmental perspective, does this energy source provide any advantages over other energy sources? If so, what are those advantages?
  • Convenience, accessibility, location. Where is the energy source located? How easy is it to convert the energy to a useful form and transport it to its point of consumption? To what applications is the energy type useful? Or not useful? For example, can it be used to power homes, cars, factories, etc.? Can it be easily stored?
  • Supply. How much of the energy type is available? Will we run out? When?
  • Economics. Is this energy type cheaper or more expensive than other energy types? Will that change in the future? If so, in what way and why?
  • Regulatory. Are there laws that curtail or promote the use of this energy? What laws and it what way do they relate to this energy?
  • Cultural. Are there prejudices in favor of or opposed to this energy type? Are there segments of society that would disproportionally feel the impacts or benefits of this energy type? For example, is the energy type or its applications only accessible to the rich? Will the extraction, processing, or use of this energy type create pollution in areas where there are a lot of low-income families? Will the extraction of this resource destroy places or things that have cultural value?
• A concluding paragraph with recommendations for a future energy mix for your location, likely western Minnesota:
  • What role do you think the two energies you reviewed could or will play in the future energy mix of your location. Why? Of the pros and cons you listed and discussed, which are most relevant to our unique locations and in what way? Give thought to:
    • Our climate
    • Our transportation system. How do the availability of highways, railroads, airports, ports, etc. affect access to the energy source. How do people in our area get around? What are the energy demands of our transportation and shipping?
    • Our landscape and natural resources. What energy types are compatible with our landscape and our primary natural resources?
    • Industry: What goods and services dominate our economy. These will include lumber and paper, iron, agriculture and related products, healthcare, transportation, education. Are there others? Is there significant manufacturing nearby, in cities such as Fargo? Will changes in the tech industries, such as Amazon distribution centers, data processing centers, etc. play a role in our energy needs. Is energy production a significant industry here, or could it be?
  • What other energy sources (not reviewed) will play a significant role in our energy future? This will be a much shorter discussion, but of the other energy sources discussed in this text and course, which do you think will play a role in our energy future? Give at least one reason you think each energy source is relevant to our location.
• Citations are required. This includes both in-text citations and a “Works Cited” section.
  • You must cite this textbook in your paper.
  • Your instructor may require a minimum number of sources.
  • Your instructor may provide you with other specific sources which must be cited.
• Rubric: Your instructor may provide you a rubric.