Renewable Energy
North America relies heavily on fossil fuels – coal, oil, and natural gas – to power its homes and businesses. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable, meaning they draw on finite resources that will eventually become too expensive or too environmentally damaging to retrieve. In contrast, nature constantly replenishes renewable energy resources such as wind and solar energy, and they will never run out.
Many BALLE networks have started or nurtured renewable energy cooperatives and companies as a way of fostering more community control of essential energy supplies. The idea of community-based energy production promoted by Mark Sardella, executive director of Santa Fe's Local Energy nonprofit, is also gaining a following in many BALLE communities.
Click here to learn more about BALLE member businesses that provide renewable energy, such as the Energy Cooperative and Baltimore's Biodiesel Cooperative.
Examples from BALLE networks
BALLE network programs in renewable energy have included:
- Development of local climate action plans to reduce greenhouse gasses
- Community green power or energy efficiency challenges
- Community-produced and community-owned power
- Green jobs training corps and new partnerships with technical colleges
Types of Renewable Energy
Solar
Most renewable energy comes either directly or indirectly from the sun. Sunlight, or solar energy, can be used directly for heating and lighting homes and other buildings, for generating electricity, and for water heating, solar cooling, and a variety of commercial and industrial uses.
Wind
The sun's heat also drives the winds, whose energy can be captured with wind turbines.
Biomass
Sunlight also makes plants grow. The organic matter that makes up those plants is known as biomass. Biomass can be used to produce electricity, transportation fuels, or chemicals. The use of biomass for any of these purposes is called biomass energy.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen can be found in many organic compounds, as well as water. It's the most abundant element on earth. But it doesn't occur naturally as a gas. It's always combined with other elements, such as with oxygen to make water. Once separated from another element, hydrogen can be burned as a fuel or converted into electricity.
Geothermal
Geothermal energy taps the earth's internal heat for a variety of uses, including electric power production and the heating and cooling of buildings.
Ocean
The ocean can produce thermal energy from the sun's heat and mechanical energy from the tides and waves. The energy of the ocean's tides comes from the gravitational pull of the moon and sun upon the earth.
Hydropower
Flowing water creates energy that can be captured and turned into electricity, called hydroelectric power or hydropower.
Adapted from information put out by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
