Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
cities built on the shores of the
seas and in low-lying areas, an
increase in water level poses a
real threat.
It is not realistic to expect
that people will need less
energy in the future than they
need now. So, something must
be done. Scientists are looking
for sources of energy that are
plentiful and will not harm the
environment. They are looking
for
renewable
resources.
There is a constant supply of
these resources, or they can
be made quickly. Sun, water,
and wind are examples of
renewable resources. They
can all be used to produce
electricity with little or no
harm to the environment.
Hydrogen fuel is seen as
a constantly renewable source of energy as well. It is very
likely that some day, hydrogen fuel might be used to produce
electricity on the large scale needed to provide power for
homes and businesses. It can also be used to produce smaller
amounts of electricity that can be used as a source of energy to
power transportation vehicles like cars, buses, and planes. The
challenge is to i nd ways to use hydrogen fuel differently than it
has been used in the past.
In Their
Own Words
“While hydrogen-fueled
cars already exist, there are
signii cant technical and
economic barriers that must
be overcome before we can
put a hydrogen car in every
American garage....When...
advances are made, hydrogen
can i ll critical energy needs
beyond transportation.
Hydrogen can also be used to
heat and generate electricity.
The future possibilities of this
energy source are huge.”
U.S. Representative
Daniel Lipinski of Illinois
