The Hoover Dam is used to generate hydroelectric power.
Clean energy can also be called renewable energy or green energy, and refers specifically to energy produced from renewable resources without creating environmental debt. However, there are several other ways to define this term. It can refer to energy processes that pollute less or, alternatively, energy that does not pollute at all and does not use resources that cannot be easily renewed.
A wind farm, used to produce clean energy.
The basic forms of clean energy are often cited as those that come from water, wind, or the sun (solar). In some cases, part of the manufacture and use of coal is considered clean and is referred to as clean coal. The latter is a subject of dispute among environmentalists.
It is hoped that the use of this type of energy, especially as a total replacement for the use of things like oil, can help reduce global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, creating a safer planet for all inhabitants. In reality, clean energy also has its problems, which have not been fully addressed because it is not a complete replacement for energy generated from non-renewable resources. For example, wind farms that can provide power can have a significant effect on local bird populations, and some types of birds may experience severe reductions in numbers when living near wind farms.
Solar panels can generate clean and renewable energy.
However, these negative consequences tend to be relatively small compared to the use of dirty oil or coal. Many environmentalists argue that while no energy source is completely risk-free, green energy can have a far-reaching effect on healing the planet and perhaps stemming the tide of global warming. An additional reason it can be so desirable is because it tends to come from free sources. Although harnessing this energy costs money, the wind and the sun are not owned by anyone in particular.
Clean coal is a form of clean energy.
This is not the case for energy sources like oil. Most of the world’s oil deposits are concentrated in a few places, and most of them are in the Middle East. Many advocates of creating clean energy sources say foreign countries’ dependence on oil creates a host of diplomatic problems. Countries may have to sacrifice to obtain the resources they need, or wars may be waged over that resource. Many people believe that wind or solar energy can lead not only to a cleaner planet, but also to a more peaceful world.
One downside to wind power is that certain types of birds face population depletion when they live near wind farms.
There is still a lot to be done to find out how to make better use of renewable energy sources and how to use them in the best possible way. One question is how to transport the collected energy from one place to another, since many places that produce this energy are located in remote places. Changing the power grid to accommodate different power sources can help with this problem, but this has not yet happened on a large scale.