Energy in Northeast Ohio

•Main sources of energy in Ohio-coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear.•1999 Ohio used the 3rd highest amount of energy in the Nation

Coal

Coal• Coal is used to produce 86.5% of

electricity in Ohio, 51% nationwide

• There are 26 Coal power plants in Ohio

• New coal is being made in lowland swamps right now

• Burning coal produces air pollution

• Coal is a fossil fuel that comes from dead plants that lived long ago, heated and pressurized to a solid black rock

Petroleum

• Petroleum is a fossil fuel formed from the remains of dead plants and animals, heated and pressurized over millions of years

• Burning fossil fuels such as gasoline cause air pollution (too much CO2 contributes to global warming) and can cause acid rain

Petroleum

• If we continue using oil like we are, we will have about 75-125 years of oil left

• Leading source of energy in the U.S. 38%• Oil can harm the environment from spills

and burning gasoline • Used to make many plastics, medicines,

fertilizers, and other products• Oil is made into gasoline and use for

transportation

Natural Gas

• Comes from dead sea plants and animals buried and pressurized

• Used to heat homes, cook, dry clothing, run fireplaces, and other appliances.

• Natural gas reserves in Ohio are expected to be out in 30-70 years

• Transported through pipelines

Nuclear Power• Davis-Besse located in Oak Harbor and

started in 1977• Uranium is put in a reactor- a neutron is

added causing uranium to become unstable causing fission (the spitting of atoms)-a chain reaction takes place causing heat- the heat is used to boil water- the steam is used to turn turbines- the turbines are connected to a generator to create electricity

• Perry Power Station located in Perry Ohio went into operation in 1986.

• Plant cost $6 billion to build

• Davis-Besse-2001 Boric Acid ate it’s way through the heavy steel lid of the reactor head

• Plant is still under repairs that are estimated to cost $40 million to fix

Nuclear continued…

• Radioactive wastes are stored on site in a special building. No one knows what to do with the deadly material…

• Nuclear energy does not produce any air pollution.

Biomass

Biomass• Fuel made from organic materials such as

wood, crops, animal wastes, etc.• Helps the environment because we

burn garbage so it doesn’t have to be put in a landfill

• Biodiesel is produced by vegetable and soy oils

• Ohio is the leading producer of soybeans• Mix 20% biodiesel and 80% regular diesel

this mixture is called B20

Biomass continued…

• Biodiesel produces less air pollution but is more costly to make

• Ethanol is another fuel produced by biomass

• Made from starch crops such as corn and potatoes

• Also very expensive to make, and contains less energy than gasoline per liter of gas

Solar, Wind, Water, Geothermal

• Wind studies are being done in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park as well as Lake Erie to determine where to put a windmill.

• Wind is caused by the uneven heating of the Earth

• Hydropower is the cleanest and cheapest energy source

• Geothermal does little damage to the environment…can be used for heating and cooling

Hydropower

Solar

Wind

Renewable energy around the world

• Renewable energy be expanded in EU from the present five per cent of all energy supplied to 20% by 2020

• Germany goal is 35% wind by 2020• Brazil 40% cars run on alcohol 2006• Portugal 15% photovoltaic 35% renewable 2010• Iceland 100% renewable now!(no fossil fuels)

cars run on hydrogen.

Fuel Cells (Hydrogen)

• Could be used in transportation as well as electricity

• Fuel cells use hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity

• The only emission is water and heat

• Can generate electricity at 60% efficiency as opposed to 33-35% like the other power plants in Ohio (coal, nuclear)

Hydrogen Fuel Cell

http://www.h2gen.com/pages/products_overview.html

Why don’t we use fuels Cells?

• Very costly

• Not very durable

• There are storage and delivery issues

Cuyahoga Falls Electrical

• 13% hydro

• 6% biomass

• 2% wind (21% renewable and sustainable)

• 5% Nuclear

• 4% natural gas / oil

• 70% coal

Green Pricing Program: New In 2004

• Green Mountain’s Nature’s Energy® Program

• 1.3¢ Per kWh For Customers Opting to Purchase Green Power

• 750kWh Per Month Reduces CO2

Emissions By 17,100 lbs. Annually

• Sign-up Is On A Month-To-Month Basis (Over 200 Customers)

ENERGY: past, present and future

Energy gives us a high standard of living.

Fossil fuels are a limited resource.

Oil: peak 2010. Most used up by 2100

Natural gas: peak 2020. Most used by 2110

Coal may last 300 years

Future

• Electricity from food wastes

• Energy Freedom Challenge City

• 21% renewable energy now

• Goal by 2020 50%renewable electrical

energy

Conclusion

• Where do fossil fuels originally get their energy from?

• What are some ways we can conserve energy?

• What are fossil fuels made from?