Environment The Science Behind the Stories
Environment The Science Behind the Stories
5th Edition
ISBN: 9780133540147
Author: Jay Withgott
Publisher: PEARSON
Question
Book Icon
Chapter 21, Problem 1TYC
To determine

The proportion of U.S. energy now comes from renewable sources and most prevalent form of renewable energy used in the United States. Also determine the form of renewable energy used to generate electricity.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1TYC

About 9.9% of all U.S energy are provided from renewable resources. Most prevalent form of renewable energy in the U.S is bioenergy, and most electricity of all of the renewable sources are generated from hydropower.

Explanation of Solution

Renewable sources of energy contribute a little to the global population. About 22% of electricity in the United States is generated by the renewable energy.

Renewable source of energy is used in very less percentage in the United States for the following reasons:

(a) Renewable source of energy is used to generate electricity.

(b) Renewable energy is also used to heat air or water.

(c) It also used as a fuel in vehicles.

U.S uses only 9.9% of renewable sources which includes hydropower, bioenergy, geothermal, solar and wind energy. Most of the preventable form of renewable energy consumed by the United State is bioenergy and is the most widely used energy in U.S. It derives from biological materials and sources.

In the United States, electricity is generated by using following form of energies:

  1. 1. Geothermal energy (2.3%)
  2. 2. Solar energy (5.7%)
  3. 3. Wind energy (18.8%)
  4. 4. Hydropower (24.7%)

 Energy from hydropower is mostly used in the United Sates to generate electricity whereas geothermal energy is the least renewable energy used for the generation of electricity.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science ...
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Exercises for Weather & Climate (9th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134041360
Author:Greg Carbone
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Environmental Science
Earth Science
ISBN:9781260153125
Author:William P Cunningham Prof., Mary Ann Cunningham Professor
Publisher:McGraw-Hill Education
Text book image
Earth Science (15th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134543536
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Environmental Science (MindTap Course List)
Earth Science
ISBN:9781337569613
Author:G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Physical Geology
Earth Science
ISBN:9781259916823
Author:Plummer, Charles C., CARLSON, Diane H., Hammersley, Lisa
Publisher:Mcgraw-hill Education,