For many years, people have debated about whether or not implementing alternative and renewable energy into our national infrastructure would be feasible. However a report from the National Research Council may yet prove that with some work, clean energies such as wind and solar can become a major contributor in producing America's electricity.
K. John Holmes, a writer for the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy summarized the Council's findings and stated that 10% of our energy could be produced by renewable sources by 2020 "if we involved a combination and coordination of policy, technology, and capital."
President Abraham Lincoln signed a charter in 1863 to form the National Academy of Sciences, a group tasked with investigating, examining, experimenting, and reporting on any subject of science. The group expanded in the 20th century which included the creation of the National Research Council.
In addition to the more popular types of renewable energy, the council took a look at additional types of energy to see if they could help contribute to achieving the 10% goal. This included biopower, the type of energy that comes from wood, landfills, tires and other agricultural waste. The panel also concluded that onshore wind turbines would be the most cost efficient.
Another interesting note from the panel is the fact their belief that "nearly, all of the costs associated with renewable electricity are in the manufacturing and installation of the equipment." Except for biomass, no alternative energy resource uses any type of fuel.
As the panel says, "in order for the United States to produce a large amount of electricity from alternative energy, there has to be money invested into new projects." Once that occurs, it would appear the sky will be the limit for alternative energy in America.
Sources:
http://jrse.aip.org/resource/1/jrsebh/v3/i4/p042701_s1?view=fulltext
http://www.nationalacademies.org/about/whoweare.html
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