Parker J- Wind energy vs. Coal

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                Although nonrenewable resources and alternative resources are both types of resources from nature they are very different. A nonrenewable resource is a natural resource that cannot be replaced, while an alternative resource is derived from sources that do not use up natural resources or harm the environment. One example of a nonrenewable resource is coal. And a well-known alternative energy is wind energy.

            Coal is a solid fossil fuel formed underground from buried, decomposed plant material. Coal is used as a natural resource by being burned and creating heat energy. The best thing about coal is that it can be used for both heating and transportation instead of only one use. But a bad thing about coal is once you burn it, it takes more and more to keep the fire burning, and once all of the coal is burned you cannot get it back. Coal is a very useful natural resource, but it won’t be too long until it is all gone.

            Wind energy is the uneven heating of air, which makes a tremendous amount of energy. Wind energy is collected by huge wind turbines that get pushed by wind to turn. The best part of wind energy is that large fields of turbines generate large amounts of energy instead of small. But a very big con of wind energy is that to have such large fields of these turbines it takes up a huge amount of land, and the turbines are very expensive to make. But even with the space and money the turbines take up, wind energy is a very useful type of alternative resource.

            I believe that out of these two natural energy sources, the best one for us to use in Texas would be wind energy. I think that wind energy is much more efficient because it will never run out, unlike coal. I also think that it is better because a field of turbines can power a whole grid, while coal can power a grill. And here in Texas we have plenty of country side for the turbines to be placed, because we are such a large state. In 25 years I think that if we can completely rely on wind energy, it could be a great thing, because will we know that we will not ever have to worry if it will be there or not.

"Chapter 6." Holt Science and Technology: Short Courses. Austin, TX: Holt, Rinehart and   Winston, 2007. Print.