1. Unit 2: Alternative Energy
Narrator:
The world seems to have an insatiable appetite for oil,
electricity, and natural gas. But now, due to energy
costs and global warming, scientists are looking to the
wind, sun, and agricultural products to power our future.
According to some researchers, wind power is becoming
a more viable energy source.
Sandy Butterfield, Researcher:
I think the past perception was that wind energy was nice,
but not a real solution. That perception is changing. I see
wind energy getting more and more competitive.

2. Narrator:
At the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden,
Colorado, discovering alternative power sources that
are competitive with fossil fuels has been a mission
of scientists since the U.S. energy crisis of the 1970s.
Scientists here also create solar cells that are far more
efficient than those currently available to the public. They
believe that the market for this technology is about to
increase significantly.
John Brenner, National Renewable Energy
Laboratory:
Recent polls have shown that about 75 percent of the
population would favor the use of solar power, clean
power, and would like to see more of it happening.

3. Narrator:
Solar power has been around for centuries, but while the
public says they like the idea of harnessing solar power
and incorporating it into their daily lives, the reality for
many seems to be that it’s something reserved for the
future, not now.
Larry Kazmerski, Researcher:
Sometimes, you know, you worry that they think that this
is only a fringe, but it’s not. Photovoltaic, solar electricity
is becoming a technology that is becoming cost-effective
for us as consumers in the United States.
In many people’s opinions, it often takes a crisis for things
to change.

4. Larry Kazmerski:
When your electricity doesn’t come on in California, you
start looking very, very quickly!
Narrator:
For some, home use of solar power is now becoming
more than just an abstract idea. When Jonathon Sawyer’s
solar electric system was first installed, it was believed
to be the largest residential solar system in the United
States. This is likely due to the fact that solar power had
not been widely promoted at the time. It’s so efficient
that he actually sells electricity back to his local power
company.
Jonathon Sawyer, Solar Homeowner:
I also feel good because I’ve always been committed
about the environment and doing something, and we
have to start as individuals to do things.

5. Narrator:
But individuals can only do so much. Researchers claim
that for renewable energy to truly make a difference, it
must be used on a large scale.
Pat Woodard, Reporter:
This is a solar concentrator. The mirrors focus the sun’s
rays into a narrow beam which turns an engine and
provides electricity. Tough to get in the backyard? Sure.
But a power company could probably find a place for it.

6. Narrator:
The United States and other countries often lacked
a great sense of urgency to find energy alternatives.
For decades, gasoline prices had been kept low with
government subsidies so people continued driving large
cars—usually alone. Nowadays, gasoline costs are higher,
which has enhanced the need to find something else to
fuel all those vehicles.
John Sheehan, Alternative Fuel Researcher:
What’s in there now is material that looks like straw,
or It’s actually the material that farmers leave sitting on
the ground after they go through and they harvest corn.
We’re trying to get farmers to collect this material so that
we can run it through a conversion technology to make
new liquid fuels.

7. Narrator:
Since the energy crisis of the 1970s, many farmers have
been turning food into fuel by using grains like corn to
create ethanol. But recently, some of the emphasis on
making fuel has been moving away from the grain itself—
to the stalks and stubble left on the ground after the
harvest.
John Sheehan:
The cellulose that’s in here—that actually is made up of
sugars—is something that they can turn into ethanol in the
same way that they’re currently taking their corn grain and
having it turned into fuel-grade ethanol.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has a
manufacturing area that is capable of converting harvest
leftovers—and just about anything else—into fuel.

8. Pat Woodard, Reporter:
What are some of these other materials here? What else
we got?
John Sheehan:
Some of these, like this for example, is a wood material.
Narrator:
Proving that sustainable energy technology is actually
viable remains a struggle, at least in the United States.
Wind turbines, which were pioneered in the United States,
are now being used by several countries in Europe to
supply meaningful amounts of power.

9. Sandy Butterfield:
The cost of energy in the United States is so low
compared to Europe that our industry has had a harder
time competing with fossil fuels.
Narrator:
The cost of fuel in many countries has increased
significantly over the past few years. While it has caused
hardship for many, this cost increase may also increase
the urgency to find reliable fossil fuel alternatives and
thereby reduce the greenhouse gases that cause global
warming. The time for alternative energy may have
arrived—and for those who use it, the future may be now.