Alternative Energy Sources, Research Proposal Example

The subject of new energy sources has been chosen due to the increasing need in the United States for technologically advanced systems related to creating and generating power (electrical, gas, and water) and because of the rising costs for consumers in relation to traditional energy sources. Therefore, by creating and developing alternative energy sources like solar and wind power, geothermal power, and non-nuclear energy plants, the current crisis over the depletion of energy sources in the U.S. like coal and other fossil fuels could be eliminated. This would also help to lower energy costs to consumers while protecting the natural environment.

As to the audience, this would include readers that are interested in developing new energy sources, individuals and companies that are already developing alternative forms of energy, and those who make the decisions related to the continuing use of coal and other fossil fuels to generate power. The scope of the proposed paper will cover most current alternative energy sources (solar, wind, geothermal, non-nuclear), how these sources are developed, how they function, the costs associated with using these alternative sources, the pros and cons of use, and the problems associated with replacing current energy sources. Some of the questions that will be covered include 1), why the U.S. did not act sooner in relation to developing alternative energy sources; 2), what needs to be done to get these new energy sources “online”; and 3), how long it would take to replace current energy producing systems, such as coal-burning power plants.

As to the research plan, primary and secondary sources (books by qualified authors, journal articles, and current event newspapers) will be consulted, along with reports and articles issued by the U.S. Department of Energy. Also, online databases related to alternative forms of energy will also be utilized. Copious notes will be made and then collated as a collection that will serve as the basis for the proposed paper. The paper itself will contain an introduction, various sections on the different types of alternative energy sources, a literature review, and a conclusion based on the research and some suggestions for the future. The academic sources for the proposed paper will include the following– Kruger, P., Alternative Energy Resources: The Quest for Sustainable Energy (2006); Simon, C.A., Alternative Energy: Political, Economic, and Social Feasibility (2006); Environmental Impacts of Fossil Fuels, Fusion Power: Contribution to Sustainable Development (2004, http://www.fusion.org.uk/susdev/fossil.htm); Hodkinson, R. L.,

The Production Development Path of Alkaline Fuel Cells, Fuel Cell Control Ltd. (2005, http:// www.fuelcellcontrol.com/evs19.html); Loiter, J. M., Technology Policy and Renewable Energy: Public Roles in the Development of New Technologies, Energy Policy (2006, http://searchtools.lib.umich.edu); the U.S. Department of Energy (2012, www.usde.gov).