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ETHICAL ISSUES |
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HOME |
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THE FACTS |
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TECHNICAL ISSUES |
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LEADERSHIP ISSUES |
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RESOURCES |
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Ethical Issues |
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Overview:
Each of the methods for generating electricity which are focused on in this website (wind, solar. tidal, and fusion) have posed ethical questions in both the past and in the present. Ethical issues in the past which were of concer to people, the environment, and to scientists have been incorporated into many of the technologies which currently exist. With the resolution of many past ethical issues, scientists work to use technology in conjunction with ethics to produce new technology in the energy generation field. However, many environmental issues still pose concerns on the ethical nature of some energy generating sources. Also, with the development of new technology comes an array of new questions raising the ethical awareness of all communities involved in the alternative energy sources creation and implementation. |
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ETHICAL ISSUES IN WIND ENERGY PRODUCTION |
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In the early 1990's there was concern in Altamont Pass, California over numerous raptor deaths due to collisions with wind turbines (Reeves, 2003). The turbines were placed "in the middle of prime raptor habitat" (Reeves, 2003). This wildlife issue resulted in a question of ethical placement of wind turbines in regards to wildlife habitats and ecosystems, especially in regards to birds. Birds are victim to one to two deaths per U.S. turbine per year, but that is a meager price to pay in comparison with four to ten million birds per year dying due to collisions at night with lit U.S. telecommunications towers (Reeves, 2003). If a significantly lower number of birds are dying due to this energy source does that give humans more right to endorse wind energy turbines, or should the placement of turbines be even more strategetic, which could result in less locations to receive this renewable energy source from? |
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ETHICAL ISSUES IN SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTION |
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There seem to be few ethical issues which have previously characterized the field of solar energy production, except possibly, the high cost of implementing the system when the person using the system was actually helping the environment. This injustice was somewhat dissolved after costs of solar energy materials decreased as supply increased. Also ending refutes over high costs was the governments agreement to give money on tax returns to people using solar energy systems.
In the future, the ethical questions arriving over this method of electricity generation include: Is it unethical not to use solar energy rather than gas because gas emits carbon dioxide? then what will happen to everyone employed by electric companies focused on power generated by coal? what happens to gas and oil sellers and their financial well-being?
Below is a paragraph from Innovative Power Systems's website demonstrating the value of solar energy:
"Solar energy does not emit any harmful gases or pose any other threats to the environment. Producing 100kwh of electricity from renewable energy prevents 1200 pounds of coal from being burned and 2400 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the air. It has the environmental equivalent of planting a half acre of trees, whereas producing those 100kwh from a coal plant has the environmental equivalent of driving a car for 2400 miles (IPS, 2006)." |
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ETHICAL ISSUES IN TIDAL ENERGY PRODUCTION |
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The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) association researches all aspects of alternative energy sources. When studying tidal energy, EERE believes that tidal energy systems negatively affect tidal basins and the surrounding environment due to the decreased tidal flow and the lessening of silt buildup (EERE, 2005). Changes in the environment occur both upstream and downstream of the estuary the tidal system is built across. Since the tide will have a decreased flow, less water will reach the land on the sides of the stream, resulting in a decreased mud production and ultimately, decreased animal population which received food from that area (Darvill, 2006). Is it ethical for wildlife and the environment to suffer for humans to have cheaper energy production? Or, can one argue that this alternative to using fossil fuels has a less devistating effect on the environment in the long-run, due to decreased carbon dioxide emissions? Vertical-axis tidal systems or SwanTurbines, both of which are less environmentally harmful, may be the future for tidal energy systems, in order to settle current ethical and environmental controversies. |
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ETHICAL ISSUES IN FUSION ENERGY PRODUCTION |
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There may be a serious need for more education in the field of fusion energy; however, with this increased education, would people expect the company in charge of the fusion energy plant to explain the risks of being exposed to the fusion material before it has decayed and risk losing support for an otherwise environmentally-friendly method of energy production? Though fusion materials decay rapidly, there is still a time period during which humans should not come into contact with the material. |
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