ABSTRACT
Renewable energy sources or simply renewables include solar and wind power, geothermal, biomass, and conventional hydroelectric power. Biomass in turn includes wood, wood waste, biogenic municipal waste, landfill gas, corn, sugar cane, switch grass, and other biomass. Use of modern renewable energy sources, excluding nuclear, will triple as their share of total primary energy demand increases from a current 8% to a forecast 14% as total demand increases as well. According to current government commitments and policies, the International Energy Agency projects that government intervention in support of renewable may result in an increase from $57 billion in 2009 to $205 billion by 2035 depending on the degree of government budget deficits and the Congressional response. The driving force behind supporting renewables is the necessity to mitigate climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, reducing dependence upon foreign energy sources, and to be in accordance with international agreements.
