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Introduction
Michigan Renewable
Energy Success Stories
Our Energy Challenges
The History of
Renewable Energy Use
What WE Can Do With
Energy Efficiency
and Renewables
Summary
Review Worksheet
Sources for More
Information
Table of Contents
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 | Michigan’s Renewable Energy and Efficiency Success Stories |
Fossil Fuel Depletion
 Fossil
fuels were formed over millions
of years by the action of pressure
and heat on huge piles of dead plants and animals. Once we use up our fossil
fuels,
they’re gone forever. Global studies show that oil,
which supplies 40% of our energy, will be used up before gas or coal. Oil isn’t
manufactured – we drill wells into the ground and pump it out. As these wells
grow older, they yield less oil each year. Many experts (petroleum geologists) and the International Energy
Administration (IEA) think our oil production could start declining by 2010 or
2020.23 We must develop and expand other sources of energy, such as renewable
energies, both to help our environment and to supply our energy needs.
23 International Energy Agency
http://www.iea.org/g8/world/oilsup.htm,
(8-Feb-2003).
For other views see:
http://sepwww.stanford.edu/sep/jon/world-oil.html,
(8-Feb-2003).
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