Burlington High School
Burlington, Kansas
Teacher: Devra Parker
A Clean Way of Life
By: Leticia Werner
12th Grade
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, for our first story today: gas prices rose again and it is a possibility that they will keep rising. Because of this, riots broke out in Virginia, and people are protesting in Oklahoma and California. Around the world, people hear a similar broadcast every day, and more and more people get angrier and more frustrated with how much money they have to put into their fuel tanks. Who would have thought that in the past 10 years gas prices would rise more than two dollars? I would guess that no one would have ever thought he would see this day, but unfortunately, it has come. Luckily, there are people around the world that are coming up with better and cleaner fuels that will save people quite a bit of money and will help with the reduction of air pollution.
One of these new fuels is made from hydrogen fuel cells. These fuel cells consist of two electrodes compressed around an electrolyte. These two electrodes start producing energy, water and heat, when hydrogen passes over one of them and oxygen over the other. Hydrogen is used to make electricity; oxygen is obtained through the air. Oxygen and hydrogen are the two most common chemicals used in fuel cells. Yet, some fuel cells use methane and very few use methanols. These two elements combined make water and electricity and can be made in many diverse sizes. Fuel cells that run on hydrogen will be nothing but water vapor, which will not pollute the air.
There are many benefits to using fuel cells. If the United States would make 20 percent more cars that used fuel cells, 1.5 million barrels of oil would not be imported every day. Not only will this save on gas prices but it will also increase how much electricity is available in the country. Statistics say that if 10,000 vehicles that can run on non petroleum fuel are made, it will decrease the usage of oil by 6.8 million gallons a year, which will help us to not rely on foreign nations as much as we do at this point. Another benefit to fuel cells is that they are clean and efficient. Because of that, they will decrease air pollution, lessen oil imports, and make more jobs available to many people around the world. They will also help the economy grow by enabling new markets to create steel, electronics, and many other items.
To go on, fuel cells extract more energy from fuel because of the efficiency of electrochemical conversion over combustion. Another good quality about these cells is that they have no moving parts; therefore, they are quiet. The system that they use need pumps, compressors, and other parts that do move and make vibrations. Yet, these sounds and vibrations are not noticeable compared to a normal combustion engine. Also, because there is no combustion or rotating parts, these fuel cells are reliable. Fuel cells have high quality power that cannot only help the car industry but it will be good in sensitive electronics or hospital equipment as well. These cells will always produce heat and electricity as long as fuel is available. At the moment, fuel cells are quite expensive, but as people begin to invest in them, the price will go down.
Hydrogen is the world’s most abundant element. It can save, shift, and distribute energy in a useful form to consumers. Once clean hydrogen is produced, it is used in a coal-to-liquids process to create clean liquid fuels. All of these benefits are great, but hydrogen also has its downfalls. It is a very reactive element and is very rarely found in a pure form. One of its greatest advantages is that there are many ways to make it. We can do this by using renewable and traditional energy sources. Hydrogen is a fuel because of this; it has high energy content, but it is considered a safe fuel.
Every day, gas prices keep rising, and so does the amount of pollution that is destroying our ozone layer. Yet, every day there is some scientist in the world that is working diligently to come up with a genius solution that will help slow the amount of pollution down and also save millions of people money. When that day comes, we should applaud him or her because that person just saved our planet from extinction by hundreds maybe thousands of years. Instead of hearing how prices raised again, you will hear: Good Evening, ladies and gentlemen, for our first story, you can take that band from around your wallet… gas prices finally dropped.
Works Cited
“Fuel Cell Technologies.” Advantages & Benefits of Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Technologies. 2002. Fuel Cell Markets Ltd. 24 Oct. 2006. <http://www.fuelcellmarkets.com/article_flat.fcm?subsite=1&articleid= 663>.
Very Informative
“What Is a Fuel Cell?” Hydrogen Fuel Cells. 24 Oct. 2006. <http://www.bullnet.co.uk/shops/test/hydrogen.htm>.
Very Informative
Answers To Questions Prompted By The Required Reading
Q1- Gasohol is a byproduct exclusively from gasoline and ethanol whereas cellulosic ethanol can be produced from agricultural waste such as cornstalks, grasses, and tree bark.
Q2- Why did auto makers produce cars that could operate using ethanol as well as gasoline before there was an adequate number of service stations that could provide ethanol?
1 The auto makers produced cars that could run on ethanol because they wanted to break away from the fuel economy standards.
Q3- When were the first cars produced that were capable of using ethanol?
2 1979
Q4- In a paragraph, describe Brazil’s experience with ethanol. What did the Fortune article claim was Brazil’s key to success?
3 Brazil has been able to turn their sugarcane into ethanol. Because of this, they have been able to put 1.3 million flex-fuel cars on their roads. Consumers are very happy with the flex-fuel cars, because it meant that they did not have to choose between a gasoline car or an ethanol car. Some say that Brazil’s key to success was letting the consumers choose if they wanted ethanol rather than making them buy it.
Q5- What is the significance of a yellow gas cap?
v The yellow gas caps tell you whether your car or truck is E85 or E85 ready.
Q6- Describe bio-diesel.
v Bio-diesel is a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources.
Q7- Explain the term “flex-fuel engine”. What American auto manufacturer introduced the first prototype of a flex-fuel engine?
v The flex-fuel engine is an engine that can use both gasoline and ethanol. Ford introduced the first prototype of a flex-fuel engine.
Q8- Trace the progress of H.R. 6 for viewers to our web site. (dates introduced, amended, pass or rejected) http://www.eei.org/industry_issues/electricity_policy/federal_legislation/index.htm
v September 7, 2005- was introduced
v October 7, 2005- was amended
v August 8, 2006- President Bush passed it
Q9- What is the purpose of the fuel hybrid vehicle commercialization initiative?
v The purpose of the fuel hybrid vehicle commercialization initiative was to reduce petroleum consumption by bringing new clean technologies to the market faster.
Q10- What is the nation's largest renewable energy resource?
v Hydroelectric dams
Q11- What is the purpose of the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative?
v The purpose of the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative is to develop the technology to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen.
Q12- List seven items mentioned in the 2005 energy tax bill that taxpayers can claim as credits against their tax bills.
v Efficiency and conservation tax credits encourage the construction of energy-efficient offices and homes, the purchase of energy efficient heating and cooling systems and appliances.
v Expands an existing business solar investment tax credit from the current 10 percent to 30 percent for the purchase of solar equipment.
v A tax deduction equaling the cost of energy efficient equipment installed if the equipment reduces the energy and power consumption of a commercial building by 50 percent.
v Tax credits for the contractors of new energy efficient homes if the homes achieve an energy savings of 50 percent or more over the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code.
v Tax credits for the purchase of water heaters, heat pumps, air conditioners, furnaces and other equipment that achieve certain efficiency levels when purchased for residential properties.
v A new tax credit for manufacturers who produce highly energy-efficient dishwashers, clothes washers and refrigerators.
v 30 percent tax credit for the purchase of solar, photovoltaic and fuel cell properties for use in residences