Huntingtown High School junior Bella Ferrante explains the alternative energy source called biomass.
Huntingtown, MD – Groups of very bright Huntingtown High School (HHS) students got a chance of ponder a future world where energy sources other than fossil fuels are used. The school’s second annual Energy Exposition was held Monday, Feb. 8 in the HHS Cafeteria.
According to HHS science teacher Jamie Rowder, the three-hour event is a presentation of advanced placement (AP) Environmental Science students. The juniors and seniors presented their research in the various areas of renewable energy to freshman students currently learning about the economic and environmental pros and cons of the sources.
Representatives from Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), Solar City and Exelon were also on hand. “I like to have the professionals here,” said Rowder, who explained she was not successful in getting Dominion and a presentative from the geothermal field to participate at the event.
In addition to geothermal, the alternative energy sources studied by the AP students were biomass, hydroelectric, nuclear, solar and wind.
“Calvert County seems to have a hold on energy,” said Rowder, in reference to the presence of a nuclear power plant and a natural gas facility as providers and employers. She expressed hope the studies of the potential growth of alternative fuel sources would spark interest among students in future careers in the energy field.
Junior Catherine Scott said the unique aspect of nuclear energy is that “it can be considered renewable and nonrenewable.” In her synopsis of nuclear energy, Scott and her project partner Grace Fitzgerald noted that many consider nuclear waste as “a radioactive pollutant that goes against the notion of a renewable energy source.
Other people believe it is a renewable source because a researcher discovered that if the uranium deposit could be proved to last as long as the relationship between the Earth and the sun is supposed to last then nuclear energy should be considered as a renewable energy source.”
Still the production of radioactive waste produced by reactors such as the two at Calvert Cliffs pose a huge hazard to the environment if not properly stored.
On the plus side, Scott said “nuclear power generates $470 million in economic input/output per year.” Economically, nuclear power plants create as many as 700 jobs and construction of a single plant can create approximately 3,500 temporary jobs.
Bella Ferrante, a HHS junior, explained the benefits of using biomass sources—residues from agriculture crops, animals, solid waste. Industrial, sewerage and forestry—would help the environment by reducing the amounts of garbage going into landfills. However, the source is costly and not as efficient as other sources.
Wind energy was highlighted by SMECO employees Jeff Shaw and Tom Dennison. They noted wind energy does not pollute and produces jobs. On the down side, there is no power to be generated on a calm day and the wind turbines have been known to kill birds.
According to HHS senior Ethan McComb, wind power creates more jobs than nuclear power plus a “single wind turbine can power 500 homes.” At the same time, “it’s variable and can interfere with radar.”
Solar City consultant William Klein told students that most of the energy in the U.S. has come from coal. Klein noted that the burning of coal for energy in China has had lethal results in the last five years. However, with solar energy “there is no environmental impact. With solar there’s no pollution—none. It’s renewable and will never run out.”
Hydroelectricity has a long history of use, dating back to 202 B.C., noted HHS senior Jake Wilkin. By concentrating reservoir water through a dam and spinning a turbine, energy is created. While building a dam are expensive, hydroelectric facilities such as the Hoover Dam produce electricity for large regions.
Wilkin said while he wasn’t familiar with the Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River and its declining capability to trap sediment and phosphorus pollution, he noted hydroelectric facilities do have the potential for pollution. “Like any source you need a good environmental evaluation for it,” he said.
In addition to the students and several HHS science teachers two elected officials—Commissioner Pat Nutter and Board of Education Member (and Exelon employee) James Piatt attended the exposition.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
