Deck 16: Renewable Energy Alternatives

Question 1

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
Biofuel that does not necessitate growing of food crops to produce

A)ethanol and biodiesel
B)geothermal
C)cellulosic ethanol
D)tidal generators
E)hydroelectric
F)Three Gorges
G)methane biogas
H)methanol
I)biodiesel
J)solar photocells and wind
K)Black Canyon
L)silicon
M)OTEC
N)methanol and dioxin
O)carbon

Answer 1

cellulosic ethanol

Question 2

Use the figure above to answer the following question
The smallest amount of electricity generation is from ______________.

A) solar
B) hydropower
C) wind
D) geothermal
E) bioenergy

Answer 2

solar

Question 3

Designing buildings to maximize absorption of sunlight during winter and to keep the interiors cool during summer is referred to as ____________

A) passive solar energy collection
B) active solar energy collection
C) wind energy collection
D) nuclear energy collection
E) geothermal energy collection

Answer 3

passive solar energy collection

Question 4

____________ strongly influences the amount of energy generated from hydropower.

A) The phase of the moon
B) The temperature of reservoir water
C) The volume of water released and the height of the fall
D) Latitude
E) The temperature of water in the boiler and turbine

Question 5

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
Ocean-derived energy resource in wide commercial use

A)ethanol and biodiesel
B)geothermal
C)cellulosic ethanol
D)tidal generators
E)hydroelectric
F)Three Gorges
G)methane biogas
H)methanol
I)biodiesel
J)solar photocells and wind
K)Black Canyon
L)silicon
M)OTEC
N)methanol and dioxin
O)carbon

Question 6

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
Rapidly growing and increasingly cheaper renewable energy resources

A)ethanol and biodiesel
B)geothermal
C)cellulosic ethanol
D)tidal generators
E)hydroelectric
F)Three Gorges
G)methane biogas
H)methanol
I)biodiesel
J)solar photocells and wind
K)Black Canyon
L)silicon
M)OTEC
N)methanol and dioxin
O)carbon

Question 7

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
Clean and renewable but has negative effects on rivers

A)ethanol and biodiesel
B)geothermal
C)cellulosic ethanol
D)tidal generators
E)hydroelectric
F)Three Gorges
G)methane biogas
H)methanol
I)biodiesel
J)solar photocells and wind
K)Black Canyon
L)silicon
M)OTEC
N)methanol and dioxin
O)carbon

Question 8

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
The worldʹs largest hydroelectric dam

A)ethanol and biodiesel
B)geothermal
C)cellulosic ethanol
D)tidal generators
E)hydroelectric
F)Three Gorges
G)methane biogas
H)methanol
I)biodiesel
J)solar photocells and wind
K)Black Canyon
L)silicon
M)OTEC
N)methanol and dioxin
O)carbon

Question 9

Use the figure above to answer the following question
What this figure does not tell you is ______________.

A) the proportion of U.S. energy consumption that comes from non-renewable sources
B) whether wind energy plays any role in U.S. energy and electricity production
C) the relative amount of solar energy used to generate electricity compared to other renewable sources
D) the relative amount of electricity produced from geothermal energy compared to other renewable sources
E) what proportion of each renewable energy source the United States produces and consumes

Question 10

Biofuels ____________

A) produces no greenhouse gases when burned
B) can be created by microbial action or burned directly as wood or dung
C) requires fossil fuel input to produce
D) is a form of fossil fuel
E) could not supply an alternative fuel to gasoline

Question 11

Use the figure above to answer the following question
The United States generates more electricity from ____________ than from any other renewable energy source.

A) wind
B) geothermal
C) hydroelectric
D) solar
E) bioenergy

Question 12

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
Made from recycled cooking oil, animal fat and other sources

A)ethanol and biodiesel
B)geothermal
C)cellulosic ethanol
D)tidal generators
E)hydroelectric
F)Three Gorges
G)methane biogas
H)methanol
I)biodiesel
J)solar photocells and wind
K)Black Canyon
L)silicon
M)OTEC
N)methanol and dioxin
O)carbon

Question 13

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
Liquid biofuels in heaviest production

A)ethanol and biodiesel
B)geothermal
C)cellulosic ethanol
D)tidal generators
E)hydroelectric
F)Three Gorges
G)methane biogas
H)methanol
I)biodiesel
J)solar photocells and wind
K)Black Canyon
L)silicon
M)OTEC
N)methanol and dioxin
O)carbon

Question 14

New renewables include ____________

A) wind power
B) biodiesel
C) ethanol
D) sustainably harvested fuelwood
E) ʺbiogasʺ methane

Question 15

Worldwide, the most widely used renewable energy resource is ____________

A) nuclear
B) hydroelectric
C) solar
D) bioenergy
E) wind

Question 16

Use the figure above to answer the following question
The United States consumes more ______________ energy than any other renewable energy source.

A) hydropower
B) solar
C) bioenergy
D) wind
E) geothermal

Question 17

Choose the item that best matches each item in the following:
Primary material used in making solar photocells

A)ethanol and biodiesel
B)geothermal
C)cellulosic ethanol
D)tidal generators
E)hydroelectric
F)Three Gorges
G)methane biogas
H)methanol
I)biodiesel
J)solar photocells and wind
K)Black Canyon
L)silicon
M)OTEC
N)methanol and dioxin
O)carbon

Question 18

Of the following, ____________ represent proper ranking of the U.S. total primary energy consumed from the greatest to least used.

A) fossil fuels, bioenergy, nuclear, hydroelectric, new renewables
B) fossil fuels, bioenergy, hydroelectric, nuclear, new renewables
C) fossil fuels, bioenergy, hydroelectric, new renewables, nuclear
D) bioenergy, fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroelectric, new renewables
E) fossil fuels, nuclear, bioenergy, hydroelectric, new renewables

Question 19

The run-of-river approach to hydropower describes ____________

A) dams that are reliable but unsustainable
B) diversion of a portion of a riverʹs flow through pipes
C) the purchase of state-run dams by major corporations
D) the most expensive type of dams to build and maintain
E) impounding water in reservoirs behind concrete dams

Question 20

When hydrogen is burned as a fuel, the primary waste product produced is ____________

A) hydrocarbons and CO₂
B) CO₂
C) carbon monoxide
D) CO₂ and H₂O
E) H₂O

Question 21

The form of energy delivered to an electrical generating turbine in a geothermal facility is in the form of ____________

A) radioactive isotopes
B) hot water or steam
C) heated hydrogen gas
D) warm soils and crushed rock
E) molten magma

Question 22

Harnessing energy by designing buildings to maximize or minimize the absorption of incident solar radiation are ____________

A) passive solar energy collection
B) hydrogen fuel-cell collectors
C) Concentrated solar power (CSP) devices
D) photovoltaic cell collectors
E) active solar energy collection

Question 23

Ethanol produced from bioenergy starts with produced by ____________

A) methane; sewage sludge
B) ammonia; anaerobic bacteria
C) hydrogen gas; wind turbines
D) CO2; burning fossil fuels
E) starch; corn and sugar cane

Question 24

The rotational energy of the blades of a wind turbine ____________

A) is used to generate hydrogen from water
B) generates as much greenhouse gases as burning natural gas
C) will not occur unless electricity is provided to generate the motion
D) drives a generator inside the nacelle compartment to produce electricity
E) is so expensive to produce that no commercial development has been possible

Question 25

As of 2011, the nation leading in generating wind -power is ____________

A) Canada
B) China
C) the United States
D) India
E) Germany

Question 26

The first stage in generating power from a hydrogen fuel cell is to ____________

A) split methane (CH₄) into hydrogen atoms and carbon
B) convert water into a hydrocarbon
C) react water with CO₂
D) reduce water to hydrogen and oxygen gases
E) split hydrogen atoms into hydrogen ions (H⁺) and electrons

Question 27

____________ leads the world in percentage of its electricity derived from hydropower.

A) Sweden
B) Canada
C) Norway
D) The United States
E) Russia

Question 28

Corn-produced ethanol ____________

A) does not require inputs of fossil fuel energy
B) results in higher food prices for corn and corn products
C) yields more than 10x the energy required to produce it
D) cannot be mixed with other fuels
E) does not produce greenhouse gases when burned

Question 29

Biodiesel ____________

A) produces more pollution than petrodiesel
B) can be used in vehicles with diesel engines without engine modification
C) is produced from sugarcane
D) is widely used in the United States
E) is twice as expensive as petrodiesel

Question 30

Ultimately, all biofuels are ____________, because they are the result of ____________.

A) polymers; biological metabolic processes
B) solar; photosynthesis
C) geological; sedimentation
D) inefficient; decomposition by microorganisms
E) synthetic; chemical manipulation of hydrocarbons

Question 31

The only energy source(s) from ocean water so far put into commercial production are ____________

A) tidal and ocean wave generators
B) tidal electrical generators
C) OTEC and ocean wave generators
D) tidal and OTEC generators
E) OTEC

Question 32

The best locations to install tidal electrical generating stations are places where ____________

A) there is very little wind
B) differences in height between low and high tides are large
C) differences in height between low and high tides are small
D) the water is frozen for half of the year
E) there forests along the coast

Question 33

Solar power generating facilities that generate electricity at large centralized facilities and transmit that power to homes and businesses through the electric grid are called ____________

A) diffuse solar energy collection systems
B) concentrated solar power (CSP) facilities
C) dispersed solar collection facilities
D) passive solar energy collection systems
E) photovoltaic systems

Question 34

Photovoltaic cells ____________

A) rely on the electrical current produced when silicon is struck by sunlight
B) are increasingly costly produce which precludes major commercial application
C) require an outside source of electricity to generate electricity on their own
D) are the major form of renewable energy produced in the United States
E) have small rotational generators built into every cell

Question 35

Of the following, ____________ are documented negative impacts of dams.

A) flooding, habitat destruction, alteration of river sediment deposition
B) acid deposition
C) increased carbon monoxide emissions, decreased rainfall
D) alteration of river salinity
E) increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and CFCs

Question 36

Corn-based ethanol production has a number of drawbacks, including ____________

A) substantial inputs of fossil fuel energy
B) depletion of fresh water
C) increased use of pesticides
D) increased use of fertilizers
E) all of the above are drawbacks of corn-based ethanol production

Question 37

Harvesting fuelwood at unsustainably high rates often leads to ____________

A) more land being available for corn fields
B) soil erosion and desertification
C) higher levels of plant biodiversity
D) increases in soil fertility
E) removal of pest insect species

Question 38

____________ built the first offshore wind farm in 1991.

A) France
B) The United States
C) Spain
D) Mexico
E) Denmark

Question 39

U.S. hydropower dam construction was greatest during the ____________

A) 1930s to 1960s
B) industrial revolution
C) early 21st century
D) late 1800s
E) 1970s to 2000

Question 40

E-85 ____________

A) is an isotope of uranium used to generate electricity
B) is an ethanol-gasoline mixture used in flexible-fuel vehicles
C) was an international summit of 85 nations that met to determine vehicle fuel efficiency standards
D) was an international summit of 85 nations that met to restrict CFC use
E) was an international summit of 85 nations that met to restrict greenhouse gas emissions

Question 41

More and more wind farms are being located ____________ because winds are stronger there.

A) offshore
B) in densely populated urban areas
C) in the Arctic
D) in mature forests
E) in deserts

Question 42

Briefly discuss environmental impacts and economics of solar energy.

Question 43

Biofuels and nuclear power may prove useful as ____________.

A) inexpensive technologies for developing nations
B) pollution-free sustainable energies
C) replacement fuels for motor vehicles
D) stages in the development of fusion generators
E) energies to bridge the time between fossil fuel depletion and new renewables

Question 44

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
The United States consumes 25% of the worldʹs petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation-related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Processing biodiesel yields an added benefit-its by-product, glycerine, is used to make soap. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at almost 500 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel. There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rape seed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
A major barrier preventing more widespread use of biodiesel is ____________.

A) political and economic inertia and current lack of abundant fueling stations
B) a readily available supply of domestic petroleum
C) the lack of support from the public
D) the excessive cost
E) the lack of government support

Question 45

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
The United States consumes 25% of the worldʹs petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation-related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Processing biodiesel yields an added benefit-its by-product, glycerine, is used to make soap. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at almost 500 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel. There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rape seed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
Compared to other uses of bioenergy, biodiesel from restaurant waste represents one of the best environmental alternatives to fossil fuels because they ____________.

A) are the only form of bioenergy that reduces fossil fuel use
B) are the only form of bioenergy that is renewable
C) are the most available
D) require less processing than other forms of bioenergy
E) can be manufactured without the development of additional cropland agriculture

Question 46

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
The United States consumes 25% of the worldʹs petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation-related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Processing biodiesel yields an added benefit-its by-product, glycerine, is used to make soap. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at almost 500 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel. There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rape seed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
Biodiesel is to ____________ as ethanol is to gasoline.

A) petroleum
B) gasohol
C) glycerine
D) vegetable oil
E) petrodiesel

Question 47

Briefly discuss environmental impacts and economics of wind energy.

Question 48

Why is it urgent that we develop alternatives to fossil fuels?

Question 49

Globally, more than 80% of all primary energy for todayʹs economies comes from ____________.

A) nuclear power
B) fossil fuels
C) hydropower installations
D) biofuels
E) solar, wind and ocean tides and waves

Question 50

Discuss briefly the significance of hydrogen as an alternative energy resource.

Question 51

Whether using a food crop as a source of biofuels is environmentally sustainable would have to consider all of the following, except ____________.

A) the amount of pesticides used and their impact on biodiversity and groundwater
B) the amount of fertilizers used and their impact on aquatic ecosystems
C) the amount of water and land necessary for the crops
D) the corporate profits that would be made
E) the impact on food supplies and prices

Question 52

All the following are true of using solar photocells, except ____________

A) many new ʺgreen collarʺ jobs being created by their increasing use
B) they are great for decentralized power production, away from power plants and grids
C) they have a very low carbon footprint
D) they are strongly encouraged in the United States by tax incentives and large development investment
E) with continued production, manufacturing costs of solar photocells are dropping

Question 53

Briefly discuss the pros and cons of hydropower.

Question 54

Ground-source heat pumps ____________.

A) produce pollution of groundwater
B) have been known to cause minor earthquakes
C) require nearby volcanic activity to be effective
D) are an increasing source of small-scale electricity generation
E) heat and cool houses and buildings more efficiently than conventional methods

Question 55

Is the use of biofuels for power generation economically feasible and sustainable? Why or why not?

Question 56

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
The United States consumes 25% of the worldʹs petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation-related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Processing biodiesel yields an added benefit-its by-product, glycerine, is used to make soap. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at almost 500 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel. There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rape seed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
Vegetable oil ____________.

A) is a fossil fuel
B) must be processed into biodiesel to operate engines
C) is a necessary ingredient in biodiesel
D) is nonrenewable
E) can be burned as fuel

Question 57

Pyrolysis is a way of producing ____________ from ____________.

A) biodiesel; limestone
B) hydroelectric fuel; coal
C) coal; bioenergy
D) pesticides and fertilizers; bioenergy
E) a liquid fuel; bioenergy

Question 58

Bagasse and sugar cane-based ethanol are major items in the energy resources of ____________.

A) Tuvalu
B) Brazil
C) China
D) Mexico
E) the Maldives

Question 59

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
The United States consumes 25% of the worldʹs petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation-related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Processing biodiesel yields an added benefit-its by-product, glycerine, is used to make soap. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at almost 500 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel. There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rape seed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
As a fuel, biodiesel ____________ .

A) is a beneficial alternative for buses and trucks
B) is less efficient than petrodiesel because it has a low energy yield
C) has low lubricity
D) has been met with considerable resistance by American farmers
E) requires moderate engine retrofitting prior to use

Question 60

Discuss the conventional alternatives to fossil fuels. Why are we not using more renewables?

Question 61

Read the following scenario and answer the question below.
The United States consumes 25% of the worldʹs petroleum. Most is used for transportation, and most of it is imported. In 1992, after the first Gulf War, the federal government passed the Energy Policy Act, whose goal was to replace transportation-related petroleum with alternative fuels. Biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat is an economical alternative to petroleum-based fuels. It is safe, biodegradable, nontoxic, and has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. Unlike unrefined oils that can be burned directly as fuels, biodiesel can be used in conventional diesel engines without engine modification. It reduces wear without compromising performance, due to its high lubricity. It is renewable and emits far less air pollution when combusted as compared to petrodiesel. The raw material used to produce biodiesel exists in billions of gallons of vegetable oil used by restaurants each year, as well as in crops. Processing biodiesel yields an added benefit-its by-product, glycerine, is used to make soap. Although biodiesel burns well in pure form (B100), commonly it is blended with petrodiesel in mixtures such as B20 and B5, which reduce toxic air pollution proportional to their biodiesel content. Biodiesel is currently available at almost 500 filling stations nationwide. Demand is increasing due to federal and state tax incentives as well as the increased price and decreased availability of petrodiesel. More than 600 domestic fleets use biodiesel, including the military, NASA, Yellowstone National Park, and local governments. Many school districts use biodiesel-powered school buses. Musicians Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, and Willie Nelson fuel their tour buses with biodiesel. Nelson, a lifelong supporter of American farmers, who benefit when their crops are used for fuel, sells his own brand, BioWillie Biodiesel, at many truck stops. Because biodiesel can be manufactured locally, fuel transportation costs are low, and dependence on foreign petroleum and the need for domestic oil exploration and development of sensitive wildlife areas, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, can be reduced when biodiesel is used as an alternative fuel. There is concern, however, that biodiesel from crops may not be sustainable in the long term. Crops which are potentially food for humans, such as rape seed and soy, affect the price of foods and also require land, pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation which may contribute to environmental degradation and stress on already limited resources.
B20 represents ____________.

A) a synthetic compound that can be mixed with fossil fuel to give more energy
B) a variety of broccoli used in the production of cellulosic ethanol
C) a new vitamin recently isolated from sugar cane bagasse
D) a ratio of biodiesel to petrodiesel in alternative vehicular fuels
E) a bacterial strain used to ferment corn to make ethanol