DID YOU KNOW? Mining is an important part of creating electricity. Millions of tons of coal are mined in the U. S. every year and nearly all of it is used to generate electricity. Mining is also needed for renewable energy. It takes 16 different metals and minerals that are mined all over the world to make a single solar panel. Wind turbines are made from 13 different mined mineral products and metals. Not all of these materials are mined in the United States. We depend on the resources of many other countries throughout the world such as Peru, South Africa, India, Germany, Mexico and Sweden to manufacture solar panels and wind turbines.
Renewable energy resources can provide us with the energy we need, but they can’ t do it alone. In order for us to be able to rely on electricity anytime we need it— like turning on a lamp in the middle of the night, turning on the air conditioner on a hot summer afternoon, or charging a cell phone early in the morning— a base load of energy is needed. Base load is the minimum amount of electricity delivered or required at a constant rate over a certain period of time.
Power plants that burn coal and natural gas, which are fossil fuels, are able to guarantee a base load of electricity. Because the sun doesn’ t always shine and the wind doesn’ t always blow, power plants that use fossil fuels to generate power are also needed to support renewable energy, making sure electricity is available at all times.
The Earth’ s Resources All Work Together
Coal being loaded into a truck...
DID YOU KNOW? Mining is an important part of creating electricity. Millions of tons of coal are mined in the U. S. every year and nearly all of it is used to generate electricity. Mining is also needed for renewable energy. It takes 16 different metals and minerals that are mined all over the world to make a single solar panel. Wind turbines are made from 13 different mined mineral products and metals. Not all of these materials are mined in the United States. We depend on the resources of many other countries throughout the world such as Peru, South Africa, India, Germany, Mexico and Sweden to manufacture solar panels and wind turbines.
The Colorado Reader publication and Ag in the Classroom are projects of the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture. Educational projects are produced in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, other state and federal agencies, Colorado commodity groups, Colorado agricultural associations, state universities and colleges and interested individuals. Colorado Readers are provided free to educators requesting them. For more information contact: Bette Blinde, Colorado Foundation for Agriculture, P. O. Box 10, Livermore, CO 80536 or phone 970 881.2902 or e-mail bblinde @ growingyourfuture. com. Financial support for this reader has been provided by: Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, www. tristategt. org. Written by Mary Peck.
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