Assignment #3
Part 2: Canada uses hydroelectricity as the main source of its electricity, accounting for almost 60% of our country’s total electricity. This source is produced by building hydroelectric dams on river and lakes all over the country, making use of the gravitational force flowing water produces to create energy. Hydroelectricity is considered a renewable source of energy, and does not emit a large amount of greenhouse gases. Although hydroelectric dams are not big contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, they can do considerable damage to the ecosystems they are built in. In conclusion, some people consider hydroelectric dams to be a sustainable source of energy, however, others realize they can also be very harmful to the environment.
Part 3: One of the biggest potentials concerning renewable energy in Canada is the use of solar energy. Solar energy is a sustainable energy source that can be collected anywhere there are solar resources and in many places of Canada, there is an abundance of this resource. Except for the manufacturing of the solar panels, energy distributors, etc solar energy does not contribute much to greenhouses gases and their negative effects. Solar energy is a great potential for renewable energy because it produces energy using the sun’s rays which avoids further damage to the environment. Due to insufficient funding for research and the production and distribution of solar energy, it is not a common energy source in Canada. The dominance of the Alberta oil industry and hydroelectricity across the nation causes a large barrier for solar energy to become prominent. In conclusion, solar energy is a renewable and environmentally sustainable energy source that is growing slowly in Canada due to the dominance of the oil and hydroelectric industries.