Across the globe, many people are looking to the sun, wind and earth as sources of renewable energy. These technologies are solving many of the environmental, economic and social problems that plague society and are at the forefront of innovation, and Chicago can benefit from Illinois' commitment to sustainable energy.
Wind
The United States is among the leading countries in using wind power to generation electricity, with 11,603 megawatts of capacity. Illinois ranks 16th in the nation with 107 megawatts of capacity and many more on the way. The largest wind farm under construction in Illinois is Twin Groves Wind Farm, where 240 wind turbines are being constructed, generating 396 megawatts of energy. This farmland will soon be producing enough electricity to power 120,000 homes.
Some small-scale wind farms are springing up across the state with help from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Towering 365 feet above the surrounding prairie, a 1.65 megawatt turbine in Pike County is producing power for the Illinois Rural Electric Cooperative, which serves customers in western Illinois and won the Department of Energy's 2005 Wind Cooperative of the Year Award.
Solar
The sun can be put to work using several different technologies, including passive solar design, solar thermal, and solar photovoltaics. Each application uses the sun in a different manner.
Passive solar design involves designing and locating a structure to take maximum advantage of the sun's heat. No mechanical or electrical equipment is used to generate or store heat for future use, and the setup can be beneficial for both residential and commercial applications. One of the first homes with such a design was constructed in Chicago in 1933 and made good use of the sun by accident. Today, some architects specialize in passive solar design to reduce the heating and cooling needs of buildings.
Solar thermal, on the other hand, does use mechanical equipment to convert sunlight to usable heat and is frequently added to existing buildings. It has been available commercially for over 100 years and is considered a mature technology. The most common applications in Illinois are heating domestic hot water , living spaces and swimming pools.
"Illinois is the fifth largest market for solar thermal in the country," says Brandon Leavitt, a board member of the Illinois Solar Energy Association. State of Illinois and Federal incentives can lower the price of a residential system by 40 to 50 percent.
Solar photovoltaic systems convert sunlight to electricity and are often connected to the power grid. This technology is rapidly advancing as solar panel efficiency improves. Demand, however, is often larger than supply, with silicon shortages contributing to the problem. Museums, schools, and government buildings in Chicago are some of the leaders in implementing this technology close to home.
Heat Pumps
By utilizing the constant temperature of the earth, geothermal exchange heat pumps or ground source heat pumps can aid in the heating and cooling of buildings. The Chicago Center for Green Technology, Rancho Verde, and the soon-to-be-completed Ford-Calumet Nature Center, along with many homes throughout the state are using the technology to lower the operating costs of their buildings.
Biofuels
Biodiesel is a non-toxic, biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based fuels, which can be used in diesel engines with little or no modifications. Vegetable stock is commonly used to produce oil, with soybeans accounting for over 90 percent of the total biodiesel stock. Although the fuel is more widely available in the Midwest, it is not available at most gas stations.
Ethanol is a gasoline alternative that comes in different concentrations and is frequently added to standard gasoline. Ethanol can be produced using a large variety of feedstock, including switchgrass, corn and sugarcane . Brazil is one of the main producers and consumers of ethanol and has many flex vehicles that can run on either gasoline or ethanol. Many cars in the United States can be run on either gasoline or E85 (85 percent ethanol).
Both biodiesel and ethanol are seen as ways to boost rural economies (which comprise most of Illinois' landscape) through increased demand for agricultural products and their processing. Although these fuels offer many environmental benefits when compared with petroleum-based fuels, they are not always seen being able to replace the demand for gasoline altogether.
Learning More About Renewable Energy
Many opportunities exist to learn about renewable energy.
o The Illinois Solar Energy Association offers classes and tours related to solar and wind energy.
o The Chicago Center for Green Technology offers classes, many of which are related to renewable energy.
o The Niles Public Library is a offering a free class on March 14th on Practical Solar Energy.
o Wisconsin Technical College will be hosting a Renewable Energy Summit in downtown Milwaukee, WI on March 8-9.
o Midwest Renewable Energy Association offers workshops in a variety of renewable energy technologies and will host their Annual Renewable Energy Fair on June 15-17th in Steven’s Point, WI.
o The Illinois Renewable Energy and Sustainable Lifestyle Fair will be held in Oregon, IL on August 11-12.
The energy future of Illinois is shifting, with an increase in the use and availability of renewable energy. Although a biofuel-driven economy will necessitate an unprecedented societal shift, it's not beyond our reach anymore. The technology is here, tucked away amongst soybean fields and corn plots. There are many opportunities to get involved in this transition and find solutions to energy challenges. As Bob Dylan says, “The answer my friend is blowing in the wind…”
