This describes where electricity comes from in our power grids and some of the disadvantages.

1. How Power Plants Make Electricity

4. Spin a turbine generator to make
electricity.
(Image Credit:
njcleanenergy.com)

6. Moving water to spins the turbines to
generate
electricity.
(Image Credit: esd.ornl.gov)

7. Flooding of habitat
Environmental destruction.

9. Fossil fuels cause cancer.
All fossil fuels are nonrenewable.
Burning hydrocarbons produce CO2 and
H2O, two greenhouse gases.

11. Neutrons collide with radioactive uranium, splitting it,
producing heat energy, new atoms and more neutrons
each time. (Image: nasa.gov)

12.  Hydrogen has 3 types or isotopes: mostly H-1,
and small amounts of H-2 and H-3, aka
“tritium”.
 Excess neutrons from nuclear fission bombard
hydrogen in the water (H2O) and change some of
the hydrogen into tritium (H-3).
 The tritium is radioactive and dangerous
because it is a “beta-emitter”,
meaning it gives off high speed
beta electrons into space.
Tritium is found at VT Yankee Nuclear
Plant in Vernon, VT.

13.  Astronomical decommissioning costs. ($1 billion)
 Radioactive isoptopes are poisonous
 Uncertain radioactive waste
storage for up to 500,000 years.

14. Advantages Disadvantages
Wind
Hydro
Fossil
Wood
Biomass
Nuclear