Our energy reserves are finite. Experts predict that we will exhaust the world’s readily extractable reserves of oil within the century. But renewable sources of energy never run out—they will allow us to meet our energy needs for generations.

Renewable energy sources include:

	Wind: converting the movement of the wind using turbines	Solar cells (Natural Bridges National Monument, UT) Geothermal power plant (Susanville, CA)
	Solar: using photovoltaic cells to directly convert the sun’s energy into electricity
	Hydro: converting the movement of water over a dam into electricity
	Biomass: burning wood and waste chips from lumber factories, trash, etc.
	Geothermal: tapping underground hot springs
	Tidal: using the movement tidal currents to generate electricity

Renewable energy in New England

In 1997, the Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources stated that 7% to 14% of the total electricity purchased in the state is derived from renewable resources. Three-quarters is produced through hydropower; the rest is generated through waste-to-energy and landfill gas facilities. To date, wind energy has played a relatively insignificant role, but the Cape Wind project will help change that.

The Cape Wind project represents a major step forward in producing environmentally friendly electricity for New England. The wind park would mark Cape Cod, Massachusetts, as not only a leader in renewable technology, but in environmental protection as well.

Massachusetts encourages the use of renewable energy. In passing the 1997 Electrical Industry Restructuring Act, the state requires investment in new renewable energy generating plants. The Act requires that by the end of the decade these new sources account for 4% of our electricity—in addition to the current level of renewable energy sources. The Cape Wind project—as one of the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives—offers the best route towards meeting this objective.