Here is a brief overview of how electricity is produced.  Electricity is a great discovery for mankind.  It has helped build the world as we know it.

The production of electricity involves the use of fossil fuels, nuclear fission, biowaste, water and wind.  Giant turbines crank out the electricity and these are turned by different methods.

One of the most common ways is by the burning of fossil fuels.  The burning of these fuels produce vapors that move the turbines.  The fuels burned to move the turbines in this way include coal, natural gas and petroleum.  This method releases pollutants into our atmosphere.  Not only does this method send carbon dioxide into the air, it also is not a renewable way of producing electricity, meaning that once the coal, petroleum, and gas are gone, we can not use this method anymore.  Using this method means we are dependent on those who have those resources and thus we pay the price for them.  Also, the pollutants in the air are harming the environment not only for us but for fture generations.  Because of these negatives, we must explore alternative ways to produce electricity.

Another way electricity is produced is by using water power.  Dams are built to help restrict water in rivers that is then used to turn the turbines.  This type of producing electricity helps the environment by not polluting the air, but can harm the ecosystems of the rivers.  A benefit is that is a renewable source of energy because of the availability of water.

Another renewable way of producing electricity is through using wind power to turn turbines.  There are new advancements being made in this area everyday.  Producing electricity in this way seems to have very few disadvantages.  Wind power is abundant and relatively inexpensive and does not pollute the air or endanger habitats.

Nuclear fission is another way to produce electricity. Nuclear fission not only makes atomic bombs, but also helps produce electricity by causing a chain reaction splitting a uranium nucleus which then turns the turbines.  We have all heard on the news about the dangers of this way of producing electricity when something goes wrong.  Although this does not happen often, it is still a danger.

As technology increases, there are new developments in how to use biowaste to produce electricity.  There are studies in how to use human waste to generate electricity.  This method is not yet widely used.

This is a basic overview of how electricity is generated and how you can begin to think about alternative ways of producing energy.  It is important to remember that there is an ever-growing need for electricity in today's world and that we pay a price for the energy, either in money, dependence, or our environment.