We used to talk about “renewable resources” and we meant things like trees that grow back after we’ve cut them down, or soil, which builds slowly over time. But since it’s obvious that even renewable resources can be overused past the point of recovery, that classification is slowly being replaced by the term “potentially renewable.” In other words, yes, a potentially renewable resource can be counted on to rebound, but only if it’s managed with wisdom. Potentially renewable energy resources include biomass resources, either plant material or animal waste. Whether it’s burned directly, like wood, or converted into liquid fuels like methanol that can be added to gasoline (gasohol), we’re counting on continually replacing the amount that we use for energy. In non-developed countries, using biomass fuel in the form of wood or charcoal for fires is common – about half of the wood that is harvested worldwide is burned as a cheap energy source. That this resource really is just “potentially” renewable is illustrated in the example of Haiti, on the country of Hispanola. Wood on Haiti is scarce now because it was at one time deforested to make charcoal for export. In an unfortunate chain reaction, the deforestation caused massive erosion, which choked the rivers. The sediment-laden rivers entered the harbors, degrading the quality of the water and destroying the fishing industry. Haiti remains one of the poorer nations in the world today.
Perpetual resources can be thought of as those that continue on whether we’re in the picture or not. For example, the amount of solar energy or tidal energy that exists will pretty much be the same whether we draw upon them for our own energy needs or not. Many people hope that increased use of perpetual energy resources will help wean us from our unhealthy dependence on fossil fuels. That’s a topic I’ll discuss more next week!
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