Electricity is a form of energy. Electrical energy is generated from other forms of energy such as the chemical energy in fossil fuels, the motion energy of wind and water or from solar energy. The way we generate electricity raises both ethical and sustainability issues.
34.1 Ethical issues
An ethical issue is about whether something is morally right or wrong. Look at the following examples.
Fig. 1 A wind farm
Fig. 2 Radioactive nuclear waste
Fig. 3 A coal sludge dam which holds liquid and solid wastes from coal mining, including toxic chemicals that can seep into local water supplies.
1. Should we install wind turbines in a scenic area? Wind turbines generate electricity without producing harmful emissions but many people feel that they spoil the countryside and produce a lot of noise.
2. Should we use nuclear power to generate electricity? Nuclear power produces vast amounts of energy and reduces our dependence on fossil fuel. However, it generates toxic nuclear waste that will remain radioactive for thousands of years.
3. Should we mine for coal? Coal is a cheap way of generating electricity and provides employment but mining damages the environment and burning coal pollutes the air.
If something is considered to be morally right then it is considered to be ethical. If something is considered to be morally wrong then it is considered to be unethical.
34.2 Sustainability issues
Sustainability means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. When examining the sustainability of an energy source we must look at three different aspects. These are called the three pillars of sustainability:
