ENVS 119 – Energy and the Environment | San José State University | Final Study Guide 2025
– Complete Review of Renewable Energy, Climate Policy, and Biofuels
Main differences between Brazil and US Ethanol? Brazil is considered to have the world's
first sustainable biofuels economy and the biofuel industry leader, a policy model for other
countries; and its sugarcane ethanol "the most successful alternative fuel to date.The United
States became the world's largest producer of ethanol fuel in 2005
Why are biofuels a serious option to consider when it comes to climate change policies? Why,
so far, most of the outcomes have been minimal? Large-scale deforestation of mature trees
Increased use of biofuels puts increasing pressure on water resources
Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and other aldehydes are produced when alcohols are oxidized
What is the primary energy source of most of current liquid fuels (Gasoline, Diesel, jet fuel...)
Petroleum
What are the key challenges to California's geothermal energy industry and what are the
emerging trends? overcoming the technical challenges of developing new geothermal
resources in California serves as a bellwether for the expansion of geothermal resources across
the nation.
Where does geothermal energy come from? Geothermal energy is the heat from the Earth.
It's clean and sustainable.
Define the 3 primary drivers that lead to geothermal energy. Resources of geothermal
energy range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the
Earth's surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high temperatures of molten rock
called magma
, What are the potential environmental risks attached to geothermal? Water Quality and Use,
Air Emissions, Land Use
Why CA has had a very slow increase of Geothermal energy? (think water and earthquakes...)
Electricity can be generated from high temperature geothermal resources by using the
thermal (heated) water and steam to move turbines that in turn run electrical generators and
produce electricity. There are several types of geothermal power plants that can be used to
generate electricity, including dry steam, flash or double flash, and binary cycle power plants.
What part of total renewable electricity is generated from geothermal power plants in CA?
5.69%
What are the key challenges to deploying commercial grade wave / tidal power? You've got
all those cost issues of working in the ocean that offshore wind illustrates, and then you've got
[an energy] conversion technology that really no one seems to have settled on a design that is
robust, reliable, and efficient.
What is the primary force for tidal energy? gravity
Is wave energy intermittent (as wind and solar) or is it more stable? More stable/reliable
Who is Lovins? American physicist, environmental scientist, writer, and Chairman/Chief
Scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute. He has worked in the field of energy policy and
related areas for four decades
Define the concept of « Negawatt » A measure of energy efficiency that refers to a
megawatt of power avoided or saved.
What motivates people to conserve energy? That suggests that many Americans would use
less electricity if informed of the environmental benefits, not just the economic. Increased
– Complete Review of Renewable Energy, Climate Policy, and Biofuels
Main differences between Brazil and US Ethanol? Brazil is considered to have the world's
first sustainable biofuels economy and the biofuel industry leader, a policy model for other
countries; and its sugarcane ethanol "the most successful alternative fuel to date.The United
States became the world's largest producer of ethanol fuel in 2005
Why are biofuels a serious option to consider when it comes to climate change policies? Why,
so far, most of the outcomes have been minimal? Large-scale deforestation of mature trees
Increased use of biofuels puts increasing pressure on water resources
Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and other aldehydes are produced when alcohols are oxidized
What is the primary energy source of most of current liquid fuels (Gasoline, Diesel, jet fuel...)
Petroleum
What are the key challenges to California's geothermal energy industry and what are the
emerging trends? overcoming the technical challenges of developing new geothermal
resources in California serves as a bellwether for the expansion of geothermal resources across
the nation.
Where does geothermal energy come from? Geothermal energy is the heat from the Earth.
It's clean and sustainable.
Define the 3 primary drivers that lead to geothermal energy. Resources of geothermal
energy range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the
Earth's surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high temperatures of molten rock
called magma
, What are the potential environmental risks attached to geothermal? Water Quality and Use,
Air Emissions, Land Use
Why CA has had a very slow increase of Geothermal energy? (think water and earthquakes...)
Electricity can be generated from high temperature geothermal resources by using the
thermal (heated) water and steam to move turbines that in turn run electrical generators and
produce electricity. There are several types of geothermal power plants that can be used to
generate electricity, including dry steam, flash or double flash, and binary cycle power plants.
What part of total renewable electricity is generated from geothermal power plants in CA?
5.69%
What are the key challenges to deploying commercial grade wave / tidal power? You've got
all those cost issues of working in the ocean that offshore wind illustrates, and then you've got
[an energy] conversion technology that really no one seems to have settled on a design that is
robust, reliable, and efficient.
What is the primary force for tidal energy? gravity
Is wave energy intermittent (as wind and solar) or is it more stable? More stable/reliable
Who is Lovins? American physicist, environmental scientist, writer, and Chairman/Chief
Scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute. He has worked in the field of energy policy and
related areas for four decades
Define the concept of « Negawatt » A measure of energy efficiency that refers to a
megawatt of power avoided or saved.
What motivates people to conserve energy? That suggests that many Americans would use
less electricity if informed of the environmental benefits, not just the economic. Increased
