Scope

This guide is designed to aid searchers through the social, economic, and political perspectives of renewable energy. Searchers may also learn about renewable energy technologies including wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.

Overview

Encyclopedia of Environmental Issues
College Library Reference Collection: GE10 E52 2000
Refer to "Renewable Resources" in volume 2

Environmental Encyclopedia
College Library Reference Collection: GE10 E38 2003
Refer to "Renewable Energy" in volume 3

Energy Policy
College Library Reference Collection: AC1 R4 v.74 no.2
Refer to Part II "Energy Alternatives," p. 25-70

Renewable Energy Basics
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/renewables/index.html
The Consumer Energy Center provides basic definitions of renewable energy technologies, including diagrams of how they operate.

Finding Journal and News Articles

Below are links to databases that cover this subject area. The truncation symbol for all of them is an asterisk (*) unless otherwise noted.

Sample searches for databases:

"renewable energy" and <one of the following: water, wind, solar, automobiles, nuclear, geothermal>
hydrogen and "fuel cells"
"wind power"
"solar power"
"hydroelectric power" and renewable

Recommended Databases:

Academic Search 1984 - to date (updated daily)
This library database indexes approximately 3,100 popular magazines and academic journals and provides the full-text articles from approximately 1,000 journals. Basic instructions for Academic Search

Applied Science and Technology Abstracts 1983 - to date (updated quarterly)
The Applied Science and Technology Abstracts covers more than 400 English language scholarly and trade journals in the general fields of engineering, computers, chemistry, applied mathematics, energy, and a wide variety of applied sciences. Basic instructions for Applied Science and Technology Abstracts

CQ Researcher November 1991 - to date (updated weekly)
Contains weekly reports from Congressional Quarterly that cover the most current and controversial issues. Basic instructions for CQ Researcher

General Science Full Text 1984 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 150 popular and scholarly periodicals, as well as the Science section of the New York Times. Subjects include biology, chemistry, earth sciences, environment, nutrition, genetics, medicine and health. Basic instructions for General Science Full Text

Global NewsBank 1996 - to date (updated monthly)
Global NewsBank covers issues and events in Africa, Asia, Europe, the former Soviet Union, Pacific Rim, Central and South America and the Middle East. It is ideal for researching a wide variety of international developments related to politics, economics, science and business. The full-text news articles are from more than 1,500 international sources. Basic instructions for Global NewsBank

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center 1990 - to date (updated daily)
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (OVRC) includes the acclaimed social issues series published by Greenhaven Press, as well as core reference content from other Gale and Macmillan Reference USA sources and provides viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles.

ProQuest Research Library 1988 - to date (updated daily)
Indexes over 2,000 general-interest and academic journals. Nearly 1,000 periodicals are full-text. Dates vary, but many full-text journals go back to 1988. Basic instructions for ProQuest Research Library

Finding Books

MadCat
Books on renewable energy can be found in MadCat, the UW-Madison library catalog.

Sample keyword searches:

"renewable energy"
"energy conservation"
"alternative energy"
conservation and wind
conservation and water
conservation and solar
conservation and government
conservation and <place>
conservation and tech?
conservation and <year>
conservation and social
conservation and economic

Internet Sites

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
http://www.nrel.gov/
As part of the federal Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory focuses on research and development for energy efficiency and renewable energy.

EPA - Clean Energy
http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/
The Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Energy site.

United Nations Environment Programme
http://www.unep.org/
The United Nation's Environment Programme Activities in Sustainable Energy.

Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE)
http://www.dsireusa.org/
Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy lists federal, state, local, and utility renewable energy programs for all fifty states.

BP Global/Environment and Society/Renewable Energy
http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9002323&contentId=3072081
bp’s (formerly British Petroleum) input on renewable energy.

Statistics

2005 Wisconsin Energy Statistics
http://www.doa.state.wi.us/pagesubtext_detail.asp?linksubcatid=601&linkcatid=109&linkid=
Wisconsin’s energy statistics from the Department of Administration.

IEA Energy Statistics Homepage
http://www.iea.org/dbtw-wpd/Textbase/stats/index.asp
The International Energy Agency provides statistics on energy consumption for many countries.

Organizations

Renewable Energy Policy Project
http://www.crest.org/
Renewable Energy Policy Project aims to promote the use of renewable energy through policy analysis and the dissemination of information.

Midwest Renewable Energy Association
http://www.the-mrea.org/
The Midwest Renewable Energy Association is a non-profit organization which encourages information sharing among those interested in renewable energy. Their site includes many links to similar organizations under "Resource Library."

RENEW Wisconsin
http://www.renewwisconsin.org/
RENEW Wisconsin is a non-profit network of businesses, governmental agencies, and citizens dedicated to promoting renewable energy.

Center for Energy Efficient and Renewable Technologies
http://www.ceert.org/
The Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies promotes air quality through renewable energy technologies. The site provides comprehensive overviews of renewable energy technology.

Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/
The Natural Resources Defense Council provides renewable energy information in the form of newspaper articles, reports, policy analysis, and photographs.

Climate Institute
http://www.climate.org/topics/green/index.shtml
The Climate Institute promotes focuses on heightening awareness of climate change and promoting practical methods of emissions reduction. This link leads to their "Green Energy" page.

Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS)
http://www.iags.org/index.html
IAGS is a non-profit organization that promotes public awareness of geopolitical issues related to energy consumption. Includes reports on the relationship between fossil fuel and national security. Links to websites that deliver state, national, and international perspectives on renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.