Editor’s note: Today’s letters to the editor are from Southwest Junior High students learning about persuasive writing.

To the editor:

We have to find a new source of energy. We can use hydroelectricity and wind energy. We can also use solar energy just like my school is doing right now. Southwest generated enough energy to power 39 houses for one day, according to our Solar4RSchools touch screen console.

If we were to switch to alternative sources of fuel, then we might inspire the rest of the nation to switch to alternative fuel sources. It only cost $3 to $4 dollars per watt for solar panels according to EcoBusinessLinks.com

If we were to use hydroelectricity. Altenergy.org says “Modern hydro turbines can convert as much as 90 percent of the available energy into electricity. The best fossil fuel plants are only about 50 percent efficient.” I think that says that hydro power is more efficient than fossil fuel.

If we were to use wind energy, one thing is that it is renewable and we don’t have to go off shore to get this energy. according to American Wind Energy Association “Today, people are realizing that wind power ‘is one of the most promising new energy sources’ that can serve as an alternative to fossil fuel-generated electricity. As of 1999, global wind energy capacity topped 10,000 megawatts, which is approximately 16 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. That’s enough to serve over five cities the size of Miami, according to altenergy.org

There are a lot of ways to create alternative energy. So we should switch now.

Ian Gabel

Southwest Junior High School