The demand for an efficient renewable energy source is a driving force in ongoing research. Thermal energy conversion is one such potential source that is under constant study and offers endless possibilities. The two requirements of energy production are efficiency and renewability. Many possibilities exist for energy production, including: fossil fuels (natural gas, oil, coal, oil shale), nuclear, solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and waste, and hydroelectricity. The efficiency of using these resources is directly related to the location and the demand there. For example, Hawaii is an ideal candidate for utilizing mechanical wave action, ocean thermal gradient, wind, and biomass from high levels of plant growth. The demand for an alternative energy source comes from Hawaii's dependence on oil that must be transported there. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is the utilization of energy stored in the world's oceans by the thermal gradient created. The thermal gradient is the difference between the temperature of the ocean surface heated by solar energy and that of water at significantly cooler depths. This thermal gradient is the source of energy that is converted into usable energy by OTEC plants. The idea of ​​using the thermal energy of the oceans is attributed to several visionaries, including Jacques D'Arsonval, a French engineer, in 1881. The temperature difference needed for an OTEC plant is approximately 36 degrees F (20 degrees C). Temperature differences of this value are readily available in many places around the world. The areas shown in red on the map above produce the best areas for OTEC sites due to the stability of warm weather throughout...... middle of paper ...... be potentially exploited for one of the municipalities adjacent to the pipeline?Arctic North Slope Borough - 179.2 mi.Fairbanks North Star Borough - 89.1 mi.Town of Delta Junction - 5.5 mi.Town of Valdez - 20 .8 mi. Could the pipeline at least help power one of the ten pumping stations along its winding path? The heat exchange in either of the above two systems is unlikely to produce a sufficient amount of energy to generate electricity. The temperature of the oil when extracted is approximately 160°F and the flowing temperature is approximately 140°F. These temperatures must be maintained so that the oil remains in a sufficiently viscous state to be transported with some efficiency. This investigation into the potential use of excess heat produced as a by-product, however, opens the door to other possibilities..