Dylan Wang—8Br
Ms. Willis
English
January 14, 2015 Renewable Energy According to CO2now.org, in 2013, more than thirty million metric tons of CO2 was emitted into the atmosphere. If this trend continues, by 2050, the earth’s atmosphere will be poisonous for humans, capable of killing up to 6 million every year (Plumer para. 2). For this reason, everyone needs to use renewable energy-solar, geothermal, wind, hydropower, and biomass. Benefits will range from stable energy prices, practically no emissions, improved public health and environmental quality, an inexhaustible energy supply, economic benefits, and a reliable energy system. A renewable energy source on average, produces less energy than coal or natural gas. To make up this disadvantage, nearly no pollution, also known as emissions are emitted. Compared to coal, which emits between 2.4-3.6 lbs. of CO2 for a kilowatt-hour (CO2E/kWh) or natural gas, which emits 0.6-2lbs. per CO2E/kWh, both types power up 66.5 percent of the United States of America’s energy demand. Wind produces between 0.02-0.04 lbs. per CO2E/kWh, solar power produces 0.07-0.2 lbs. per CO2E/kWh, geothermal 0.1 to 0.2, hydroelectric 0.1 to 0.5, and biomass depends on the resource and how it was harvested (Public Benefits of Renewable para. 4). Should renewable energy sources replace the current coal and natural gas producers, there will be an 81 percent decrease in emissions released (Public Benefits of Renewable para. 5). With the decrease in emissions, there will be many public health and environmental benefits (benefits of renewable para. 1). However, compared to coal or natural gas, the cost of producing windmills or solar panels are much more expensive. But, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), replacing coal or natural gas producers with renewable sources could have health benefits exceeding the cost required (Clean Power Plan Benefits para. 2). One example would be the Clean Power Plan, a project the EPA undertook during the Obama administration. With current interest towards the less affluent people, who are also the most effected by the emissions, forced to live near these factories due to prices. In addition, with projected outcomes that oil will run out by the middle of the 21st century and coal by late 21st century, renewable energy on the other hand, will last indefinitely(When will oil run out para. 2). Although these problems will not fall on our generation, it will fall on our children’s generation. By having an indefinite energy sources, it is possible to negate these problems and prolong our oil and coal life span. Also, with no growing demand for another countries energy source, there will be no need to go to war, which is what happened for Iraq (Ahmed para. 7). With many renewable energy sources, it causes the destruction of earth’s naturalness with windmills, geothermal plants, and dams (Four Pros and Cons of Renewable Energy para. 6). It has been shown that in the long-run, the pollution caused by coal and natural gas can damage our biosphere, with acid rain and incorrect soil acidity levels, caused by runoff will be far worse than disrupting fish migration, which there have already been inventions to solve such problems that are currently in field test mode (Nuwer para. 2). With windmills lowering land value, creating negative externalities to nearby neighbors. These problems are negated when one thinks of the long-term benefits to the economy since the growing demand for renewable energy has been increasing, it has, made a growing job market to engineers, who must repair and checkup on windmills, solar panels, or dams which must happen more often than the often mechanized coal or natural gas factories (Public Benefits of Renewable Energy para. 16). In addition, creating the windmills and solar panels must be handmade as of now due to their fragility (Four pros and cons of renewable energy para. 8). This creates another job market for