Fossil Fuels Do Too Much Harm

“Throughout the U.S, sunny skies, heat from the earth, our vast water supply, and powerful winds have the ability to provide a vast and constantly replenished energy resource supply. These distinct sources of renewable energy have the potential to provide all the electricity the nation needs many times over”. These reusable resources are far more superior than fossil fuels as they are not associated with the harmful gases emitted into our atmosphere. (Union of Concerned Scientists)

Although, reaching this will require much more than installing solar panels and financing projects, it would require the implementation of various laws as well as national initiative; the long term benefits of implementing such technology would far outweigh the short term detriments.

“Today, there is an ever increasing demand for energy and the non-renewable or conventional sources of energy are depleting fast. Energy is the motive power that keeps wheels of industry moving and other things live and dynamic”. (Renewable Sources of Energy- Evirtualguru) 1

The CVF Vision Forum expresses the fact that “poorer countries are already living the terrifying reality of climate change today and their very existence is on the line”. Thus it’s vital that the EU stands with them and other countries including the U.S follow suit to help avoid drastic gas emission. These gas emissions — 20 percent of all global carbon emissions come from the US making it the second biggest contributor after China– are the leading causes of global climate and it’s catastrophic increase (in number and ferocity) of hurricanes, flooding and droughts that societies around the world are currently experiencing. Ironically, “poorer nations are among the first to experience the harsh effects of a warming climate, and are hit the worst by natural disasters, despite being at the bottom of the list of countries contributing to emissions”. (The CVF Vision) Another validation that the U.S must begin taking firm initiative against the alarming rate of change to the Earth due to human-induced changes to the climate.

Although shifting to reusable energies will not be as simple as many believe, successfully implementing renewable energy use nationwide would pose numerous obstacles and would require the implementation of laws and national initiatives. However, numerous U.S cities and foreign nations have successfully transitioned to dominant renewable energy use, and their observations, obstacles, and rise to prosperity have the feasibility to guide the nation to future success.

The West Tulsa facilities very existence and the “success it has achieved over the last 30 years is a testament to the importance of reluctant leadership and dedicated environmental stewardship”. (Covanta Tulsa Celebrates 30 Years of Renewable Energy- Tulsa World) The company’s extensive experience conveys the incredible economical and environmental results of renewable energy use compared to fossil fuels. The west Tulsan facility has saved over 8 million tons of greenhouse gases, the equivalent of pulling 1.5 million cars off the road every year! This case alone, should pose as an invitation for others to follow in their footsteps; to follow a plan that has been more than efficient for the past 30 years.

Making this transition from dominant fossil fuel use to renewable energy use would minimize the aggregate national impact ($361.7-$886.5 billion), as well as respiratory implications, neurological damage, and ozone depletion related to extensive fossil fuel use. Considering hydro energy has already created 75,000 jobs, transitioning to getting 20 percent of our energy from wind would foster an estimated 425,000 more jobs. Let’s not disregard the fact that “twice as many medium- and high-credentialed jobs are created in the clean economy as in fossil fuels, and median salaries for green jobs are $46,343, or about $7,727 more than the median wages across the broader economy. As an added benefit, nearly half of these jobs employ workers with a less than a four-year college degree, which accounts for a full 70 percent of our workforce”(Clean Energy Creates Three Times More Jobs than Fossil Fuels- Kayankulam).

These statistics reaffirm the actuality that renewable energy creates three times more jobs than fossil fuels. According to a national study by CleanTechnica, job creation in clean energy outdoes fossil fuels by a margin of 3-to-1 — ¨every dollar put into clean energy creates three times as many jobs as putting that same dollar into oil and gas.” These objectives are undoubtedly feasible as numerous predecessors have outlined the constraints in renewable energy expansion, as well as the vital actions and investments required to inexpensively and successfully become a renewable energy efficient nation.

The Renewable Energy Focus Magazine, highlights the importance of renewable energy expansion and reveals the future constraints in renewable energy expansion to highlight the complexity of this goal. Stating ¨Geothermal sources offer more predictability and consistency, they are subject to certain geographical and geological constraints… as more distributed energy resources come on-line, there needs to be greater investment in grid infrastructure…and policy has to evolve.”

Lovell presents a legitimate step in solving the problem by suggesting that we must identify and analyze “which direction could, and should, our electricity generation strategy take, so that we may be for successful”, invest in technologies to store electricity more effectively, and evolve current policies. (Benefits of Renewable Energy use)

Sunlight, geothermal, hydrothermal, and solar energy uses are set to expand nationwide as they are increasing the workforce locally and nationwide, minimizing ozone depletion, and the numerous health implications tied to the emission of harmful gases produced by fossil fuels. The U.S and numerous foreign nations must continue to make strides in renewable energy expansion and work persistently in order to ensure mankind’s longevity on this planet. As “ground level ozone already contributes to over 1.5 million significant respiratory problems per year in children and adults” , climate-related costs rise to 730 billion within the U.S, and air pollution contributes to the loss of roughly 59,000 lives annually, it is vital that nations initiatives to protect mankind and ensure the planet for future generations. (Pr Fact Sheets to EPA Proposes Air Standards for Ozone- United States Environmental Protection Agency).

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