As our world continues to grow in population, it also grows in energy consumption. According to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, fossil fuels—coal, oil, and natural gas—are the largest source of energy. The use of these fuels causes significant climate, environmental and health issues. On top of that, non-renewable energy has a large number of costs that go into extraction, transportation, refining and burning. According to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, “Renewable energy is energy produced from sources like the sun and wind that are naturally replenished and do not run out.” Non-renewable energy, on the other hand, is produced from finite sources, meaning it is constantly costing us money and could be used up in the future. The advantages that come with renewable energy are great, giving us the opportunity to improve our economy, environment and health.
Based on studies taken by the EESI, the externalities associated with our current energy sources cause many climate problems. When fossil fuels are burned, they emit greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. This process leads to ocean acidification as carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuels gets absorbed by the ocean, resulting in a change in its pH levels. This is a threat to marine life, coral reefs, fishing, tourism and the economy.
EESI’s study also found that fossil fuels contribute to air, water, plastic and oil pollution. Air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, mercury and more are all harmful to the environment and the human body. This can cause damage to crops, forests, wildlife, humans, etcetera. Over 99% of plastics are created from fossil fuels. About 300 million tons of plastic are produced each year; about 14 million tons of that will end up in our oceans, killing wildlife and polluting fishing grounds. Oil pollution, or oil spills, can be caused by fossil fuel extraction and transportation. The EESI stated:
“The largest oil spill in history, the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon spill, released 134 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 people and countless birds, turtles, fish, marine mammals, and plants—and cost BP $65 billion in penalties and cleanup costs.”
In 2019, the Energy Information Administration found that fossil fuels accounted for 74% of US greenhouse gas emissions. About 25% of those emissions came from just the extraction and transportation processes. The United States Senate Committee on the Budget estimated that taxpayers pay about $20 billion every year to the fossil fuel industry, all of which is invested in the continuous search, collection, and processing of a finite material, a finite material that has renewable counterparts.
The advantages of renewable energy are numerous and can help improve our environment and economy. To combat all the negative effects caused by using fossil fuels, renewable energy sources would help lower greenhouse gas emissions and end the use of fossil fuels once and for all. Humanity can fix the carbon footprint we have created, stop the eradication of our planet’s natural life and start contributing to a healthier atmosphere for humans and wildlife.
If preventing the destruction of our world isn’t enough to convince you that renewable energy is the better choice, it also won’t run out. Renewable energy uses resources from the environment, such as sunlight or water, to generate power. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are constantly getting harder and harder to obtain, which will also likely increase their cost and environmental impact. Renewable energy also has much lower maintenance requirements. The reason behind this is that generating technologies, such as wind turbines or solar panels, have little to no moving parts and are not fueled with flammable sources. The less maintenance you have, the less time and money you spend.
Speaking of money, renewable energy is a better long-term investment. You will save on maintenance, as stated before, as well as operation. Imagine never having to refuel again because everything that you had running on coal and gasoline is now run by the sun, wind or steam. With the use of renewable energy, we as a country can also stop relying on other countries for energy sources. This means less imported energy and more US energy independence. And with the introduction of US energy independence comes US jobs. According to EnergySage, the small shift to renewable energy we have today has employed three times as many people as fossil fuels in the US. If we continue to increase renewable energy use, this number will rise as well. Plus, more jobs mean an economic boom.
It is time we put an end to fossil fuels, or at least start to cut back. Relying on these nonrenewable energy sources is ruining our environment and health. Renewable energy is a game changer, being clean and infinite. So, it is time to make the switch and build a better, brighter future for everyone.
Presley Zimmerman can be reached at [email protected]