energy

Overview

“The nation that leads in renewable energy will be the nation that leads the world.” – James Cameron, Environmentalist and Filmmaker 

No matter how quiet we get, there always seems to be a buzz surrounding us. We hear it in our homes, schools, offices, even on calm, dimly-lit streets. It’s the hum of energy at work powering our world. 

The buzz is only getting louder. With global population on the rise and industrialized economies growing, demand for energy is skyrocketing. At the same time, we are running out of fossil fuels, the primary source of energy for the last 100 years. Fossil fuels are made up of the remains of long-dead animals and will not renew themselves any time soon. Fossil fuels are, by nature, a limited resource and someday (soon), there will be none left.

Fossil fuels, such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas, hurt the planet in numerous ways — emitting tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, polluting our air, and threatening human health. 

Fortunately, fossil fuels are not the only form of energy available. Wind, water, and the sun are all sources of renewable energy that can be utilized without most negative consequences of fossil fuels. Renewable means we can continue using these resources and they will never run out. These are so important because renewables are among the best ways to slow the rate of climate change.

In the past, technological and economic concerns limited energy possibility, but these obstacles are quickly disappearing. New technological developments in renewable energy are made every day and prices for solar and wind power have dropped dramatically over the past several years. Countries are enacting bold plans to seize the opportunity. For example, the UK now produces more renewable energy than fossil fuels, while China recently became the world’s largest producer of wind and solar energy, and South Africa began to transition from coal directly to renewables. So what is standing in the way of renewable energy becoming the dominant power source in the United States? 

In the US, the fossil fuel industry has a lot of power in government and is able to influence energy policies. However, recently, there have been new movements supporting renewable energy. 

One major movement is the Green New Deal, a comprehensive plan and pair of 2019 resolutions to transition the economy away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy. Many states and cities have already taken a first step by enacting versions of the Green New Deal locally.

While working on large scale systematic change to ensure a renewable energy future, what can we do about fossil fuel use right now? Most of us are not able to choose where the energy for our home or car comes from, but you can talk to family members and housemates about switching to a renewable energy provider.

Regardless, a key way to make a difference in your own life is to reduce the amount of energy you use on a daily basis, by doing everything from turning off lights to taking public transportation, and much more. Together, we can cut our consumption of fossil fuels, as we work to ensure they soon become a thing of the past. Such a world is possible! 

When global transportation and industry were forced to hit pause at the start of COVID-19, we saw immediate effects of reduced fossil fuel use on the environment. Pollution levels dropped, rivers cleared, and wildlife returned to, explored and flourished in urban and suburban areas. It is vital to note that however “good” any temporary “benefits” may seem, they came at the tragically steep cost of jobs, livelihoods and lives — and therefore are not a sustainable form of change. However, the pandemic has offered a glimpse into what a less-fossil fuel centric future could look like and provide reassurance that reducing fossil fuel use can cause rapid positive change.