Even in the currently very divided U.S. political climate, public support for increasing our use of renewable energy sources is one thing that most of us do agree on. Some are concerned about pollution. Others are concerned about the national security risk posed by relying on other countries for our energy needs. Whatever the reason, according to a 2016 study from the Pew Research Center, 89% of the public supports expanding our solar power efforts, including 83% of those who identify as conservative Republicans and 97% of liberal Democrats. Additionally, 83% of thoe polled support increasing our use of wind power.
The results are much more divided when it comes to support for nonrenewable energy sources like offshore drilling (52% oppose while 45% are in favor of expansion in this area) and coal mining (57% are opposed and 41% are in favor of expansion). The responses were heavily divided along political party lines: the majority of Conservative Republicans were in favor of expanding offshore drilling (76% in favor) and coal mining (73% in favor) while only 26% and 14% of liberal Democrats supported increases in offshore drilling and coal mining, respectively.
So what are the benefits of renewable energy? And how can you, as an individual, support renewable energy efforts?
What Is Renewable Energy?
As a country, the US relies heavily on coal, oil, and natural gas for our energy needs. These energy sources are called fossil fuels because they are literally derived from fossils, or the decomposition of dead organisms over millions of years. As you may have guessed, these fossils are a nonrenewable resource. Their supply is finite.
Luckily for us, we have a 3.8 x 1026 Watt energy source (that’s 38 followed by 25 zeroes) constantly shining down on us that’s not going anywhere, at least not for another ~4.5 billion years. The Sun! According to NASA scientists, if we built a bridge of ice that was 2 miles wide, 1 mile thick, and extended all the way from the Earth to the Sun, the Sun produces enough energy to melt that bridge in a single second.
Other renewable energy sources linked to the sun include wind power, biomass energy, and even ocean energy. The Sun heats the surface of the Earth unevenly, due to the different absorption rates of land vs water, for example. This uneven heating in turn produces the motion in the air from which wind power can be derived. Plants also absorb energy from the Sun through photosynthesis, and this energy is released when the plant is burned in the form of biomass energy. The ocean also serves as a source of energy – thermal energy from heating of the water by the Sun, but also mechanical energy in the form of waves and tides.
There are also other forms of renewable energy that are not directly linked to the Sun. Geothermal energy, for example, is derived from our planet’s internal heat. And hydropower taps into the energy produced by flowing water.
What Are the Benefits of Renewable Energy?
Perhaps the most obvious reason for looking toward renewable energy sources to fulfill our energy needs is that they are renewable. Unless our demand for fossil fuels sees a dramatic decrease, the laws of supply and demand dictate that their cost will increase as supplies begin to dwindle. Perhaps even worse, we may resort to riskier and potentially more environmentally damaging ways to extract these resources from our planet.
Not only are renewable energy sources not going to run out, but they are also equal opportunity energy providers. They are available everywhere, unlike fossil fuels, thus eliminating the need to rely on other countries for help with our energy supply and undercutting the catalyst for wars fought over claims to the resources.
Renewable energy resources also tend to have a smaller carbon footprint than nonrenewables. They are cleaner as far as greenhouse gas emissions, and wind and solar power specifically do not require large amounts of water. The public health benefits of cleaner energy sources are also widespread. Health issues like breathing problems, heart attacks, and even cancer have been linked to the air and water pollution produced by coal and natural gas plants. These health benefits have been linked to economic benefits as well. Fewer pollution-derived health issues leads to lower healthcare costs and fewer worker sick days.
Furthering the positive economic impact, shifting towards renewable energy sources has the potential to create jobs, especially in rural areas. In fact, there are already twice as many people working in solar power than there are coal miners in the U.S.
Finally, a really important benefit of moving toward an increased emphasis on renewable energy sources is that we already have the technology in place. We don’t have to wait for some new invention to show us the way. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 13% of the electricity generation in the U.S. in 2015 came from renewables, the majority of that being from hydropower and wind. Coal and natural gas each contributed 33%.
How Can You Support Renewable Energy?
If you are among the ~85% of the US population that is sold on renewable energy, there are a range of steps that you can take as an individual. Do you own a home? Opt for deriving your power from renewable energy by, for example, installing solar panels. You will save money on utility bills, help the environment, and get a solar tax credit.
If you’re not a home owner, or if such a large investment in renewable energy is not possible for you, there are still many ways that you can support clean energy. You can simply use less energy yourself. One of the biggest disadvantages for renewable energy is that it can be unpredictable – there are cloudy days when the wind doesn’t blow. This issue of intermittency, however, can be alleviated if our overall energy demands are lower.
Other ways of supporting renewable energy efforts include patronizing businesses who are themselves invested in renewable energy, donating to agencies or companies conducting renewable energy research, and even purchasing your own green energy credits to offset your emissions. Supporting efforts in environmental journalism, either through readership or through promotion on whatever platform you have (tell your friends!) also helps support the renewable energy cause. And of course, vote for candidates who promote renewable energy. Call your representatives in Congress to let them know your vote will take their record on renewable energy into consideration.
Moving more towards renewable energy may feel like a large shift for the U.S., but there is growing evidence that it can be done. Burlington, Vermont recently became the first U.S. city to draw 100% of its power from renewable sources, including biomass, wind turbines, solar panels, and a hydroelectric power plant. There is a lot to gain from a shift toward renewable energy, so let’s hope that the US isn’t the last country to grab a seat at the table.
Until next time, this is Sabrina Stierwalt with Everyday Einstein’s Quick and Dirty Tips for helping you make sense of science. You can become a fan of Everyday Einstein on Facebook or follow me on Twitter, where I’m @QDTeinstein. If you have a question that you’d like to see on a future episode, send me an email at everydayeinstein@quickanddirtytips.com.
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