Nowadays we often hear news about renewable energy, investment plans for wind power, solar power to produce electricity. President Obama and his cabinet announced that the government would invest into new energy technologies and sources more.
Based on the data of the US Department of Energy, U.S. electric power comes from coal (46.1%), Nuclear (21%), Natural Gas (20.5%), Hydroelectric (7%), Renewable (4.1%), and Petroleum (1.2%)[1]. As it can be seen easily, the major source for electricity is coal in USA. There are many motives for governments to invest new technologies such as reducing bills, clean and better environment, insufficient coal source in the future, and new jobs for people, and secure energy for everybody.
From ancient history to today, humanity has been used and consumed energy sources. Especially with the Industrial Revolution, some nations, without caring about the environment, used coal as a major energy source in many fields. In the 20th century technology development started to accelerate enormously to make people’s life facilitate. New transportation vehicles, electronic devices, new mass production methods have all been invented for people. While people have been having some facilitation in their life, the earth has been polluted increasingly. There are millions of cars, buses, trains, planes, and many more which use petroleum in transportation and petroleum reserves are decreasing by time. That kind of energy sources have been always reasons for wars in the history and today. In today’s world all our lives depend on energy, we use it in lighting, heating, communication, transportation, etc. We have to find new ways for our unlimited demands under limited energy sources.
Obama’s government has some goals on this issue like to meet 25% of the nation’s energy needs from the renewable sources by 2025 which is today around 11.1%. Government plans to approve some projects on building solar plants which they hope to create 50000 more jobs by 2011[2]. Obama, in his speech, mentioned to invest into renewable energy in billions dollars in 10 years time. He called it “win-win” theory which is good not only for environment but also for economy. Another as much important issue as creating renewable energy is to prevent energy loss in transmission network. They are also required to be renewed by time to prevent energy loss.
In fact this issue is not only in the agenda of USA, members and candidates of European Union decided to promote renewable energy before USA and countries in that organization put some laws concerning new energy sources into effect and took some measurements about this issue. Energy sources, climate change, renewable energy, pollution of environment are global problems and concerns. Each nation has to take care of this problem. The cleaner energy source the better life for everybody to live.
Decisions and plans of new government is late but not worse to implement. Steps taken by the government in this regard should be supported. These steps will be not only beneficial for people living in USA but they will also be useful for people breathing in the world.
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