Many nations use energy generated from burning fossil fuels like oil, coal and natural gas. However, with the rapid growth of population, the demand for energy is increasing and this means burning fossil fuels to create energy generates emissions such as carbon dioxide, and monoxide which in turn affects our environment, health and warms our planet. The long term use of fossil fuels is not viable, therefore, to combat the dependency on fossil fuels, renewable energy sources must be adopted to maintain the economic growth and development and to maintain the environment and prevents more risks of global warming. As it is stated by Turner (687) “we cannot continue to burn fossil fuels and somehow sequester the produced CO2 efficiently enough to actually address global warming.”Renewable energy is energy generated from natural sources, and it provides a clean, and feasible long-term alternative to fossil fuels. According to Mingyuan (356), “The legal definition for renewable energy involves any energy derived from the sun.” This energy sources replenishes over a period of time without depleting the Earth’s resources (David 106). Renewable energy provides long term social, environmental and economic benefits. Renewable energy lowers the energy costs, creates jobs, eliminates air pollution, promotes the growth and stability of the nation, and preserves the environment.
Another major advantage of renewable energy is that it can be regenerated, and this makes it sustainable because it can never run out. It helps conserve the nation’s natural resources because it is renewable after a period of time. Renewable energy provides steady sources of energy that is reliable, and therefore enhances energy security in a country and lowers the risk of fuel spills (Boyle 45).
Renewable energy sources produce clean power, and this protects our planet from pollution. It is very beneficial to the earth and its atmosphere because it is environmental friendly and produces little or no wastes which may be harmful to the environment. Renewable energy helps combat global warming because it produces clean energy which does not pollute the atmosphere. Generating renewable energy produces no greenhouse emissions while they are being used, and therefore it reduces air pollution. In addition, renewable energy eliminates health risks that are caused by non-renewable energy. Renewable energy sources produce less water and air pollutants thus clean water and environment for the people living on the land.
It promotes economic stability and growth of the country. This is because of the diverse renewable energy sources, and this makes the country less dependent on finite fossil fuels like oil that is normally imported. Moreover, it creates economic development through the creation of a lot of job opportunities during manufacturing of the energy, and the installation process. Localized renewable energy manufacturing plants creates permanent jobs in all parts of the country, and this provides a more equitable employment environment thus boosting the economy of a nation.
Most importantly, renewable energy saves our future generations to come. It helps stabilize energy prices thus making life affordable for people of all classes. The stability of energy prices eliminates future financial liabilities and health impacts. A healthy environment leads to a reduction of global warming, health issues and water and air contamination thus a healthy future for the generations to come.
On the other hand, even though renewable energy is a key component in addressing the current energy crisis and reducing pollution caused by fossil fuels, it will be very expensive for the government to build renewable energy facilities. Moreover, the cost of establishing infrastructures is far from cost effective, and it needs a lot of natural and human resources to maintain.
Another negative effect of renewable energy resources is the integration of the systems. The cost of installation is very high and can only yield profit after a considerable time. Setting up the equipments needed for generating electricity is relatively expensive. A lot of lands are needed in order to set up the machines, and this will be a problem to get the land for use. Moreover, it is not reliable because renewable energy is dependent on weather conditions at the time and the place of use.Wind turbines need wind to turn the blades, solar collectors need the sun in order to collect heat to generate electricity while hydro generators need rainfall to fill the dams in order to be able to supply the water or the water flow will not be enough.Renewable energy sources are not appropriate to all locations and applications. However, the negative effects are offset by the long term benefits of the use of renewable energy.
In conclusion, with the rapid population growth around the world, the need of energy is increasing on high rates. Renewable energy is the most reliable and beneficial resource globally, and to human individuals, and it will help cater for the growing population energy needs. It helps combat global warming and other problems associated with fossil fuels and promote the country’s growth and stability. In addition, it helps conserve the environment and should be considered throughout the world because of the potential impacts it has on the environment. Renewable energy is produced from natural resources that are renewable and thus does not pollute the environment. Therefore, renewable energy should be considered all over the world because of the potential impact we may have on the environment. Pfluger (331) affirms this by stating that, “Renewable energies can technically contribute to practically all sectors of energy demand; that is, fuel for transportation, electricity, low temperature heat for space heating and hot water and, to a limited degree, to high temperature process heat.” Renewable energy technologies are environmental friendly, clean, and an imperative step to the country’s independent energy future. Hence, renewable energy is the key answer for energy use, to guarantee our survival and the security of the future generation.
Works Cited
Boyle, Godfrey.Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future. Oxford:Oxford University
Press, 2012. Print.
David, Craddock. Renewable Energy Made Easy: Free Energy from Solar, Wind, Hydropower,
And Other Alternative Energy Sources.Ohio: Atlantic Publishing Group, 2008. Print.
Mingyuan, Wang. Government Incentives to Promote Renewable Energy in the United States.
Temple Journal of Sci. Tech. & Environmental Law, 24 (2005): 356-366. Print
Pfluger, Antonio. Renewable Energies: Challenges and Benefits. South Asian Survey, 17.2
(2010): 331-341. Print
Simon, Christopher A. Alternative Energy: Political, Economic, and Social Feasibility. Lanham,
Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 2006. Print.
Turner, John, A. A Realizable Renewable Energy Future. Science, 285 (1999): 687- 689.
