 |
 The simplest, cheapest and most effective way to meet our growing energy needs is to increase our use of efficiency. Upping efficiency will dramatically reduce the amount of energy needed-- making new coal plants unnecessary and saving consumers, businesses, and industry money. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that local governments can save $3.4 billion with energy efficiency measures. |
|
If the U.S. committed to a 20% by 2020 RES, more than 820,000 jobs would be created, according to a Blue Green Alliance report (The Blue Green Alliance is comprised of the Sierra Club and the United Steelworkers). According to a study from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), this 20% by 2020 renewable electricity standard (RES) would also create $66.7 billion in new capital investment, $25.6 billion in income to farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners, and $2 billion in new local tax revenues. It would also save consumers $10.5 billion in lower electricity and natural gas bills by 2020 (growing to $31.8 billion by 2030). |
|
Wind energy is the fastest-growing source of power on the planet. Already, wind turbines in this country produce enough electricity to meet the needs of more than 1 million households. According to the American Wind Energy Association, the U.S. wind power expanded the nation's total wind power generating capacity by 45% in 2007, which added jobs and injected an investment of more than $9 billion into the economy. Those whose land is home to wind turbines earn money - Renew Wisconsin reports that farmers in Wisconsin who have turbines on their land earn $4,000 to $5,000 per year per turbine. |
|
The sun is the ultimate source of energy. A January 2008 Wall Street Journal article cited stated that, "(Solar power) [a]dditions are expected to roughly double this year. Large commercial solar installations now exceed home installations in California, reversing a long-term pattern and likely a bellwether for other states." According to UCS, all the energy stored in the earth's reserves of coal, oil, and natural gas is equal to the energy from only 20 days of sunshine. |
|
Sustainably using natural materials like waste wood for power - called biomass - is another growing sector of renewable energy. According to UCS and the U.S. Department of Energy, "tripling U.S. use of biomass energy could provide as much as $20 billion in new income for farmers and rural communities and reduce global warming emissions by the same amount as taking 70 million cars off the road. |
Committing to clean, renewable energy does not just create jobs - it creates jobs that will stay in the U.S., such as solar panel and wind turbine installers. Renewable energy such as wind and solar power also produce no carbon emissions, making it a genuinely clean way to fight global warming. And RES will also help secure energy independence for the U.S. by cutting our addiction to oil. We can rely on our own plentiful sources of clean energy right here at home.
|
