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The U.S. electricity supply is made up of a wide variety of energy resources. However, not all resources have the same environmental benefits and costs.

Green power  is a subset of renewable energy. It represents those renewable energy resources and technologies that provide the greatest environmental benefit. Within the U.S. voluntary market, green power is defined as electricity produced from solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass, and low-impact small hydroelectric sources. To qualify as green power, this renewable electricity must also go above and beyond what is otherwise required by mandate or requirement. In other words, green power is voluntary, or surplus to regulation. Customers often buy green power for its zero-emissions profile and carbon footprint reduction benefits.

Renewable energy  includes resources that rely on fuel sources that restore themselves over short periods of time and do not diminish. Such fuel sources include the sun, wind, moving water, organic plant and waste material (eligible biomass), and the earth's heat (geothermal). While the benefits of renewable energy are substantial, some renewable energy technologies can have impacts on the environment. For example, large hydroelectric resources can have environmental trade-offs on such issues as fisheries and land use.

Conventional power  includes the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) and the nuclear fission of uranium. Fossil fuels have environmental costs from mining, drilling, or extraction, and they emit greenhouse gases and air pollution during combustion. Although nuclear power generation emits no greenhouse gases during power generation, it does require mining, extraction, and long-term radioactive waste storage.

The following graphic depicts how the U.S. voluntary market defines green power based on its relative environmental benefits.

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Home — Essay Samples — Science — Energy — Importance Of Green Energy

Importance of Green Energy

• Categories: Energy

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Published: Jun 13, 2024

Words: 741 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

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Environmental benefits, economic advantages, social implications.

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• ENVIRONMENT

Renewable energy, explained

Solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, and geothermal power can provide energy without the planet-warming effects of fossil fuels.

In any discussion about climate change , renewable energy usually tops the list of changes the world can implement to stave off the worst effects of rising temperatures. That's because renewable energy sources such as solar and wind don't emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming .

Clean energy has far more to recommend it than just being "green." The growing sector creates jobs , makes electric grids more resilient, expands energy access in developing countries, and helps lower energy bills. All of those factors have contributed to a renewable energy renaissance in recent years, with wind and solar setting new records for electricity generation .

For the past 150 years or so, humans have relied heavily on coal, oil, and other fossil fuels to power everything from light bulbs to cars to factories. Fossil fuels are embedded in nearly everything we do, and as a result, the greenhouse gases released from the burning of those fuels have reached historically high levels .

As greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere that would otherwise escape into space, average temperatures on the surface are rising . Global warming is one symptom of climate change, the term scientists now prefer to describe the complex shifts affecting our planet’s weather and climate systems. Climate change encompasses not only rising average temperatures but also extreme weather events, shifting wildlife populations and habitats, rising seas , and a range of other impacts .

Of course, renewables—like any source of energy—have their own trade-offs and associated debates. One of them centers on the definition of renewable energy. Strictly speaking, renewable energy is just what you might think: perpetually available, or as the U.S. Energy Information Administration puts it, " virtually inexhaustible ." But "renewable" doesn't necessarily mean sustainable, as opponents of corn-based ethanol or large hydropower dams often argue. It also doesn't encompass other low- or zero-emissions resources that have their own advocates, including energy efficiency and nuclear power.

Types of renewable energy sources

Hydropower: For centuries, people have harnessed the energy of river currents, using dams to control water flow. Hydropower is the world's biggest source of renewable energy by far, with China, Brazil, Canada, the U.S., and Russia the leading hydropower producers . While hydropower is theoretically a clean energy source replenished by rain and snow, it also has several drawbacks.

Large dams can disrupt river ecosystems and surrounding communities , harming wildlife and displacing residents. Hydropower generation is vulnerable to silt buildup, which can compromise capacity and harm equipment. Drought can also cause problems. In the western U.S., carbon dioxide emissions over a 15-year period were 100 megatons higher than they normally would have been, according to a 2018 study , as utilities turned to coal and gas to replace hydropower lost to drought. Even hydropower at full capacity bears its own emissions problems, as decaying organic material in reservoirs releases methane.

Dams aren't the only way to use water for power: Tidal and wave energy projects around the world aim to capture the ocean's natural rhythms. Marine energy projects currently generate an estimated 500 megawatts of power —less than one percent of all renewables—but the potential is far greater. Programs like Scotland’s Saltire Prize have encouraged innovation in this area.

Wind: Harnessing the wind as a source of energy started more than 7,000 years ago . Now, electricity-generating wind turbines are proliferating around the globe, and China, the U.S., and Germany are the leading wind energy producers. From 2001 to 2017 , cumulative wind capacity around the world increased to more than 539,000 megawatts from 23,900 mw—more than 22 fold.

Some people may object to how wind turbines look on the horizon and to how they sound, but wind energy, whose prices are declining , is proving too valuable a resource to deny. While most wind power comes from onshore turbines, offshore projects are appearing too, with the most in the U.K. and Germany. The first U.S. offshore wind farm opened in 2016 in Rhode Island, and other offshore projects are gaining momentum . Another problem with wind turbines is that they’re a danger for birds and bats, killing hundreds of thousands annually , not as many as from glass collisions and other threats like habitat loss and invasive species, but enough that engineers are working on solutions to make them safer for flying wildlife.

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Solar: From home rooftops to utility-scale farms, solar power is reshaping energy markets around the world. In the decade from 2007 and 2017 the world's total installed energy capacity from photovoltaic panels increased a whopping 4,300 percent .

In addition to solar panels, which convert the sun's light to electricity, concentrating solar power (CSP) plants use mirrors to concentrate the sun's heat, deriving thermal energy instead. China, Japan, and the U.S. are leading the solar transformation, but solar still has a long way to go, accounting for around two percent of the total electricity generated in the U.S. in 2017. Solar thermal energy is also being used worldwide for hot water, heating, and cooling.

Biomass: Biomass energy includes biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel , wood and wood waste, biogas from landfills, and municipal solid waste. Like solar power, biomass is a flexible energy source, able to fuel vehicles, heat buildings, and produce electricity. But biomass can raise thorny issues.

Critics of corn-based ethanol , for example, say it competes with the food market for corn and supports the same harmful agricultural practices that have led to toxic algae blooms and other environmental hazards. Similarly, debates have erupted over whether it's a good idea to ship wood pellets from U.S. forests over to Europe so that it can be burned for electricity. Meanwhile, scientists and companies are working on ways to more efficiently convert corn stover , wastewater sludge , and other biomass sources into energy, aiming to extract value from material that would otherwise go to waste.

Geothermal: Used for thousands of years in some countries for cooking and heating, geothermal energy is derived from the Earth’s internal heat . On a large scale, underground reservoirs of steam and hot water can be tapped through wells that can go a mile deep or more to generate electricity. On a smaller scale, some buildings have geothermal heat pumps that use temperature differences several feet below ground for heating and cooling. Unlike solar and wind energy, geothermal energy is always available, but it has side effects that need to be managed, such as the rotten egg smell that can accompany released hydrogen sulfide.

Ways to boost renewable energy

Cities, states, and federal governments around the world are instituting policies aimed at increasing renewable energy. At least 29 U.S. states have set renewable portfolio standards —policies that mandate a certain percentage of energy from renewable sources, More than 100 cities worldwide now boast at least 70 percent renewable energy, and still others are making commitments to reach 100 percent . Other policies that could encourage renewable energy growth include carbon pricing, fuel economy standards, and building efficiency standards. Corporations are making a difference too, purchasing record amounts of renewable power in 2018.

Wonder whether your state could ever be powered by 100 percent renewables? No matter where you live, scientist Mark Jacobson believes it's possible. That vision is laid out here , and while his analysis is not without critics , it punctuates a reality with which the world must now reckon. Even without climate change, fossil fuels are a finite resource, and if we want our lease on the planet to be renewed, our energy will have to be renewable.

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Renewable energy – powering a safer future

Energy is at the heart of the climate challenge – and key to the solution.

A large chunk of the greenhouse gases that blanket the Earth and trap the sun’s heat are generated through energy production, by burning fossil fuels to generate electricity and heat.

Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, are by far the largest contributor to global climate change , accounting for over 75 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions.

The science is clear: to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, emissions need to be reduced by almost half by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050.

To achieve this, we need to end our reliance on fossil fuels and invest in alternative sources of energy that are clean, accessible, affordable, sustainable, and reliable.

Renewable energy sources – which are available in abundance all around us, provided by the sun, wind, water, waste, and heat from the Earth – are replenished by nature and emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air.

Fossil fuels still account for more than 80 percent of global energy production , but cleaner sources of energy are gaining ground. About 29 percent of electricity currently comes from renewable sources.

Here are five reasons why accelerating the transition to clean energy is the pathway to a healthy, livable planet today and for generations to come.

1. Renewable energy sources are all around us

About 80 percent of the global population lives in countries that are net-importers of fossil fuels -- that’s about 6 billion people who are dependent on fossil fuels from other countries, which makes them vulnerable to geopolitical shocks and crises.

In contrast, renewable energy sources are available in all countries, and their potential is yet to be fully harnessed. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that 90 percent of the world’s electricity can and should come from renewable energy by 2050.

Renewables offer a way out of import dependency, allowing countries to diversify their economies and protect them from the unpredictable price swings of fossil fuels, while driving inclusive economic growth, new jobs, and poverty alleviation.

2. Renewable energy is cheaper

Renewable energy actually is the cheapest power option in most parts of the world today. Prices for renewable energy technologies are dropping rapidly. The cost of electricity from solar power fell by 85 percent between 2010 and 2020. Costs of onshore and offshore wind energy fell by 56 percent and 48 percent respectively.

Falling prices make renewable energy more attractive all around – including to low- and middle-income countries, where most of the additional demand for new electricity will come from. With falling costs, there is a real opportunity for much of the new power supply over the coming years to be provided by low-carbon sources.

Cheap electricity from renewable sources could provide 65 percent of the world’s total electricity supply by 2030. It could decarbonize 90 percent of the power sector by 2050, massively cutting carbon emissions and helping to mitigate climate change.

Although solar and wind power costs are expected to remain higher in 2022 and 2023 then pre-pandemic levels due to general elevated commodity and freight prices, their competitiveness actually improves due to much sharper increases in gas and coal prices, says the International Energy Agency (IEA).

3. Renewable energy is healthier

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 99 percent of people in the world breathe air that exceeds air quality limits and threatens their health, and more than 13 million deaths around the world each year are due to avoidable environmental causes, including air pollution.

The unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide originate mainly from the burning of fossil fuels. In 2018, air pollution from fossil fuels caused $2.9 trillion in health and economic costs , about $8 billion a day.

Switching to clean sources of energy, such as wind and solar, thus helps address not only climate change but also air pollution and health.

4. Renewable energy creates jobs

Every dollar of investment in renewables creates three times more jobs than in the fossil fuel industry. The IEA estimates that the transition towards net-zero emissions will lead to an overall increase in energy sector jobs : while about 5 million jobs in fossil fuel production could be lost by 2030, an estimated 14 million new jobs would be created in clean energy, resulting in a net gain of 9 million jobs.

In addition, energy-related industries would require a further 16 million workers, for instance to take on new roles in manufacturing of electric vehicles and hyper-efficient appliances or in innovative technologies such as hydrogen. This means that a total of more than 30 million jobs could be created in clean energy, efficiency, and low-emissions technologies by 2030.

Ensuring a just transition , placing the needs and rights of people at the heart of the energy transition, will be paramount to make sure no one is left behind.

5. Renewable energy makes economic sense

About $7 trillion was spent on subsidizing the fossil fuel industry in 2022, including through explicit subsidies, tax breaks, and health and environmental damages that were not priced into the cost of fossil fuels.

In comparison, about $4.5 trillion a year needs to be invested in renewable energy until 2030 – including investments in technology and infrastructure – to allow us to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The upfront cost can be daunting for many countries with limited resources, and many will need financial and technical support to make the transition. But investments in renewable energy will pay off. The reduction of pollution and climate impacts alone could save the world up to $4.2 trillion per year by 2030.

Moreover, efficient, reliable renewable technologies can create a system less prone to market shocks and improve resilience and energy security by diversifying power supply options.

Learn more about how many communities and countries are realizing the economic, societal, and environmental benefits of renewable energy.

Will developing countries benefit from the renewables boom? Learn more here .

What is renewable energy?

Derived from natural resources that are abundant and continuously replenished, renewable energy is key to a safer, cleaner, and sustainable world. Explore common sources of renewable energy here.

Why invest in renewable energy?

Learn more about the differences between fossil fuels and renewables, the benefits of renewable energy, and how we can act now.

Five ways to jump-start the renewable energy transition now

UN Secretary-General outlines five critical actions the world needs to prioritize now to speed up the global shift to renewable energy.

What is net zero? Why is it important? Our net-zero page explains why we need steep emissions cuts now and what efforts are underway.

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Our climate 101 offers a quick take on the how and why of climate change. Read more.

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It’s time to stop burning our planet, and start investing in the abundant renewable energy all around us." ANTÓNIO GUTERRES , United Nations Secretary-General

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Essay on Green Energy PDF: 150 and 250 Words

• Updated on  
• Apr 20, 2024

Essay on Green Energy: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his COP21 Summit, ‘Today, when the energy sources and excesses of our industrial age have put our planet in peril, the world must turn to the Sun to power our future.’

The urgency of climate change makes the transition to suitable energy imperative. Green energy, encompassing biomass, solar, wind, and hydropower, offers hope in our environmental battle and promises innovation. This essay highlights renewable energy’s critical role in preserving our planet and foresees societal and economic benefits that could reshape our global landscape. Supporting green energy is vital for securing a sustainable future, especially for us as the next generation inheriting this earth. 

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Green Energy in 150 Words
• 2 Essay on Green Energy in 250 Words
• 3 PDF on Green Energy

Essay on Green Energy in 150 Words

Quick Read: Importance of Mental Health Essay

Essay on Green Energy in 250 Words

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PDF on Green Energy

A.1 Renewable energy, like that found in the sun, is referred to as green energy. Clean energy is defined as energy that doesn’t discharge pollutants into the atmosphere, and renewable energy is derived from energy sources like solar, wind, or hydropower that are continuously replenished.

A.2 Utilising renewable energy has both environmental and financial advantages. It generates electricity without emitting greenhouse gases like fossil fuels, and it lessens some forms of air pollution. Decreasing reliance on imported fuels and diversifying the energy source.

A.3 Renewable energy is produced using natural resources such as sunshine, wind, and water. The term “clean energy” or “green power” is also used to describe renewable energy since it doesn’t contaminate the air or water.

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This Is the Future: Essay on Renewable Energy

Today the world population depends on nonrenewable energy resources. With the constantly growing demand for energy, natural gas, coal, and oil get used up and cannot replenish themselves. 

Aside from limited supply, heavy reliance on fossil fuels causes planetary-scale damage. Sea levels are rising. Heat-trapping carbon dioxide increased the warming effect by 45% from 1990 to 2019. The only way to tackle the crisis is to start the transition to renewable energy now. 

What is renewable energy? It is energy that comes from replenishable natural resources like sunlight, wind, thermal energy, moving water, and organic materials. Renewable resources do not run out. They are cost-efficient and renew faster than they are consumed. How does renewable energy save money? It creates new jobs, supports economic growth, and decreases inequitable fossil fuel subsidies. 

At the current rates of production, some fossil fuels will not even last another century. This is why the future depends on reliable and eco-friendly resources. This renewable energy essay examines the types and benefits of renewable energy and its role in creating a sustainable future.

Top 5 Types of Renewable Energy: The Apollo Alliance Rankings

There are many natural resources that can provide people with clean energy. To make a list of the five most booming types of renewable energy on the market today, this energy essay uses data gathered by the Apollo Alliance. It is a project that aims to revolutionize the energy sector of the US with a focus on clean energy. 

The Apollo Alliance unites businesses, community leaders, and environmental experts to support the transition to more sustainable and efficient living. Their expert opinion helped to compile information about the most common and cost-competitive sources of renewable energy. However, if you want to get some more in-depth research, you can entrust it to an essay writer . Here’s a quick overview of renewable energy resources that have a huge potential to substitute fossil fuels. 

Solar Renewable Energy

The most abundant and practically endless resource is solar energy. It can be turned into electricity by photovoltaic systems that convert radiant energy captured from sunlight. Solar farms could generate enough energy for thousands of homes.

An endless supply is the main benefit of solar energy. The rate at which the Earth receives it is 10,000 times greater than people can consume it, as a paper writer points out based on their analysis of research findings. It can substitute fossil fuels and deliver people electricity, hot water, cooling, heat, etc. 

The upfront investment in solar systems is rather expensive. This is one of the primary limitations that prevent businesses and households from switching to this energy source at once. However, the conclusion of solar energy is still favorable. In the long run, it can significantly decrease energy costs. Besides, solar panels are gradually becoming more affordable to manufacture and adopt, even at an individual level. 

Wind Renewable Energy

Another clean energy source is wind. Wind farms use the kinetic energy of wind flow to convert it into electricity. The Appolo Alliance notes that, unlike solar farms, they can’t be placed in any location. To stay cost-competitive, wind farms should operate in windy areas. Although not all countries have the right conditions to use them on a large scale, wind farms might be introduced for some energy diversity. The technical potential for it is still tremendous. 

Wind energy is clean and safe for the environment. It does not pollute the atmosphere with any harmful products compared to nonrenewable energy resources. 

The investment in wind energy is also economically wise. If you examine the cost of this energy resource in an essay on renewable resources, you’ll see that wind farms can deliver electricity at a price lower than nonrenewable resources. Besides, since wind isn’t limited, its cost won’t be influenced by the imbalance of supply and demand.

Geothermal Renewable Energy

Natural renewable resources are all around us, even beneath the ground. Geothermal energy can be produced from the thermal energy from the Earth’s interior. Sometimes heat reaches the surface naturally, for example, in the form of geysers. But it can also be used by geothermal power plants. The Earth’s heat gets captured and converted to steam that turns a turbine. As a result, we get geothermal energy.

This source provides a significant energy supply while having low emissions and no significant footprint on land. A factsheet and essay on renewable resources state that geothermal plants will increase electricity production from 17 billion kWh in 2020 to 49.8 billion kWh in 2050.

However, this method is not without limitations. While writing a renewable resources essay, consider that geothermal energy can be accessed only in certain regions. Geological hotspots are off-limits as they are vulnerable to earthquakes. Yet, the quantity of geothermal resources is likely to grow as technology advances. 

Ocean Renewable Energy

The kinetic and thermal energy of the ocean is a robust resource. Ocean power systems rely on:

• Changes in sea level;
• Wave energy;
• Water surface temperatures;
• The energy released from seawater and freshwater mixing.

Ocean energy is more predictable compared to other resources. As estimated by EPRI, it has the potential to produce 2640 TWh/yr. However, an important point to consider in a renewable energy essay is that the kinetic energy of the ocean varies. Yet, since it is ruled by the moon’s gravity, the resource is plentiful and continues to be attractive for the energy industry. 

Wave energy systems are still developing. The Apollo energy corporation explores many prototypes. It is looking for the most reliable and robust solution that can function in the harsh ocean environment. 

Another limitation of ocean renewable energy is that it may cause disruptions to marine life. Although its emissions are minimal, the system requires large equipment to be installed in the ocean. 

Biomass Renewable Energy

Organic materials like wood and charcoal have been used for heating and lighting for centuries. There are a lot more types of biomass: from trees, cereal straws, and grass to processed waste. All of them can produce bioenergy. 

Biomass can be converted into energy through burning or using methane produced during the natural process of decomposition. In an essay on renewable sources of energy, the opponents of the method point out that biomass energy is associated with carbon dioxide emissions. Yet, the amount of released greenhouse gases is much lower compared to nonrenewable energy use. 

While biomass is a reliable source of energy, it is only suitable for limited applications. If used too extensively, it might lead to disruptions in biodiversity, a negative impact on land use, and deforestation. Still, Apollo energy includes biomass resources that become waste and decompose quickly anyway. These are organic materials like sawdust, chips from sawmills, stems, nut shells, etc. 

What Is the Apollo Alliance?

The Apollo Alliance is a coalition of business leaders, environmental organizations, labor unions, and foundations. They all unite their efforts in a single project to harness clean energy in new, innovative ways. 

Why Apollo? Similarly to President John F. Kennedy’s Apollo Project, Apollo energy is a strong visionary initiative. It is a dare, a challenge. The alliance calls for the integrity of science, research, technology, and the public to revolutionize the energy industry.

The project has a profound message. Apollo energy solutions are not only about the environment or energy. They are about building a new economy. The alliance gives hope to building a secure future for Americans. 

What is the mission of the Apollo Alliance? 

• Achieve energy independence with efficient and limitless resources of renewable energy.
• Pioneer innovation in the energy sector.
• Build education campaigns and communication to inspire new perceptions of energy. 
• Create new jobs.
• Reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. 
• Build healthier and happier communities. 

The transformation of the industry will lead to planet-scale changes. The Apollo energy corporation can respond to the global environmental crisis and prevent climate change. 

Apollo renewable energy also has the potential to become a catalyst for social change. With more affordable energy and new jobs in the industry, people can bridge the inequality divide and build stronger communities. 

Why Renewable Energy Is Important for the Future

Renewable energy resources have an enormous potential to cover people’s energy needs on a global scale. Unlike fossil fuels, they are available in abundance and generate minimal to no emissions. 

The burning of fossil fuels caused a lot of environmental problems—from carbon dioxide emissions to ocean acidification. Research this issue in more detail with academic assistance from essay writer online . You can use it to write an essay on renewable sources of energy to explain the importance of change and its global impact. 

Despite all the damage people caused to the planet, there’s still hope to mitigate further repercussions. Every renewable energy essay adds to the existing body of knowledge we have today and advances research in the field. Here are the key advantages and disadvantages of alternative energy resources people should keep in mind. 

Advantage of Green Energy

The use of renewable energy resources has a number of benefits for the climate, human well-being, and economy:

• Renewable energy resources have little to no greenhouse gas emissions. Even if we take into account the manufacturing and recycling of the technologies involved, their impact on the environment is significantly lower compared to fossil fuels. 
• Renewable energy promotes self-sufficiency and reduces a country’s dependence on foreign fuel. According to a study, a 1% increase in the use of renewable energy increases economic growth by 0.21%. This gives socio-economic stability.
• Due to a lack of supply of fossil fuels and quick depletion of natural resources, prices for nonrenewable energy keep increasing. In contrast, green energy is limitless and can be produced locally. In the long run, this allows decreasing the cost of energy. 
• Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy doesn’t emit air pollutants. This positively influences health and quality of life. 
• The emergence of green energy plants creates new jobs. Thus, Apollo energy solutions support the growth of local communities. By 2030, the transition to renewable energy is expected to generate 10.3 million new jobs. 
• Renewable energy allows decentralization of the industry. Communities get their independent sources of energy that are more flexible in terms of distribution. 
• Renewable energy supports equality. It has the potential to make energy more affordable to low-income countries and expand access to energy even in remote and less fortunate neighborhoods. 

Disadvantages of Non-Conventional Energy Sources

No technology is perfect. Renewable energy resources have certain drawbacks too: 

• The production of renewable energy depends on weather conditions. For example, wind farms could be effective only in certain locations where the weather conditions allow it. The weather also makes it so that renewable energy cannot be generated around the clock. 
• The initial cost of renewable energy technology is expensive. Both manufacturing and installation require significant investment. This is another disadvantage of renewable resources. It makes them unaffordable to a lot of businesses and unavailable for widespread individual use. In addition, the return on investment might not be immediate.
• Renewable energy technology takes up a lot of space. It may affect life in the communities where these clean energy farms are installed. They may also cause disruptions to wildlife in the areas. 
• One more limitation a renewable resources essay should consider is the current state of technology. While the potential of renewable energy resources is tremendous, the technology is still in its development phase. Therefore, renewable energy might not substitute fossil fuels overnight. There’s a need for more research, investment, and time to transition to renewable energy completely. Yet, some diversity of energy resources should be introduced as soon as possible. 
• Renewable energy resources have limited emissions, but they are not entirely pollution-free. The manufacturing process of equipment is associated with greenhouse gas emissions while, for example, the lifespan of a wind turbine is only 20 years. 

For high school seniors eyeing a future rich with innovative endeavors in renewable energy or other fields, it's crucial to seek financial support early on. Explore the top 10 scholarships for high school seniors to find the right fit that can propel you into a future where you can contribute to the renewable energy movement and beyond. Through such financial support, the road to making meaningful contributions to a sustainable future becomes a tangible reality.

Renewable energy unlocks the potential for humanity to have clean energy that is available in abundance. It leads us to economic growth, independence, and stability. With green energy, we can also reduce the impact of human activity on the environment and stop climate change before it’s too late. 

So what’s the conclusion of renewable energy? Transitioning to renewable energy resources might be challenging and expensive. However, most experts agree that the advantages of green energy outweigh any drawbacks. Besides, since technology is continuously evolving, we’ll be able to overcome most limitations in no time.

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Good Green Power Essay Example

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Energy , Solar Energy , Wind , Power , Alternative Energy , Renewable Energy , World , Output

Published: 2021/01/04

The world is fast reaching a stage where it would be difficult to undo the environmental problems posed by pollution and global warming. Scientists have been outlining doomsday scenarios for the world. Green power – solar energy, wind energy and geothermal energy amongst others, is widely touted as the way forward to address the energy needs of the world without suffering from the liabilities of pollution. However, green power has its limitations in terms of scale and scope. There are also vested interests invested in fossil fuels that would prefer the status quo. Thus, the issue of green power remains a charged one with votaries both for and against its implementation on the mega scales required to tackle the world’s energy requirements. One of the arguments opposing green power as a panacea to the world’s energy requirements focuses on the scale of the world’s energy requirement and juxtaposes the same with infinitesimal quantum of the requirement addressed by green power as of now. While US President Barack Obama declared his intentions in 2009 to ‘double the nation’s supply of renewable energy in the next three years’ (Bryce), a reality check would have revealed the yawning gap between the energy requirements and the output of renewable energy. Hydropower, which provides 2.4% of USA’s requirements and is the dominant form of renewable energy, is on the back foot with the dismantling of a large number of dams. The outputs of wind and solar energy are inconsequential. According to the US Energy Information Administration, ‘the total solar and wind power output for 2008 was 45,493,000 megawatt-hours’ (Bryce), which is a mere 1.1% of the nation’s energy requirement. If the entire wind and solar energy output of the nation were converted to oil terms, the energy output would be equivalent to about 76,000 barrels of oil per day, against a requirement of 47.4 million barrels of oil equivalent every day. Therefore, in the foreseeable future, coal, gas, oil and nuclear power are likely to continue to be the mainstay of energy for the nation (Bryce). The argument that renewable energy is clean and harmless is not without opponents who point out the limitations of wind power as a clean source of energy. Wind farms are dependent on the speed of wind to function; they shut down if the wind is too strong for safety reasons, and cannot function if the wind is too weak. Because of their inherent erraticism, wind energy requires to be supplemented by conventional energy sources to power the energy grid. The conventional energy sources cannot be brought on stream at will whenever wind power sources become ineffective. Therefore, conventional energy sources are continually in an operative stage to kick into contribution mode for the power grid, negating the cleanliness associated with wind power. Wind power has also developed opponents who find wind farms ‘noisy, land intensive and unsightly’ (Burnett). Wind farms, having obtained patronage from the government, invariably are located in open countryside, spoiling the natural beauty of the landscape. While contributing only a fraction of the energy output of a conventional energy plant, wind farms occupy large tracts of land. To put it in perspective, a wind farm producing 450 megawatts of power would require 130 towers occupying more than 24 square miles. The area required for wind farms if wind power were to complement conventional energy in a meaningful manner is too huge to be contemplated. Wind farms are also notorious for their adverse impact on the avian population of the area. Because they are situated in areas where the wind blows evenly, the wind farms invariably find themselves in the path of the migratory routes of birds. Wind farms threaten many endangered species like bald and golden eagles. This has led to lawsuits and popular clamors to restrict their expansion (Burnett). While arguments abound against renewable energy, votaries for renewable energy look to find solutions to the much-publicized limitations of renewable energy. Technology, in the form of Moore’s Law, is touted as one of the enablers for solar energy in future. According to Moore’s law, the density of electronics on a chip would double every six months. This results in cheaper electronics. As a result, solar panels would continually cost lesser. While established firms with older business models may collapse as a result of the revised cost structures imposed by cheaper electronics, the way forward for solar energy becomes brighter. Krugman juxtaposes the promise of solar power against subsidies given to the process of hydraulic fracking, which is an environmentally degrading process with dangers of radioactive wastewater contaminating groundwater sources (Krugman). A section of government and society is alive to the overwhelming requirement to promote green energy. This is seen in evidence in California, which is turning to solar power in a big way in a bid to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels (Dickenson). In conclusion, it may be said that renewable sources of energy are currently miniscule in size and scope as compared to the requirements of the world. Continual research needs to be put in to determine cheaper and more regular methods of drawing energy from renewable sources. Technology promises to be an enabler in the quest for renewable energy. While renewable energy is in its infancy, there are established powers behind conventional sources of energy that remain prone to publicize many of the limitations of renewable energy while hypocritically advancing more dangerous forms of conventional energy like hydraulic fracking. A balanced approach to energy management, with a mix of conventional sources and renewable energy, combined with continued research for more efficient green power, would be the prudent course of action for a safer future.

Works Cited

Bryce, Robert. “Let’s Get Real About Renewable Energy.” Wall Street Journal 05 March 2009. A.17. Print. Burnett, Sterling H. “Wind Power Puffery.” Washington Times 03 February 2004. Print. Dickenson, Marla. “State Solar Power Plans are as Big as All Outdoors.” Articles.LATimes.com. 03 December 2008. Web. 28 March 2015. Krugman, Paul. “Here Comes the Sun.” NYTimes.com. 07 November 2015. Web. 28 March 2015.

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Solar Energy Essay

500 words essay on solar energy.

Solar energy is the energy which the earth receives from the sun which converts into thermal or electrical energy. Moreover, solar energy influences the climate of the earth and weather to sustain life. It has great potential which we must use to our advantage fully. Through the solar energy essay, we will look at this in detail and know more about it carefully.

Importance of Solar Energy

Solar energy is very important as it is a clean and renewable source of energy. Thus, this means it will not damage the earth in any way. In addition, it is available on a daily basis. Similarly, it does not cause any kind of pollution.

As it is environment-friendly, it is very important in today’s world. It is so much better than other pollution sources of energies like fossil fuels and more. Further, it has low maintenance costs.

Solar panel systems do not require a lot of solar power energy. Moreover, they come with 5-10 years of warranty which is very beneficial. Most importantly, it reduces the cost of electricity bills.

In other words, we use it mostly for cooking and heating up our homes. Thus, it drops the utility bills cost and helps us save some extra money. Further, solar energy also has many possible applications.

A lot of communities and villages make use of solar energy to power their homes, offices and more. Further, we can use it in areas where there is no access to a power grid. For instance, distilling the water is Africa and powering the satellites in space.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Uses of Solar Energy

In today’s world, we use solar energy for a lot of things. Firstly, we use solar power for many things as small as calculators to as big as power plants which power the entire city. We use the most common solar power for small things.

For instance, many calculators use solar cells to operate, thus they never run out of batteries. Moreover, we also have some watches which run on solar cells. Similarly, there are also radios which run on solar cells.

Thus, you see so many things run on solar power. All satellites run on solar power otherwise they won’t be able to function. Moreover, large desalinization plants make use of solar power if there is little or no freshwater.

In addition, many countries have solar furnaces. We also use solar power commercially and residentially. You will find its uses in transportation service too. In fact, soon, solar powers will also be out on the streets.

Conclusion of Solar Energy Essay

To sum it up, solar energy is a cost-effective means of energy which is quite useful for people that have huge families. When we install solar panels, we can get solar energy which will reduce electricity costs and allow us to lead a sustainable lifestyle. Thus, we must all try to use it well to our advantage.

FAQ of Solar Energy Essay

Question 1: What is solar energy in simple words?

Answer 1: Solar energy is basically the transformation of heat, the energy which is derived from the sun. We have been using it for thousands of years in numerous different ways all over the world. The oldest uses of solar energy are for heating, cooking, and drying.

Question 2: What are the advantages of solar energy?

Answer 2: There are many advantages of solar energy. Firstly, it is a renewable source of energy which makes it healthy. Moreover, it also reduces the electricity bills of ours. After that, we can also use it for diverse applications. Further, it also has low maintenance costs.

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2. Public opinion on renewables and other energy sources

Americans’ concerns about climate change have put energy production of fossil fuels and the carbon gases these fuels emit at the center of public discussions about climate and the environment. Those debates coupled with long-standing economic pressures to decrease reliance on other countries for energy needs have raised attention to renewable forms of energy including solar and wind power.

Public opinion about energy issues is widely supportive of expanding both solar and wind power but more closely divided when it comes to expanding fossil fuel energies such as coal mining, offshore oil and gas drilling, and hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas. While there are substantial party and ideological divides over increasing fossil fuel and nuclear energy sources, strong majorities of all party and ideology groups support more solar and wind production.

Most Americans know the U.S. is producing more energy today

Most Americans are aware of America’s ongoing energy boom . The United States is producing more energy from fossil fuels and has ticked up production of renewable sources such as wind and solar. A large majority of Americans (72%) say the United States is producing more energy than it did 20 years ago. Far smaller shares say the U.S. is producing the same level (17%) or less energy (10%) than it did 20 years ago 8

Majorities across demographic, educational and political groups say the U.S. is producing more energy today. Awareness of this trend is especially high among those with postgraduate degrees (86% compared with 64% among those with high school degrees or less). Men are more inclined to say the U.S. is producing more energy than women (79% vs. 66%), while Democrats are modestly more likely than Republicans to say this (79% vs. 65%).

Strong public support for more wind and solar, closer divides over nuclear and fossil fuels

Large majorities of Americans favor expanding renewable sources to provide energy, but the public is far less supportive of increasing the production of fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, and nuclear energy.

Fully 89% of Americans favor more solar panel farms, just 9% oppose. A similarly large share supports more wind turbine farms (83% favor, 14% oppose).

By comparison, the public is more divided over expanding the production of nuclear and fossil fuel energy sources. Specifically, 45% favor more offshore oil and gas drilling, while 52% oppose. Similar shares support and oppose expanding hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” for oil and gas (42% favor and 53% oppose). Some 41% favor more coal mining, while a 57% majority opposes this.

And, 43% of Americans support building more nuclear power plants, while 54% oppose. Past Pew Research Center surveys on energy issues, using somewhat different question wording and survey methodology, found opinion broadly in keeping with this new survey. For example, the balance of opinion in a 2014 Pew Research Center survey about building more nuclear power plants was similar (45% favor, 51% oppose), and some 52% of Americans favored and 44% opposed allowing more offshore oil and gas drilling in that survey.

Most Republicans and Democrats favor expanding renewables; there are strong divides over expanding fossil fuels

Across the political spectrum, large majorities support expansion of solar panel and wind turbine farms. Some 83% of conservative Republicans favor more solar panel farms; so, too, do virtually all liberal Democrats (97%). Similarly, there is widespread agreement across party and ideological groups in favor of expanding wind energy.

Consistent with past Pew Research Center surveys , this new survey finds there are deep political divides over expanding fossil fuel energy sources. Conservative Republicans stand out from other party and ideology groups in this regard. At least seven-in-ten conservative Republicans support more coal mining (73%), fracking (70%) and offshore drilling (76%). A majority of Democrats oppose expanding each of these energy sources while moderate/liberal Republicans fall somewhere in the middle on these issues.

The political divide over expanding nuclear energy is smaller. Some 57% of conservative Republicans, and 51% of all Republicans, favor more nuclear power plants. Democrats lean in the opposite direction with 59% opposed and 38% in favor of more nuclear power plants.

As also found in past Pew Research Center surveys , women are less supportive of expanding nuclear power than men, even after controlling for politics and education. Some 34% of women favor and 62% oppose more nuclear plants. Men are more closely divided on this issue: 52% favor and 46% oppose. Men and women hold more similar views on other energy issues.

Many Americans are giving serious thought to having solar panels at home

America’s solar power industry is growing. In 2016, solar is expected to add more electricity generating capacity than any other energy source in the United States. Just 4% of Americans report having home solar panels but many more − 37% − say they are giving it serious thought.

These figures are similar among homeowners. Some 44% of homeowners have already installed (4%) or have given serious thought to installing (40%) solar panels at home.

Western residents and younger adults are especially likely to say are considering, or have installed, solar panels at home. Some 14% of homeowners in the West have installed solar panels at home and another 52% say they are considering doing so. By contrast, 35% of homeowners in the South say they have installed (3%) or given serious thought to installing solar at home (33%).

Some 55% of homeowners under age 50 say they have given serious thought to installing or have already installed solar panels at home. Fewer homeowners ages 50 and older say the same (36%).

The key reasons people cite for considering solar are financial followed by concern for the environment. Among all who have installed or given serious thought to installing solar panels, large majorities say their reasons include cost savings on utilities (92%) or helping the environment (87%). Smaller shares of this group, though still majorities, say improved health (67%) or a solar tax investment credit (59%) are reasons they have or would install home solar panels.

• Pew Research Center in 2014 asked a related question – whether the amount of energy produced in the United States had been increasing, decreasing or staying the same in recent years. In that survey, 54% of Americans said the amount of energy produced had been increasing, while 27% said it had been staying the same and 10% said it had been decreasing. ↩

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Sample IELTS essay about green energy

Home  »  IELTS BAND 9 ESSAYS  »  Sample IELTS essay about green energy

Nowadays most green energy is becoming evermore prevalent in both developed and developing countries. Some argue they greatly reduce costs and are better for the environment, others believe they are a serious threat to energy security. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

The world today uses more renewable energy than ever before since it contributes to the preservation of the environment and is economically sound; however, some argue that green energy could undermine the reliability of the global supply as a result of its dependency on climatic and meteorological phenomena. This essay will examine both views, but personally, I strongly advocate the adoption of renewable sources of energy.

On the one hand, opponents of renewables claim that the world could face disruptions to the power supply should they be fully adopted. This is largely due to the fact that many green energy technologies currently in use depend on changeable and unpredictable phenomena such as wind, rain and cloud cover.

To take the fastest growing sector as an example, solar panels can only be used in the presence of strong and direct sunlight, and although the problem of directness has already been somewhat solved with moving panel arrays, a cloudy few days could still result in a blackout if we depended entirely on solar power; something that is unlikely to occur today given current oil stockpiles.

However, fossil fuels are a larger threat to energy security since they are certainly finite in quantity, whereas renewable energy is effectively infinite; once the Earth’s oil is depleted, there will be no energy security without green energy technologies.

Furthermore, problems of unpredictability can be mitigated by improving battery technologies (to create a larger buffer), building more renewable energy generators (to increase supply during ideal conditions) and improving current technologies (to increase efficiency), such as in the moving solar panel example. Proponents of renewables therefore claim that they are the most economically sound option.

To conclude, while many may believe that green energy technologies are a threat to energy security, the fossil fuels they frequently promote are a greater threat, and renewables are in fact the only sound option, both economically and environmentally.

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We won't charge you anything to get quotes through our marketplace. Instead, installers and other service providers pay us a small fee to participate after we vet them for reliability and suitability. To learn more, read about how we make money and our Editorial Guidelines .

When you install solar panels, your home produces clean, zero-emissions electricity. If you're DIY-minded, you can build your own solar power system. In some cases, you can even build your own solar panels, although the amount you can effectively DIY home solar depends on how much you want to power.

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Learn how to make your own solar panels

Making your own solar panel is time-consuming and requires some electrical skills. However, it can also be gratifying – learning to build your own PV panel is a great way to understand how solar electricity is generated.

Before building your own solar panels, you must understand how solar cells generate electricity. Most solar panels today are made of crystalline silicon wafers, typically six inches square. When the sun shines on those wafers, their electrons start to move. This flow of electrons is an electrical current.

A single full-sized solar panel, like those used in rooftop solar power systems, will have 60 silicon wafers. You can also make smaller panels if your electricity needs are low. Once you've bought individual solar cells (they can be purchased online), the basic process for building your own solar panel goes like this:

Prepare the backing for your panel. Many DIY solar panel builders use a wooden board as the base for their solar cells. You'll need to drill holes in the board so that the wires for each cell can pass through.

Wire your solar cells together. This requires some experience with electrical work. Use a soldering iron to attach wire to the solar cells and then link each of the cells together.

Attach cells to your backing. If possible, affix each solar cell to the backing individually. This makes it easier to replace a single cell if it becomes damaged or stops operating correctly.  

A functional solar panel can produce electricity when the sun shines. However, a solar panel by itself is not useful. Suppose you are trying to generate electricity to power devices in your home. In that case, you need to pair your panel with an inverter that will turn direct current (DC) power from the sun into the alternating current (AC) power used in most modern electronic devices.

For a standalone off-grid system, you will also need to include a battery pack and charge controller in your DIY solar setup. The battery pack stores excess energy, and the charge controller manages the amount of electricity that flows through the battery.

The process is significantly more complicated if you want to build a solar panel system that will power your home. A standard grid-connected solar PV system that can power your home will have around 20 solar panels, each of which must be wired together and mounted to your roof (or in an unshaded ground location on your property). Most importantly, a qualified electrician has to confirm your system has been built correctly before your utility will allow you to connect your panels to the electric grid.

Build your own solar panel system, or work with an installer

Whether you DIY your solar panel system with a solar kit or work with an experienced installer depends on why you want to install solar.

For small-scale off-grid installations, you can DIY it.

Solar panels are portable and convenient for a variety of off-grid uses. You don't have to build solar panels if you don't want to – there are inexpensive solar panel kits for sale that include each component you'll need for a DIY solar installation. Building a solar panel system is a good option if you want to construct a small off-grid system to power a cabin, RV, boat, or tiny home.

For a whole-home solar panel system, work with a solar installer.

When it comes to installing a full-scale solar power system on your property, working with a solar installer with significant experience can save you both time and money in the long run. Some of the top solar companies have been installing solar energy systems for decades – an experience that no amount of online research or DIY guides can replicate. Your solar installer can also help you find the financial incentives available in your area and complete the permits and applications necessary to get your solar energy system up and running.

To get a sense of how much you can save by installing a solar panel system for your home, review an instant solar estimate from EnergySage's Solar Calculator . If you're debating between building a solar power system and working with an installer, get quotes from local solar companies to see what it would cost. You can easily compare options from qualified installers in your area for free by joining the EnergySage Solar Marketplace .

This post originally appeared on Mother Earth News .

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The Impact of Green Energy on Environment and Sustainable Development Essay

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Today, many researchers and ecologists pay attention to the problems of the environment with references to the notion of the sustainable development. The global community is challenged by a lot of issues associated with the environmental pollution and the constant growth of using the energetic resources. The economic progress of the world with accentuating the concepts of civilization and industrialization is based on the usage of a lot of energy significantly.

Traditional methods of receiving the necessary amount of power for meeting the needs of the developed cites and industries cannot be discussed as efficient according to the threat of the environmental pollution which is the effect of the developed energy industry. Moreover, the traditional approaches to the energy systems do not address the idea of the sustainable development.

That is why, it is necessary to concentrate on the alternative methods of receiving the power. Green energy can be discussed as the effective way to promote the necessary amount of energy for the industries, urban territories, and enterprises without damaging the environment. From this point, the notion of green energy is closely connected with renewable energy which is often discussed as the source of power with the minimal negative effects.

Sustainable development is one of the most significant requirements to the modern society in relation to the general tendencies of the global progress with references to the problems of the nature and environment. The main principle of the sustainable development is based on addressing the demands of the modern population with concentrating on the possible needs of the future generations.

However, contemporary problems which are associated with the environmental pollution caused by the modern energy industries can be discussed as dangerous for providing the necessary sustainable development.

Today, industries and power resources can be considered as the main causes for the greenhouse effects and global warming which can lead to the changes in the climate, air, soil, and water pollution. The carbon dioxide as the result of the energy industries is the main air pollutant which can influence the changes in the environment dramatically.

Furthermore, the usage of the energy resources depends on the destruction of the landscapes and deforestation of the territories. The next issue is the high level of the energy consumption which should be reduced in order to preserve the natural balance (Wengenmayr & Buhrke, 2008). Thus, to overcome all these negative effects of using the traditional energy resources, it is significant to focus on utilizing the alternative resources of power which can be discussed as green energy.

Green energy is based on utilizing the power of the natural energetic processes such as wind power, solar energy, geothermal power, biomass power, and wave power (Boyle, 2004). These processes are realized almost without any pollution that is why they can be considered as beneficial for providing energy for buildings in the urban territories and for industries.

The modern world needs concentrating on the usage of the definite clean energy technologies which can reduce the negative impacts on the environment. The decrease of the environmental pollution caused by the energy systems is important because of the active usage of traditional energy resources for lighting, heating, and cooling the modern buildings within the urban territories.

The rational usage of energy with references to decreasing the energy consumption is the main task of the global community in order to address the needs of sustainability. The negative impact of the carbon dioxide and the other harmful emissions which cause the air pollution as a result of developing the energy systems can be decreased with using such energy resources as, for instance wind, power and solar energy.

The technological progress and a great number of technological innovations which can contribute to using green energy in many sectors of the people’s life are significant for the sustainable development. The technologies associated with utilizing the green energy and renewable energy resources address the principles of sustainability and can have the positive long-term effects (MacKay, 2009). Nevertheless, it is impossible to use the same green energy resources within different territories.

The choice of the appropriate green energy resource which can satisfy the needs of the local territory or organization with references to the questions of availability and economy is the challengeable process, but the effective usage of renewable energy and the positive results of the choice can contribute to reducing the costs on energy and to using the energy system without much pollution.

The impact of green energy on environment and sustainable development can be discussed as positive because of a range of the associated factors. Nowadays, it is significant to concentrate on reducing the energy consumption and costs in the situation when the population’s demands increase and on diminishing the waste and pollution provided by the energy industries.

The traditional energy resources as the fossil energy have a lot of negative effects for the environment and should be changed with the alternative power resources. From this point, the usage of green energy resources is the effective way to address the requirements of the society and the principles of sustainable development.

Boyle, G. (2004). Renewable energy: Power for a sustainable future . USA: Oxford University Press.

MacKay, D. (2009). Sustainable energy – without the hot air . USA: UIT Cambridge Ltd.

Wengenmayr, R. & Buhrke, T. (2008). Renewable energy . USA: Wiley-VCH.

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Green Power: Opinion Essay

Conventional power has enormously bad impact on nature: air pollution, drilling, mining, gas emission, combustion of natural gas, oil and coal etc. are only several of ways of harming environment when using conventional energy. To make energy production more environment-friendly scientists came up with the idea of green power, i.e. renewable energy resources with great environmental advantages. Green power alternatives are numerous, and new assumptions for alternative energy sources are made from time to time. The most commonly known green resources are solar energy, wind power, biogas, geothermal energy, biomasses, biofuel, and hydroelectric power. These types of sustainable energy are natural, so they demonstrate minimum pollution level. Though USA is currently dependent on conventional energy sources, the government is gradually ensuring programs for promotion of renewable resources. The hydropower use is wide-spread, and about 30% of the U.S. energy is produced with it.

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The most widely used in households is the solar energy: solar panels are installed on roofs or other open-to-solar-spaces. The energy produced by the sun is frequently enough to use it for electricity or for illumination, and it is more wide-spread compared to, for example, wind power. Governments around the globe consider it possible to make solar energy a primary energy source by 2050. The number of wind power users is constantly growing, especially in the states of Iowa, North Dakota, Minnesota, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Montana. These windiest states have great energy resources, so government and organizations invest into large-size wind-turbines, while people also invest in small-size wind-turbines for private usage. Green energy is used not only for household needs, but is also available in the form of bio-diesel to run vehicles, and e-cars, like Toyota Prius, Nissan Leaf or Tesla, are gaining popularity, while solar-powered cars are also being researched and concept models, like Cadillac Provoq, are created. Some types of green power are not so well-known by the public, but still they are useful and available for application. Probably the most underestimated powers are tidal and wave powers, but currently tidal generators are being installed in New York and along the Atlantic coast, as an experiment. These generators have no harm to ecosystem or environment, and introduce great potential for future production of energy. Wave power is produced at specialized wave farms by mechanical movements of buoyed devices. Such farms are only entering the green power scene, and they are quite seldom in USA and a little bit more popular in Europe.

In my opinion, alternative green power is a very important and urgent issue, and people should acknowledge that they are killing the planet in the process of getting conventional energy resources. Engineers and scientists have introduced and developed several different types of green power, and some of them are more viable and well-developed compared to others. As for me, among the most viable for being used in the future are solar and wind energy, hydroelectric power and tidal generators, which can actually make energetics absolutely eco-friendly.

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Conventional power has enormously bad impact on nature: air pollution, drilling, mining, gas emission, combustion of natural gas, oil and coal etc. are only several of ways of harming environment when using conventional energy. To make energy production more environment-friendly scientists came up with the idea of green power, i.e....

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A Test for Harris: How to Talk About the Green New Deal

In the Senate, Kamala Harris backed an expansive climate plan. Young activists want her to embrace it again, but so do Republicans.

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By Lisa Friedman

Friedman has been covering the Green New Deal since it was first proposed in Congress.

The last time Vice President Kamala Harris tried to win the White House, she staked out aggressive positions on climate change, calling for a ban on fracking, a tax on carbon pollution and $10 trillion in spending to fight global warming. But one past action stands out as something that could be both an asset to Ms. Harris as well as an albatross.

As a senator in 2019, Ms. Harris cosponsored the Green New Deal, a nonbinding resolution that was centered around the idea that addressing climate change required significant changes in the economy. It called for converting the electric grid to 100 percent clean energy this decade, declared clean air, clean water and healthy food to be basic human rights. But it also endorsed free health care and affordable housing for all Americans.

Different variations of a Green New Deal had been circulating in Europe and in progressive circles in the United States for years before Senator Edward J. Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York, made a first effort to get Congress to endorse the idea. Ms. Harris joined them.

“Climate change is real, and it poses an existential threat to us as human beings, and it is within our power to do something about it,” Ms. Harris told a New Hampshire crowd in 2019 when she was seeking the Democratic nomination for president. “I am supporting the Green New Deal,” she said to thunderous applause.

Republicans framed the Green New Deal as a socialist takeover that would bankrupt the nation. They held a procedural vote in the Senate in March 2019, where it failed 0 to 57, with all Republicans voting against allowing a full vote and 43 Democrats voting “present.”

When Joe Biden became the Democratic nominee in 2020 and tapped Ms. Harris as his running mate, he distanced himself from the Green New Deal. Ms. Harris followed suit.

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In our clean energy transition, we still need reliable power

An operational wind turbine at the South Fork Wind Farm in the Atlantic Ocean, in December 2023. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost

This guest essay reflects the views of Will Hazelip, president of National Grid Ventures, US Northeast.

New York’s energy demand is increasing rapidly. Eventually, it will outpace the state’s available power. While there is a sincere effort by the state and private partners like National Grid Ventures to bring enough renewable power online to close this gap, the task requires a monumental shift in the way New York produces power. Already, a recent state report acknowledged New York will miss the target of 70% renewable electricity by 2030. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration is now signaling the goalpost should be moved back to 2033.

In striving to meet Albany's deadlines, we owe it to every Long Islander to be prepared if we don’t have enough renewable generation, battery storage or transmission to keep lights on and houses cool. National Grid Ventures' existing power plants have served Long Island residents for more than 50 years, and produce more than 50% of the Long Island Power Authority's total energy on the highest-demand days. Before we retire these facilities, we must ensure there’s enough power supply.

A few months ago, LIPA unveiled its road map to transition Long Island off fossil fuels. This report says that by 2030, nearly half of Long Island's power supply will come from offshore wind, and an additional 19% from zero-carbon solar and nuclear. LIPA plans to reduce fossil fuel use to 14%, largely by retiring existing power plants. If the state delays its goals, LIPA will need to follow suit.

National Grid Ventures supports this clean energy transition. But since the State Legislature passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act in 2019, New York has added just one 130-megawatt offshore wind project, 2.9 gigawatts of distributed solar, and 300 megawatts of battery storage. LIPA forecasts that by the early 2030s, there will be 2.3 GW of offshore wind, 1.4 GW of solar, and 750 MW of battery energy storage on the Long Island electric grid — enough to power millions of New York homes.

Unfortunately, almost all of this green energy infrastructure still needs to be built. And that still won't be enough to meet 100% of forecast demand. Reaching that 70% target means more than doubling the state's renewable generation over the next six years.

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Despite the challenges, there is a path to get that done.

First, we must boost funding for tax incentives, subsidies, and clean energy research so developers can invest in new technologies, like integrating renewable energy into existing generation sites.

Second, we need more successful — and faster — contracting and construction of offshore wind, transmission infrastructure, and battery energy storage projects.

Finally, we need to make sure renewable energy can meet reliability needs before we retire existing facilities, to keep lights on when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining. A safety net is necessary. It’s far more beneficial to keep fossil units available for days of exceptionally high energy usage and severe weather.

National Grid Ventures' offshore wind, solar and battery storage capacity continues to grow, and we’re working on transmission upgrades while simultaneously reducing emissions from our Long Island generation fleet. All the while, the state and LIPA are adding more renewables to the energy mix. But collectively, we have a lot more ground to cover — and quickly, so policymakers don’t have to move the goalposts again.

Though we have enough reliable energy to keep our homes cool, we must remain ever-conscious of threats to the grid’s reliability and obstacles impacting progress. In the meantime, National Grid Ventures' facilities are here to support Long Island’s electric reliability needs.

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