Alternative Energy: Environmental Boon or More of the Same?
It has been the holy grail of environmentalism for decades – an energy grid powered by clean alternatives to fossil fuel, crisscrossing the country and allowing humanity to live in harmony with nature.
Big NGOs and groups like the Sierra Club, the Green Party, and the Natural Resource Defense Council, along with smaller citizens groups and municipalities are all advocating for a rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
“By harnessing renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, geo-thermal, wave, biomass and others we can transform how we produce electricity,” the Sierra Club website reads. “…modern wind farms are leading the drive away from polluting sources of energy by capturing the massive wind power potential of the Midwest. Today’s solar panels efficiently transform sunlight into electricity while blending into the design of homes and office buildings.”
In Germany, the world renewables leader, more than 25% of electricity comes from renewable sources, mostly wind and hydroelectric dams. Germany plans to use 80% renewable energy by 2050.
In the United States, the numbers are more modest, with slightly less than 12% of total generation coming from green sources.
Worldwide, renewable energy accounted for only 7% of total power generation in 2008, with 85% of that total coming from hydroelectric dams.
While the Republican establishment has been quick to criticize renewable energytechnologies and advocate for more fossil fuel drilling, the Democratic party and many others on the left have closed ranks on the issue, unwilling to examine some of the legitimate issues around alternatives. Like the Sierra Club, most have accepted the party line that renewable energy is the holy grail of environmentalism. The truth is much more complex.
No comments:
Post a Comment