Every day, hundreds of millions of Americans wake up to their alarm clock, turn on their lights, and check their email.  At first glance these actions seem unrelated, but the fact is that hundreds of millions of Americans use electricity all throughout their day. If hundreds of millions of people use electricity just in America; then, billions of people all around the world use electricity every single day. On top of the billions of people whom use electricity, around one billion people worldwide also drive a vehicle. This just goes to show that there is a huge amount of energy in the world that needs to be produced to support the world’s increasing demand for energy. In America, the largest production of energy comes from fossil fuels, which are commonly referred to as non-renewable sources of energy. They are so named because they, as a finite source, will eventually be used up completely and are not sustainable. In addition to fossil fuels lacking sustainability, they also are known to have a negative impact on the environment due to their large amount of carbon emissions; however, this aspect is often overlooked due to their relatively low cost per unit of energy produced. On the other hand, there is another form of energy production which is sustainable and not harmful to the environment. This method of energy production is most commonly known as renewable energy.  Renewable energy sources include, but are not limited to, solar power (photovoltaic), wind power, and hydropower. Both methods of energy production, renewable and nonrenewable, have positive and negative aspects and each energy form is supported for varying reason. Some of those reasons are the environment, money, and even politics. America should implement more energy production in the form of renewables because solar power, among other renewables, is more beneficial to the economy since it will increase jobs, stimulate local economies, and renewables have a more promising future than outdated, unnecessarily harmful fossil fuels. 

When discussing an issue of this magnitude, it is important to objectively understand the significant factors on each side of the argument. Before condemning the use of fossil fuels, it is important to establish the legitimate concerns and disadvantages of using renewable sources to produce energy. One author, Pradhnya Tajne, gives an example of how hydroelectric turbines [at dams] can cause destructive flash floods such as the one in Dhauliganga, India in the year 2013. Also, she explains that making a “utility-scale solar panel facility” will require the destruction of many natural habitats to clear enough land for a large solar farm (Tajne). An additional negative aspect associated with solar power is that it has been proven that, on average, burning coal produces more electricity per day than most PV, photovoltaic, solar panels can produce in a week (Understand Solar). Another argument against solar power, and most renewables, is the presence of intermittent natural source. In some areas of the world, there are days with little to no direct sunlight and in these places solar power is seen to be ineffective and unreliable (Shah). Finally, the greatest argument against the use of renewables is the overall cost, starting with the large up front and the maintenance associated with maintaining these complex machines (Shah). Renewable energy has undeniable flaws and needs improvement; however, using renewables is the key to drastically reducing emissions and it is important that the many advantages of renewable energy are also discussed.

The benefits of renewable energy greatly outweigh the flaws; the benefits of renewable energy are decreasing costs, economic stimulation, and lack of carbon emissions. First, many will argue that renewable energy, specifically solar panels, cost far too much to justify moving away from fossil fuels; this argument is false. In the last ten years, the cost to install and maintain a solar panel system has decreased by over 60% (Matasci). For example, Ricky Roy from a YouTube channel called, “Two Bit da Vinci” made a video sharing what he has learned and discovered after owning solar panels in the last five years (Roy, Ricky and Chris Anderson). To preface, Roy is an engineer and his findings are pulled from the software sent with his solar panel system and monetary values from power bills he has received over the last five years. The solar panel installation and complete setup cost him a total of $10,000 before tax reductions and over the course of five years he has saved approximately $3,900 (Roy, Ricky and Chris Anderson). This seems like a small number compared to the initial cost, however, due to the increase in technology and the decrease in costs, it will cost less than $5,000 to install the same size system and this system will produce roughly three times the amount of energy compared the one Roy purchased in 2011. This means that in only two years it is possible to pay off the same size system it would have previously take eight years to pay off a now six-year-old system (Roy, Ricky and Chris Anderson). This goes to show that renewables have become a viable replacement for coal both in cost and energy output. This positive financial outcome applies directly to a consumer that uses solar on his or her own home, but many argue that solar power, and other renewables, will harm America’s economy.

 Gatusso says, “Fact: Wind and sunshine may seem like free and plentiful sources of energy. Yet there is nothing cheap about renewable energy. The costs of producing and transmitting alternative sources are astronomical” (582).  He goes on to describe how intermittent natural sources, like the wind not blowing, would require a breakthrough in energy storage (Gatusso). Both statements are largely refutable.  First, the majority of economic analysts opposed to increased funding for renewables forget that the money paid for energy will not be leaving the country to be pumped into a foreign economy, for the purchase of raw oil or refinement. Instead, the money will be spent in our country and our local economies, which stimulates economic growth. Second, the energy grid is set up in a way that if one source of energy is not producing sufficient energy to power the grid by itself, it can be supported by another energy source such as hydropower or even geothermal, thus eliminating the need for improved energy storage (Lovins). By allowing the grid to use multiple sources of renewable energy, we will be increasing jobs in renewables even though the number of jobs in non-renewables will decrease.  In fact, according to the IRENA study, there will be a substantial increase in jobs, greater than what is lost in the fossil fuel industry, as the reliance on renewables increases (Wallasch). Renewable energy should be implemented for many reasons; but, it is crucial to include information on fossil fuels so that all claims are supported and are not completely opinionated.

There are several advantages to using fossil fuels today but, the negatives associated with using non-renewables, such as coal or natural gas, far outweigh any positive outcome. First the distinct advantages of fossil fuels are [current] reliability and stability for the energy grid (Rinkesh). The argument is that, for the time being, there is a plethora of coal and natural gas located in accessible places and it is relatively cheap compared to solar power. Also, America’s energy grid was developed around fossil fuels, so we know that the energy supply for fossil fuels is stable (Rinkesh). This is because if more energy is needed, the more coal or natural gas that is converted to energy. There is no doubt that there will be more coal in a given day, unlike sunlight for solar power, if more energy is needed then electric just choose to use more of the energy source. These examples make sense on paper but, once the disadvantages are discussed, renewables are the obvious solution. For instance, burning more coal to counter an energy deficit will produce more carbon emissions. In fact, the average coal-fired power plant produces over 3.5 tons of carbon dioxide annually (Understanding Solar). Small amounts of fossil fuels are emitted when producing solar panels but, their amount of annual production emission pales in comparison to the 1,364 million tons of emissions that were produced by coal-fired power plants in 2015 (Understanding Solar). Another distinct disadvantage of fossil fuels is their lack of sustainability. Although there is a plethora now, fossil fuels will one day be used up completely, and the reliability of fossil fuels will be nonexistent. On a final note, fossil fuels become marginally more efficient, annually, compared to the advances in renewables. Clearly, renewable sources of energy are superior to the harmful and finite sources of non-renewables; however, implementation of these renewables is the most important aspect for economic success.

The implementation of renewable sources of energy has been drastically delayed due to the “eye sore mentality”, political agendas, and lack of private donation to avoid government subsidies (Aghahosseini). In many well to do areas of America, large wind turbines are seen as an “eyesore”, meaning that these people do not want to look at them. The only way to make the overcome their displeasure is to change their view on windmills on solar panels. These huge power generators are not unattractive but, instead, are marvelous works that show the ingenuity of mankind. It is important that the unattractive stigmas of renewable energy systems are removed from society. In another case, many policies related to supporting renewable energy are put down by politicians that are supported by big oil and fossil fuel companies (Rowell). Honestly, the best way to stop crooked politicians from denying renewable energy changes is to increase the populations’ support, and vote, for more environmentally compassionate candidates or at least candidates that are aware of the economic benefit of renewable energy. Finally, renewables will be better implemented if America increases its private donations towards all aspects of renewables including: research, development, manufacturing, green energy organizations, and a substantial sum to improve the efficiency of the energy grid. Large donations from those citizens who can afford it will go a long way because there will be less argument from the opposing side since the money will not be given by the government/America’s economy that is in trillions of dollars of debt. The most important thing for these donations to be used on is the development or at the very least the improvement of the energy grid; the grid needs to more efficiently transfer energy from one location to the next. If these three key points are addressed when implementing more renewables, we will see a drastic increase in renewable energy production and a substantial decrease in carbon emissions.

Renewable energy is the future of American energy dependence and the American economy. Renewable energy sources are the sources of energy that are never depleted such as the sun or wind.  Non-renewables, also known as fossil fuels, are finite and will one day be used up completely. It is crucial the future leaders of the country support and promote renewable energy because without renewable sources of energy the demand of energy will surpass the supply, thus crippling America, an energy dependent nation. However, if America effectively implements renewable energy, the economy will grow, the number of jobs will increase, and overall emissions will go down all while improving the sustainability of energy in America. Also, the cost of solar power is decreasing at a significant rate compared to fossil fuels therefore renewable energy is now more cost efficient than that of fossil fuels justifying the purchase of solar panels for personal use and industry. It is true that renewable energy has many flaws that need to be addressed, but, the advantages of fossil fuels combined with the flaws of renewables are not enough to outweigh over 1,300 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. 
