The Benefits of Renewable Energy
To understand the importance of energy, try turning off all the power to your home for 24 hours, then see how your day goes. No, you don’t get to jump in the SUV and drive to a motel either. Energy is a vital resource and diversifying our energy production portfolio will strengthen America in the long run.
Protect the Economy
Whenever the OPEC countries decide to squeeze us, they reduce oil production and trigger an increase in the price of gas in America. This wreaks havoc on our economy. Our country’s dependence on foreign oil unnecessarily jeopardizes America’s national economic security.
Support Local Farmers
American farmers traditionally sell their products on global commodities markets. As a result, Oklahoma wheat farmers must compete with Russian wheat farmers and Colorado cattle ranchers compete with Brazilian cattle ranchers. But the high cost of living in our country puts American farmers in a bind. Foreign farmers on the other hand don’t supply power to the US because energy is expensive to transport. Wind farms sell all of their output to local utilities.
Save on Equipment Costs
Oil wells run dry after a few years of pumping. Then you have to pull up the pipes, plug the hole and go drill another well. After a wind turbine goes up, it continues to generate electricity for as long as the wind blows. Wind turbines have a much longer shelf life than oil wells.
Clean the Air
Wind turbines don’t produce CO2 or other greenhouse gases. Methane digesters collect a gas which contributes to global warming and use it to produce energy. Solar power doesn’t pollute either. Many local governments and utilities are wisely expanding their investment in renewable energy. The federal government should follow suit.
renewable energy, wind power, wind farms, farmers, CO2
July 14th, 2008 at 7:06 am
[...] Alternative fuel filling stations cost a lot to build right now. But buses make strong candidates for alternative fuels because they follow the same daily route and can refuel at the same pump every night. [...]
July 29th, 2008 at 7:01 am
[...] our coasts and in the Arctic National Wildlife Preserve. Instead Pickens favors heavy investment in alternative energy, like wind and solar [...]