Green Power: Here if you can afford It

CC image Lily-Pop/flickr

Yesterday, in light of the ongoing tragedy of the BP oil spill, President Barack Obama gave an important speech that emphasized his commitment to developing renewable energy sources and reducing the United States’ dependence on imported fossil fuels. Where do we stand today on renewable energy and how far do we have to go?

Green power is a government-endorsed, but not mandated, source of electricity for homes, businesses, automobiles, machinery and all kinds of appliances. The term “green power” refers to energy derived from the sun (solar energy), water (hydro energy), geothermal, wind, and plant and waste (biomass energy) resources, all of which are renewable. Renewables have many advantages over fossil fuels like oil, coal and natural gas. Unfortunately, cost savings is not one of them.

About 50 percent of American households now have the option to buy green power energy from their local utility company or an alternative energy company. However, consumers pay more if they sign up to get their energy from renewable energy sources rather than from fossil fuels.

President Obama's June 2 speech on the economy and energy policy

If you can afford it and if it is offered in your state, there are many good reasons to switch to green power. Green power is less harmful to the environment than fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuels emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide that enters the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels. Methane is released during the production of coal and oil, and also from raising cattle. These types of gases are contributing to climate change. Scientists know that changes in climate are having a harmful effect on people, animals, and plant and sea life, and that it will gradually increase.

By buying 100 percent of their energy from green power electricity, people could reduce their green gas emissions by 50 percent, thereby reducing their impact on climate change. That is not possible now, because not everyone has access to green power and if they do have access, costs are generally much higher than traditional energy sources.

Still, there are numerous ways that individuals can reduce their impact on the environment right now. Some people are switching to driving electric hybrid and diesel cars, using solar powered lights or low energy light bulbs, purchasing non-toxic cleaning products  and products wrapped in recyclable packaging, and using latex rather than oil-based paint for house painting.

More and more Americans think we need to make a greater effort to use energy from renewables and be conscientious when buying products. Something has to change. If every person in the world consumed as much energy as the average American does, we would need three or more Earths to provide the resources we consume.

Most Americans also want the federal government to develop a fair energy policy for now and in the future. However, Congress has been very slow to act on green power issues because it is politically unpopular to regulate businesses and limit energy consumption. Despite tax incentives and grants for developing alternative energy sources, large companies have resisted the development of alternative energies because they don’t want to make initial investments and do not want to lose future profits from selling fossil fuels.

Small progress has been made. Unlike the previous administration, President Obama has said he supports a “clean energy economy” but that it will only come about through government efforts individual Americans making choices that will protect the environment.

We know that it will take more than government assurances to make the changes needed. It will require sincere efforts to create sound policies on the part of elected officials. It will mean that citizens have to make better choices in each and every local and national election and when they purchase any product or service. Only when more people make a commitment to choose products and energy made from renewable resources, and reject those made from fossil fuels, will America prevent more environmental disasters. Only then will it disengage in battles over oil.

References:

“A New Foundation for Energy and the Environment” whitehouse.gov

“Buying Green Power.” The Green Power Network,  U.S. Department of Energy

“Ecological Footprint Quiz.” My Footprint. 2010. Center for Sustainable Economy.

 “How To: Get Green Power.” Treehugger.com 

Welsa Stone is a St. Paul, Minn. high school student. She plans to attend the College of Visual Arts in fall, 2010.