User:Matt Patronski/Climate change in the United States

ENERGY, Lead Section

Intro Sentence- The topic that I’m discussing is the debate on energy in climate change.

Summary- There has been a lot of talk in the media and in politics about this “energy debate” within climate change. Folks on the right and left both discuss how energy is the leading cause in the fight against climate change. Looking at how climate change is carried out all over the world, there are of course the “positive” ways of carrying out energy consumption, and then there are the “negative” ways of doing so. Carrying out energy consumption in a positive way would be utilizing something like a wind turbine or a solar panel. On the flip side, a negative consumption of energy would be the utilization of something like fracking, or mining for coal.

Positives' Positive ways of carrying out energy consumption would be the utilization of wind turbines and also solar panels.

Wind Turbine

When speaking about renewable energy and climate change, wind power seems to be this increasing source of renewable energy [1]. The increasing utilization of wind turbines can actually decrease threats to health problems and environmental problems as well [1]. One of the most important benefits that wind turbines offer is the reduced air pollution [1]. What the wind turbines does is it produces electricity to generate instead of burning fossil fuels to generate [1]. The other benefit to wind turbines on top of the health and environmental problems, is its efficiency [1]. Fossil fuels in a whole are very inefficient and costly, whereas wind turbines electricity is transferred efficiently by transmission lines to points of use or storage [1]. Also, it is important to point out that small-scale wind power can be created close to where it is being used [1]. Generating electricity via wind does not produce any greenhouse gases, which is theoretically an important step in the battle on climate change [1]. Global climate change is one of the most consequential effects of fossil fuel use [1].

Solar Panel Another positive form of renewable energy in the age of climate change is the use of solar panels. With the use of solar panels comes a few benefits. First, solar energy reduces water pollution. In plants such as natural gas or coal plants, this requires cooling, which in turn requires a large amount of water [2]. With that being said, 72 percent of water pollution comes from plants such as coal-fired plants, and the toxic pollutants that are found in the water are linked to serious health problems [2]. Generating energy from renewable energy sources such as the solar panel could improve health problems, and the well being of ecosystems [2]. Solar panels do not pollute water sources, because the solar photovoltaic cells do not need water in order to generate, which results in clean drinking water [2]. Second, solar energy reduces air pollution. 31 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. come from the production of electricity. Greenhouse gas emissions reduce the quality of air as well as increase the weather storms [2]. Third, solar energy reduces hazardous waste. More than 400 million tons of hazardous waste is produced every year, and not all waste is deposited in a safe manner [2]. For example, in Canada, the producers of waste fail to meet government regulations and guidelines for correctly depositing waste. Unlike the traditional energy sources that are seen all over and throughout the country and world, solar power does not rely on fuel to generate electricity in order for it to get running, which in turn eliminates the problem of radioactive waste and transportation of fuel [2].

Negatives

Fracking Coal Mining

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Conclusion

References

Wolfe, M. (2019, March 2). Devices Used to Harness Wind Energy. Retrieved November 15, 2019, from https://sciencing.com/devices-used-harness-wind-energy-5626358.html. [1]

User, O. (2016, January 8). How Does Solar Energy Help the Environment? Retrieved November 15, 2019, from https://www.ecomarksolar.com/blog/how-denver-solar-panels-help-environment/. [2]