Why Clean Energy is Important

Using clean, renewable energy is one of the most important actions you can take to reduce your impact on the environment. Electricity production is our #1 source of greenhouse gases, more than all of our driving and flying combined, and clean energy also reduces harmful smog, toxic buildups in our air and water, and the impacts caused by coal mining and gas extraction. But replacing our fossil-fuel infrastructure will take time—and strong, consistent support from both state and federal mandates to build renewable energy generation and demand for clean energy from consumers and businesses.

                                             

                                            Reduce First

 

Energy efficiency is a key step to reducing our impact on climate change and creating a sustainable energy future. Every time you flip on a light switch, use your computer, take a hot shower, or turn on your heater, you’re using energy. The average U.S. home uses about 11,000 kWh per year,1 and a large portion of that energy is wasted. By using less energy without sacrificing comfort, you can save money while helping the planet.

Small changes can add up to big savings. Here are 5 actions you can take today to start saving energy:

1. Use energy efficient lighting, like compact florescent (CFL) or LED light bulbs in your home and workplace

2. Turn down your water heater to the warm setting

3. Unplug your cell phone and laptop chargers when you’re not using them

4. Use the energy-savings settings on the appliances you have and buy Energy Star–labeled appliances when you replace them.

5. Replace the filters in your furnace and air conditioner

​

​

                                      Why Renewable Energy?

​

Electricity generation is the leading cause of industrial air pollution in the U.S. Most of our electricity comes from coal, nuclear, and other non-renewable power plants. Producing energy from these resources takes a severe toll on our environment, polluting our air, land, and water.

Renewable energy sources can be used to produce electricity with fewer environmental impacts. It is possible to make electricity from renewable energy sources without producing carbon dioxide (CO2), the leading cause of global climate change.

But first, just what is renewable energy? Renewable energy is energy derived from natural resources that replenish themselves over a period of time without depleting the Earth’s resources. These resources also have the benefit of being abundant, available in some capacity nearly everywhere, and they cause little, if any, environmental damage. Energy from the sun, wind, and thermal energy stored in the Earth’s crust are examples. For comparison, fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas are not renewable, since their quantity is finite—once we have extracted them they will cease to be available for use as an economically viable energy source. While they are produced through natural processes, these processes are too slow to replenish these fuels as quickly as humans use them, so these sources will run out sooner or later. Renewable energy provides many benefits to people, business, and the planet.

                         

                           Electricity Generation and your Health

​

• 66% of the nation’s sulfur dioxide (SO2), which cause acid rain, comes from electricity generation. According to the American Lung Association, sulfur dioxide triggers asthma attacks in people and contributes to the formation of fine particles, also detrimental to respiratory health.

• 29% of nitrogen oxides (NOx), which react with sunlight to create ground level ozone and smog, come from electricity generation. According to the American Lung Association, high levels of NOx increase susceptibility to respiratory infections, especially among children.

• Ozone (O3) occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere where it is beneficial. However, ozone in the lower atmosphere creates the urban haze which we call smog. Automobiles and electricity generation are top contributors to ground level ozone. According to the American Lung Association, breathing ozone can lead to shortness of breath, lung inflammation, asthma attacks, and for children who grow up in areas with high ozone pollution, greater risk of lifelong lung disease.

• Particulate matter is a type of air pollution more commonly referred to as soot. Exposure to particulate matter is especially harmful to people with lung disease (e.g. asthma, bronchitis, emphysema) and heart disease.

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global climate change. Long-term effects associated with fossil fuel burning could be even more alarming than air pollution-related deaths today. In the future, tropical diseases could thrive as the earth’s climate warms, and deaths due to extreme weather conditions could increase.

• Mercury is a highly toxic metal that is released from coal-fired power plants. Mercury accumulates in the fat cells of fish and other animals. When humans eat the fish, they are exposed to mercury. Mercury causes permanent damage to the liver and central nervous system, causing loss of motor function, slurred speech, tunnel vision, and loss of hearing. Mercury is particularly harmful when ingested by pregnant or nursing women as it can cause birth defects and developmental defects. Because mercury accumulates in biological organisms it is constantly being recycled in the environment as it moves up the food chain.

​

                            Renewables Benefit the Economy

​

Renewable energy provides reliable power supplies and fuel diversification, which enhance energy security, lower risk of fuel spills, and reduce the need for imported fuels. Renewable energy also helps conserve the nation’s natural resources.

Energy Security

Renewable energy provides reliable power supplies and fuel diversification, which enhance energy security and lower risk of fuel spills while reducing the need for imported fuels.  Renewable energy also helps conserve the nation’s natural resources. 

Economic Development

The renewable energy industry is more labor intensive than its fossil fuel counterpart, meaning on average greater job creation. The industry also creates positive ripple effects down to the renewable energy supply chain and unrelated businesses due to increased household incomes. 

Price Stability

Renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro and geothermal do not entail fuel costs or require transportation, and therefore offer greater price stability. In fact, some electric utilities factor this into their retail electricity prices, exempting customers that buy renewables from certain fuel-related charges.
 

                              Electricity and the Environment

​

Traditional electricity generation is responsible for the emission of a host of chemicals with widespread environmental impacts. The same compounds that are detrimental to human health have similar consequences for the natural environment. Electricity generation from fossil fuels is responsible for:

• 37% of the nation’s carbon dioxide2 (CO2), a greenhouse gas and major contributor to climate change. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned. Climate change is a serious environmental threat that may contribute to coastal flooding, more frequent and extreme heat waves, more intense droughts, an increase in the number of severe storms, and the increased spread of infectious diseases.

• 66% of the nation’s sulfur dioxide (SO2) when combined with rain water, creates acid rain. Acid rain damages the foliage of forests, crops, and other plants, and eventually can kill the plants. It also acidifies rivers and lakes causing them to be biologically “dead.” Acidification also alters the chemistry of soil, releasing harmful metals into rainwater runoff and groundwater. Sulfur dioxide also accelerates the decay of stone and paint, damaging many buildings and monuments.

• 40% of the nation’s mercury3 contributing to contamination of soil and waterways. Mercury can circulate in the air for up to one year and can be transported thousands of miles from its source. Mercury accumulates in the fatty tissue of fish and is constantly being recycled in the environment as it moves up the food chain. Mercury causes permanent damage to the liver and central nervous system and can cause birth defects.

• 25% of nitrogen oxides (NOx), which react with sunlight to create ground level ozone and smog. Nitrogen oxide deposition causes algae blooms in lakes and streams. This depletes the water of oxygen, killing fish and other living organisms. Nitrogen dioxide has also been shown to cause pulmonary disease in animals.

• Particulate matter is the major cause of reduced visibility (haze) in the U.S. Coal-fired power plants are the single largest source of emissions of particulate pollution - soot particles made of ash (heavy metals, radioactive isotopes, hydrocarbons, sulfates, and nitrates) that can transport and deposit trace metals such as mercury hundreds of miles from their source. Soot stains and damages stone and other materials, damaging many of our buildings and monuments. After traveling long distances, particles settle on ground or water, causing these effects:
   

  • making lakes and streams acidic

  • changing the nutrient balance in coastal waters and large river basins

  • depleting the nutrients in soil

  • damaging sensitive forests and farm crops

  • affecting the diversity of ecosystems

​