AGHH!!! Help!!!

Iva Rose

ES317r

Paper #3

12 August 2009

Renewable Energy and Climate Change

Renewable energy is energy created by natural means including wind action, water (rain, waves), and sunlight. There are also sources of non-renewable energy that include fossil fuels, propane, and uranium. Climate change is caused by both human and natural influences including the burning of these fossil fuels for energy and the manufacturing of products needed and utilized. Scientific evidence has shown us that the burning of fossil fuels and subsequent release of CO2 and other harmful chemicals into the atmosphere are causing widespread damage not only to our atmosphere, but, also to our flora, fauna, landmasses and to human health. Utilizing renewable energy such as wind, water, solar or geothermal resources is more eco-friendly because the resources can be utilized over and over and are quickly and naturally replenished. Utilizing non-renewable energy resources such as fossil fuels and uranium mining is not healthy to the environment because these sources can not be naturally replenished if needed in a hurry.

The use of renewable resources appears to be less damaging to the earth than non-renewable resources because the damage done to harness them. Harvesting and harnessing non-renewable resources is a major contributer to pollution due to the fossil fuel burning and release of CO2 and other chemicals into the air and water; which in turn contributes to global warming and climate change. “ A growing number of towns are rapidly transitioning to low-carbon renewable energy, and larger cities are attempting to follow their lead. But most of the world remains wedded to pollution, carbon-intensive fossil fuels, despite rising economic costs and threats to human health, national security, and the environment” (Sawin nd Moomaw pg 130). Mining and the use of fossil fuels has been a widespread occurrence and has been relatively less costly than other means of energy harnessing and use. However, cheap and abundant fossil fuels and uranium may be or relatively easy to come by, scientific evidence shows us that they can cause widespread damage. The economy has changed drastically in the last couple of years and the price of oil and fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas have risen significantly. The rising cost of these products has also caused a rise in the prices of obtaining them. Hopefully with the rising costs of these products more companies and people will convert to renewable energy resources as a means of helping the environment and also for economical reasons.

In the text Sawin and Moomaw cover aspects of renewable energy and non-renewable energy and the threats that non-renewable energy poses to the planet, humans and other organisms. “ the urgent meed to reduce the release pf carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane in order to avoid catastrophic climate change has finally focused the world's attention on the need for a rapid shift in how energy services are provided” (Sawin & Moomaw pg 131). Science has shown that the damage being done to our planet is because of the use of non-renewable resources, the burning of these resources and the release of harmful chemicals into our atmosphere. An article I found interesting from the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century contained this quote “ renewable energy must play a major role in the global energy supply to meet the increasing serious environmental and economic threats of climate change”. The use of renewable energy is a step in the direction of reducing pollution and climate change.

Issues including global warming and climate change are very heated issues and often times are heavily debated. Scientific evidence has been gathered and continues to be gathered and compiled and shared with the world that shows the damage that is being done to our atmosphere, land masses, ice packs, flora and fauna. Although this scientific evidence shows us the damage, not enough is being done to combat the damage. It has been documented and shown that mining, uranium mining, drilling for oil and other fossil fuel harvesting is destroying the earth and causes illness in humans as well in animals, but, companies and people continue to do it. Yes, people are making changes to combat the pollution and damage that is being done, however, the efforts are minimal and are slow in change.

It seems that the issue of harnessing and utilizing renewable energy versus non-renewable energy is widely and greatly debated. Surely the oil and coal companies don't want to see people switch to renewable energy resources because the companies will lose a great deal of money. It isn't economical or revenue generating for the oil and coal companies if people utilize natural resources. Although negative for these companies the switch would be a positive step towards reducing the pollution that these types of companies are doing. In the text Sawin and Moomaw point out that “ for the world to avoid catastrophic climate change and and insecure economic future, the transition already under way must be accelerated” (pg. 148). It is known that non-renewable energy resources are costly, non-eco friendly and are major contributers to pollution, yet, people continue to utilize them. If people switched to renewable energy resources this would reduce the pollution and release of greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. “ A 2007 study concluded that efficiency in concert with renewable energy could reduce U.S. Carbon emissions 33-44 percent below current levels by 2030”. Wow! 33-44 percent reduction of carbon emission in 23 years. What are the people waiting for, it is being shown and explained that be making changes we could potentially reduce our emissions by such a large percent.

I believe through research and reading as much as I possibly can that by switching from non-renewable resources to renewable resources that we can minimize the amount of pollution and damage that we are causing. If we can harness natural resources such as the rain, sun, waves and other sources to provide power, water, and heat we could do so much more for our atmosphere and our health. While there are so many different directions to take in reducing pollution, I truly believe that the biggest step or change we could make would be to close down the coal plants and other plants that are creating pollution by releasing CO2 and other harmful chemicals into our atmosphere and our waterways. Surely the harnessing and use of renewable resources would be cost-effective, not to mention less polluting. A company called Finavera based in Vancouver, British Columbia had a wave-energy project in the works for Makah Bay, however after contacting the Senior Vice President of Business Development I found out that they had decided not to do it and had sold the license on the project. Personally, I think that wave-energy project would have been a positive change for the Makah people as the energy that would have been generated would have been sold to the Clallam County Public Utility District (PUD) which provides power for Clallam County.

Works Cited

Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/RDEE/energy-programs/state-and-local/by- topic/renewable.html accessed [12August 2009]

Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/RDEE/energy-programs/state-and-local/state- best-practices.html accessed [12 August 2009]

Renewable Energy World. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2006/02/new- report-links-renewable-energy-to-climate-change-solutions-43764 accessed [12 August 2009]

Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century. Http://www.ren21.net accessed [12 August 2009]

Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE53L66B20090423 accessed [12 August 2009]

Sawin, Janet L., Moomaw, William R. State of the World: The Perfect Storm. 2009. W.W. Norton & Company, New York.

Do you have an email address you could give me so that I can send you my suggestions? The formatting from Word does not transfer onto here very well.

Yes, my email is: roseredrebel@yahoo.com

I really appreciate your help. Agh I am not an English major, so my writing definately lacks.

Sorry it took me a while to get the email to you!