CleanEnergyAuthority.com. (2020, October 30). Breakout Year For Solar and Wind Energy in The US. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/breakout-year-solar-and-wind-energy-us-103020
The EIA has reported that renewable energy is the fastest-growing source of energy in the US, even with the coronavirus. 60.1% of the new power capacity in the country came from solar installations. This development is occurring mainly due to the decrease in the price of the technology. Solar panels are now 12 times less expensive than 10 years ago with an average annual increase of 50% in this period. Recently, solar energy companies have intended to petition for further ITC benefits that are going to expire at the end of 2020 unless Congress approves of an extension. However, the US tariffs on Chinese imports, including solar panels, could lead to some problems in the industry. Going forward, it seems like the federal government is needed to ensure that clean energy continues to increase at its current level and significantly replace nonrenewable energy.
This article is related to environmental science because it reflects a positive change towards more renewable energy to fight against pollutants. The fact that most additions to the power grid are now nonrenewable is a positive development that is much more optimistic about our situation than environment-related news tends to be. This article also reflects the importance of environmental policy and its role in determining the healthy future of our planet. In the end, it is up to lawmakers voted by the people who determine how smoothly a transition towards renewable energy actually is. Personally, I find this article to be very interesting and gives me hope about our ability to change things before it is too late. However, it also makes me concerned about what the federal government could try to do to halt progress towards green energy. If another president or future Congress delays progress in the future, the health of the planet could be in great danger and cause even more damage. A change like this would likely not completely halt solar energy development, as it is still significantly increasing annually, but could prevent its proper establishment in the power grid.
Great follow up paragraph Coby. I think we can plan on solar becoming cheaper and cheaper as we move forward. However, what we need alongside that is battery storage as well. I agree the govt could have a role in shaping energy policy- do you think it should be done on a national level, subject to changing presidents or is this more of a local issue that should be handled on that level? And you’re right to point out the issue with Chinese solar plants. Interestingly they heavily subsidized them to make them outcompete US panels, just like what we do with our subsidized corn exports.
Thanks for reading! I think this will likely need to be a mix of local and national politics. National politics will be needed to create broad policies and local politics to make changes that are more specific to the community. For example, the federal government passing laws to make all states use solar energy when some states like Alaska do not have much sunlight would not make sense,
Yeah, it’s honestly really disappointing to see our government behave like this. Do you think that it will be too late if we have another president unconcerned with climate change?
Thanks for reading! I don’t think that it would be too late, just discouraging. Renewable energy has grown and coal has shrunk under Trump’s presidency despite him being an advocate for coal mining. Another president like him would probably not make it too late but would instead create more barriers for increasing renewable energy.