Greenville, J.( 2014, June 22). The Rocky Mountain Institute and Weaning Ourselves

off of Oil and Coal. Emagazine, Emagazine: EarthTalk, Retreved July 15, 2014,

from http://www.emagazine.com/earth-talk/the-rocky-mountain-institute-

and-weaning-ourselves-off-of-oil-and-coal

 

 

The think tank Rocky Mountain Institute has proposed a plan to wean the country off fossil fuels. Instead of organizing large renewable energy plants, though they support the creation of such plants, they want to encourage a more grass roots effort to reduce our oil and coal dependence. By convincing architects to build new buildings in an energy conscious way and get people to install solar panels in their homes to reduce the weight on the energy grid. RMI also intends to push for large-scale improvements in cities that already embrace green technologies so they can lead the way for less progressive areas. The group has the goal of eliminating oil and coal dependence in America by 2050.

 

I think the plan that the Rocky Mountain Institute is following is wise because it does not depend on large private interest and political groups spending large quantities of money on new technology. By trying to make it possible for individual homeowners to eliminate the need for outside power. The best part of this plan is the way it defuses the cost of building the solar installations. Instead of the government or corporations spending billions replacing existing power plants with new ones, this cost is the main reason that all energy does not come from solar power today. Hopefully the movement takes root and solar energy becomes more common in the coming years.

Hayes, D. (2014, April 22). As nuclear power dies, solar rises. CNN, Cable News

       Network: CNN Opinion. Retrieved July 12, 2014, from

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/22/opinion/hayes-denman-solar-

       power/index.html?iref=story search

 

Solar energy is now massively outgrowing nuclear power. In the last year alone solar energy has grown by 4.2 gigawats in the United States and in that time nuclear energy has grown by only 1.2 gigawats worldwide. This trend has caused some to call this the “true dawn of the Solar Age”. With growth in solar power comes the demise of nuclear plants across the country.  Upgrades to reactors and new plants are being canceled and big players from the nuclear industry such as Warren Buffet have invested in solar technology, heralding an end to the nuclear age.

 

 

The surge in growth for the solar power industry is a promising start to what I can only hope is an environmental revolution. The technology to make efficient solar panels and to avoid the hazards that come with using nuclear technology is here. That we have a real chance to create a green society and to reduce the impact we have on our ecosystems is incredible. However the production of energy by solar power still does not come close to meeting the required levels needed to support our societies consumption of energy. This progress is great but only the beginning and the trend must continue for years before it makes a serious impact.