The Sun Never Sets

Only eight percent of energy used by the United States in a year comes from a renewable resource such as wind, water, or sun (Cooper). The rest of our power is supplied from finite sources such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum. Instead of using resources that will eventually run out to power our lives, we should use resources that will never disappear. In the past, renewable energy resources, known as renewables, were most commonly used by the rich and the environmentalists. Now, solar energy is becoming affordable to most, and all are encouraged to do their part in helping the environment. By increasing our dependence on renewable energy sources such as solar energy, we can save money and the environment.

While renewable resources help the environment, many people do not use them because of lack of information about them. According to Gregory M. Rueger, senior vice president of Pacific Gas and Electric Company “[f]ederal and state agencies and regulators have not generally endorsed renewables as a significant part of their policy objectives. . . . Because they [renewables] are unrecognized, they are underused. And because they are underused, they remain unrecognized.” Renewables must be supported by top government officials before citizens will start to rely on them. President Bush submitted his National Energy Strategy to Congress in 1991. It relied heavily on nuclear power along with fossil fuels although “environmentalists concede that the Bush administration has shown more interest in renewable energy than its predecessor” (Griffin). Educating people about renewable resources will increase the use of renewables and will decrease the need for fossil fuels.

Renewable energy is often not used because it is less efficient than burning fossil fuels. The amount of energy absorbed by solar panels or wind farms is much greater than the amount that is able to be used. The government has reduced funding because of inefficiency; however, no advances can be made without money. “The resources are unlimited and wait only upon technological progress for harvesting” says Duane Sunderman, director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

“By. . . overcoming constraints such as storage capacity during those times when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow, the contribution of alternative energy sources could increase tenfold” (Griffin). To increase the efficiency of renewable energy the government should provide the means for research.

One of the most important reasons for using renewable energy sources is the benefit to the environment. A poll taken by the Pew Research Center in January, 2005, revels that sixty percent of Americans wanted the federal government to make energy and the environment a top priority. This is the highest percentage since 2001. One of the many results from this “green energy” push is the hybrid car. Americans are beginning to realize that another way to decrease dependence on foreign oil is by using renewable energy. “American businesses and individuals have become much more energy efficient since the emergence of the modern environmental movements and the 1973 Arab oil embargo” (Price). By depending on renewable energy sources, our nation can save the environment and stop depending on foreign oil.