Is the cost of Renewable energy worth it?

By: Travis Tessier

Renewable energy
Renewable energy, is energy that will never run out. This energy comes from wind, sun, water, earth. Although it is very expensive and a lot of research is being used to discover and obtain this energy, it will make the world a cleaner place, and will stop the search for non-renewable resources. For example: Coal, Fossil fuel, oil. However its more expensive for tax payers to pay for this new research, and installment of the renewable sources then it is to use up the non-renewable ones.

Renewable energy resources

Split over clean energy prospects

It is very necessary for homes and communities to start using renewable resources for their homes and their cars. The main problem is as Catherine Wolfram stats is that it wasn't worth it for the modest savings she'd see on her energy bills. Renewable sources are outrageously priced and it is very necessary to see break through in the next 50 years to make the world a cleaner place. Daniel Kammen states, There will be an opportunity to sell that power back to the utility, making money on the deal, And people will think of their cars and their homes not as devices that simply suck up money in the form of energy, but generate it and put it back in the system and make money. He believes that there is a break through in technology over the horizon that could push United states away from using fossil fuels.

Non-renewable cheaper option

These mines could be gone, but they make the world look trashy and people die working there.

Oil rig can spill, this can kill sea animals that are needed for food. Pollutes the world and is dangerous.

Shifting to 100% renewable energy will save money.

The turn from using fossil fuels to all renewable energy will require less energy and be cleaner world for everyone to live in. The problem lies in the use of fossil fuels and biomass combustion, which are notoriously inefficient at producing usable energy. For example, when gasoline is used to power a vehicle, at least 80 percent of the energy produced is wasted as heat. However for electric powered cars, 80% of the energy produces motion and 20% is wasted as heat. Using electric /fossil fuel mix the world needs about 16.9 terawatts of energy, stats the U.S Energy information Administration. However using resource if the world was all renewable resources, it would cut down the requirement of energy to 11.5 terawatts. If the world builds wind turbines, and uses solar panels to produce all the energy. But in the long-run the net savings would more then equal the cost, according to Jacobson and Delucchi's analysis. This will eliminate the need for 13,000 new or existing coal mines. If the world does not stop using carbon- and other air emitting sources for energy then global temps, and health problems will keep increasing.

Campare /contrast
Both have a bunch of great points, however the switch to all renewable to save money is a stretch. The cost of this switch would be almost impossible to pay for, and the money to be gained off it will take 50 or so years to equal the cost. If it was all switched over it would definitely be worth it for the world, and it would not take up too much space. For generations to come it will save them all mass amounts of money on energy bills. But what is needed is a technology break through to make these renewable resources cheaper. I believe after the technology break through the switch to all renewable will be a lot more cost efficient and have a greater profit outcome. Being in the time now however it is best to keep doing what we are doing until that break through comes and makes it cost efficient for the world.

Split over clean energy prospects

This is credible because it is the NPR organization. I believe Catherine, makes a great point. It is very expensive and it would take 30+ years to make the switch worth it bill wise. It makes a good argument because right now it is too expensive, but in the next 20 or 30 years if the price of renewable energy resources goes down then many people will make the switch. She had a company make recommendations how she can save energy and use renewable energy and she stated that it was not worth the price for the miniscule amount that would be saved in the energy bills.

Renewable energy will save money

The source that published this article is from Stanford University. She used a lot of credible facts from different U.S departments. The article uses engineers to help talk about and explain the switching of resources to save money. She makes a great point in the switch from mix of electric power and fossil fuels to all electric, being that the world would need less energy and would be a lot cleaner and better place to live.

Sources
These sources are meant for the world. They state the facts on how energy can change for everyone to understand and know what they could possibly do in the future. The audience can understand the facts of changing price wise and world saving wise. This helps people understand if its worth it, and when it will be worth it. One question to be raised is what is the price of both changing the whole world to renewable energy, and how much is it for just one family to switch over.

Work Cited
Bergeron, Louis. "Shifting to 100% Renewable Energy Would Save Money." Renewable Energy World. N.p., 21 Oct. 2009. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. <http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/new s/article/2009/10/shifting-the-world-to-100renewable-energy-by-2030-may-reduce-worldpower-demand-by-30>. Harris, Richard. "Tech Leaders, Economists Split Over Clean Energy's Prospects." NPR. NPR, 30 Nov. 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. <http://www.npr.org/2013/11/30/247519058/tech -leaders-economists-split-over-clean-energysprospects>.