Green Energy and Politics in 2012

GREEN ENERGY POLITICS Today, many businesses, organizations and even individuals know their carbon footprint just as well as they know their shoe size. Being green, sustainable and eco-conscious is becoming a requirement. But how green are the main green energy alternatives? Decide for yourself which of these initiatives is the most beneficial. AND IN 2012. WIND | SUSTAINABILITY Land-based 2.5 MEGAWATT (MW) turbines operating in ideal conditions at 20% capacity could supply: 40x current global electricity use 5x current global energy use ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THERE ARE REPORTS OF BIRD AND BAT MORTALITY IN NOISE POLLUTION IS RUMORED WIND POWER CONSUMES NO FUEL AND PRODUCES NO EMISSIONS SOME WIND TURBINES USE NEODYMIUM TURBINES Mining this contributes some pollution. Research is being conducted to refine the process O PRODUCTIVITY STATISTICS 42% Wind contributed to 42% of new U.S. electricity in 2008 The plains states of the US could accommodate more than the current power demands The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Winds model predicts wind could produce 25% of U.S. electricity by 2050 THE POLITICS OF WIND OBAMA STRONGLY SUPPORTS CLEAN ENERGY: Since taking office, electricity production from wind and solar sources has already more than doubled in the United States. ROMNEY DEMANDS ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AT ALL COSTS: The goal of energy independence has long proved elusive, but analysts across the spectrum - energy experts, investment firms, even academics at Harvard University-now recognize that surging U.S. energy production, combined with the resources of America's neighbors, can meet all of the continent's energy needs within a decade. SOLAR | SUSTAINABILITY Solar can meet electricity needs without compromising future generations Inefficiency of current technology prevents wide-scale adoption PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) panels have just 16% conversion efficiency ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ...... PV SYSTEMS DO NOT REQUIRE WATER TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY SOLAR FARMS REQUIRE VAST PLOTS OF LAND PVS CONTAIN HAZARDOUS OILS AND MOLTEN SALTS CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR SPILLS This raises environmental concerns for the EPA MATERIALS WHICH MIGHT ESCAPE IF DAMAGED OR IMPROPERLY DISPOSED PRODUCTIVITY STATISTICS global solar energy production in 2016 0.8% of renewable 40- 50% energy production is solar. 0.2% Increase in PV sales per year However, its high production cost may be prohibitive THE POLITICS OF SOLAR PRESIDENT OBAMA ON SOLAR: ROMNEY TOLD THE RNC: Developing America's solar energy resources is an important part of President Obama's commitment to expanding American-made energy, increasing energy security, and creating jobs." Obama's Energy Secretary Steven Chu Instead of distorting the playing field, the government should be ensuring that it remains level. The same policies that will open access to land for oil, gas, and coal development can also open access for the construction of wind, solar, and hydropower facilities." THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION INTENDS TO OPEN 285,000 ACRES OF PUBLIC LAND FOR SOLAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT: Given the risks and rewards, which green energy source would you choose for our future? PROVIDED BY: GREENCAREERS.BIZ SOURCES http://www.pnas.org/content/106/27/10933.full.pdf http://www.awea.org/learnabout/publications/upload/Reliability_Factsheet.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_wind_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_wind_power http://www.pnas.org/content/106/27/10933.full.pdf http://www.sciencedebate.org/debate12/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_energy http://phys.org/news8236.html#jCphttp://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/positive-negative-effects-solar-energy-2684.ht http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/positive-negative-effects-solar-energy-2684.htmlhttp://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/positive-negative-effects-solar-energy-2684.html http://phys.org/news8236.html#jCp http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/observ-er/html/inventaire/pdf/13e-inventaire-Chap01-Eng.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_energy#Solar http://www.pvtech.org/editors_blog/mitt_romney_reveals_his_own_internal_solar_power_struggles http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/239781-obama-administration-announces-solar-energy-plan http://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romney-solar-and-wind-energy-2012-8 http://energy.gov/articles/obama-administration-releases-roadmap-solar-energy-development-public-lands ....…" ...... ..... ...... ........ ...... ...... IX