Is solar the solution to pollution?

The news is grim and climate scientists are increasingly concerned that their dire projections are turning out to be too optimistic. Extreme weather events are becoming common and climate researchers keep arriving at the same cause for the problem: man is still burning a huge amount of fossil fuels. Scientists have been searching for cleaner sources of energy because of the dramatic climate-related weather events dominating the news. Alternative energy is a relatively new term referring to energy sources that don’t emit noxious gases into the air. Today a number of carbon-neutral sources are being developed and promoted as the main alternative energy sources of the future. Solar energy is by far the most applicable of these relatively new sources of power.

Some governments understand the climate problem; others refuse

Speaking publicly on the importance of alternative energy to the US economy, President Barack Obama made this statement discussing his economic recovery plan:

"To finally spark the creation of a clean energy economy, we will double the production of alternative energy in the next three years. We will modernize more than 75% of federal buildings and improve the energy efficiency of two million American homes, saving consumers and taxpayers billions on our energy bills. In the process, we will put Americans to work in new jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced - jobs building solar panels and wind turbines; constructing fuel-efficient cars and buildings; and developing the new energy technologies that will lead to even more jobs, more savings, and a cleaner, safer planet in the bargain."

In order to be effective, alternative energy requires a combined effort between government, industry, and consumers.  Because of the massive scale of the energy issue, and its impact on the economy, government investment, oversight, and planning are integral to a functional and efficient energy market. Upgrades to the national electrical grid, known as the Smart Grid, will ensure that large wind farms in the midwest, and solar electric projects in the deserts and elsewhere, can distribute their energy to the urban areas where it is most needed. California continues to be the leader in American solar thinking.

What is the advantage of alternative energy?

Switching from one source of energy to "alternative" sources have occurred several times over history.  Two transitions, from wood to soft coal, and from whale oil to petroleum, were caused by depletion of the principal fuel source.  Basic economics dictated that as the main fuel source became less plentiful, making prices higher, alternative sources of energy became more appealing.  Crude oil, our primary source of energy today, has a very limited availability and researchers predict only another fifty or sixty years of life for this highly polluting energy source. Today alternative energy demand is on the rise for many reasons.  Prices of crude oil have varied wildly in the past few years causing gasoline prices to triple to the $5 per gallon point.  This was a wake-up call for thoughtful Americans to think about energy in new ways.  A spirit of nationalism combined with a demand for energy independence has produced interest in renewable, alternative energy sources like solar and wind power.  Today, energy from the sun and wind is responsible for a small percentage of US energy output.

To do your part, install a solar energy system!

Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power.

Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.

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