So most people get that using a lot of energy is bad, because of the increase in greenhouse gases and the resulting effect on global warming. And most people get that fossil fuels are bad—that they’re dirty, inefficient, messy, and can be dangerous. But despite increases in alternative energy, a significant amount of society is still against these alternative energy sources, even if these sources could pose a solution to mitigating climate change. Why is this?

Many people have a positive mental image of rene  wable energy, while fossil fuels tend to have a more negative connotation. But people are reluctant to make the switch from fossil fuels to alternative energy. It is easy to just stick with what works, and people don’t want to change what isn’t broken. But that attitude won’t get us anywhere. In fact, the opposite attitude is what will—and is—helping us to begin to solve the pressing environmental issues we face today. Renewable sources of energy have also begun to change the minds of some members of society.

Renewable energy is currently providing clean and reliable energy where it does exist. And record numbers of new wind farms and solar energy farms are popping up in the US recently. If we continue this expansion of renewable energy, we can continue the decreases in dirty fossil fuels. New energy technologies can allow us to improve our current electricity and energy system, and this will allow us to move the country towards a cleaner future. In fact, the United States has the tools needed to increase renewables, and our electricity system has the potential to accommodate more wind and solar energy. But can we count on renewable energy? Yes.

“The wind doesn’t always blow and the sun doesn’t always shine.”
This does not matter. With multiple wind and solar power sources, we can draw electricity from a broader geographic area to ensure a steady supply of electricity. Additionally, more accurate weather forecasts can allow grid operators to estimate renewable energy output, and make adjustments as necessary. Other power sources, such as hydroelectric power or even hydrogen power, can fill the gap made on wind or sun-less days. And it is also important to remember that electricity grids can handle change. All energy sources face changes, and even fossil fuels are not always reliable because of possible “interruption for maintenance, and from severe weather, equipment failure, and other unexpected events” (UCSUSA). The grid that handles our electricity is already used to preparing for variations in supply and demand, and can just as easily be made to work with alternative energy sources that can be just as variable as traditional energy sources.

We will be able to allow renewable energy to provide a majority of U.S. electricity, because we can actually depend on alternative energy sources. Alternative forms of energy, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and hydropower, are readily available to be used as forms of electricity for today and tomorrow. We can add many variable energy sources, and depend on these environmentally-friendly sources of electricity. We can change.

Although change is hard, we can do it. Change is necessary for a better future and sustaining the human race on Earth.

Let’s start a change—today!

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/smart-energy-solutions/increase-renewables/ramping-up-renewable-energy-sources.html#.VNA0Qi5HM4c