Why Is 100 Renewable Energy Important?
Renewable energy comes from natural sources or processes that are constantly replenished, such as sunlight, wind, water, plants, and geothermal heat. Unlike finite fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gases when burned, renewable energy sources are generally infinite and do not release emissions that exacerbate climate change. As the world grapples with rising global temperatures and dependence on polluting energy sources, transitioning to 100% renewable energy has become an urgent priority. Achieving 100% renewable energy would mitigate the worst impacts of climate change by eliminating fossil fuel emissions from the electricity sector. It would also deliver tremendous public health, economic, and environmental benefits such as improved air quality, increased employment opportunities, energy independence and security, and preserved natural habitats.
Mitigating Climate Change
Transitioning to renewable energy is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. Fossil fuel combustion accounts for nearly 80% of total GHG emissions globally, with coal being the largest contributor (https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/raising-ambition/renewable-energy). Renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydropower produce little to no emissions, allowing countries to shift away from coal and natural gas power generation.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, limiting global warming to 1.5°C requires cutting carbon emissions 45% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050 (https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/renewable-energy). This is only possible through a massive buildout of renewable energy. The UN estimates renewable energy could provide 90% of power sector decarbonization by 2050 if investment and deployment are rapidly scaled up.
Global leaders have acknowledged the importance of transitioning to renewable energy to meet climate goals under the Paris Agreement. Phasing out fossil fuels and replacing them with clean renewables like solar, wind and geothermal is essential to limiting temperature rise and avoiding catastrophic climate change impacts.
Improving Public Health
Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas releases harmful air pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, mercury, and dozens of others. Exposure to these pollutants causes serious health effects including asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and premature death. According to a report by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, exposure to particulate matter from fossil fuel emissions leads to over 52,000 premature deaths per year in the U.S. alone (1). Transitioning to 100% renewable energy would dramatically reduce air pollution from the electricity, transportation, and building sectors. Studies have shown that phasing out fossil fuels and replacing them with renewable energy sources like wind and solar would prevent hundreds of thousands of illnesses and deaths worldwide. For example, a Stanford University study found that transitioning all 50 states to 100% renewable electricity by 2050 would prevent an estimated 51,999 premature deaths, saving over $600 billion in health costs (2). Clean renewable energy prevents pollution at the source, providing immediate local air quality benefits. Improving air quality through renewable energy translates into healthier communities and lower healthcare costs.
(1) https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-climate-environmental-and-health-impacts-of-fossil-fuels-2021
(2) https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/c-change/subtopics/fossil-fuels-health/?active_tab=1&articles_page=4&research_page=2
Economic Growth Driven by Renewable Energy Investments
Investing in renewable energy can drive significant economic growth through job creation. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, transitioning to clean energy enhances economic growth and job creation (source). The World Resources Institute found that manufacturing clean energy technologies domestically could provide up to 5.7 million additional net jobs in the U.S. by 2035 (source).
Renewable energy investments create more jobs per unit of energy produced compared to fossil fuels. According to a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) report, renewable energy technologies are more labor-intensive and generally create more jobs per dollar invested than fossil fuel technologies (source).
In addition, the costs of renewable energy technologies like solar and wind have declined dramatically in recent years, making them increasingly competitive with conventional energy sources. Lower renewable energy costs lead to more affordable clean energy for consumers and businesses.
Energy Independence
Overreliance on imported fossil fuels from other countries poses risks to America’s energy security and increases geopolitical issues. The United States currently gets only about 11% of its energy from renewable sources and imports millions of barrels of oil per day. This dependence on foreign entities for fossil fuels can destabilize energy supply and prices whenever global conflicts or shortages arise. The volatility and uncertainty inherent with imported oil and gas threatens America’s energy independence.
In contrast, relying more on domestic renewable energy sources like wind, solar, hydropower and geothermal can reduce dependence on imports. America has abundant renewable resources that could supply 100% of its energy needs sustainably and reliably. Investing further in renewable energy would allow the United States to become self-sufficient for its energy needs. This would provide greater control over energy prices while also strengthening national security. An energy policy focused on increasing domestic renewables would be a crucial step toward safeguarding America’s energy independence.
Sources:
https://www.rewiringamerica.org/circuit-breakers-energy-independence
Lower Costs
The costs of renewable energy technologies like solar, wind, and batteries have declined rapidly over the last decade, making renewables more cost competitive with fossil fuels. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, between 2010 and 2019, the costs of solar photovoltaics decreased by 82%, concentrated solar power by 47%, onshore wind by 39% and offshore wind by 29% [1]. The costs of lithium-ion batteries, critical for energy storage, fell by 97% between 1991 and 2021 [2]. As a result, in many parts of the world, wind or solar is now the cheapest source of new electricity generation [3]. Continued technology improvements and economies of scale will likely lead to further cost declines, making renewables even more cost-competitive with fossil fuels.
Reliability
There is a common myth that renewable energy sources like solar and wind are unreliable. However, with proper grid integration, renewable energy can provide consistent and reliable power.
Solutions like advanced forecasting, demand response technology, energy storage, and microgrids allow grids to effectively manage variable renewable generation. For example, batteries can store excess renewable energy when supply is high and discharge when demand increases or renewable output decreases. Forecasting tools predict renewable generation days ahead to inform grid operators.
There are successful examples of grids integrating very high levels of renewables reliably. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), grids can potentially handle up to 90% renewable penetration using commercially available technologies today (NREL). Places like South Australia and Denmark already produce around 50% of their electricity from wind and solar reliably.
With grid modernization, renewable energy can provide consistent, reliable electricity to meet our needs now and in the future.
Environmental Benefits
Generating energy from renewable sources like wind, solar, and hydropower provides significant environmental benefits compared to fossil fuels. Renewable energy production requires less land use and habitat destruction. For example, a wind farm uses 100 times less land than a coal plant to produce the same amount of electricity (source). Solar panels can go on rooftops and parking lots instead of undeveloped land. Hydropower dams use existing rivers and reservoirs.
Renewable energy systems also conserve water compared to fossil fuels. Coal, gas, and nuclear plants require enormous volumes of water for cooling and steam generation. Hydropower uses existing reservoirs and rivers, while wind and solar PV systems require little to no water (source). This conserves water, especially in arid areas.
In addition, renewable electricity production emits little to no greenhouse gases or air pollutants. This results in cleaner air and lower public health impacts compared to burning fossil fuels. Widespread renewable energy would mitigate habitat destruction and land development from mining and drilling fossil fuels.
Sustainable Future
Transitioning to 100% renewable energy is crucial for building a sustainable future. Unlike finite fossil fuels that will eventually run out, renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower have an infinite supply. Tapping into these inexhaustible resources will provide energy security for current and future generations.
Fossil fuels are unsustainable – not only will they be depleted if we continue relying on them, but they also damage the environment through pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, renewable energy has minimal environmental impact. Phasing out fossil fuels for clean renewables will help mitigate climate change and its catastrophic consequences.
By embracing renewables, we can ensure access to energy while also preserving the planet. Renewable energy technologies have matured tremendously and costs have plummeted. The solutions exist today to transition toward an eco-friendly energy system based entirely on renewables. Investing in sustainable energy will pay dividends for generations to come through energy independence, environmental protection, and averting climate disaster.
Conclusion
In summary, transitioning to 100% renewable energy is crucial for mitigating climate change, improving public health, spurring economic growth, achieving energy independence, lowering costs, enhancing reliability, and realizing environmental benefits. Renewable energy offers a sustainable path forward that will provide clean, affordable and reliable power for generations to come. The future is bright for renewables. With ambitious goals, strategic policies and investments, we can tap into the enormous potential of wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric and other renewable technologies to build a carbon-free world powered by clean, abundant energy.
