Is Renewable Energy Ready to Topple Fossil Fuel’s Domination? (.PDF Download)
It seems like, in the near future, renewable-energy source technologies such as solar and wind power have a chance to surpass traditional fossil fuels in terms of usage. I mention solar and wind power because these energy generators seem to be more visible than other types of renewable energy. Being born and bred in Arizona, I’m certain that solar energy sits at the top of the list. After all, it seems like almost every other week I see the occurrence of a new solar-panel installation, and there’s no shortage of annual sunshine in my neighborhood.
But, let’s step back and look at the big picture. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, renewable energy sources in 2017 collectively had a minor impact on the energy consumption in the United States (Fig. 1).
1. Renewable fuels, at below 5 quadrillion BTUs, collectively rank a little more than nuclear fuel. (U.S Energy Information Administration)
Fossil fuels such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal account for at least 80% of energy consumption in the United States. But, enough about this evil global-warming, climate-modifying fuel. For those that argue that natural gas isn’t a threat to global warming, they may be wrong. Natural gas emits less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels and coal to be sure. There’s a widespread effort to replace other fossil fuels with natural gas. The pitfall with this movement is that the by-product of methane or natural-gas combustion is water and carbon dioxide. Ouch.