Clean Power Plan Essay

The United States is the second largest producer of greenhouse gases in the world, and yet is doing very little to fix this startling statistic (Dennis). The US’ reliance upon outdated energy sources continues to harm both the environment and the economy by producing millions of tonnes of pollution every year and costing the government billions of dollars (“Fact Sheet: Clean Power Plan”). Fossil fuels have been the main energy sources in America since the industrial revolution, and it is time to make a change. Renewable energy is energy harnessed from sources like the sun, wind, or water, and has little to no negative effects on the environment (“Renewable Energy Technology Basics”). The United States needs to integrate and increase the use of these types of energy across the country, as well as implement positive environmental policies, to prevent further pollution of the earth and combat the effects of climate change.

Florida Public Service Commission forecasts from current trends that by 2024 the use of environmentally harmful energy sources such as coal, nuclear power, and oil will decrease (2). The use of natural gas is forecasted to rise to generate 64.73% of Florida’s energy (Florida Public Service Commission, 2). According to the forecast by Florida Public Service Commission, the use of other sources to generate energy will also decrease

Thesis: If the United States is going to choose to conserve energy responsibly, then our government's energies should not be focused on developing oil in the ANWR, but rather on the topics of conservation through higher fuel efficiency standards in vehicles and by developing alternative energy sources. Conservation, fuel efficiency and alternative energy sources are the solutions that will lead us to a long term and sustainable energy future.

Carbon emissions are changing the planet for the worse. Energy production (mostly coal) is producing a one third of the US 's global warming emissions. Renewable sources produce little to zero percent. The balance of coal and renewable energy in the U.S. needs to be evened out with renewable techniques. Statistics from the Union of Concerned Scientist’s “Benefits of Renewable Energy Use” show that most renewable resources emit less than one pound of CO2E/kWh. These have significantly less of a carbon footprint than coal, which emits 1.4 to 3.6 lbs. CO2E/kWh or natural gas, which emits .6 to 2 lbs. CO2E/kWh. This impressive difference of carbon emissions between renewable and fossil fuel is the key to caring for our environment. A 2009 USC study found that if 25 percent of the US 's

Author Lawrence M. Ling is a Project Pull Mentor’s Assistant in the Policy and Government Affairs Team of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. He is an undergraduate student at the University of California: Los Angeles who majors in Political Science, and he strongly believes that CleanPowerSF is the best solution to the growing trend of global warming.

The Clean Power Plan sets national standards on limit carbon dioxide emissions from power plants as means to bring clean energy technologies. "The world won't get any cooler," Rubio said. "The seas won't get any lower. It will only increase the cost of living in this country,” Rubio said. “We are tying our own hands under this new regulations as higher utility bills will devastate many Americans trying to raise her children in Cleveland, Ohio or Miami, Florida or anywhere else in this country sees that her bills go up by 50 dollars a month, that’s devastating,” Rubio said. “You know what that means? 50 dollars a month. That means the kids don’t get new shoes this

The Annapolis city government has aimed to reduce emissions by 75% by the year 2025 as well as achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2050 (Savidge 2010). In order to achieve these goals, the city government has committed to reducing energy usage by 10% in public facilities by 2017 and 15% by 2020 (Savidge 2010). The city government also plans to achieve 25% of their energy from renewable sources as well as providing greener and more energy efficient upgrades to public facilities and city transportation (Savidge 2010). The Annapolis community has aimed to reduce emissions by 50% by the year 2025 as well as achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2050 (Savidge 2010). The community has been and will continue to actively encourage locals to purchase green and renewable energy, use alternative forms of transportation, increase recycling and reduce trash production, and to preform energy efficiency upgrades (Savidge 2010). Such efficiency upgrades could take place in the form of financing home energy improvements, energy efficient mortgages, energy smart schools, or zero interest loans for energy conservation and “green energy projects (Roseland 2012).” Mark Roseland published a paper on sustainability “solutions for citizens and their governments” that outlines the benefits that simple energy efficient upgrades can achieve (Roseland 2012). He states examples where residents can save over $1000 each year on oil, gas, and electric bills while reducing their emissions through local

As director of the New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition, you work towards the advancement and improvement of option fuel sources, and also option fuel vehicles. Taking into account your non-benefit association 's objectives, I feel you will discover my proposal to work effectively in correlation with your system. The burning of fossil fuels for energy is gradually destroying all of mankind with carbon dioxide, and the unavoidable issue of environmental change is approaching over every one of us. "CDC evaluations report about sicknesses prone to thrive in a hotter atmosphere" incorporate, "expanded wounds and passing’s from extreme climate, for example, typhoons, more respiratory issues from dry spell driven air contamination, an increment in waterborne ailments including cholera, increments in vector-borne illnesses including jungle fever and hantavirus, and emotional well-being issues, for example, despondency and post-traumatic stress"(Vogt, 2012). This is the reason, for the prosperity of the world, and the security of our planet 's wellbeing, New Jersey must seek after renewable energy.

ISSUE: The new supply of natural gas reachable by fracking is now changing the overall picture for U.S. electricity generation, with consequences for air quality.

While this is great to the consumer, the renewable sector’s growth was more stagnant. Attention was diverted to use another greenhouse producing fossil fuel rather than a clean renewable. A trend in U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (2017) data showed renewable sector’s power production since 2008 grew only 5.7% as compared to natural gas production 18%. Another disadvantage to the diversion from renewables is the additional carbon dioxide generated from these additional plants operating. “About 24 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions are related to natural gas in 2011” (Natural gas prices. (n.d.)). The replacement of coal-fired power plants with natural gas has let to a decrease of the green house gases, mainly particulate matter and sulfur dioxide emissions. “Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions produced in the generation of electricity at power plants in the United States declined by 73% from 2006 to 2015, a much larger reduction than the 32% decrease in coal-fired electricity generation over that period.” U.S. Energy Information Administration (2017). This shows that more efficient control equipment can be used to almost eliminate the trace amounts of sulfur dioxide in natural gas.

The policy revisions fall under the Clean Air Act and were bolstered by President Obama’s Climate Action Plan. The Clean Air Act is a federal law designed to control air pollution on a national level. Obama’s Climate Action plan is a directed effort to

The United States is the world 's driving maker of oil and regular gas, and accordingly of more prominent utilization of clean-smoldering characteristic gas and cleaner, more proficient energizes, we are additionally a world pioneer in decreasing carbon outflows and other air contaminations. We have a demonstrated model for accomplishing ecological advance without giving up occupations, financial development, vitality security or customer moderateness. Our political initiative has the chance to proceed, and develop, the American vitality upset.

The natural gasses produced from fracking have been abundant, cheap, and clean, making it a convenient source of energy. In fact, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said “In Pennsylvania shale gas has contributed $7 billion to Pennsylvania’s gross domestic product” (Argumentative Text). Additionally, shale gas has contributed $7 billion, but that number would change in 2015. If people come together and help eliminate energy waste manufacturers will save $100 billion before the end of the decade. Therefore, when people turn off lights while they’re not using them, it will save a tremendous amount of money for the manufacturers. Also, natural gas is cleaner than other fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and tar sands. Because natural gasses are cleaner than other

In 2013, Pennsylvania was ranked 3rd in the country for global warming pollution. Pennsylvania is at risk of falling behind on key environmental indicators that will impact economic policy at the state level for years to come.

Coal and natural gas are the United States’ main fossil fuels used as energy sources. These fossil fuels both contain mixtures of hydrocarbons, which is a chemical compound of carbon and hydrogen (Olah, 2005). Currently, fossil fuels provide eighty-five percent of commercial energy, such as businesses, worldwide and this eighty-five percent does not even account for residential use. Imagine if the residential energy use was accounted for in that eighty-five percent (Davison, 2007). According to Goodell (2006), “Between 1950 and 2000, the world population increased by 140 percent and fossil fuel consumption increased by 400 percent. By 2030, the world’s demand for energy is expected to more than double,” with most of the electricity