Policy Brief On Sustainable Energy And Green Industry Puerto Rico

The Alternative energy industry in the United States has been at a steady rate of growth for the past decade, however there is still controversy over the use of renewable energies, their impact on the economy, and their impact on the environment. As controversial as the topic is, the argument boils down to a moral need to support environmental regulations, and an economical need to sustain domestic growth in the Energy industry of the United States. Mainly, the question is can alternative energy effective replace fossil fuels? There are of course arguments for both sides of this question.

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.

Since the gasoline and fuel oil shortages of the 1970’s, the topic of renewable energy has been

With the rise of nonrenewable fuels prices and the estimated decline of availability in the not so distant future it is very clear that the only answer to this problem is to implement the use of renewable resources. Renewable resources are very versatile and can reduce pollution of the environment and can in the long

In addition to fuel crops, Hawaii also has abundant resources for biomass heating. During their research Turn et al. (2002, 4) found that the biomass resources for Hawaii include: swine, dairy, and poultry manure, sugarcane bagasse and trash, pineapple processing waste, macadamia nut shells, municipal solid wastes, food waste from commercial food preparation facilities, sewage sludge, and fat, oil and grease wastes from food preparation activities. One of the main advantages is that biomass energy can use municipal solid waste. Hawaii also produces about 10 pounds of trash per person coming to about 1.8 million tons of trash per year (Yap 2008). Hawaii has a power plant that can use over 2,000 tons of garbage a day to generate electricity (Covanta Energy 2011). Hawaii has decided to start exporting its garbage to give it enough time to expand the power plant’s capacity (Yap 2008). Smaller scale biomass fueled power generation can help get rid of agricultural and municipal refuse, while alleviating the strain on the electricity grid and providing a cheap locally based source of electricity (Turn, Keffer, and Staackmann 2002, 17). If Hawaii develops biomass as a renewable resource, it can reduce the need to import petroleum and export garbage.

Hawaii has at least 50 renewable energy projects spread over five islands, including the state’s only geothermal power plant on the eastern rift zone off the Kilauea volcano.

The American energy revolution has done more than just provide record amounts of oil and natural gas to fuel our transportation needs or generate electricity and heat our homes, schools and businesses. Increased American energy production has lowered the cost of energy and manufacturing feedstocks, which helps to cut energy and materials costs for American manufacturers, particularly producers of steel, chemicals, refined fuels, plastics, fertilizers and numerous consumer products. U.S. industrial electricity costs are 30 to 50 percent lower than those of our foreign competitors, according to a 2015 study from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). American manufacturing costs are now 10 to 20 percent lower than those in Europe and could be 2 to

Our need for energy is constantly growing; to fill this need we have turned to inexpensive, copious, and inefficient sources of energy such as coal and oil. Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands are beginning to use renewable energy sources in an effort to protect the Galapagos from the dangers of fossil fuels. Ecuador’s and the Galapagos use of wind, solar, and biofuels in the place of fossil fuel help reduce the use of coal and oil energy in boats, cars, and generators. Ecuador and the Galapagos plans have several plans for more renewable energy sources that will make the Galapagos a completely sustainable archipelago in the near future. The government of Ecuador has several expectations for what their projects will accomplish.

In contrast, some believe that renewable energy is a key factor involved in helping the economy to grow. Many jobs are created in the manufacturing and running of renewable energy plants. The renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies created 8.5 million new jobs and $970 billion in revenue in the year 2006 (Langwith, “Renewable Energy is Economically”). The American Solar Energy Society says by 2030 it could generate up to $4.5 trillion in revenue for the U.S and create 40 million new jobs. This would represent one in every four jobs (Langwith, “Renewable Energy is Economically”). This shows how vital it is to get renewable energy companies in the U.S. It is important to build a stable economy again and do it all while helping the environment.

Cape verde’s top import is refined petroleum they spend around 155 million dollars a year on this alone.

With American population expected to increase by approximately fifty percent over the next fifty years, some sort of energy reform is needed (Lehrman 2). The most commonly proposed idea is for America to stop relying so heavily on fossil fuels, and to turn its focus onto renewable sources of energy, such as solar power and hydroelectricity (Energy Information Administration). If the United States could realize the benefits of renewable energy, then much of the world’s energy problems could be solved.

In 2016, 98.1% of the country’s electricity was generated from renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, and solar power. Because of Costa Rica’s pledge to be carbon-neutral by 2021 and the general attitude of Costa Ricans to be eco-friendly, a heavy emphasis on renewable energy research has been present in the country for many years. Since so much of their identity as a country and their tourism industry is reliant on the country’s

This essay focuses on two renewable energy resources. First of all, biofuel is now accepted as alternative energy in worldwide. The figures continue upward trend in the biofuel production. ‘An annual growth rate of 6.8% from 2006 to 2030 is expected for total biofuels consumption in the transport sector’ (International Energy Agency: 2008 cited in Zhou, et al., 2009:S11). Significant leaders of the biofuel market are Brazil, the United States and the European Union. The results of research indicated that 92% of the world’s ethanol is produced by Brazil and US together, while 90% of the world’s biodiesel manufactured by the EU. In addition, several developing countries in Asia such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines have an enormous potential for biofuel production. Now these countries are

The island recently suffered from and is still feeling the lasting effects from a depression due to the poor care of the reef, beaches, and over fishing. The problem was recognized by scientists, however, and due to the commitment to science as well as a new environmental agenda, the island is working toward recovery and furthering clean environmental practices. This also includes investing in clean wind and solar energy. Today there are multiple hydropower stations on the island that provide the primary source of energy, while a few wind and solar farms create a secondary supply. They are currently following Sweden’s example and working towards a waste burning and carbon capturing program to reduce

Earlier this year, it was reported that between 2012 and 2013 approximately 800,000 jobs were lost in the clean energy sector. In a time where global warming is becoming progressively prevalent, the government and clean energy companies should be employing more people, not sacking them. As well as the 800,000 jobs lost, since Prime Minister Tony Abbott was elected, investment in renewable energy has also plummeted by an astounding 88%. The only other country in the world last year to experience a decline in renewable investments was Italy. And that was due to regulatory changes.