Dana's Muse

Solutions to Adverse Climate Changes

As time progresses and populations increase, Earth’s finite resources continue to deplete. Utilizing technology and science in ways which make more sense need to include renewable energy. If political powers continue to ignore destructive results of centuries of bad habits, choosing to preserve the earth may come a little too late. The United States government needs to drastically change the way in which it deals with issues of survival, otherwise the economy will not only worsen but it will also perpetuate more distractions which are detrimental to the Earth. The simplicity in using science and technology to convert wind turbine energy, wave energy, and solar energy will not only ensure future survival of the Earth and all living creatures, but will also create a thriving global economy.

Politics today has mutated into a system of out-of-control spending by too many in positions of power. This not only exists in the United States, but worldwide. The egocentricities and greed of government officials continue to direct this planet’s future. President Obama appeared to be on the correct path toward renewable, sustainable energy when he pushed a government bailout loan of $535 million to the California solar company Solyndra. Unfortunately, Solyndra filed for bankruptcy. Now Congress and the public have chosen to focus on that fiasco, emphasizing a negative outlook on any progressive headway the national government made (D’Andrea, 2011). Obama is accused of using this bailout as a way of showing Americans he is serious about jobs-creation in advanced and innovative areas, such as renewable energy:

Solyndra was raided after having publicly announced a cessation of its operations and an intent to file for bankruptcy despite having received nearly half a billion dollars in federal loans. The company cited foreign manufacturers, global oversupply of solar panels, and shrinking credit markets as some of the reasons for its decline. (Khalsa, 2011).

The outsourcing of jobs is to blame and perhaps if the standard practice was to more widely utilize products manufactured in the United States, Solyndra may have not dissolved. In attempts to turn a quick profit, politics impede potential advances.

When the United States depends on other countries to sustain its needs, the potential for misunderstandings is present from so many cultural and language barriers. The domestic economy suffers from not enough jobs, so why not create jobs within the innovative market of renewable energy? An article from California State University’s The Online Pioneer illustrates California’s political position, as Gov. Jerry Brown commented: “We’re going to invest in solar and make California not only the national leader, which it already is, but we’re going to make it the world leader” (Khalsa, 2011). Perhaps the newness of renewable energy markets creates apprehension, causing a reticent approach when a select and fearless few attempt to convey a vision to a bureaucratic bunch.

The progression of Western science leaves room for ideas and options like never before, and new methods exist which offer ways to sustain life without allowing technology to ultimately destroy the planet. Earth faces increasing crises in the way the current global population obtains energy with which to survive. The recent bankruptcy of Solyndra emphasizes the risks, always present, in the attempt to commercialize new technologies (Fogarty, 2011). In fact, everything worthwhile involves some sort of risk; science has made leaps and bounds throughout history because of the exceptional attitudes of brilliant scientists who have had a sense of vision.

Green technology continues to grow in California, with other solar panel companies in operation – some “using the same pool of federal funding as Solyndra (Khalsa, 2011). California State University (CSU) utilizes solar panel energy which currently fulfills a portion of its energy needs. Other California companies, such as BrightSource Energy, Inc., and Sungevity, will benefit from an energy tax equity fund with Citigroup Inc. (Khalsa, 2011), perpetuating an equitable long-term solution for a short-term investment. California keeps clear focus during a time of pending recession, hopefully demonstrating that possible solutions to increasing unemployment rates, at 10.9 percent (Khalsa, 2011), lie within researching and investing in the innovation of renewable energy.

The desire for cleaner energy solutions are acknowledged outside the United States as Ireland and China struck a deal in August, 2011: “Renewable energy firm Gaelectric Holdings has signed a deal with XEMC VWEC to co-develop three wind farms in Ireland, with a value of €18 million” (O’Brien, 2011). The Christian Science Monitor (CSN) further articulates that in Singapore, “[seven] U.S. solar manufacturers last month asked the Obama administration to impose duties of more than 100 percent on China solar imports, which they said were fairly undercutting U.S. prices and destroying American jobs” (Fogarty, 2011). The United States could be setting an example for the rest of the world in the implementation of renewable energy.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), a November 1, 2011 survey concluded that nine out of ten Americans “overwhelmingly support the use and development of solar energy as well as federal investments for solar” (SEIA, 2011). The SEIA is a non-profit association, which “oversees policy-driven research and develops education outreach programs to promote positive policy and further deployment of solar energy in the United States (SEIA, 2011). They continue to perpetuate their goal of “installing enough solar power to two million American homes each and every year by 2015” (SEIA, 2011). With all of the negativity American media choses to broadcast, solar companies and other renewable energy companies continue to thrive, and will continue to perpetuate jobs.

The only way to see prices drop for any type of renewable energy is to invest in it and the government ultimately holds the most responsibility. Americans look to the United States government for direction and will follow suit once its government shows more confidence. Government bailouts have proven to deplete the confidence America once had in its own government but perhaps the creation of new jobs would generate a new confidence. The Christian Science Monitor (CSN) further articulates that in Singapore, “[seven] U.S. solar manufacturers last month asked the Obama administration to impose duties of more than 100 percent on China solar imports, which they said were fairly undercutting U.S. prices and destroying American jobs” (Fogarty, 2011). This illustrates how outsourcing jobs, as important as renewable energy, will only benefit foreign economies. The United States should be held accountable for every job which is not only outsourced, but also be held accountable for utilizing products from other countries which could very well have been created domestically.

Solar is only one example of alternative energy; the exploration of wind turbine and wave energy needs more exposure. Dan Arvizu, director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado (part of the U.S. Department of Energy), believes that an overabundance of solar panels is driving U.S. solar panel manufacturers to slash prices. Other clean energy technologies need more attention, though “[offshore] wind, next-generation geothermal and wave and tidal power [remain] promising but still costly” (Fogarty, 2011).

Wind turbine energy’s innovative results regularly gain attention from those who continue to look for other means of producing energy for both residential and commercial use. The Obama Administration recently announced intentions to pursue offshore wind energy: “Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Tommy P. Beaudreau announced that the department’s renewable energy initiative has cleared an important environmental review, allowing Interior to move forward with the process for wind energy lease sales off Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and Delaware” (Bullin and Schwartz, 2012).

David Calley and Andy Kruse, the company founders of Southwest Windpower, modified a Ford alternator to create their first wind generator called the Windseeker (Southwest Windpower, 2011). Their designs “reduce dependence on fossil fuels for those on the power grid” and they continue “to push the boundaries of clean, efficient, sustainable wind energy use in every corner of the world” (Southwest Windpower, 2011). This clean energy has resulted in customers [having] generated enough wind energy to offset about 15,300 tons of carbon emissions, the equivalent of 37,820,278 miles not driven in a car (Southwest Windpower, 2011).

There are some who are a little more cautious when it comes to changes in how the population utilizes renewable energy. This innovation could potentially have an environmental impact for which scientists are not prepared; however, there is no reason why science cannot grasp potential adverse effects through proper research. José Manuel Entrecanales, the chief executive of Acciona, a major engineering company that operates wind farms worldwide, said wariness in Europe about shale gas was warranted:

“I am afraid and fearing that there is some degree of environmental effect that we are not yet aware of,” Mr. Entrecanales told the Global Clean Energy Forum, a conference organized by the International Herald Tribune in Barcelona. He was referring to the process of fracking, or using pressurized water and chemicals to release natural gas from shale rocks, and said he was “not sure how safe” that process could be. (Kanter, 2011).

Fear should not overrule the approach to common-sense science; confronting these fears is the only way to overcome any obstacles and potentially harness awareness for future good.

In addition to wind turbine energy, wave energy proves to be among one of the most promising alternatives for sustaining communities. Dr. Tom Heath, mechanical engineer from the British company Voith Hydro, illustrates how implementation of wave energy would eventually benefit communities in a short period of time:

The wave energy industry is now in a similar stage of development to the wind industry in the 1980’s with privately funded prototype devices under development with public support and some public money. There will be failures on the way, that is the nature of technical development, but with sustained public support to create conditions where new energy sources can be introduced to the market there is every expectation that wave power will mature to make a major contribution to our energy needs. (Heath, 2011).

Dr. Heath’s research and experience illustrates how, initially, the cost fossil fuel generation will become more expensive and wave generated power will fall in cost. The development of wave power is “hampered by the need to introduce a fledgling technology into a commercial market dominated by subsidized low-cost fossil fuel and nuclear generation” (Heath, 2011). Once again, people have difficulty in changing their habits. The refreshing and even invigorating experience of this sort of change could be one of the most liberating transformations of humankind. To be able to take part in reversing damage the Earth’s environment has sustained due to the use of fossil fuels would be a lie-changing experience for those involved in the process!

Many other countries have been provided funding to explore wave energy, such as the United Kingdom. The Cornwall Wave Hub and Fab Test nursery site at Falmouth.Minister Making plan to create thousands of jobs support the United Kingdom’s place as a world leader in wave and tidal power: “Wave Hub is a grid-connected offshore facility in South West England for the large scale testing of technologies that generate electricity from the power of the waves. It holds a 25 year lease of 8 sq km of sea bed connected to the grid by a 11/33kv subsea cable” (Cornish Guardian, 2012).

In the publication Ecosphere, the article “Managing uncertainty in climate-driven ecological models to inform adaptation to climate change” discusses approaches for understanding and reducing uncertainty behind modeling effects of climate change on ecosystems and focuses on multi-model approaches. This helps to clarify strengths and limits of projections and minimizes vulnerability to undesirable consequences of climate change (Littell, et al, 2011). Implementing change in order to erase preconceived doubt in the minds of millions should be a priority in America. If the United States can fund stem-cell research or AIDS research, then why not fund teams devoting their lives to erase uncertainties about changes in climate? Many of these uncertainties can be controlled by characterizing their effects on models and future projections from those models:

There is uncertainty in decision making that does not derive just from the complex interaction of climate and ecosystem models, but in how modeling is integrated with other aspects of the decision environment such as choice of objectives, monitoring, and approach to assessment. Adaptive management provides a hedge against uncertainty, such that climate and ecosystem models can inform decision making (Littell, et al, 2011).

The only way to be prepared for potential futures, projecting ecological impacts, and planning for their consequences is to fund research dedicated toward the stabilization of the global grid. This type of research is critical to decision-making and adaptation to climate change (Littell, et al, 2011). Notwithstanding political considerations, the success of renewable and sustainable energy supply technologies will ultimately save not only the planet but the global economy, as well. Wave energy, for example, can deliver power to the market because according to Dr. Thomas Heath of Wavegen, another company in the United Kingdom, “the cost of producing wave generated electricity is comprised primarily of the capital expenditure in building and installing the device and connecting to the energy grid” (Heath, 2011, p. 3). A successful energy device will therefore have a minimum capital expenditure and a maximum power output (p. 3). The evidence is clear that putting off an inevitable alternative to America’s dependence on coal or oil, foreign or domestic, will be detrimental to the economic future of not only the United States, but to the world.

The snowball-effect of climate change and global warming continues to compound. Though predicting the weather is virtually impossible, even with modern technology and meteorologists’ expertise, common sense should predicate humankind’s role in perpetuating the advancement of potentially catastrophic consequences. The earth is sensitized to the actions of human beings and only the sensitized human being can regulate the impact we have on the environment. As technology now allows information to be accessed instantaneously, and the availability of information on a global scale continues to educate and inform people of all cultures – there are no excuses for ignorance.

The planet faces increasing crises in the way the current global population obtains energy with which to survive. The concept is to study long-term effects on the Earth’s bio system with the use of simplified and less-costly measures. The studies of certain renewable energy concepts include and are not limited to windmills, waves, methane gas, and solar energy. These methods are what makes the most sense and if they are not utilized soon, and if the people in positions of power continue to ignore the depletion of the Earth’s finite resources, the potential effect on a global scale will be catastrophic. The populations of diverse flora and fauna will cease to exist, food supplies will dwindle which will also affect the human population. Prices will soar and debt will incur based on the current free enterprise system of supply and demand. Further, the progression of the technological age insists that human thought progress with it; there are ways to sustain traditions and culture, without allowing the technology to ultimately destroy the planet.

There are ways to sustain traditions and culture, without allowing technology to ultimately destroy the planet. As time progresses and populations increase, Earth’s finite resources continue to deplete. The solution is to utilize technology and science in ways which make more sense, making use of Earth’s resources in a perpetually renewable way. By using science and technology to convert windmill, wave, and, solar energy to replace electricity, the Earth will flourish and thrive not only physically, but also economically.

References

Bullin, L. and Schwartz, M. (2012). Obama administration announces major steps toward leasing for offshore wind projects in mid-Atlantic. “Wind Energy Areas Moving Ahead in Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and Delaware; Secretary Salazar Streamlines Offshore Wind Applications.” Press Release: U. S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved February 2, 2012, from http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/

Cornish Guardian. (2012). Cornwall is handed millions for marine energy. Northcliffe Newspapers Group Limited. Truro (UK): January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2012 from http://proquest.umi.com/pgweb?did=2569194771&sid=3&Fmt=3&clientld=74379&RQT=309&VName=PQD

D'Andrea, H. (2011). The conscience of a conservative. The Washington Times: Communities. Retrieved February 5, 2012 from http://communities.washingtontimes.com/

Fogarty, D. and Walet, L. (2011). Renewable energy: victim of trade war – or winner? The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved February 6, 2012 from http://www.csmonitor.com

Heath, T. (2011). Realities of wave technology. Wavegen.co.uk. Retrieved January 18, 2012, from http://www.wavegen.co.uk/pdf/art.1727.pdf

Kanter, J. (2011). Economic slowdown challenges renewable energy. The New York Times. Retrieved February 4, 2012 from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/business/global/economic-slowdown-challenges-renewable-energy.html

Khalsa, R. (2011). Bay area green tech grows despite Solyndra. The Online Pioneer. California State University, East Bay: Department of Communication. Retrieved February 6, 2012, from http://thepioneeronline.com/news

Littell, J. S., D. McKenzie, B. K. Kerns, S. Cushman, and C. G. Shaw. (2011). Managing uncertainty in climate-driven ecological models to inform adaptation to climate change. Ecosphere 2(9). Retrieved February 9, 2012 from http://www.esajournals.org

O’Brien, C. (2011). Chinese and Irish firms sign energy deal. The Irish Times. Retrieved February 5, 2012, from http://www.idaireland.com/news-media/featured-news/chinese-and-irish-firms/index.xml .

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). (2011). Retrieved January 16, 2012, from http://www.seia.org/

Southwest Windpower. (2011). Retrieved February 7, 2012 from http://www.windenergy.com/about

Voith Hydro Limited. (2011). Voith Hydro. Retrieved January 29, 2012 from http://www.wavegen.co.uk/about_wave_energy_about_renewable_energy.htm

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