The largest source of pollution in the U.S. is from burning fossil fuels to generate electricity. But, by using green energy generated by the sun, wind, and water, you can improve the environment and the economy.
Benefits of Green Energy
Today, over 600 utilities in the U.S. offer green energy options to consumers in 37 states. As this industry expands it creates much-needed employment opportunities for Americans that will be around for generations to come. Between 1998 and 2007 the industry experienced 10 percent job growth. When compared to the relatively small 3 percent job growth the country had overall, it shows the industry is already booming.
Renewable energy is energy derived from natural resources that replenish themselves over a period of time without depleting the Earth's resources. These resources also have the benefit of being abundant, available in some capacity nearly everywhere, and they cause little, if any, environmental damage.
Green energy from the sun, water, wind, and thermal energy are all renewable, as opposed to fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas, which have a limited supply.
How Green Energy Fights the Negative Effects of Fossil Fuels
Extracting fossil fuels often involves methods, which are harmful to the land. Mining coal, for example, often involves blowing the tops off mountains to strip them of the valuable resources. Offshore drilling can lead to costly oils spills that harm the wildlife and pollute the nearby shorelines. Fossil fuels have a limited quantity, and over time they will cease to be economically viable.
Using green energy isn’t just about preserving the Earth’s natural beauty, but it’s also about preserving our health.
Over two thirds of the sulfur dioxide in the U.S. comes from burning fossil fuels to generate electricity. This causes acid rain, respiratory illness, and cardiovascular-related diseases.
Burning coal releases mercury into the air, which falls into rivers, lakes, and oceans. The fish that swim in these waters store the mercury in their fat cells. This isn’t just harmful to the fish, but also to the people who eat them. Mercury poisoning causes to permanent damage of the liver and nervous system, which leads to loss of motor function, speech, and vision. In pregnant and nursing women it can cause birth defects in their baby.
Nuclear power plants generate waste that is dangerous to transport and throw away. Radioactive waste has negative side effects on people like cancer, sterility and even death. Radiation may cause immune system damage, leukemia, miscarriages, stillbirths, deformities and genetic mutations.