Activity 3.2.3 – Alternative Energy – Solar Energy

 Alternative energy (frequently referred to as renewable energy) is any energy source that is continuously and readily available without the risk of it being depleted. A few well known examples of alternative energy are solar energy, hydroelectric energy, and wind energy. Alternative energy is different from conventional energy in that conventional energy, such as nuclear power or fossil fuels, are not renewable - meaning, once they are used up they are gone for good and cannot be replaced. There are also energy sources that are considered ‘semi-renewable’; these are sources that, although they can be depleted, if they are used at a sustainable rate they can be used for potentially thousands of years. A well known example of this type of energy is biomass, which is composed of wood and wood processing waste, animal manure and human sewage, and municipal solid waste (eia.gov).  

In the 1970’s, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), in response to U.S. involvement in the Yom Kippur War, proclaimed an embargo on all oil shipments to the U.S. and the Netherlands. This resulted in what is now referred to as the Energy Crisis of the 1970’s, which caused record high energy prices as well as energy shortages as many Americans fought at the gas pumps to fill their tanks (history.com). Even after the crisis subsided, this was somewhat of a turning point in public perception of fossil fuels. Many had taken the availability of energy for granted, and, realizing that there might come a time when it was no longer available, fought for energy reform to reduce American dependence on fossil fuels. 

Although there is currently no form of energy production (in this context) that is truly environmentally neutral, there are forms that are theoretically less harmful to the environment. Let’s take solar energy as an example. Solar energy is “the ultimate energy source driving life on earth and many human activities.” (Mutiti et al, 2018). More specifically in this context solar energy is the ability to harness sunlight and produce electricity from it. I personally have a solar panel system at my home, and before purchasing the system, my husband and I did extensive research into the pros and cons of installing the system and found it to be the right decision. 

Some of the advantages that we considered when purchasing the system were of course that it is a renewable energy source and therefore less taxing on the planet, but also that it lowers our annual power bill - in our case, approximately 80% per year - which will save us money for years to come even as energy prices continue to rise. Our system has an integrated cell phone app as well, so we can view in real time how much the system is generating and how much is being imported or exported from the grid, which gives us a lot of insight into how we use energy throughout the day and serves as a good reminder to not waste power. 

There were disadvantages that we considered as well. Of course, solar panels are dependent on sunlight to function. This was not a big concern for us considering we live in San Antonio, TX, where it’s hot and sunny most of the year. If we lived in, say, Anchorage, AK, where there is an average of 230 cloudy days per year (move.org), we probably would have made the decision to forgo the solar panels. There will of course always be rainy days (even in San Antonio) where solar production is low, but there will also be days when our usage will be low, but production will be high (resulting in our system exporting energy to the CPS grid versus pulling energy from it). It’s important to view solar production in terms of months or years rather than day to day to get a true measure of how much energy is being produced. Another disadvantage was the high upfront cost. The cost of the system was considerable for a single family home, but we viewed it as an investment. Eventually the system will pay for itself as energy prices continue to rise; that, combined with the (at that time) 26% federal solar tax credit made the decision easier (energy.gov). 

Inevitably, by definition, non-renewable energy sources will run out. This is the crux of the argument for renewable energy; any counter argument that fails to acknowledge that fact is irresponsible at best, and at worst shows a hand-to-mouth mentality concerning energy, and a lack of appreciation for the existential threats posed by climate change. I am hopeful that as more evidence of climate change becomes available, and more young people become involved in the conversation about climate change, alternative energy sources will become the rule instead of the exception.

Works cited

"Biomass explained." U.S. Energy Information Administration, www.eia.gov/energyexplained/biomass/#:~:text=Biomass%20sources%20for%20energy%20include,from%20pulp%20and%20paper%20mills.

"Energy Crisis (1970s)." History.com, www.history.com/topics/1970s/energy-crisis.

"Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics." ENERGY.GOV, www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-federal-tax-credit-solar-photovoltaics.

Mutiti, S., Mutiti, C., Manoylov, K., VandeVoort, A., & Bennett, D. (2018). Introduction to environmental science (3rd ed.). Biological Science Open Textbooks. University System of Georgia.

Roberts, Joe. "Top 10 Gloomiest Cities int he US." move.org, 7 Mar. 2023, www.move.org/gloomiest-cities-in-the-us/#:~:text=1.,Anchorage%2C%20AK&text=With%20an%20average%20of%20over,of%20every%20year%20under%20clouds.