Sean Sommerville

Mr. Davis
Government Period 4
October 26, 2016
Alternative Energy
Change: it is what drives this world forward and without it we would be extinct. Now is
the time to act before we destroy the very planet we walk on. Oil and gasoline are huge
pollutants, and science proves that they have a deadly effect on the atmosphere. Global warming
is causing big problems that are only getting worse. The glaciers are melting and arctic wildlife is
in decline. Another problem with is that the oil supply is in decline and once it runs out chaos
will ensue. There is only one way to avoid these inevitable problems, embrace alternative energy.
Alternative energy is the way of the future, and the only solution to saving the planet.
The Clean Energy Act of 2016 is the first step in the right direction. This bill will be the
start of the turn from limited, environmentally harmful energy to clean, green, renewable energy.
This is not just about now, this is for the future. This bill will make the world a better place for
the next generation. There is no reason to leave problems for the next people when we can solve
them now. Its time to give back to the planet from which we have taken so much. These
subsidies will go a long way and carry the potential for worldwide change. For example,
Fundamental research on innovative processes for the fabrication and theory-based
characterization of future PV devices is an emphasis area of this program. Specific areas of
interest include, but are not limited to: nano-enabled PV devices containing nanostructured
semiconductors, plasmonic materials, photonic structures, or conducting polymers; earthabundant and environmentally benign materials for photovoltaic devices; photocatalytic or

photoelectrochemical processes for the splitting of water into H2 gas, or for the reduction of
CO2 to liquid or gaseous fuels. (Read). Advancements like these are what the planet needs to
thrive in a changing environment and more of these can become possible with the help of
subsidies. Currently, all the solar power in the country generates less than one percent of the
nations electricity ("The Recovery Act). This needs to change, and with ease it can be
changed. This is the start of something great, and a little money can go a long way. Especially
since solar power is becoming more affordable and is slowly growing. If we stick with it we can
make solar power a global revolution.
New discoveries are being made in terms of clean energy, it is becoming a realistic form
of power and it will actually help the environment. Research shows a single 1-megawatt wind
turbine can displace 1,800 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) in 1 year (equivalent to planting 1
square mile of forest). Achieving 20% wind energy by 2030 would provide significant
environmental benefits, such as avoiding approximately 825 million metric tons of CO2
emissions in the electric sector. Because it is a clean energy source, wind energy reduces health
care and environmental costs associated with air pollution (Wind and Water Power Program).
Leading to big savings, healthier people, and provides positive change to the environment. In
addition, solar technology is currently on the rise as solar energy is the most abundant energy
resource on earth -- 173,000 terawatts of solar energy strikes the Earth continuously. That's more
than 10,000 times the world's total energy use. (Pierce). If we harness solar energy more
effectively than we do now, cars could run for nearly forever and airplanes could stay airborne.
This would also cut big costs on gasoline making airline ticket prices plummet and cars become
more realistic for lower and middle class Americans. Gasoline prices are rising as oil is harder to
obtain and decreased production of petroleum and corresponding higher prices, along with

stricter federal guidelines for coal emissions, necessitate a paradigm shift with respect to energy
consumptiona move toward increased reliance on alternative energy produced from renewable
sources such as hydropower, solar energy, biofuels and wind power ("Renewable Energy and
Sustainability Projects"). Together we can make this possible but only by giving support to those
who need it.
This bill will give money to research on alternative energy and also provide subsidies to
those currently producing it. To acquire the funds needed to make this possible food subsidies
will be cut by 50%. The result of this cut will be $50,000,000,000 which will be distributed
annually to encourage this research and use of energy. The money will fall into the hands of The
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy who will distribute the funds and subsidies
to those harnessing or attempting to make technological advancements in alternative energy.
Under no circumstance will any portion of the money go towards oil, gasoline, or anything
deemed a non-approved alternative energy source by The Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy. The State of Hawaii has declared a bold energy agenda to achieve 100
percent clean energy by the year 2045. Along with reducing our islands dependency on fossil
fuels and increasing efficiency measures, the clean energy plan is also contributing to the states
economic growth (Hawaii State Energy Office.). They cant do it without this money, which
is why this bill needs to take effect. This goal isnt unrealistic with the support of this bill, but
without it, it is hopeless.
An argument can be made that global warming isnt real or that the worlds oil supply
will never run out. Both of these statements arent true. First of all, Ice cores drawn from
Greenland, Antarctica, and Tropical Mountain glaciers show that the Earths climate responds to

changes in greenhouse gas levels.(Climate Change: How Do We Know?). We know that is a

manmade problem because the level of carbon dioxide has never been this high before and it
traps greenhouse gases in the atmosphere coming from car emissions, certain hair products, and
other manmade sources. In addition, smokestacks from factories, trains, and ships sent tons of
pollution from the burning coal into the atmosphere. Among the pollutants were excessive
amounts of CO2 and other greenhouse gases (Stille, 30). Though is true that periods of heating
and freezing have occurred in the past, none have come close to occurring at a rate as rapid as it
is now. As for the oil supply, oil is not a renewable energy source. It cant be grown, produced,
or replicated; meaning that every time oil is extracted, refined, and burned to fuel an engine, it
will never exist again. Inevitably the oil supply will run out, there is no alternative other than to
harness another type of energy. Why wait until the problem gets really bad when we can fix it
now. I crucial upcoming problem is that the Himalayas contain 100 times as much ice as the
Alps and provide more than half of the drinking water for 40% of the worlds populationthrough seven Asian river systems that all originate on the same plateau. Within the next halfcentury, that 40% of the worlds people may well face a very serious drinking water shortage,
unless the world acts boldly and quickly to mitigate global warming. (Gore, 58). This drinking
water shortage will take place in our lifetime. It is an issue that cannot wait and demands our
attention. 40% of the world population is a lot of people, and its not worth the risk to put it off.
This bill is the pathway to a better future and it solves major issues that are becoming
more prevalent by the day. Now is the time to act and the price we must pay is very small, there
is already an absurdly high amount of money in food subsidies and diverting money to research
and technology that will have a large, beneficial, impact on the world is a decision that should be
supported ten times out of ten. Plus alternative energy will practically pay for itself, achieving

20% wind energy by 2030 would provide significant economic benefits, including more than
$8.8 billion in estimated property taxes and land lease payments between 2007 and 2030
(Wind and Water Power Program). Lets make a difference tomorrow by making a difference
today.

Works Cited
Print
Gore, Al. An Inconvenient Truth: the Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We
Can Do about It. New York, Rodale Press, 2006.
Stille, Darlene R. The Greenhouse Effect Warming the Planet. Minneapolis, MN, Compass Point
Books, 2007.
Web
Climate Change: How Do We Know? NASA, NASA,
http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/.
Hawaii State Energy Office. Hawaii.gov, Hawaii State Energy Office, 2016,
http://energy.hawaii.gov/.
Pierce, Erin. Top 6 Things You Didn't Know About Solar Energy. Energy.gov, U.S.
Department of Energy, 6 June 2016,
http://energy.gov/articles/top-6-things-you-didnt-know-about-solar-energy.
Read, Carole. Where Discoveries Begin. Energy for Sustainability, National Science
Foundation, https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501026.
Morrisville State College. Renewable Energy and Sustainability Projects : Alternative Energy
Projects : Renewable Energy Training Center,
https://www.morrisville.edu/alternativeenergy/.
"Renewable Energy Special Projects | USDA." Renewable Energy Special Projects | USDA.
United States Department of Agriculture, 09 May 2016. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.
Promoting Clean, Renewable Energy: Investments in Wind and Solar. The White House,
Obama-Biden Administration,
https://www.whitehouse.gov/recovery/innovations/clean-renewable-energy.
PDF

Wind and Water Power Program. U.S. Department of Energy, Apr. 2011.