Introduction
People can hardly imagine a day without using different energy sources to meet their basic needs. After awakening, they turn on the light, take a shower, and prepare breakfast but never think that all these manipulations require great energy that exists in different forms. In most cases, the citizens of Atlanta, Georgia, rely on electricity generated from non-renewable sources of energy like fossil fuels or nuclear energy. However, it is high time to think about the irreversibility of some events and the necessity to create alternatives. Despite access to some non-renewable energy sources, Atlantans should consider the green energy plan to obtain ecological and economic benefits and solve challenges through education and open discussions.
Energy Self-Assessment
Nowadays, American society is aware of different ways to heat or cool their homes, run household appliances, and get to the necessary destination. The origins of the energy sources preferred by approximately 90% of the citizens of Atlanta include electricity that comes from coal, nuclear energy, and natural gas (Margolis, 2019). According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (2021), Georgia is one of the states known for its nuclear power-producing resources. In addition to the two already existing plants, two more reactors are under construction (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2021). Although Atlanta does not have direct petroleum reserves, its citizens have access to gasoline from interstate pipeline systems and use it for transportation. All these sources are non-renewable fossil fuels that improve the life quality in the region (“Energy sources,” n.d.). Atlanta’s current state of affairs is positive, but there is always some space for improvement.
Renewable Energy Analysis
The Atlantans also investigate the worth of renewable resources, including biomass, solar energy, and hydroelectric power. About 12% of Georgia’s electricity is now generated from renewable energy (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2021). The most appropriate energy source for the Atlantans can be biomass and primary wood. Atlanta is also known as the city in a forest because of the amounts of trees within the city and around it. In Georgia, there are more than 200 working wood manufacturing plants where about 1.8 million tons of biomass can be produced annually (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2021). Wood is a good heat insulator to impede heat flow under low thermal conductivity (Trefil & Hazen, 2016). This type of energy may be used longer compared to other resources, but the government does not consider this option for all states. Wind-powered electricity generation is the least appropriate energy source for Atlanta. Although windmills are popular in America, Georgia does not have enough facilities to prove its energy potential (Trefil & Hazen, 2016; U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2021). Wind farms need solid funding programs and financial support to be properly implemented.
Energy Source Comparison
Renewable and non-renewable energy sources have their economic and ecological benefits and shortages. For example, fossil fuels represent a non-renewable source of energy that can generate large amounts of electricity on a big territory, increasing job opportunities and gross domestic product values. However, fossil fuels provoke global warming and climate change as the main negative environmental outcome (Trefil & Hazen, 2016). As a result, additional economic losses to repair damaged objects are inevitable, and catastrophic risks for the global economy challenge the population. Still, one should remember that fossil fuel electricity is beneficial for everyday use and environmental transformations in terms of sanitation and air quality.
Renewable energy sources are usually characterized by such economic costs as the competitive advantage and the necessity to build new plants and other specialized constructions. However, the benefit in this sphere touches upon the creation of new jobs in installation and manufacturing. Compared to non-renewable energy, renewable energy is eco-friendly and less harmful to the environment regarding the level of greenhouse emissions (Trefil & Hazen, 2016). Anyway, some costs should be paid because this energy is unreliable and dependent on atmospheric conditions. The absence of wind means no blowing in turbines, and poor weather conditions could reduce forest growth, decreasing the sources of energy.
Renewable Energy in America
Despite the existing non-renewable energy resources in Atlanta and the USA in general, many arguments can be offered to support the idea of renewable energy. One of the major reasons is the possibility of reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions generated from fossil fuels and improving the quality of the air. Secondly, Georgia demonstrates high rates of using wood and wood-derived fuels, which are linked to the high possibilities of biomass resources for the region (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2021). Finally, Atlanta has already introduced its green energy plan to call the city to use renewables by 2035 (Margolis, 2019). This policy includes the necessity to put up more solar panels and other constructions that work on biomass resources. The U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program (SEP) takes responsibility for funding the regions where new constructions are required to promote energy security and reduce energy waste (Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, n.d.). People can buy renewable electricity and cooperate with local governments to choose a safe way of development (Energy Saver, 2017). All these policies and achievements prove that the USA should pursue renewable energy sources.
Conclusion
Current findings and research create a strong background about the environmental and economic impacts of renewable and non-renewable energy in Atlanta. People cannot stop using electricity or driving gasoline cars to demonstrate their eco-friendly intentions. Thus, the idea of replacing energy sources is frequently discussed in American society, and many arguments have already been introduced for and against renewable energy. The governments continue supporting the creation of new specialized plants and farms to contribute to a better energy situation in the country.
References
Energy Saver. (2017). Energy saver guide. Web.
Energy sources. (n.d.). Energy4me. Web.
Margolis, J. (2019). How Atlanta plans to get to 100% green energy by 2035. The World. Web.
Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. (n.d.). About the state energy program. Energy.gov. Web.
Trefil, J., & Hazen, R. M. (2016). The sciences: An integrated approach (8th ed.). Wiley.
U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2021, December 16). Profile analysis. EIA. Web.