The Common Good
Attaining the Common Good Renewable (Green) Energy Investment sounds like a sure win when it comes to thinking of keeping our planet clean and improving Earth’s climate. There is never one single easy solution when it comes to making a choice so raising awareness and creating discussions of all the available options are best at finding how to pick the solution that has the best impact, helps the most people and the environment. The senior fellow for energy and the environment at the Council on Foreign Relations argues that the best way to secure a bright future is to advance both old and new forms of energy.
There are pros and cons to creating both that need to be evaluated when deciding upon an energy source that’s why it’s best to have multiple choices to choose from (Gambino). A benefit of Green Energy is that the energy is renewable meaning we can use it and generate more through natural means. Unlike fossil fuels that are finite and will all disappear eventually. Green energy also does not leave carbon emissions in the Earth’s atmosphere. With that said a wind turbine creating green energy isn’t entirely green when it comes to environmental impact. Wind turbines operating off of the coast of California are continually turned off periodically once they have killed a certain number of birds. The birds are drawn to the circular motion of the propellers and killed before hitting the ground. Dead bird counters were employed to know when to turn off a turbine for a specific amount of time to lessen the impact (Upton). Another thing people don’t think of with wind turbines is that excess electricity that is generated must be stored. In a wind turbine’s case that energy is stored in a giant battery much like a supersized car battery. These batteries fail after a period of time and must be disposed of in a landfill someplace leaving its own toxic footprint. Our government is split on the idea of whether to develop further green technology or to increase
There are pros and cons to creating both that need to be evaluated when deciding upon an energy source that’s why it’s best to have multiple choices to choose from (Gambino). A benefit of Green Energy is that the energy is renewable meaning we can use it and generate more through natural means. Unlike fossil fuels that are finite and will all disappear eventually. Green energy also does not leave carbon emissions in the Earth’s atmosphere. With that said a wind turbine creating green energy isn’t entirely green when it comes to environmental impact. Wind turbines operating off of the coast of California are continually turned off periodically once they have killed a certain number of birds. The birds are drawn to the circular motion of the propellers and killed before hitting the ground. Dead bird counters were employed to know when to turn off a turbine for a specific amount of time to lessen the impact (Upton). Another thing people don’t think of with wind turbines is that excess electricity that is generated must be stored. In a wind turbine’s case that energy is stored in a giant battery much like a supersized car battery. These batteries fail after a period of time and must be disposed of in a landfill someplace leaving its own toxic footprint. Our government is split on the idea of whether to develop further green technology or to increase
Cited: Gambino, Megan. "Smithsonian.com." Smithsonian Magazine. N.p., 23 May 2013. Web. 28 July 2013. "Obama Administration Gives Wind Industry a Pass for Killing Birds." Grist. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 July 2013. "Renewable Energy and the Law of Receding Horizons." RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 July 2013.