The transition towards Clean Energy isn’t as straightforward as you think
Various factors and logistics must be considered
President Joe Biden and his administration have been passionate and determined to lead the fight against climate change, and they have set clear goals as a guide for the country to move forward. As greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise in the U.S. and the country faces more extreme natural disasters, the Biden administration has pledged to reduce these gases by 50% (or more) by the year 2030, reaching 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035, and an economy with net-zero emissions by 2050. However, these goals have caused controversy over whether or not they really are achievable. So, are these goals within our reach, or are they too much to ask for? Is the United States actually ready for clean energy?
Changes to Power Plants and Transportation
Due to the relatively short time period, these goals require a tremendous amount of effort and money. There is still a large dependency on technology that has not even been fully developed yet, and they need that development to occur quickly and efficiently. In order to cut emissions on a large scale, coal and natural gas plants must be replaced with wind turbines and solar farms.
In addition, our means of transportation must look very different, as we must make a drastic shift from petroleum vehicles to electric vehicles. This is indeed a challenge the administration faces — only 2% of new car sales consist of electric cars, and in order to achieve the goals set out, that number must be around the 50% to 100% range. The production of electric vehicles may increase largely over the next decade, and prices may even significantly drop, however, it is ultimately in the hands of ordinary citizens who choose whether or not to trade in their current gas vehicle for an electric.
Nevertheless, regardless of how many regulations the government puts in place, the act of achieving these goals is still largely dependent on the American people.
Changes to Industry and Land
While changes to our power plants and transportation are essential in reaching our climate goals, industry and land also play a significant role. The third largest source of emissions in the United States comes from large industrial areas, which consist of manufacturing that require tons of energy. In order to overcome this hurdle, new research and technology must be developed — each industry has its own compliances, but one can only be so flexible. Commercial buildings and houses are also being looked into, as they are attempting to slowly eliminate the use of natural gas (in heating and cooling), and replacing them with electric heat pumps and stoves.
Concerning land, Biden has laid out a “30x30” program, aiming to conserve 30% of America’s lands and waters by 2030. Farmland and forests are known as carbon sinks, absorbing more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases. By planting more trees and encouraging farmers to use new, efficient techniques to reduce carbon absorption, greenhouse gases in those areas could certainly be reduced.
In order to shift from nonrenewable to renewable power plants, we cannot simply build one in its place. Renewable sources of energy are not flexible when it comes to location, meaning potential wind and solar projects are only possible in certain areas in the country due to limiting factors, such as the amount of sunlight or wind, or the amount of open land and residents. After several studies, it is been shown that states in the midwest have the most potential for solar and wind, but their demand is very low due to the population. The majority of U.S. residents live on either the east or west coasts, meaning energy needs to be transferred from one part of the country to another in an efficient manner.
Conclusion
In order for the U.S. to have a greener future, there is no doubt that more renewable energy plants must be constructed. However, if we want to actually use that energy, then we need to build more high-voltage transmission lines to transport the energy throughout the country. When considering the amount that needs to be built, and the distance required to build it, high-voltage transmission lines can easily occupy enormous chunks of land. On top of that, we need bigger and larger cables so that more power can be transmitted, adding to our already enormous land usage. Also, transmission projects are estimated to take around 3–10 years, but this can vary due to a number of factors.
If we want a more sustainable future, I propose an interdependent reliance model. For example, wind in Chicago should be able to power Texas, and sunlight in Phoenix should power Washington D.C.
However, to be able to transport energy from one region to another, the U.S. will require a new interconnected high-voltage grid. The infrastructure bill passed by Congress will indeed provide funding for such projects, but it won’t be enough. While many understand that we need to build more renewable sources of energy, most forget to discuss how we will be able to use that energy. Manufacturing is a big part, but how we transport and utilize the energy is a hard question with a complicated answer.
