R A P I D R I V E R A R T S & C U L T U R E M A G A Z I N E Green Report: Renewable energy becomes more affordable and increases homeland security, says new report Although renewable energy resources now provide six percent of the total energy needs of the United States, this percent could rapidly increase in the coming years, according to a just released report, entitled “American Energy: The Renewable Path to Energy Security.” The joint report released in late September <strong>2006</strong> by the Worldwatch Institute and the Center for American Progress stated that renewables are becoming cost-competitive with fossil fuels as well as can provide greater security at home for the United States. THE GREENER HOME Renewable energy becomes more affordable COMPELLING REASONS TO USE RENEWABLES Stated the authors of the report: “With oil prices soaring, the security risks of petroleum dependence growing, and the environmental costs of today’s fuels becoming more apparent, the country faces compelling reasons to put these technologies to use on a larger scale.” The report’s findings included the following: • The USA boasts some of the world’s best renewable energy resources, which have the potential to meet a rising and significant share of the nation’s energy demand. For example, one-fourth of America’s land area has winds powerful enough to generate electricity as cheaply as natural gas and coal, and the solar resources of just seven southwest states could provide 10 times the current electric generating capacity. • All but four U.S. states now have incentives in place to promote renewable energy, while more than a dozen have enacted new renewable energy laws in the past few years, and four states strengthened their targets in 2005. • California gets 31 percent of its electricity from renewable resources; 12 percent of this comes from nonhydro sources such as wind and geothermal energy. • Texas now has the country’s largest collection of wind generators. The United States led the world in wind energy installations in 2005. • Iowa produces enough ethanol that, if consumed in-state, would meet half the state’s gasoline requirements. • Renewable energy creates more jobs per unit of energy produced and per dollar spent than fossil fuel technologies do. The report also stated that while there has been strong public support by American citizens, the U.S. has not kept up with other countries, which have experienced rapid growth over the past decade. On a worldwide basis since 2000, global wind energy generation has more than tripled; solar cell production has risen sixfold; production of fuel ethanol from crops have more than doubled; and biodiesel production has expanded nearly four-fold. Annual global investment in “new” renewable energy has risen almost six-fold since 1995, with cumulative investment over this period nearly $180 billion. The report explained that if the U.S. is to join the world leaders in renewable energy – among them Germany, Spain, and Japan – it will need world-class energy policies based on a sustained and consistent policy framework at the local, state, and national levels. DOWNLOAD THE RENEWABLES REPORT AND LEARN MORE To download the complete report, visit www.americanenergynow.net. For more information about the two publishers of this new renewable energy report, visit www.worldwatch.org and www.americanprogress.org. The Worldwatch Institute is said to be an independent research organization that focuses on innovative solutions to global environmental, resource, and economic issues. The Center for American Progress bills itself as “a nonpartisan research and educational institute dedicated to promoting a strong, just and free America that ensures opportunity for all … to find progressive and pragmatic solutions to significant domestic and international problems and develop policy proposals that foster a government that is ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people.’” 38 October <strong>2006</strong> — <strong>Rapid</strong> <strong>River</strong> ArtS & CULTURE <strong>Magazine</strong>— Vol. 10, No. 2
Vol. 10, No. 2 — <strong>Rapid</strong> <strong>River</strong> ArtS & CULTURE <strong>Magazine</strong>— October <strong>2006</strong> 39