Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is energy from sources that do not deplete or can be replenished within a human lifetime. The main types of renewable energy are solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric.29
It goes without saying that renewable sources of energy represent the answer to the problems caused by non-renewable energy resources, particularly fossil fuels. In a perfect world, we would be able to snap our fingers and instantly convert our entire energy-harnessing infrastructure to renewable energy. Even though we have started down that path to salvation, there are still incredible obstacles and challenges that are preventing an easy transition.
Regrettably, the transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy has been glacially slow. Even though renewable energy resources were becoming available in the late 1970s and 1980s, renewable energy currently accounts for very little of the total global energy supply. Even in the United States, a country frequently recognized as a world leader and champion of renewables, only 9% of total energy production came from renewable sources as of 2011. That represents only a 1% increase since 1980, when renewables sourced 8% of the energy used by the U.S.30
Fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources continue to dominate energy production. There is room for optimism, however. Of all the renewable energy resources, solar and wind power are believed to be poised for significant expansion in the near future. Having evolved over the last four decades through a series of technological advances, solar and wind energy production are expected to achieve large-scale levels at lower price points than ever before. Additionally, there is a significant push to switch to 100% renewables and thus far 54 countries worldwide and eight U.S. states have required the transition.31
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