Clean Energy 101: A Renewable Energy Explainer
Dec 5, 2018
CleanChoice Energy, in partnership with CleanTechnica, has created a “Clean Energy 101” explainer that makes it easy to understand renewable energy and clean energy, and their benefits over fossil fuels. Here, we’ll look at how much renewable energy is part of the U.S. energy mix today, and what makes a renewable source “clean.” To learn more about clean energy and CleanChoice Energy, download the full explainer.
The United States is still primarily a fossil-fuel based energy economy, but there has been incredible growth in renewable energy generation over recent decades, and it just keeps accelerating!
Clean energy—such as solar and wind power—is an effective replacement for fossil fuel technology and traditional electricity generation.
In the U.S., clean energy is a growing part of the nation’s energy mix. As we detail in the report, 51% of the new electricity generating capacity added in the United States last year was from renewables. About 28% of the new capacity was wind, especially offshore wind energy sources. 20% was from solar.
But why is it so important that the renewables sector continue to grow? The world only has a finite amount of coal, oil, and gas. We are faced with an imperative to find other sources of cleaner energy for the decades and centuries to come. Renewables, as the name implies, look to energy sources that are constantly renewed like the sun, wind, and waves. In addition, renewables also add electricity onto the grid without having to dig, frack, or pump for fossil fuels that are buried in the earth.
As the climate continues to warm, and as science reveals more about the detrimental effects of climate change on our people and planet, it’s imperative that we pursue these clean technologies to keep carbon emissions and pollution out of the air.
While more and more people want clean energy, some still do not have access to it. For example, if you live in an apartment complex, or if you are a renter, you might think that you don’t have access to renewable energy sources. But times are changing and (depending on your state), you might have the option to purchase renewable energy from providers who specialize in supplying renewable electricity to their customers.
These suppliers of cleaner energy give customers in many regions the ability to reduce their carbon footprint and, at the same time, support the continued development of solar and wind power instead of dirty fossil fuels.
CleanChoice Energy offers a good option for consumers who seek an easy way to purchase their electricity from clean sources. CleanChoice Energy customers can switch to clean energy, while keeping their utility, and all the energy the customer uses is replenished onto the grid with 100% clean wind and solar power.
To learn more about how renewable energy is the way to a cleaner future, plus what makes CleanChoice Energy different from other electricity suppliers, download "Clean Energy 101: A Renewable Energy Explainer."
This article was supported by CleanChoice Energy; copyright 2018 CleanChoice Energy/CleanTechnica
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