In this blog so many different aspects of coal and related topics have been discussed. Posts have ranged from addressing the negative aspects of coal (health-wise, environmental, social) to looking at the advantages of a variety of alternative energy sources. I think we have very clearly and successfully shown that there are forms of energy which are better than coal in so many ways. After following this blog for a while, I'm sure you are understand the social and environmental importance of actively seeking out and using alternative energy sources. In an ideal world this would be a priority of many concerned citizens.
But it's not an ideal world, is it? Today's world is pretty chaotic in general, what with environmental crisis, multiple foreign wars, an ever-rising national debt, high unemployment, and an failing economy. Add on top of all this the most recent events in Europe and our own government, and it's no wonder that we have other things to think about then our energy sources.
But in the end coal (or the absence of) really does come into play with the larger economy. For one thing, alternative energy sources, instead of creative luxuries they are often depicted as, are actually the future of energy. As the non-renewable resources of coal, oil, and natural gas dwindle the alternatives will become increasing important to our economy. America has always been on the cutting-edge of technology and it is vital that we do not stop now. We need to be researching, inventing and experimenting with alternative energy as never before.
There is another element to all this which should bring hope to us ordinary people who are just trying to survive in this rough economy, and that is job creation. The three forms of traditional energy (coal, gas, oil) are all regionally connected. That means that jobs related to those energy forms are usually local to where the resources happen to be, whether that is the Appalachian Mountains or the Middle East. Alternative energy, on the other hand, has the potential for being much more diverse and widespread, instead of out-sourcing we could provide for all our energy needs on American soil.
I don't want to write out a thesis here, so I'll just close by putting a few links so you can see some further advantages alternative energy can have in creating jobs and improving our economy. I must saw, reading about this gave me a nice boost of hope in these uncertain times. I think it will do the same for you.
Elizabeth Pelster
http://www.examiner.com/economic-policy-in-national/can-alternative-energy-really-create-a-lot-of-new-jobs
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/10/renewable-energy-and-energy-efficiency-can-create-4-5-million-jobs-by-2030
http://green.tmcnet.com/news/2011/08/09/5692484.htm
But it's not an ideal world, is it? Today's world is pretty chaotic in general, what with environmental crisis, multiple foreign wars, an ever-rising national debt, high unemployment, and an failing economy. Add on top of all this the most recent events in Europe and our own government, and it's no wonder that we have other things to think about then our energy sources.
But in the end coal (or the absence of) really does come into play with the larger economy. For one thing, alternative energy sources, instead of creative luxuries they are often depicted as, are actually the future of energy. As the non-renewable resources of coal, oil, and natural gas dwindle the alternatives will become increasing important to our economy. America has always been on the cutting-edge of technology and it is vital that we do not stop now. We need to be researching, inventing and experimenting with alternative energy as never before.
There is another element to all this which should bring hope to us ordinary people who are just trying to survive in this rough economy, and that is job creation. The three forms of traditional energy (coal, gas, oil) are all regionally connected. That means that jobs related to those energy forms are usually local to where the resources happen to be, whether that is the Appalachian Mountains or the Middle East. Alternative energy, on the other hand, has the potential for being much more diverse and widespread, instead of out-sourcing we could provide for all our energy needs on American soil.
I don't want to write out a thesis here, so I'll just close by putting a few links so you can see some further advantages alternative energy can have in creating jobs and improving our economy. I must saw, reading about this gave me a nice boost of hope in these uncertain times. I think it will do the same for you.
Elizabeth Pelster
http://www.examiner.com/economic-policy-in-national/can-alternative-energy-really-create-a-lot-of-new-jobs
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/10/renewable-energy-and-energy-efficiency-can-create-4-5-million-jobs-by-2030
http://green.tmcnet.com/news/2011/08/09/5692484.htm
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