Energy that is generated from natural resources and is naturally replenished is renewable energy. Renewable energy harvesting encompasses many types of technologies, and the popularity and successes of those vary considerably. There are those technologies that are already proven and economically competitive, while some need additional development to become competitive. According to the Energy Information Administration, "in 1850, about 90% of the energy consumed in the United States was from renewable energy resources, and in 2004, about 6% of all energy consumed and about 9% of total electricity production was from renewable energy resources." It is widely accepted that the use of renewable fuels will need to continue to grow over the next 30 years for a number of economic, societal, and environmental reasons.
Due to the Energy Policy Acts of 2002 and 2005 and a number of State and Federal Government incentives, the harvesting and use of renewable fuels have grown considerably. This trend is also driven by higher prices for oil and natural gas. Although we continue to depend on non-renewable fuels to meet our immediate needs, the harvesting of atmospheric, solar, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat energies will in time replace the limited and environmentally unfriendly fuels. Of course, improving efficient use of energy is one of the most cost-effective and immediate ways to reduce foreign fossil fuel dependence, improve national security, and secure the environmental health.
The immediate remedy of energy efficiency through new green building, home weatherization, and conservation education will reduce economic costs, alleviate environmental damage and hold off the inevitable for the short term. However, currently the most common and inexpensive energy sources are non-renewable, very finite, and we are addicted. The world is heavily reliant on the non-renewable fossil fuels and we must shift the world's energy dependence from fossil fuels to reliable renewable solutions. This will require "massive amounts of capital with long timelines to returns." Corporations are reluctant to make such long term investments in energy research and development despite the global community's need.
There are compelling reasons to make an investment in the research and development of renewable energy sources and the harvesting of green energy. First and foremost, as the demand for green alternatives grows the corporations will gladly provide what the public wants. "According to the Economist, "Moreover, a new rationale for promoting green investments is beginning to emerge. Many luminaries, from the head of the United Nations Environment Programme to Barack Obama, America's president-elect, tout the industry as a means both to address global warming and stimulate flagging Western economies. Reports enumerating the economic benefits of state support for clean technology, in the form of industries fostered and jobs created, abound.... American lawmakers, at any rate, seem convinced: they slipped an extension of all-important subsidies for renewable energy into the recent bail-out for financial services."
Reliable, renewable energy is the future. The development and improvement of solar, tidal, wind, geothermal among other exciting resources is worth our time and money. Wave energy is always available. Solar and wind is "forecastable" and improvements in harvesting are made every day. Most of our power comes from central-station power plants, losing vast amounts of harvested power in the transmission. Many renewable energies may offer the generation of electricity closer to remote villages, towns, and cities which increases availability, and reduces cost for the consumer. The reduction of energy us through efficiencies and the increased development and resulting reliance on reliable renewable resources will save money, create jobs, increase national security, and preserve our planet for generations to come.