ELBOW ROOM
BY RICHARD A . FLOREY Marketing Director EcoVantage Energy , inc . www ./ ecovantageenergy . com
It ’ s a Big , Big World Not to state the obvious , but we live on a huge planet . I mean , it ’ s really , really big . We also live in a country that ’ s big with tons of elbow room and room for more than one resource to provide power for it . Below is a list of those sources that clearly indicates room for growth in the alternative sector . Solar and Wind farms plus rooftop solar installations across the country are employing thousands as well as are the other sources of energy . In fact , America is doing well in all areas of energy production and the fact is , alternative energy is not infringing on the established producers but rather is enhancing them .
U . S . major energy sources and percent shares of U . S . electricity generation at utilityscale facilities in 2016 .
• Natural gas = 33.8 %
• Coal = 30.4 %
• Nuclear = 19.7 %
• Renewables ( total ) = 14.9 %
• Hydropower = 6.5 %
• Wind = 5.6 %
• Biomass = 1.5 %
• Solar = 0.9 %
• Geothermal = 0.4 %
• Petroleum = 0.6 %
• Other gases = 0.3 %
• Other nonrenewable sources = 0.3 %
• Pumped storage hydroelectricity = -0.2 %
We are Strong It is critical as a country to be diversified when it comes to utility power . The utilities know this and have spent a great deal resources on building solar and wind farms across the country . It is called redundancy in some areas , a backup of epic scale . It begs the question , if powerful electric companies are investing in solar , is it because the public is as well ? The answer is yes . Sort of . It ’ s mostly because they wouldn ’ t want to be seen in today ’ s cultural environment to NOT do it . One thing we do know , because they have done it , Americans are working .
Long Term Goal It is important to have goals . In providing power to fulfill our expanding need , it would be great if that goal included the slow weaning from burning fossil fuel . Great because it would serve two purposes . One , the resulting glut of petroleum , gas and coal can serve other purposes and two , the reduction of pollution will be applauded across the board . The other goal would be a re-educated work force ready to tackle the future . One thing for sure though , Solar and Wind power will be there . They are the future , here today .
OCTOBER 2017 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
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