Scientific American, in the January 2008 issue presented a brilliant plan to end U.S. dependence on foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the use of solar energy. The plan shows how solar energy could be 69 percent of U.S. electricity and 35 percent of its total energy requirements to provide up to 2050. Understand and support the plan could be critical for our businesses and our lives on this planet, so I devoted this column to inform you about this program.
The potential of solar energy is enormous. The energy from sunlight strikes the Earth in just 40 minutes corresponds to the total world energy demand for a full year after the Scientific American. In the U.S. we have a resource of enormous potential, 250,000 square miles of land in the southwestern United States, which are suitable for the construction of solar power stations and there is an abundance of solar energy. Produce solar energy is virtually free of pollution. Scientific American plan reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases from power plants by 1.7 billion tons per year and requires replacement of gasoline vehicles with plug-in hybrids refueled by the solar power, which would further reduce the emissions of 1.9 billion tons per year . In 2050, emissions of carbon dioxide by 62 percent below 2005 levels would be.
The cost of solar energy to this project would be equivalent to today’s prices for conventional energy sources. The plan provides that the federal government to invest more than $ 400 billion over the next 40 years. Although the investment is substantial, it is less than the U.S. farm price support program for Scientific American. Once the infrastructure is built, use solar power plants very little fuel and the price of sunlight is free, save the billions of dollars per year.
Solar power plants to replace coal and natural gas plants use 300 300, they all fuels. The plan would eliminate all oil imports, the expansion of our trade deficit and ensure the energy supply in the future of the nation, according to Scientific American. The program would also three million new domestic jobs with the construction of solar components.
The authors of the Scientific American Plan states that the biggest obstacle to implementing such a program is not technology or money, there is a lack of public awareness of the incredible potential of solar power. I think it will be someone like Al Gore or a President with a vision to take, as Kennedy had a man on the moon in order to sell the plan to the American public. Now that you are aware of the enormous potential of solar energy, I hope your desire for energy independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions will encourage you to support a national solar energy. Backing such initiatives reflect positively on our industry and to improve the lives of the people on the planet.