One of the most debated subjects this century is the policy on climate change. Specifically about how to go about decreasing one of the leading components most impacted by society, carbon emissions. Carbon dioxide is emitted through the combustion of fossil fuels, which is the main source of power for many of society’s technology and methods of transportation. Due to the increase use of these technologies, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased to a dangerous level, changing Earth’s climate; in turn affecting Earth’s societies and cultures. The most effective method to reduce carbon emissions in the United States would be to increase the usage of alternative energies, such as hydroelectric, wind, and solar powers, as well as devoting
…show more content…
If the United States can increase the employment of alternative energy sources, societies will be able to balance out how much carbon is emitted by forms of transportations that are run on fossil fuels. The most used renewable energy source the United States has right now is hydropower, which accounts for ten percent of the nation's power (Hydropower Technology). The most common type of hydroelectric power plant uses a dam on a river to store water in a reservoir... Some hydroelectric power plants just use a small canal to channel the river water through a turbine (Hydropower Technology). In other words, any river or stream that has the right qualifications for a hydroelectric plant should have a hydroelectric plant in order to increase the amount of reusable power the United States has access to. The United States should also increase the usage of wind turbines and solar power panels, in order to try an offset carbon emissions emitted by cars and transportation. However, solar panels and wind turbines aren't cheap. Wind turbines cost anywhere between three and four million dollars (“How much...”) and “the average cost of a 5000 watt solar panel: $12,500 (after the Federal ITC discount)(Matasci). In other words, the cost of these …show more content…
Both will limit carbon emissions and revenue can be used to fund research. If the U.S. makes going green more affordable and logical for society, more people will be willing to participate. A carbon tax is a fee for users of fossil fuels... and for motivating switches to clean energy (Rosenblum). In other words, using cars, planes, and other forms of transportation will have a tax based on how much carbon is emitted. The other alternative to funding these organizations is a system called Cap and Trade. “The cap on greenhouse gas emissions is a limit... [where] companies pay penalties if they exceed the cap, which gets stricter over time. The trade part is a market for companies to buy and sell [“carbon dioxide”] allowances... [and] gives companies a strong incentive to save money by cutting emissions” (How Cap). In other words, society taxes items and companies that emit carbon, and that tax money could be used to fund further research and innovation. A solution such as this isn't too radical or unreasonable, for it would occur over time. Eventually, new technology will run on environmentally safe energy and will be cheaper to use than carbon emitting technology. Thus slowly changing society from fossil fuel based to renewable clean
If the United States can increase the employment of alternative energy sources, societies will be able to balance out how much carbon is emitted by forms of transportations that are run on fossil fuels. The most used renewable energy source the United States has right now is hydropower, which accounts for ten percent of the nation's power (Hydropower Technology). The most common type of hydroelectric power plant uses a dam on a river to store water in a reservoir... Some hydroelectric power plants just use a small canal to channel the river water through a turbine (Hydropower Technology). In other words, any river or stream that has the right qualifications for a hydroelectric plant should have a hydroelectric plant in order to increase the amount of reusable power the United States has access to. The United States should also increase the usage of wind turbines and solar power panels, in order to try an offset carbon emissions emitted by cars and transportation. However, solar panels and wind turbines aren't cheap. Wind turbines cost anywhere between three and four million dollars (“How much...”) and “the average cost of a 5000 watt solar panel: $12,500 (after the Federal ITC discount)(Matasci). In other words, the cost of these …show more content…
Both will limit carbon emissions and revenue can be used to fund research. If the U.S. makes going green more affordable and logical for society, more people will be willing to participate. A carbon tax is a fee for users of fossil fuels... and for motivating switches to clean energy (Rosenblum). In other words, using cars, planes, and other forms of transportation will have a tax based on how much carbon is emitted. The other alternative to funding these organizations is a system called Cap and Trade. “The cap on greenhouse gas emissions is a limit... [where] companies pay penalties if they exceed the cap, which gets stricter over time. The trade part is a market for companies to buy and sell [“carbon dioxide”] allowances... [and] gives companies a strong incentive to save money by cutting emissions” (How Cap). In other words, society taxes items and companies that emit carbon, and that tax money could be used to fund further research and innovation. A solution such as this isn't too radical or unreasonable, for it would occur over time. Eventually, new technology will run on environmentally safe energy and will be cheaper to use than carbon emitting technology. Thus slowly changing society from fossil fuel based to renewable clean