Renewable energy is an abundant, clean and flexible source of energy that can replace fossil fuels. It helps tackle climate change and provides economic benefits, including creating jobs in manufacturing and installing renewable equipment. It also makes electric grids more resilient, and expands access to affordable energy in developing countries.
Solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal are examples of renewable energy sources that can be used to generate electricity. These forms of energy are considered to be renewable because they can be replenished relatively quickly, usually within a few years. The production of these renewable energies also releases significantly less carbon dioxide and other air pollutants compared to coal and gas power plants.
The cheapest sources of renewable energy are solar and wind, thanks to falling technology costs and improved efficiency. The cost of solar and wind power is rapidly approaching $30 per megawatt-hour, which is significantly lower than the current price of coal or the cheapest natural gas. As more people switch to renewables, these costs will continue to fall.
Renewable energy can also be sourced from recycled materials, such as animal or farm wastes that are processed to produce biogas or biofuels for electricity generation and transportation. By reducing the use of fossil fuels, we will greatly reduce US heat-trapping emissions from the electric power sector and from other sectors of the economy through the electrification of transportation and home heating. This will protect the environment and human health.
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