ARTICLE

The Societal Benefits of Renewable Energy

October 16, 2017 – Christopher Visentin

The quest for sustainable energy solutions is a worldwide issue, and amid growing consensus of the dangers of climate change, finding a solution seems to become more and more urgent by the day.

In an op-ed published in the Virgin Islands Daily News on August 9th, VI Capital Resources argued that not only is climate change the largest challenge facing the global community in the 21st century, it is an existential threat to small island communities in the Caribbean that rely on their natural surroundings for a large portion of their livelihood.

Faced with such a global issue, many communities have set energy goals for themselves moving forward; the U.S. Virgin Islands, for example, has committed to reduce fossil energy consumption by 60% come 2025. As part of the initiative, WAPA, the islands’ sole power utility, is under mandate to obtain 30% of its peak power generation from renewable resources by that same year.

These goals and those of many communities around the world are ambitious.

The NREL’s “Road Map” to renewable energy for the U.S. Virgin Islands lists substantial obstacles the community must overcome to increase renewable energy. These challenges, along with others, fall into four categories:

• Technical challenges include land constraints, impact on wildlife, grid integration to ensure base load reliability, and adjusting operations and equipment for the new technology.
• Policy challenges are present in the need to assess and streamline regulatory policy, implement effective building codes that promote energy efficiency, and modify legislation that preclude or constrain net metering opportunities.
• Financial challenges exist because renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels are expensive, Even if long-term energy costs can be markedly lower, these projects represent considerable up-front investments.
• Cultural challenges require addressing: among others, there exists aesthetic issues associated with solar and wind farms.

These challenges and others are important to recognize not as an argument against a shift to renewable energy, but as the first step toward recalibrating the community’s approach to energy production, use, and environmental concerns. By recognizing challenges, communities can better shape their response and approach.

Combating climate change through the more widespread use of renewable energy requires perspective and planning in project development, management and community outreach. The “Road Map” notes that “community buy-in and support” for these projects is essential in an effort to achieve meaningful progress.

There are a slew of opportunities and potential benefits associated with renewable energy that counteract or provide incentive to face the aforementioned challenges.

Perhaps the most tangible benefit is that renewables provide communities with more local energy production and decreases dependency on fossil fuel imports.

An article from the Union of Concerned Scientists points out that a higher proportion of renewable energy will help protect consumers from market fluctuations and cost spikes, since less of their energy is generated by imported fossil fuel.

The same article points out that utility companies will not have to invest as much to anticipate and shield them from market volatility. In the long run, this will allow utilities to save money and further invest in renewable energy.

Beyond reducing the community’s dependency on fossil fuels, renewable energy will help improve the health of the community’s immediate environment. The NREL’s fact sheet notes that a greater proportion of clean renewable energy means “less smog, less acid rain, and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.”

A healthier local environment also improves public health.

A study from the Harvard University School of Public Health found that communities in the Mid-Atlantic and Lower Great Lakes regions that moved to incorporate more renewable energy into their power production experienced improvements in public health benefits ranging from $5.7 to $210 million a year, depending on factors such as the extent of the transition and population density.

These public health benefits are an immediately recognizable incentive for renewable energy.  And, public health benefits are achievable much more quickly than any long-term global climate benefit.

Local job economies also stand to gain.

The previously mentioned Union of Concerned Scientists article points out that the renewable energy industry is much more labor-intensive than the fossil fuel industry and creates more jobs in operating and maintaining local projects.

As an added benefit, wind power projects in particular can provide income to landowners in the form of land lease payments.

Relatedly, manufacturing of component parts for the renewable energy sector has revitalized some towns in the struggling American “Rust Belt.”

Communities should recognize opportunities for job growth in their region and incorporate skill development associated with the manufacture, installation, and maintenance of renewable energy facilities as part of training curricula designed to develop and maintain a skilled workforce.

In England small communities are pursuing renewable energy opportunities at a grass roots level.   Local community members are creating co-operatives to fund and implement wind, solar, and hydro power projects that benefit their communities, even if government action is slow in keeping up.

Communities can benefit differently from renewable energy. The breadth of approaches and success stories can be informative, if not inspiring. The best approach for a specific community depends on its particular situation.

There are ample incentives and opportunities in transitioning to renewable energy that can make community efforts worthwhile. With the right perspective informed by an understanding of the stakes, challenges, and potential benefits, communities can move more confidently toward realizing a future fueled by renewable energy.

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/opinion/does-v-i-need-to-worry-about-climate-change/article_caebf282-51e5-5c7e-8ee8-a96e7d60f365.html
https://energy.gov/savings/us-virgin-islands-renewables-portfolio-targets
https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy11osti/51541.pdf
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/renewable-energy/public-benefits-of-renewable-power#.WbK_9IqQzMU
https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy13osti/56386.pdf
http://www.chgeharvard.org/resource/health-benefits-renewable-energy
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/business/02wind.html
http://www.vicapitalresources.com/2017/08/21/21st-century-skill-development-requirements-small-economies/
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jan/06/communities-renewable-energy