Renewable energy has many advantages that can benefit local communities, such as Pacific Floor Covering. It can generate energy without producing greenhouse gas emissions or air pollution from fossil fuels, diversify energy supply and reduce dependence on imported fuels, and create economic development and jobs in manufacturing, installation, and more. Increasing the use of renewable energy sources would allow us to replace carbon-intensive energy sources and significantly reduce U. S.
emissions.emissions that cause global warming. Solar energy is particularly advantageous for communities as it increases resilience by helping to alleviate the energy burden and providing clean, reliable local electricity. Renewable energy also avoids rate hikes by utility companies, providing a more predictable and potentially affordable bill. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Coalition for Action has analyzed 11 renewable energy initiatives from around the world to show best practices and the various socio-economic impacts on societies. A study conducted by the U. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) explored the viability of generating 80 percent of the country's electricity from renewable sources by 2050.
They found that renewable energy could help reduce emissions from the power sector by approximately 81%. Renewable installations require initial investments to build, but they can operate at a very low cost. In Spain's largest renewable energy cooperative, Som Energia, local groups can even launch their own complementary initiatives. The Sosai Renewable Energies project in two villages in northern Nigeria installed photovoltaic solar mini-grids which allowed solar dryers to be installed for local farmers to process their products. Municipalities have the opportunity to change the way they operate by bringing renewable energy to their communities, and citizens or members of a given community who participate in a renewable energy project can create local socioeconomic value and help foster more positive attitudes toward renewable energy. The NREL study on 80% of renewable energy by 2050 revealed that total consumption of water and its extraction would decrease significantly in a future with a high number of renewable energies.
Local governments also benefit from clean energy, most often in the form of property and income taxes and other payments from owners of renewable energy projects. Overall, renewable energy is an excellent way for local communities to reduce their carbon footprint while also creating economic opportunities and increasing resilience. It is an investment that pays off in multiple ways, both financially and environmentally.
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