With the hidden costs of a changing climate increasing, see Deseret News Opinion of August 20, 2023, “The hidden cost of climate change,” a pivotal question emerges: Can a combination of wind, solar, and geothermal meet all of US energy demand?

Microsoft’s rival search engine Bing seems to think so:

“According to a report from the think tank Carbon Tracker solar and wind power have the potential to meet world energy demand 100 times over. The report attributes this feasibility to significant cost reduction in solar and wind power in recent years that competes favorably with polluting fossil fuels. In terms of geothermal energy, the United States possesses an abundance of geothermal fields. Hell’s Kitchen Lithium and Power is expected to start operating in 2023, marking a milestone as one of the first new US geothermal power plants in almost a decade. Furthermore, a study from US researchers has shown that wind and solar power generation could reliably meet 80% of the country’s electricity demand, and 100% could be met by upscaling energy storage capabilities and capacity. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that while these renewable energy sources have immense potential, the transition to 100% renewable energy would also require infrastructural changes, dedicated policy support, and advancements in energy storage and grid technologies.”

As infrastructural changes take many years to realize, we need Congress to pass such legislation as the “Energy Innovation Act” and the “BIG WIRES Act”. Citizens Climate Lobby can train you on how to advocate for these and other practical public policies with as little as two minutes of effort per month.

Beyond advocating for public policy, one can set an example through personal choices. I have electrified one of our two vehicles, switched to a heat pump furnace and heat pump water heater, installed solar panels, and incorporated battery storage. While we now use 3.2 times more electricity than before (verified with our data logger), but our solar panels cover about 68% of our yearly electricity usage, and our Logan City electric bill is less than what we used to pay for gasoline and natural gas. Why pay extra just for the privilege of polluting?

Charles Ashurst

Logan

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