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Why Is Green Energy Important? The Hidden Benefits of Clean Energy

June 30, 2022

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According to a factsheet recently issued by the White House, green energy is an important part of the arsenal that the United States must build to decrease energy costs for American families and to reduce threats to the power grid. It also plays an important role in solving the global climate crisis. President Joe Biden is not only a known supporter of green energy in general, but he is also dedicated to shifting the US toward 100% clean power by 2035—and recent geopolitical events have shown that green energy can stop the negative effects of fossil fuels on the environment, and that it holds important political benefits. 

It is important to investigate the benefits and potential of clean energy, due to Russia’s war on Ukraine. Numerous people in the West are now paying higher energy prices as a consequence, according to NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg. “The way Russia is using energy as a weapon of coercion highlights the need to quickly wean off Russian oil and gas,” he stated. 

The Price of Depending on Russian Oil and Gas

Energy and oil prices continue to increase, and America is not alone in dealing with soaring prices. In fact, the European Union (EU) relies on Russia for a significant amount of natural gas, oil, and coal. Research conducted by the World Economic Forum shows that approximately 40% of the EU’s gas imports, 26.9% of its crude oil and almost 50% of its solid fuel is supplied by Russia. According to Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, President Biden and many other Western leaders are now trying to solve the problem of high energy prices around the world, and are dedicated to help their citizens thrive during these hard times.

Secretary Granholm went on to say that, as long as the US remains dependent on oil and fossil fuels, energy prices could increase at any given time. She points out that a future war, a future pandemic or an environmental disaster could strongly impact fossil fuel prices with little or no warning.“The only way out of these boom-and-bust cycles is to break that sole reliance. And that means diversifying our fuel sources by deploying clean energy,” she added. A clean energy economy would free the US of all these issues, and the best foundation for that type of economy is, according to Granholm, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The Effects of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law 

One of the most important points of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the fact that it enables an upgrade of the current power infrastructure to provide clean energy across the US. Not only does it support an equitable clean energy transition, but it also allows the current Administration to invest $65 billion in clean energy transmission and in the power grid. It will also fund other important investments such as the development of a national network of electric vehicle chargers—thereby fighting legacy pollution, and providing better transportation options for Americans. Ultimately, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is an effective way of deploying clean energy.

Unlike EU countries that are dependent on Russia’s fossil fuels, the US is now building an effective framework that could address past environmental harms, provide American citizens with clean and affordable energy, and reduce foreign pressures. According to Secretary Granholm, not only should the US move to a clean energy future, but it should also boost its production of it as soon as possible. While Granholm believes that fossil fuels will remain in the energy system mix, she also expressed her belief that the transition to green energy is one of the most important issues on the United States’ agenda.

The Transition to Green Energy Matters

Shifting to clean energy comes with numerous benefits. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions, it protects human health and the environment, and it supports economic and industrial development. However, one of the most important benefits of investing in green energy may be the fact that it could allow Western countries to decrease their dependence on Russia’s oil and gas. Considering the fact that Vladimir Putin is now thought to “use energy as a weapon of coercion” against Western countries that opposes his war in Ukraine, green energy is the solution to this problem, and it can build a better future.