Study shows clean energy is the cheapest option for the United States

Sep 20, 2013 20:26 GMT  ·  By
Researchers argue that, strictly financially speaking, green energy is the best option for the US
   Researchers argue that, strictly financially speaking, green energy is the best option for the US

A new study argues that, strictly financially speaking, the United States would be far better off if it were to quit coal power and other dirty energy sources and switch to having its energy needs met by renewables alone.

The researchers who pieced together this paper argue that, at a first glance, it does seem that fossil fuels are, at least for the time being, the cheaper and therefore the better option.

However, they say that this is only because previous studies that compared them with clean energy sources have chiefly focused on production costs.

The specialists maintain that most people forget the fact that dirty fuels need also be linked to public health, environmental and social costs.

Specifically, dirty energy sources up heart disease, respiratory illnesses and premature death rates. From this standpoint, they represent a burden to the country's economy.

Besides, these energy sources fuel climate change and global warming, which in turn foster extreme weather manifestations such as severe droughts and powerful storms. Needless to say, these also have a negative impact on the economy.

Thus, in 2012 alone, some $100 billion (€73.88 billion) were spent to mitigate the effects of extreme weather events brought about by said phenomena.

“Already, climate change is contributing to record heat waves, floods, drought, wildfires and severe storms. These damages are only likely to increase if nothing is done to reduce carbon pollution,” explains Dr. Laurie Johnson with the Climate and Clean Air Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, as cited by Tree Hugger.

All in all, Dr. Laurie Johnson and the other researchers now saying that renewables are in fact cheaper than dirty fuels estimate that each ton of carbon that is released by coal-fired power plants costs the US some $33 (€24.38) in indirect costs.

“Burning coal is a very costly way to make electricity. There are more efficient and sustainable ways to get power,” Dr. Laurie Johnson stresses.