Importance

The goal of SolarSpace is to inspire the NC State community and demonstrate the feasibility and importance of renewable energy. Never before has clean energy been so important, and we want Solar Space to serve as a reminder to all of NC State's community that a future of renewable energy is possible.

Our case for implementing renewable energy:

1. Reliance on fossil fuels is increasing the greenhouse effect, which in turn leading to a rapid warming of the planet. The earth naturally goes through fluctuations in temperature, but human activates are causing these changes faster than the environment can adapt to them. In order to create a stable society for future generations, we must move away from fossil fuels and begin to implement renewable energies.

2. Electricity generation is the leading cause of industrial air pollution in the U.S. Renewables such as solar and wind do not release any harmful molecules such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. These substances have harmful effects on both the environment and human health.

3. Renewables also have much to offer the economy. Diversifying the U.S. economy by introducing renewables will allow for greater resilience to power station fuel shortages. Building and maintaining the necessary infrastructure for sustainable energy sources also has the opportunity to add multitudes of jobs and revenue to the economy. According to two studies by the Department of Energy, if the U.S. supplied 10% of it's electricity from renewables by 2020 the following would occur:

   1. • Consumer savings: $22.6 billion to $37.7 billion in lower electricity and natural gas bills

      • Jobs: 91,220 new jobs—nearly twice as many as generating the electricity from fossil fuels

      • Economic development: $41.5 billion in new capital investment, $5.7 billion in income to farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners, and $2.8 billion in new local tax revenues

      • Healthier environment: reductions of global warming pollution equal to taking from 25 million to 32 million cars off the road, plus less haze, smog, acid rain, mercury contamination, and water use

SOURCES:

1. Center for Resource Solutions

https://resource-solutions.org/why-renewable-energy/

2. United Nations

https://www.un.org/en/un75/climate-crisis-race-we-can-win

3. NASA

https://climate.nasa.gov/