What is renewable energy?
The United States currently relies heavily on coal, oil and natural gas for its energy. These nonrenewable fossil fuels draw on finite resources that will eventually dwindle, becoming too expensive or too environmentally damaging to retrieve. In contrast, renewable energy resources – such as hydropower, wind and solar energy – are constantly replenished and will never run out.

Why is renewable energy important?
Renewable energy is important because of the benefits it provides. Described in detail, the key benefits are:

Environmental Benefits
Renewables are clean sources of energy with a much lower environmental impact.

Energy For Our Children’s, Children’s Children
Renewables will not run out – ever. Finite sources will some day be depleted.

Jobs and the Economy
Most renewable investments are spent on materials and workmanship to build and maintain facilities, rather than on costly energy imports. Renewable energy investments are usually spent within the United States, frequently in the same state, and often in the same town. This means your energy dollars stay home to create jobs and fuel local economies, rather than going overseas. Renewable technologies developed and built in the United States and sold overseas, provide a boost to the U. S. trade deficit.

Energy Security
After the oil supply disruptions of the early 1970s, our nation has increased its dependence on foreign oil supplies instead of decreasing it. This increased dependence impacts more than just our national energy policy.