Alternative Energy for Nebraska: Go Green to Make the Green

“We are all dependent on one another—humans, land, water—if you don’t believe me, take a deep breath. See what I mean? Where do you think that air came from?” These are wise words spoken by a Lakota man about inter-dependence, but they could mean bad news for us.

We have all heard the climate change debate. Industrial businesses such as power plants are emitting gases into the air, which cause the world-wide temperature to increase and release harmful toxins into the air, which we then breathe in. Those convinced it is true see the melting of polar ice caps, weather catastrophes and increasing respiratory health issues around the world as proof. Even if a person does not believe climate change is real, surely one believes in economic boom or depression.

Evidence of that reality in the form of foreclosure and lost jobs is all around. One area we are feeling the economic crunch right now is in our heating and electricity bills, as well as what we pay at the pump. Alternative energy sources, such as wind power, offer many benefits.

The greatest of these benefits is sustainability. When that word is heard, the mind often jumps to the sustaining of the environment, which is clearly a benefit, but alternative energy also offers economic sustainability. So far, it seems as though the push toward alternative energy sources in Nebraska has been led by environmentalists whose main motivation is the desire to see an end to the detrimental effects of climate change. However, there are other reasons for everyone to be motivated.

While it may be tempting to oppose moving toward clean energy right now, because the fuel we currently use seems to be doing the job well enough and we already have the equipment for it (propane tanks, etc.), fossil fuels are NOT renewable resources. We will eventually exhaust them and the United States buys a lot of its oil from overseas sources.

Renewable energy is American. Oil, for the most part, is foreign. With renewable energy, we would be self-reliant rather than living in fear of our oil supply being cut off.

Transferring our power sources from fossil fuels to alternative sources like wind power would make us prepared for when these fossil fuels do run out. This issue of alternative energy sources is not just an environmental one. If we are still running on fossil fuels
when they run out, our entire economic system would collapse.

Alternative energy sources are not only safer for us and our environment, but they also offer opportunities. Nebraska could help lead the way toward a better tomorrow. According to the Alliance for Climate Change, “Nebraska ranks fourth in the nation for potential wind power capacity, enough to power 23 million homes.” Nebraska has a population of a little over a million. Not only would this wind power fuel Nebraska, but it would create jobs. Construction would be needed as well as management and upkeep of the wind turbines. These are only a couple of the benefits alternative energy in Nebraska would provide.

If the information presented here interests you at all, and you would like to learn more there is a forum speaker coming today, Thursday, Feb. 25 from 1 to 2 p.m. in Olin B. The speaker is Graham Christensen, Public Affairs Director of the Nebraska Farmers Union. He will be speaking about how climate change affects Nebraska and the economic benefits alternative energy would bring to the state. Remember that even if you do not see climate change as an issue, alternative energy offers economic benefits, too—something very much needed in our time.