Why Renewable Energy is Important 

“We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century.”  –President Barack Obama, address to Congress, February 24, 2009

As concerns about rising fossil fuel prices, energy security, and climate change increase, renewable energy can play a key role in producing local, clean, and inexhaustible energy to supply Alaska’s growing demand for electricity, heat, and transportation fuel.  Because there are little or no fuel costs associated with generating electricity from renewable sources, more Alaskans are looking to resources like wind, geothermal, hydropower, tides, waves, solar, and biomass to hedge against the price volatility of natural gas and diesel.

Renewable resources, over the long term, can provide energy at a known cost that is not susceptible to the vagaries of fossil fuel supply and demand.  With some of the best renewable energy resources in the country, Alaska has an opportunity to be a leader in their development and bring new revenue streams into the state’s economy.

How much renewable energy is used in the United States?

In 2010, about 8% of all energy consumed, and about 10% of total electricity produced came from renewable energy sources. The largest share of renewable-generated electricity comes from hydroelectric energy (71%), followed by biomass (16%), wind (9%), geothermal (4%), and solar (0.2%). Renewable energy capacity is growing quickly: in 2007, installed wind capacity increased 45% and installed solar capacity increased 21%.

Sources:
U.S. Department of Energy
Energy Information Administration