Coal, petroleum, and gasoline may be extremely powerful fuels which produce tremendous amounts of usable energy and can meet almost all daily requirements. But, can one deny the fact that they are also agents which produce large quantities of carbon dioxide and other toxic chemicals and gases in the air which are creating unthinkable and uncomfortable atmospheric changes?
When we say that governments and countries are trying to find out means of cheap renewable energy which can keep the atmosphere clean, it is about the people’s choice we are indicating towards. In a recent poll taken in UK, it shows that only 2% people are in favour of power from the gas, rest are more in support of clean energy. Also in US a random phone poll produced a result of 1,022 Americans emphasizing on alternative sources of energy. It is thus, because of the people’s support and wish that governments are planning more and more initiatives to develop clean energy technologies.
Apart from the polls and interviews there have been other instances too which have highlighted the unmoved people’s support for green energy. In UK the last two years saw media coming up with a number of high profile stories which showed renewable energy projects in a negative light either for the cost involved with them or their effect on the landscape or also because of their efficacy. But still 77 percent population say that they favour electricity, fuel, and heat generation to take place through renewable means. Amongst the renewable means while some percentage of people support onshore and offshore winds there are others who are in favour of biomass and waves or tidal energies too. However, solar energy seems to be the most favoured of all renewable energy sources as about 81 percent people support harvesting solar power.
Right now, though only 9.5% of the total electricity used in UK comes for green energy means and therefore there are many organizations which are working to get government support so as to build more plants which can put both solar and wind energy to a constructive use. However, it is being observed that the government is having reservations for establishing green energy technologies and is rather encouraging a movement called “dash for gas”. This is holding back private investors to invest in projects related to setting up of green energy plants.
Under such circumstances, voluntary groups like Friends of the Earth, in UK, are holding campaigns where ministers are being invited to show their support to green energy movements. The group, drawing support from masses, is trying to establish the approach that if the domestic needs of the UK homes is met through green energy means then it can not only decarbonise the environment but would also play a role in increasing the energy security and will create new job aspects too in the developing green energy plants. The data supporting this reasoning shows that when the government invested £4billion in setting of green energy projects, it helped in creating 14,000 new jobs in the year 2013.
As Britain has a high potential in using wind and sea energy so, the people of the country are encouraging the thought that instead of paying for costly fossil fuels it is better for them to opt alternative green energy sources because that will save money, keep the breathing air clean, and may also end up providing the family members an occupation. Being an affordable means now, green energy is also seen to be encouraging small business prospects too and so is being highly favoured by the common masses.