In addition to its significant environmental advantages, solar energy helps move the United States toward greater energy independence and security. Most of the energy consumed in the U.S. comes from fossil fuels—coal, petroleum, and natural gas, with crude oil-based petroleum as the dominant source of energy. The U.S. imports much of these fuels, exposing our country to disruptions in supply and a reliance upon politically unstable states for our energy needs.
From an economic point of view, energy independence will give us a stable energy supply, resulting in stable prices. The deployment of renewable technologies increases the diversity of electricity sources and, through local generation, contributes to the flexibility of the system and its resistance to manipulations.
Renewable energy resources supply about 7% of U.S. total energy consumption and this proportion is steadily growing. The cumulative impact of daily decisions each of us makes about our energy use and sources cannot be overestimated. A vision of energy independence requires action from each of us.
