There are many important reasons to support clean, domestic renewable energy: to reduce dependence on foreign energy resources, to stabilize consumer costs, to support local businesses and economies, to reduce air pollution and related health problems, and to minimize global warming. Combined, these available benefits present a perfect opportunity for Pennsylvania citizens, businesses and government agencies to shift toward using clean energy that we ourselves create.
With less than 5% of the world’s population, the United States consumes 24% of the world’s energy and emits more carbon dioxide than any other country. The United States consumes the most oil and natural gas in the world, and ranks second only to China in coal use. In the United States, electricity is generated primarily by burning fossil fuels (such as coal and natural gas), which are significant contributors to air pollution and global warming, and by using nuclear generators, which produce waste that remains toxic for thousands of years. Approximately 50% of all U.S. electricity is generated by coal, 20% by nuclear power and 18% by natural gas.
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