Renewable Energy Study: $83 Billion Saving Seen in Switch from Fossil Fuels, Nuclear Power

Renewable Energy Study: Fossil Fuels Aren’t the Bargain They Seem

New Report Busts the Myth

Fossil fuels are not the cheapest way forward according to a new renewable energy study. That’s the core message of a new study by Synapse Energy Economics. The report, commissioned by the Civil Society Institute, challenges the idea that clean energy is too pricey or unreliable.

Titled “Toward a Sustainable Future for the U.S. Power Sector: Beyond Business as Usual 2011” and available online at  http://www.CivilSocietyInstitute.org/synapsereport, the new Synapse/CSI report outlines a realistic transition to a cleaner energy future that would result in a net savings of $83 billion over the next 40 years.

 

The Synapse report also details other major benefits, including:  the avoidance of tens of thousands of premature deaths due to pollution; the creation of hundreds of thousands of new jobs; sharp cuts in carbon pollution; and significant cuts in water consumption for power production.

Cleaner Future, Bigger Payoff

The study lays it out clearly. A future built on energy efficiency and renewables isn’t just possible — it’s practical. In fact, it’s cheaper. The “business as usual” path, clinging to coal and nuclear, costs more over time. In contrast, switching to clean sources saves money, improves health, and creates jobs.

Yes, We Can Keep the Lights On

People often worry renewables can’t meet demand. But the report shows otherwise. Wind, solar, and smart grid tech can power the U.S. without sacrificing reliability. It’s not science fiction. It’s smart planning.

Savings Go Beyond Dollars

There’s more at stake than money. Dirty energy takes a toll on our health. The shift away from coal and nuclear reduces pollution and the health risks that come with it. That means fewer hospital visits. Lower health costs. Cleaner air for kids to breathe.

More Jobs, Not Less

And here’s a bonus: clean energy creates jobs. Lots of them. Efficiency upgrades, solar installs, wind tech — they all need workers. The renewable energy study says clean energy doesn’t shrink the economy. It grows it.

Takeaway of the Renewable Study

Fossil fuels aren’t the deal many think they are. Cleaner energy, used wisely, gives us savings, stability, better health, and more jobs. It’s time to rethink what’s “cheap” — because the real cost of dirty power is too high.

Sources:

https://www.synapse-energy.com/project/clean-energy-future

https://www.civilsocietyinstitute.org/media/press-release-clean-energy-report

WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 16, 2011 

(For details on this November 3, 2011 CSI national opinion survey, see http://www.civilsocietyinstitute.org/media/110311release.cfm.)