PART III- URBAN SETTLEMENTS
Turn the lights on
Wake me up! Source: Trip Me
As we've seen the population of the Southwest is growing and more growth comes with higher energy demand!. The Southwest gets its power through a variety of sources from hydroelectric dams to natural gas (Siler-Evans et al. 2013). But let's focus in on one particular source that is being developed to meet increased energy demands: Arizona's solar energy!
Here's a fun map of Arizona to give you a feel of the place... looks pretty dry and sunny doesn't it!
Great place to get a tan. Map of Arizona. Source: Mappery
Arizona has great potential for solar resources (Haag et al. 2012). The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) outlines some quick facts about solar power in Arizona:
- The industry employs nearly 9,000 people
- "In 2013 Arizona installed 701 MW of solar energy capacity"
- Over $1 billion was invested in solar installations in 2013 alone
- Arizona solar prices continue to fall making it more affordable to switch to solar energy
This is great news for the environment of the Southwest and the people that live there! The construction of solar plants or on-site solar energy generators will also further reduce costs to customers by minimizing electrical power line maintenance and associated costs (SEIA).
But are there risks associated with this? Of course! There's always risks! Tsoutsos et al. (2005) published a solar power environmental impact assessment. Yes plants and animals may lose a bit of habitat during the construction and maintenance of solar sites. Species may also burn themselves by coming too close to the solar reflectors. However, most of the risks with solar energy are visual and audio which can be minimized with proper construction and sensible design.
So how do we keep harnessing the sunshine in Arizona? Well the main issues appears to be cost. Both Zhai (2013) and Haag et al. (2012) argue that to increase the use of solar energy, financial support and initiatives must be given to the people. Initially it is costly to switch to solar but the more people do, the cheaper it becomes! Households are already willing to pay upwards of $17 a month for solar research (Mueller 2013). Both with federal and state funding, Arizona can become the King of the Sun.
Yet while Arizona has a larger share of solar resources, it doesn't have the greatest effect in reducing American carbon usage (Siler-Evans et al. 2013). But just because Phoenix solar power doesn't offset New York City emissions does it mean the Southwest shouldn't be trying to make themselves sustainable especially with its predicted future population growth? I think the Southwest will have a lot of environmental concerns in the coming years and if it can begin tackling its problems now, why not! What do you think?
I'll leave you to think it over as you embrace your inner Burning Man to this beat:
Nice post! Do you think that harnessing solar energy in Arizona is the optimum alternative energy source in the area, as opposed to hydroelectric dams and natural gas?
ReplyDeleteYou also mentioned that households are willing to pay upwards of $17 a month for solar research, does that mean that the people of Arizona are generally on board with using solar energy, has there been any resistance such as the aesthetics of the solar plants, or any 'not in my backyard' scenarios etc?
Hey Sarah! I do think that solar power is the way forward for Arizona! If Arizona can become self-sufficient in renewable energy then that's one less state for the American government to worry about.
DeleteI was searching the web and actually found an interesting solar resistance article: http://azdailysun.com/news/solar-panels-meeting-resistance/article_c4661250-8fe6-5629-8fcf-0fe43ae920f9.html
In it a woman says her neighborhood is against her solar panels (or any exterior modification like a swing set, power lines or cable dish). While her neighborhood seems a bit on the extreme it's no doubt other Arizonians have faced similar challenges.
Luckily for them the Arizona Solar Access laws (found here: http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=AZ07R&re=1&ee=0) trump any homeowners association from blocking your instillation of solar panels. In fact if any HOA was creating trouble there's even instructions, while general, on how to pursuade them otherwise! For example: http://pureenergies.com/us/blog/how-to-convince-your-homeowners-association-hoa-to-allow-solar-panels/
What about you? Do you think solar energy is the way forward?