Activity 3.2.3.1 - Solar Power and Energy Policy

Six-Point Critical Analysis of Current Event

My blog posting is available online at:

1. Exploratory                                   

The state of Georgia is thriving with the growth of renewable energy and the main type of energy is solar. Georgia is a state with lots of sunshine and flat land and as someone who knows about renewable energy, you can guess that those qualities are perfect for a solar farm. Which is what is being developed in Hazlehurst, Georgia in Silicon Ranch. They saw an economic change and took it. In Dalton, Georgia they also added: “the largest solar panel assembly plant in the West hemisphere” (Hsu & Kelly, 2019, para. 2). That is due to a company from Korea who wanted to do business in Dalton. They supply high tech assembly lines and solar cells. Georgia is a state that has no renewable mandates so the fact that they have the largest solar panel assembly plant is astonishing.

2. Diagnostic                                    

The renewable solar plant is bringing economic growth to the state of Georgia. Especially in Early County, Georgia. “This project is bringing badly needed tax revenue to Early County, where the poverty rate is about 27%. June Merritt, chair of the Early County Board of Commissioners, estimates that $8 million will come into the county in the form of taxes over the next 25 years, which is a tremendous relief, she says” (Hsu & Kelly, 2019, para. 32). Back in 2018, President Trump announced a 30% tariff on solar panel imports causing the United States to become the most prominent area to establish solar projects. Solar panels are becoming an easily available source of energy for people and solar farms are also very efficient on how fast it can be developed. For people with an abundance of land as Steve Singletary, their land may be bought out by a solar farm production, and as Mr. Singletary said: “The money was good and the terms seemed sound” (Hsu & Kelly, 2019, para. 23). Although, it may seem like an environmental switch Mr. Singletary said he would have still sold his land to a non-renewable plant. Either way, it is a win-win situation in the sense of money being brought to Georgia and the amount of energy being saved by the thousands of solar panels being built. It is good for the environment and economy. Another way that it is a win for the environment and people involved is, Will Harris who is a farmer had an idea to work between the two; solar panel farms and cattle farming. The cattle will graze on the grass naturally fertilizing the land to help prevent erosion and “potentially sequester carbon in the soil” (Hsu & Kelly, 2019, para. 42).

3. Cause and Effect                         

Because Georgia is booming with renewable energy plants if has brought over a well-known company, Facebook to build a data center in Newton County, Georgia. “Access to renewable energy at a competitive price is a big part of what brought Facebook to Georgia” (Hsu & Kelly, 2019, para. 12). This could mean a lot more of future business for Georgia. If that occurs, the economic growth for the state could skyrocket making more jobs and having the poverty percentage at a low. Mr. Harris has done a significant environmental save by storing carbon back into the soil and with his idea to team up with Silicon Ranch it is double the help to save as much energy and to save the environment.

4. Priority                                          

From the reading, it does seem like the most important issue is money. People love knowing they are saving money and that would be with solar panels. Although if solar panels were not the cheapest people would either use fossil fuels for their energy not considering the environment at all. “And like Steve Singletary, he says people in the area don’t really think about where their electricity comes from. He couldn’t care less, he says laughing: “I want it the cheapest.”” (Hsu & Kelly, 2019, para. 34 & 35). For the people who do want to save the environment by switching to solar panels, they can do so in Georgia. With such easy access to the largest solar panel assembly plant it revenues money by people living in the U.S. and also from around the world. It also goes to show that as easy it is to build a solar plant and how cheap it can be to use for a form of renewable energy you are making a difference in your wallet and for the planet. That should be the main priority.

5. Application                                    

The fact that this has to do with renewable energy and carbon saving applies to our environment.  We have learned that CO2 levels are on the rise and that puts our planet at risk. Our planet is getting warmer and warmer due to greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, CO2 being the main culprit. So we all know that fossil fuels are releasing CO2 gases into our air and that is the form of energy a lot of people use. Without the knowledge of other types of energy sources, fossil fuels could still be the leading type. This is why building solar panel farms and making them easy access to get for home or business it can convert others to want to get them as well. As Mr. Harris is practicing generative land management on his farm that also is helping with the decrease of CO2 levels being released into our atmosphere. This all helps out our environment in the end which helps us out too.

6. Critical        

                                   

I think that there is still a lot of confusion about what solar energy is and what the difference is from the energy we’ve been using for years. As the prices for solar panels drop it is now an easy alternative to switch to. If it can help save money and the earth why not go for it. From reading this assignment it has come to my understanding that some places

and people don’t really see the environmental benefit of having solar panels. It is more about money which isn’t a bad thing because, in the end, it is still saving the environment.

Work Cited

Hsu, A., & Kelly, M. L. (2019, June 24). How solar grew in Georgia despite lack of mandates on renewable energy. National Public Radio. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2019/06/24/733795962/how-georgia-became-a-surprising-bright-spot-in-the-u-s-solar-industry