Renewable energy development on U.S. tribal land Essay

The expansion in the world economy has led to increase in energy demand and created an energy crisis in the process (Johansson 1). Petroleum production dwindles every year with also cartels such as OPEC hiking the price of oil at their wish. Evans states that renewable energy has been the centerpiece of eco-energy planning. Yet all renewable energy sources are not created equal and some are far more sustainable in the long term than others. Nuclear energy which is also renewable has been costly and is faced with the hindrances such as the Non-nuclear Proliferation treaty. Laughton notes the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear accident, safety and potential consequences of power plant failure has become a matter of public concern (3). Tidal hydroelectricity is another renewable energy which a country can turn to but has been expensive, since massive structures must be built in a difficult saltwater environment. Considering the economies of producing electricity and the inherent authority of indigenous tribes which are not delegated by congress, wind electricity remains the only option for renewable wind energy development on U. S. Tribal Lands. Economics of Wind Energy: Advantages of wind energy Wind energy is considered as simple, widely distributed, and also environmental friendly. However, Environmental Impacts of Wind-energy Projects notes that there have been issues of time crowding, space crowding, compounding effects, nibbling and thresholds which all touches on the environment (26). Wind energy is a cheap way of producing power large scale. Currently, on average, it costs about 5 cents per kilowatt-hour to produce wind energy. This is cheaper that all other forms of alternative energy (Mills, 2006). Wind energy has reduced the effect of greenhouse effect as it produces no pollution. This is because there are no fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity from wind energy. Besides, wind energy is permanent type of energy. Therefore, its harness means there will be ten times of energy that is used readily available. Unlike the nuclear power plant, energy is readily available. With advent of new technologies, its extraction is becoming much more efficient. The wind is free, and we are able to cash in on this free source of energy (Mills, 2006). Wind energy can be generated even in the very remote locations, such as mountain communities and remote countryside. Wind turbines can be a range of different sizes in order to support varying population levels. Wind energy can also assist in diversifying the economies of rural communities by providing new sources of income, jobs for people who set up and maintain the turbines or manage wind farms, meteorologists and surveyors to structural engineers as well as operators. Statistics show that every megawatt of new wind capacity creates 15-19 jobs and about 60 person-years of employment. Besides, wind farms can be tourist attractions. Wind turbines take up less space than the average power station. Windmills only have to occupy a few square meters for the base; this allows the land around the turbine to be used for many purposes, for example agriculture.