Clean Energy: How to Make a Difference for Your Family and the Planet

“The future is already here – it’s just not evenly distributed yet.” That quotation is attributed to American science fiction author William Gibson, and it refers to the idea of abundance that only a few are enjoying. He may as well be talking about the arrival of clean energy in America.

An evenly distributed future is an idea that all energy-consuming Americans can get behind. Clean energy is the future that is already here. It takes many forms and there is plenty of it to go around. In fact, as long as there is wind, sun, and heat from the Earth’s core, clean energy will never run out.

Implementing clean energy practices in the face of climate change and global warming remains one of America’s biggest challenges. But it’s one all of us can tackle. To do so, let’s delve into the basics of clean energy, including how renewable energy sources are shaping our present-day and future, and how changing your consumer habits and energy use can help.

What Is Clean Energy and Why Is It Important?

Just as many Texans were in a frenzy during the “oil boom” of the early 1900s, we can have the same enthusiasm when considering our collective energy future. Power generation through clean energy technology is a future that we must all get behind. If you think about it, there’s no reason clean energy cannot be the new crude oil.

Clean energy is energy derived from renewable, zero-emissions sources. It also refers to energy that is saved from energy-efficient technologies such as passive solar. For our purposes, the renewable energy resources that we’ll be focusing on are wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and hydropower.

Clean energy gives us so many great options when it comes to planning a future of energy consumption that is not only sustainable but also good for the planet. Burning fossil fuels such as oil and coal for electricity, heat, and transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions – and Earth’s atmosphere is the “greenhouse.” As the planet heats up, global warming and the devastation it causes kicks in.

Fossil fuels pollute the environment and are not renewable energy sources. They are finite, which means eventually they’ll run out. Take a look at the statistics from the Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere (MAHB) for some eye-opening facts. This is why clean energy is so critical – because the way we’ve been consuming energy in the past (and present) is wreaking havoc on our planet and livelihoods.

But out of crisis comes opportunity. It was not so long ago when the powers that be were trying to ensure that the emissions-free electric vehicle was dead on arrival. However, nowadays we see Teslas on the road all the time and there’s even a Tesla Gigafactory nearing completion in Austin, Texas. Tesla believes the sooner the world stops relying on fossil fuels and moves towards a zero-emission future, the better.

Likewise, there are many companies out there that are working on providing more sustainable services and products that improve conditions for both consumers and the planet. For instance, Tara Energy supports clean energy technologies that provide residential and commercial customers power generation through renewable energy. So long as we keep innovating and supporting renewable energy initiatives, we will all be heading in a much more sustainable direction.

What Are Some Clean Energy Sources in Texas?

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When we talk about sustainability and power generation alternatives, we’re talking about: solar energy (uses sunlight), wind energy (naturally moving air), geothermal energy (heat from the Earth’s core), and hydro energy (abundant river water).

These are all natural energy resources that involve harnessing the power of nature in order to distribute “the future” that’s already here. (Remember that William Gibson quote we mentioned?) So what does Mother Nature provide right on Texas’s doorstep in terms of renewable energy sources? Let’s take a look.

Solar Energy

There’s so much sun all year round in Texas that solar should be bigger than it actually is. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), utility-scale solar only made up 4% of the state’s generating capacity in 2020 and 2% of in-state electricity generation. The Lone Star State is expected to add 10 GW of solar capacity by the end of 2022, and its solar energy plans are ambitious and achievable.
Still, the future seems promising for solar power. As the EIA reports, “The installation of 2.5 GW of solar capacity in 2020 marked the beginning of the solar boom in Texas. We expect the state to add another 4.6 GW of solar capacity in 2021 and 5.4 GW in 2022, which will bring total installed solar capacity in Texas to 14.9 GW.” 

Wind Power 

As the saying goes, everything in Texas is big. So it’s not surprising that Texas produces the most wind power of any U.S. state and is one of the largest producers of wind energy worldwide. Texan wind turbines can power 4.3 million Texas homes during times of average electricity use on an average day. Texas has plenty of existing farms and ranches for wind turbines to be built on. It has low operating costs and it’s a great employment initiative as well

Geothermal Power

This renewable energy takes two forms: using the surface heat from the Earth to heat and cool buildings, and by drilling wells to produce electricity from heated water. Texas shows significant promise for geothermal energy, with some schools in Texas having already installed geothermal HVAC systems instead of conventional HVACs

Water Power 

Hydropower accounts for only 1% of electric power production in Texas. It was once a valuable form of energy for Texas in the 1930s. Over 23 dams were built to provide electricity and jobs for local Texans. In the United States, hydropower remains the most common source of renewable electricity, but it is on the wane in Texas. However, ocean tidal wave energy remains an unexplored option

Is Clean Energy Cost-Effective?

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Before we had infrastructure in place for renewable energy generation, things were more expensive. However, as the push for more sustainable energy continues, there are more readily accessible and cost-effective options.

There’s a free, clean energy source that only takes 8 minutes to reach us despite being a whopping 93 million miles away. Any guesses as to what it is? Yep, it’s the sun. It’s already supplying us with more energy than we know what to do with. If we convert even 1/10,000 of the sunlight we receive daily, it would be enough electricity to power all our needs cleanly

 Wind is another clean energy source that is incredibly cost-effective. Even Abraham Lincoln heralded the arrival of wind as an energy gamechanger: “As yet the wind is an untamed, unharnessed force, and quite possibly one of the greatest discoveries hereafter to be made will be the taming and harnessing of it.”

Wind energy is arguably the cheapest form of new electricity generation available today. Wind power plants can generate electricity for less than 5 cents per kilowatt-hour, a price that rivals new coal- or gas-fired power plants.

Skeptics argue that it requires a lot of materials to be mined to produce solar panels and wind turbines. However, this is a one-time cost for a good 25-30 years of clean energy, after which time the parts can be recycled.

Remember: every time we use a fossil-fueled powered appliance, device, or vehicle, we produce greenhouse gases and toxins that go directly into the atmosphere. On the other hand, by incorporating more clean energy solutions into our daily lives, we can reduce these negative impacts

Are There Energy Providers That Offer Clean Energy Solutions?

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Yes, there’s a growing number of electricity companies that use clean energy sources to provide energy. And because Texas is a deregulated market, Texans have the power to choose the option that best suits their needs and lifestyle. By switching to a provider that utilizes renewable energy and offers renewable energy products, you can sleep easy knowing that every energy-consuming activity you do can have a positive impact.

Here are three major electricity providers that can help you reach your goals for both your energy use and your energy bill: 

Tara Energy

For years, Tara Energy has been the smart choice for both homeowners and business customers. There are a variety of plans that allow you to contribute towards a cleaner environment. Here at Tara Energy, we source energy from power plants that operate on renewable energy sources, such as wind.

Tara Energy has electricity plans with flexible term lengths and energy rates to suit different types of households. These include a free nights plan with no charges between 9pm and 7am. Plans also offer a JustGreen option to offset your carbon footprint with 100% green energy for only $9.99 per month. There are also easy bill payment options and a mobile app to monitor your energy usage, receive alerts, view bills, make payments, and more. It’s also super easy to reach out and get the help you need with customer support reps available via phone or email

Amigo Energy

Amigo Energy has a green energy plan that helps support solar and wind projects for just $9.99 per month. The company utilizes 100% renewable energy credits, so customers can lower their carbon footprint. Amigo Energy was established in Texas in 2002 and its focus – as its Spanish name meaning “friend” would suggest – is on bilingual customer support

Just Energy 

Just Energy has been in the clean energy business in Texas since 1997 and has three green power offerings: JustGreen Natural Gas, JustGreen Power, and Terrapass. With the first two plans, Just Energy purchases renewable energy credits (REC) on your behalf, which are used to offset your home electricity usage. Terrapass purchases carbon offsets on your behalf and it is not tied to your commodity usage. These are just some of the options you can consider when deciding on an energy provider that keeps the environment and your budget in mind.

Are There Disadvantages to Clean Energy?

There are many questions people may have when it comes to the potential downsides of clean energy. For instance, you might be asking yourself the following questions: 

• How do I support the global movement towards clean energy when there’s still so much comfort and certainty sticking with the way things are? 
• Is clean energy really cost-effective yet?

Choosing clean energy can seem like a luxury at times when it’s hard enough just putting warm food on the table. There are also those who wonder if clean energy technology is reliable enough yet to be the main form of energy for the world.

While the time for clean energy is now, we don’t want to pretend it’s perfect. Some of the potential disadvantages that deserve consideration are: 

• Energy storage capacity: Harnessing energy is relatively easy. Storing the sun for a rainy or cold day is the tricky part since that’s when batteries are needed. Because it’s so new, energy storage also comes with the challenge of unfamiliar territory. 
• Upfront costs: Not all clean energy initiatives are tax incentivized. Therefore, the initial upfront costs are often too big of a barrier to entry. This can be true for a family wanting to put a solar panel on their roof or businesses that are wanting to make the transition to clean energy.
• Intermittency: Renewable energy cannot always produce energy at all hours of the day. This is a challenge called “intermittency.” Energy systems need to be built around meeting demand when it’s needed most.

Final Thoughts on Clean Energy

Renewable energy will become less expensive and more available for all if we can develop better storage facilities for our energy, improve our energy efficiency, and if the government continues to support green energy initiatives and move away from subsidizing outdated fossil fuel programs. There is a groundswell of support for “going green” – as well as a number of electric companies and organizations that are working toward a solution.

They say that if you cut your own firewood, it’ll warm you twice. Likewise, if you switch to clean energy, it’ll warm you more than twice: the first time when you appreciate that you’re contributing to a solution that is bigger than you, and for every time thereafter when you have energy-efficient heating in your home

Brought to you by taranergy.com

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