​The U.S. has seen record-breaking devastation from wildfires and hurricanes in the last two years. In 2017, there were 71,499 wildfires with 10 million acres burned and 10 hurricanes bringing the second highest death toll in ten years. Although there are many factors to consider when looking to the causes of these natural disasters, one thing is common to both: higher temperatures.

​While this is a very significant shift, thankfully, we are making progress. Over two thirds of the U.S. is well on its way to reducing greenhouse emissions as 29 states have mandatory Renewable Portfolio Standards, and 8 states make them voluntary. California, New York and New Jersey require 50% of all electricity be generated by renewable sources by 2030. That means that 42,000 tons of CO2 pollution will have been prevented.
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However, real change begins with each of us doing what we can do now. When we choose sustainable energy sources to power our homes or businesses or vote for environmentally-friendly legislation, our combined efforts add up and the health of our planet improves. All of us can create a safer and cleaner world for ourselves and future generations. It is our privilege and our duty.

Sources:
http://report.ipcc.ch/sr15/pdf/sr15_spm_final.pdf
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/07/climate/ipcc-climate-report-2040.html?fbclid=IwAR1eyjYHkqELtGZt3l0PHOnxPESfjo_xAnvlaZpMHOB7to3P3XSCY9SBBsI
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heres-what-we-know-about-wildfires-and-climate-change/
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-wildfires
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-hurricanes
https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-season-2017-maria-irma-harvey-2017-9
http://www.ncsl.org/research/energy/renewable-portfolio-standards.aspx
https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions
https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr-nrs-p-36papers/47regniere-p-36.pdf

You may have seen us use the phrase “join the movement” and thought, “What movement is that?” Well, of course we're referring to the “green movement,” but more specifically to our mission which is to "make the use of renewable energy as mainstream as recycling.” That means raising awareness about the benefits of renewable energy and offering a simple, convenient solution.

​When most people think of renewable energy for their homes, they think about the installation of solar panels on their roof or a wind turbine in the backyard. But we've made it simple to power your home (or business) sustainably with no installation of any kind!

​We make it simple to power your home with the green equivalent to the power you are paying for from your current electric utility company, using the existing lines and power grid. You can literally “switch” from using electricity generated from dirty, conventional sources to using electricity generated at U.S. farms in a matter of minutes, all online. You don't even have to contact a customer service representation if you don't want to (though they are super friendly).

Watch this great video on how it works.

​“But why pay more for clean electricity?” you might also ask. True, your bill will be a few dollars more per month, but one has to ask, “What is the preservation of our environment worth to me?” You probably have thought about it and might already be paying extra for:

• weekly recycling service
• ethically or organically grown/raised food products
• green household products like glass containers, reusable grocery bags and recycled paper
• hybrid or electric vehicles
• donations to environmental organizations

Adding renewable electricity to that list is just another step in the right direction. Your appliances, lights, computers and even your electric vehicle charging station can be powered using sustainable wind energy! Imagine the reduction of your carbon footprint, achieved by eliminating your electric carbon emissions.

And the good you'll be doing is quantifiable. By switching to renewable wind energy, the average U.S. household can prevent enough CO2 emissions and save enough water to be equivalent to planting 121 trees each year and skipping 4 showers everyday. 

Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to help others learn about this movement towards making the usage of renewable energy in the home commonplace, by sharing our mission and various media. Together, we are making a difference!

​What green products or services do you already use? Please let us know in the comments.

In our last post we mentioned that wind energy farms help keep jobs local in rural areas. But there are many other benefits from the wind energy industry for these communities that you might not realize. We bet by the time you're done reading this post, you're going to feel even better about using renewable energy and the future of many rural American economies.

Almost 63% of the country's electricity is generated by fossil fuels, mostly natural gas and coal. But that percentage used to be significantly greater ten years ago. Usage is now at about where it was in the mid 1980s. Regions that relied on coal mining as their chief industry, such as Central Appalachia and Wyoming, have been suffering the loss in production for decades.

There are many reasons for this, besides the imposition of environmental regulations, such as the industry moving towards automation to retirement of mines to just plain running out of coal. There's also competition from low-sulfur coal in the western United States and natural gas from shale fracking. This has left communities struggling to keep residents and, for some, to keep public services going.

But there is a silver lining. Wind energy companies are offering training to unemployed miners who have already worked with large equipment in dangerous settings where safety training was key. Former miners are also being trained in solar panel installation, beekeeping and aquaculture programs, like the one in Kentucky where an old mine site is being turned into a solar-powered fish farm.

Thankfully, there are plenty of clean energy jobs. Nationally, wind energy employs more people than coal mining and electricity generation. Solar provides more jobs than oil, coal and natural gas combined. 

There are many areas that were never part of the conventional fuel extraction industry, like Nebraska and Kansas, that are traditionally small and agrarian. The wind energy industry is creating “drought-proof” farms of another kind that could keep locals employed from miles around, and is giving farmers and ranchers who are leasing their land out to wind turbines, a monetary boost that doesn't change the way they do business and that provides a steady income when business isn't doing so well.

And their surrounding communities, school districts especially, are enjoying the increased funds for materials and facilities from local tax revenue. An Ohio K-12 school was able to create two new academic programs, helping them invest back into their younger generation.

Therefore, renewable energy is not only good for the environment, but for the revitalization of many rural economies. As we transition from dirty, risky fuel sources to those that help keep our environment clean, we can keep jobs at home and create new career legacies for future generations. How long before folks say wind energy is their family business?

What are your thoughts? We want to read them in the comments.


Sources:
https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3

https://www.awea.org/Issues/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=9806

https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.php?page=electricity_in_the_united_states

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/30/business/energy-environment/coal-alternative-energy-jobs.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/11/04/heres-why-central-appalachias-coal-industry-is-dying/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.b1c3d9d6c232