Electricity plays an inextricable role in our daily lives, especially now, when all of our meetings and classes are held virtually. Since it is so vital in the modern day, whether or not something is a reliable source of energy has long been under heavy debate. One of these sources is solar energy, which I believe is our best option. An excellent way to obtain clean, renewable energy, solar panels are built to be durable and are getting increasingly more affordable.
Like all things, solar energy has its drawbacks. Many may argue that the energy solar panels provide does not outweigh the environmental harm that it causes. In addition to the hazardous chemicals used to produce them, solar power plants use up land and water in order to maintain the panels. However, solar is one of the least-polluting forms of energy that is currently available to us.
Land impacts can be minimized by placing the panels in lower-quality locations, and companies are sure to recycle harmful materials rather than disposing of them. As for water, solar power plants use up a very insignificant amount of water, especially compared to other energy sources. One solar power plant that produces about 1.6 million MWh of power per year used around ⅔ cup of water per megawatt-hour. To contrast, a nuclear power plant, producing around 5 million MWh of power per year, had to use 14,732 gallons of water per megawatt-hour.
Dams block off fish migration routes. Oil spills, as we can see from many heart-wrenching photos, pollute water and cover wildlife in thick oil. Nuclear power plants produce nuclear waste, and if their architectural design is faulty, can lead to an accident that spreads radiation hundreds of miles around. Solar energy, in comparison, has a much quieter environmental impact. With the right equipment, solar energy is adaptive, durable and much cleaner than our alternatives.
(Ethan Peng is an Eltingville resident.)
