EVERYWHERE you turn, someone on Guam is talking about renewable energy.
This is the new buzz word.
But what actually is renewable energy, how does this affect you, and can you actually benefit from this new and profound word?
The simple answer is yes.
So let’s dig in a little. Renewable energy simply is energy that comes from resources which are continually replenished, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat. Renewable energy is exciting because the time has finally come both on a technology and an economic basis that we can stop wasting resources that we cannot replace and stop damaging our environment. Renewable energy will never run out. Those other sources of energy are finite and will someday be depleted.
The type of renewable energy that you can use depends greatly on the environment where you live. Here on Guam and in most of Micronesia, where we have an abundance of sunshine, solar energy makes the most sense. This involves placing solar panels on our roofs and, in some cases, ground mounted structures to collect energy as the sun shines down on these panels. With solar energy, once installed, there are no moving parts, so it is basically maintenance free. You are well on your way to be added to the list of exceptional human beings that are helping to not only preserving Guam’s environment but the world’s environment for our children and our children’s children.
It is very important to understand that this new buzz word is an investment – an investment that will pay off and be very profitable in the years to come. Most renewable energy investments are spent on materials and workmanship to build and maintain, rather than on costly energy imports. This means that on Guam, your energy dollars stay here in the local community to create jobs, rather than going overseas.
Renewable energy also adds to our energy security. Our island is dependent on foreign oil for our energy. In the last decade we have been prisoners to the ever-increasing escalation of oil prices with no end in sight. Our demand for foreign oil should be decreasing while our need for renewable energy should be increasing. Our need for conventional energy sources based on foreign oil is vulnerable to political instabilities, trade disputes, escalating pricing, embargoes and other disruptions.
Renewable energy is the new buzz word on Guam. It will eventually affect every person here in a good way. This new industry will add clean, efficient, reliable and profitable energy to our island at a time when we most desperately need it.
I stumbled across a quote the other day by Victor Hugo that is so fitting to this industry: “There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.”
Well said, Victor.
But what actually is renewable energy, how does this affect you, and can you actually benefit from this new and profound word?
The simple answer is yes.
So let’s dig in a little. Renewable energy simply is energy that comes from resources which are continually replenished, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat. Renewable energy is exciting because the time has finally come both on a technology and an economic basis that we can stop wasting resources that we cannot replace and stop damaging our environment. Renewable energy will never run out. Those other sources of energy are finite and will someday be depleted.
The type of renewable energy that you can use depends greatly on the environment where you live. Here on Guam and in most of Micronesia, where we have an abundance of sunshine, solar energy makes the most sense. This involves placing solar panels on our roofs and, in some cases, ground mounted structures to collect energy as the sun shines down on these panels. With solar energy, once installed, there are no moving parts, so it is basically maintenance free. You are well on your way to be added to the list of exceptional human beings that are helping to not only preserving Guam’s environment but the world’s environment for our children and our children’s children.
It is very important to understand that this new buzz word is an investment – an investment that will pay off and be very profitable in the years to come. Most renewable energy investments are spent on materials and workmanship to build and maintain, rather than on costly energy imports. This means that on Guam, your energy dollars stay here in the local community to create jobs, rather than going overseas.
Renewable energy also adds to our energy security. Our island is dependent on foreign oil for our energy. In the last decade we have been prisoners to the ever-increasing escalation of oil prices with no end in sight. Our demand for foreign oil should be decreasing while our need for renewable energy should be increasing. Our need for conventional energy sources based on foreign oil is vulnerable to political instabilities, trade disputes, escalating pricing, embargoes and other disruptions.
Renewable energy is the new buzz word on Guam. It will eventually affect every person here in a good way. This new industry will add clean, efficient, reliable and profitable energy to our island at a time when we most desperately need it.
I stumbled across a quote the other day by Victor Hugo that is so fitting to this industry: “There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.”
Well said, Victor.
Tracy Voacolo is the president of Micronesia Renewable Energy and has more than 20 years of experience in the renewable energy industry. Contact her at info[at]micronesiarenewableenergy.com.
For more information about Micronesia Renewable Energy, visit http://micronesiarenewableenergy.com/.
For more information about Micronesia Renewable Energy, visit http://micronesiarenewableenergy.com/.