Conclusion

Throughout this exploration, I have a very different perspective on the topic of renewable energy. My topic actually started with the question: Does converting to renewable fuel resources run the risk of eliminating jobs in the US and worldwide? After starting my second post, I quickly realized that this topic was too broad to discuss in 4-5 posts. The fact is, the specifics of renewable and fossil fuel energy production vary so much based on demographics and economic factors that I had to refine that question. My question then became: Does converting to renewable fuel resources run the risk of eliminating jobs in the US?

I began believing that electric car conversion and production could be a major factor in helping reduce the carbon emissions created by vehicles. My main concern with this was the conversion price for this conversion. It turns out, the price for this conversion was even more than I would have expected and, at this price, our country would be hard-pressed to make this conversion if the price stays where it is today. My other concern was how to utilize electricity to produce enough power for a larger vehicle such as a truck. We could potentially use electricity combined with fossil fuels to reduce the carbon footprint of larger vehicles. Though this solution doesn't solve the problem, it is a step in the right direction while other options are being analyzed. 

To my surprise, neither of these questions were of the most interest to me when I began diving into the topic. The electric car issue, which was my go-to whenever having this argument with friends or family when discussing renewable energy, was just the tip of the iceberg. The real issue emerged when I learned the amount of carbon the coal industry was emitting when producing electricity. After learning this, I realized that electric cars were actually worse for the environment than conventional vehicles because of the source of the electricity. This finding made the electric car issue a mute point. I began to venture into the cost to transition our electricity sources from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Contrary to popular belief, it would cost less to convert to renewable energy than it would to continue importing fossil fuels. Creating electricity through wind, solar, hydrogen power to support a large portion of our country's power grid seems like a good start. 

Though there are going to be jobs lost in certain fields, renewable energy production could create opportunities for many workers fracking or working in the coal mines. In time, I believe this industry will employ even more workers than the fossil fuel industry did. The transition into renewable energy production will employ workers in all kinds of different fields including construction, engineering, manufacturing, and so forth. I began this blog with the impression that many US citizens would be out of work if a major transition in renewable energy was to take place. After my research, I realized that this isn't necessarily the case. With proper training through local organizations, such as local colleges or community centers, these workers have the opportunity to join in the revolution of energy production in the US.