The Quest for Solar Fields

One of the most current worldwide issues is the search for new, clean reusable energy sources so that we may wean ourselves off our dependency on fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources that are currently harming the environment with each use. In an article written for the Denver Post a vision of clean renewable energy is described as the United States begins its quest for such energies. (http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_12856634 ) The issue at hand is the construction of solar energy fields in southern Colorado as well as six other western states that could possibly be the new source of power for most of the nation. According to the article “the 24 Solar Energy Study Areas that Interior is evaluating for environmentally appropriate solar energy development could generate nearly 100,000 megawatts of solar electricity, enough to power more than 29 million American homes.” With such vast amounts of land in the southwest which are ideal for solar reception along with wind collection the amount of energy able to possibly be produced is staggering. The development of such a project would put the United States at the head of the clean energy front and perhaps begin to put us at the forefront of energy provider for the world. States like Colorado are urging the federal government to follow them into the new energy plans of the future and start on these solar projects as soon as possible. Likewise in Texas there are groups, such as the Texas Solar Energy Society, that are driving for the increased use of solar energy. The wind farms in west Texas are one step that Texas has already taken to produce clean renewable energy, so with the addition of solar power plants there is no limit to what could be done. Though the issue of clean energy isn’t new or specific to this region of the United States, the creation of solar farms is site specific and can have a great affect on the national power grid as well as boost the regional economy and create massive amounts of new jobs. Truly it is only a matter of time before these plans will be realized as states like Colorado and the surrounding regions will be known for providing clean energy all throughout the United States and perhaps even the world.