Ancillary Activity 3.2.3.1. - Solar Power and Energy Policy

1. Exploratory

Watching that video, it really hit me just how much money, material, and time goes into building a fully functional solar farm in Georgia. Crazy, right? And get this: Georgia has the largest solar panel assembly plant in the entire Western Hemisphere! It’s wild to think something that massive is right here in the U.S. The reading showed how Georgia’s solar projects absolutely skyrocketed between 2015 and 2018 compared to other states. That plant? It’s got 600 people working there, cranking out 10,000 panels every single day. That’s serious business.

2. Diagnostic

Here’s the thing: most of our renewable energy is coming straight from the Sun. Solar panels make it so easy for Georgia and the rest of the country to tap into the Sun as our main go-to for alternative energy. It’s a game changer, really. We’re talking about exploring a whole new way of harnessing energy without relying on the usual, outdated, nonrenewable sources.

3. Cause and Effect

Now, if we can get more of these solar farms up and running, it’s not just good for the planet; it's good for our wallets too. More solar energy means lower electricity costs because it makes power more accessible. And when the prices drop, people might finally ditch the old-school, non-green energy and go for something cleaner, more sustainable.

4. Priority

For me, the real takeaway here is the potential for slashing electricity bills and making solar power accessible. It’s not just about what Georgia is doing – other states could follow suit once they see how much everyone stands to gain from this. The benefits are just too good to ignore.

5. Application

I’ve got to be honest—my electricity bill is through the roof since I’m still using that regular old nonrenewable energy. But imagine if we slapped some solar panels on the roof? That bill would definitely shrink, and we’d still be getting all the perks that come with solar energy. Talk about a win-win situation, plus saving a ton of money in the long run.

6. Critical

This whole thing got me thinking about how much we rely on nonrenewable energy. Sure, it’s everywhere, but not enough people realize how much better renewable options are. If we could take what nature already gives us – like sunlight – and turn it into safe, clean energy, we’d be doing the environment a huge favor. And let’s face it, we could all use a little less gas and oil messing things up around us.


Reference

Hsu, A., & Kelly, M. L. (2019, June 24). How solar grew in Georgia despite lack of mandates on renewable energy. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/2019/06/24/733795962/how-georgia-became-a-surprising-bright-spot-in-the-u-s-solar-industry

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