Utilities offer centralized energy, meaning they have centralized locations where they produce energy and distribute it through an energy grid. Decentralizing energy puts energy production in the hands of the people. People can produce their own energy from sources like solar and do not have as great a need for a large, centralized utility. This…
Category: Energy
The Clean Power Plan (CPP) is designed to limit future carbon pollution from power plants. It emphasizes the relationship between the federal government and state governments in sharing the responsibilities and authority of implementing and enforcing changes. It showcases the various perspectives and lessons states have used to lessening carbon emissions and presents facts to…
The carbon cycle is the rotating of carbon between the earth’s oceans, atmosphere, ecosystem, geosphere, and everything in between. Carbon makes up everything from the sugars we eat to the skin on our bodies to the sun itself. The cycle happens when a herbivore eats a plant and transforms the plant material into amino acids…
On November 10th, 2014, the city of Pawleys Island passed an ordinance that would formally oppose the “placement of any wind turbines in any location where the turbines, or any part of the turbines, are visible, day or night, from thirty feet above mean high water at any point within the town of Pawleys Island.” This…
In 1905, the first Hydroelectric plant was established in 1904. In the 1960’s, electricity became available to almost everyone, even sharecroppers. The early slew of hydroelectric plants brought stable and reliable energy to the state up until World War II. In the 1950’s, natural gas and coal plants were added. In addition, Nuclear power was…
Native Americans throughout history have held the belief that all elements of Earth, living and nonliving, are respected and equal in rights to humans. The landscape, animals, plants, and other environmental elements play a major role in the religion of Native Americans.They believe all things are connected and give each other life, for which we…
Passive solar design uses the natural energy from the sun for heating and cooling living spaces. Key aspects of passive solar include properly oriented windows, thermal mass, distribution mechanisms, and control strategies. Windows are used to collect solar energy and should face southwards for maximum solar input during the winter months and minimum input during…
During the process of gathering information for this project, Santee Cooper was asked several times for information on involuntary electricity terminations for their service area. That information was never made available. The private utilities operating within South Carolina have the information publicly available on their websites. Santee Cooper does not have a visible organizational structure,…
People are getting interested in solar. They are interested in producing their own energy, reducing the energy bill, and taking another step in reclaiming self-sustainability. According to a 2015 article in Fortune, the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) reported, “[m]ore solar panels were installed on U.S. home rooftops in the first quarter of [the] year than ever…
Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. People have an equal right to a healthy environment to live, learn, and work. Consensus can be difficult when defining shared…