According to PBS Newshour in 2024, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia are currently leaning towards progressive ideologies, especially in their adoption of green and sustainable energy to address climate change. Texas and Georgia are now showing a large numerical shift towards the green side, with this trend on the rise.
Large areas in the Southern region are shifting away from fossil fuels and turning towards wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources. States such as Texas and Oklahoma, previously reliant on oil and gas, are now establishing new green sectors. Experts warn of a dire future if we do not transition from sources like oil and coal, which are rapidly contributing to global warming. Despite the increasing adoption of renewable energy, there remain uncertainties about how these alternative technologies will affect the cultural and economic landscape of the American South.
Most news media outlets are silent about the inevitable change that is occurring. They fail to mention that renewable electricity is projected to surpass coal as the world's largest source of electricity by 2025. Automakers worldwide are openly discussing the phasing out of internal combustion engines, with ambitious plans to transition to electric vehicles. Recent statistics show that over $2 trillion is being invested globally in clean energy technologies such as wind, geothermal, solar power, electric vehicles, nuclear, and battery technology, far exceeding the investment in fossil fuels which is less than $1 trillion. Unfortunately, many individuals, particularly the poor and middle class, remain unaware of these developments as they are preoccupied with artificial intelligence and the misconception of a thriving global oil industry rather than acknowledging its inevitable decline.
Currently, numerous Southern cities are improving their environmental practices and developing strategies to establish a sustainable energy framework. Commitments to transition to 100 percent renewable energy within the next decade have been made by Atlanta, Columbia in South Carolina, and various others. While Atlanta is finalizing the specifics of achieving complete clean energy utilization, policymakers recognize that enhancing efficiency by allowing rooftop solar will be crucial. In essence, it remains the most straightforward, cost-effective, and rapid approach to reducing energy usage.
The southern United States, renowned for its sunny climate and abundant sunlight, is ideally positioned for solar energy utilization. States like Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and Georgia have experienced a surge in solar installations, spurred by falling costs, favorable policies, and a growing recognition of renewable energy's advantages.
There has been a growth in residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar projects in the area, as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are being utilized by homeowners, businesses, and utilities to generate clean electricity and reduce energy costs. Solar panels, whether on rooftops, in ground-mounted arrays, or within solar farms, convert sunlight into electrical power, providing a reliable and environmentally friendly energy source. Texas leads the nation in wind power production and is set to become a top producer of solar power as well. Recent research shows that the abundance of affordable renewable energy in Texas is saving the average household $300-$400 annually!
Despite the growth of renewable energy in Texas, it has not always been met with praise. In the devastating winter storm of 2021, which led to extensive power outages and numerous fatalities, renewables were wrongly accused of exacerbating the situation, while oil and gas companies exploited consumers, resulting in many losing their homes.
For the first time, in March of 2024 Alabama released a plan to dramatically cut the state’s greenhouse gas emissions over the next 20 years, although the state will have to compete for federal dollars to pay for the effort. In 2023 Toyota Corp. announced it is investing $14 billion in an electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant in North Carolina, creating 5,000 jobs — one of several high-dollar ventures being pushed in North Carolina. Employers in green sectors across high-income counties are already bringing in immigrant workers. This includes companies based in Texas, Florida, Colorado, Georgia and Arkansas!
Challenges in achieving these objectives often arise from the difficulty of attracting workers with the necessary skills to transition to the green economy. Initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States are expected to generate numerous green jobs, leading to job displacements in heavily polluting sectors that will require retraining of workers. However, the establishment of new apprenticeships and training programs takes time, particularly in the context of factors like an aging population, demographic shifts, and a competitive labor market. Consequently, labor shortages are already becoming apparent in the green economy of the South, potentially hindering urgent efforts to reduce global emissions.
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