Going green is a great way to save the planet … in theory. What do people really know about green energy other than what they have been told? People hear about green energy everywhere: schools, policitans, tv, magazines, endorsements, even music. Going green means elimination of fossil fuels. Does anyone have any idea what they have to give up in order to go green?

    Think about this: What is green energy made of? Where does it come from? How is it processed? What happens if it wears out? Green energy is not exactly “green” because the material used to make solar panels, windmills, etc. is toxic to the environment. Solar panels and wind turbines are made of non-recyclable and toxic materials. According to the Clear Energy Alliance, both wind turbines and solar panels contain either fiberglass or glass, which are both not recyclable or accepted in dumps or landfills due to broken pieces or impurities. Another problem is all green energy requires batteries for storage, usually either Lithium-ion or Lead-ion batteries. Regardless both are toxic, especially when the battery acid leaks into the ground. Not to mention, Lithium-ion batteries are known for exploding due to being too hot or cold, too wet, or even having too much pressure put on them. An example of a fossil fuel that is clean is natural gas. When it is burned, its byproducts are carbon dioxide and water vapor, which are essential for photosynthesis. It is called Natural gas for a reason.

Power is out, find the candles! Wait, can’t use those. Green energy can not meet the energy demand. According to CFact contributor Larry Bell, “60% of California’s energy currently comes from renewables … solar and wind combined presently contribute less than three precent of the energy demand”. Three percent, during the heatwave we had in summer? That is dangerous for everyone: Elderly, babies, emergency response, hospitals, anybody who needs power to help them stay alive and get through their day. According to the Clear Energy Alliance (use the link up top), Green energy companies are not bound, meaning that they do not have the money to clean things up, which causes power lines to spark and rusty transformers to explode. This is what sets California’s sky alight with the flames of burning trees. Fossil Fuels are very abundant, bonded so they have money if they need to clean anything up and 62% of the energy demand is met.

Many think that giving up fossil fuels means you are just giving up polluting power, right? Wrong! Nearly every object can be traced back to fossil fuels, and according to Apple, the laptop being used to type this article has aluminum which was mined with the power of fossil fuels. According to CFact, Joe Biden went without fossil fuels for a month, however he did not. Many things need fossil fuels either to be made or to get the materials that are needed. Everything from cell phones to surgical equipment. Here is a list from IAG (Innovative Advisory Group) of 144 petroleum requiring products we would have to give up: 144 products made with petroleum and 4 that may shock you, some may include toothpaste, car seats, even cell phones. That is just petroleum, imagine all the objects we have to give up. What would people be left with? Almost nothing!

Supporter of the Green New Deal, Ocaso Cortez, said “the ultimate goal of meeting 100% of the country’s power demand through clean, renewable energy sources and cutting greenhouse-gas emissions to net-zero” according to Business Insider. Many think that radical response is what’s needed to fix problems. Radical responses do not seem to solve any problems. Their timeline for net-zero emissions would be costly and near impossible to meet, since retro-fitting every car, home, and factory in the entire country would be costly, and there will be people who plain refuse. This is found in France as evidenced by the Yellow Vest Riots, which occured because of green policies that made gas and transportation prices skyrocket, which upset many low and middle class residents according to the Clear Energy Alliance.

Why would getting rid of fossil fuels be a good thing when it brings power to the people? In fact, why in every single controversial topic are there only two extreme sides: Good or Evil, Smart or Stupid. What about the middle ground? What about the people who are indecisive, or do not even care about the topic? There is a false binary out of the Four-Quadrant Model created by mathematician Erric Weinstien. The 4-quadrant model which explains here are four sections of opinion. There are contrarians, who just ask the right questions, Cavemen, who do not care, Opportunists who want money, and Angels who care about the topic so much.. Altogether, people can come to a compromise, make our energy half green and half fossil fuels. Do not force people to buy solar panels and electric cars immediately, let them decide on what they want. After this article what is the choice Go Green? Or Go Greed?