Benefits and costs of clean energy 529
Paying for clean energy
Home energy systems that run on solar, wind, or water power cost money to
install. But once they are in place they cost little to run and maintain. The
income generated by labor-saving electric machines such as grain grinders
and water pumps, and the ability to work after nightfall, can often pay for the
initial costs.
People in many countries are developing ways to make it possible for
everyone to have access to clean energy. Forming village cooperatives to
pay for energy collectively is one solution. Another solution is microcredit
programs (see page 539). Microcredit programs allow families to pay small
amounts over time, rather than a large amount all at once. By paying into a
“revolving credit fund,” money is made available to help more people install
home energy over time.
There are no longer any technical reasons why people in poor countries
or rural areas should not have electricity. The reasons they do not have
electricity have to do with a scarcity of social justice.
Storing energy
Any form of energy, in order to be useful when and where it is needed, must
be stored. For gas or oil-powered transportation, this means storing fuel in the
tank of a car or bus so it can be burned along the journey. For electricity, it
means using batteries.
Even if energy is made using clean sources such as wind, water, or
sunshine, it must be captured in batteries. Batteries can
often be among the most costly parts of a clean energy
system. They also contain toxic materials and must
be replaced after several years. So far, there is no
good replacement for batteries as a way to store
electrical energy.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012