Energy for the People, Energy for the Future: The Transition to Healthy Energy

In this style of science writing, we took a position about the best energy sources for New York. We used our sources to educate an audience of business owners, persuading them to switch to renewable resources instead of relying on energy sources that damage the environment. We also had to sympathize with the counter argument and why it may qualify while also verifying that our argument is best.

In New York, people live among one of the most densely populated states. Despite this fact, New Yorkers are challenged with low access to sustainable energy sources and as a result they reside in one of the most polluted states as well. New York City is a victim of climate change and Mayor DeBlasio has pledged to implement a green city program in order to combat this energy crisis following the black-out in July 2019. Turning New York City into a green city would mean the 9 million residents would now have a consistent energy source and the projected annual summer black-out can be avoided. However, several New Yorkers are also being faced with the growing gentrification of the city that increases the cost of living. Converting the city into a green city would further increase the gentrification residents are already faced with. To avoid pushing people out of their homes and having all of New York on board to transition into a green city, we should replace our energy source from offshore drilling to Wind and Solar energy and implement a public assistance program for low income residents who cannot afford the new cost of living.

New York City and all the United States are challenged with the aftereffects of using offshore fracking. Offshore Fracking is, according to Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, “is the industrial practice of accessing oil and natural gas in large bodies of water off the continental mainland”. This oil is extracted and burned to produce energy to power the country. In fact, the US is the largest producer of petroleum and natural gas for several years which has given the US a power source that is cheap and efficient for all Americans until recently. For several decades offshore drilling has been the most efficient option for all Americans because of its price but this method is not as environmentally conscious as it was claimed to be.

Energy obtained from offshore drilling leads to massive counts of greenhouse gases being released into the environment. These oils and gases pollute both the water and the air. For instance, in 2010 there was an oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico that resulted in the death of 11 workers. 200 million gallons of oil were released in the ocean contaminating trillions of local fish, thousands of birds, and billions of oysters. BP was the company responsible for the oil rig explosion and been charged with manslaughter and environmental degradation. This was not the first instance of the United States being responsible for an oil spill, such as the one that took place in 1969. If we are to continue to use offshore drilling, then we continue to run the risk of damaging the environment and losing more innocent lives. In New York, there are several coastal harbors, and one of the boroughs is an island. Should an oil spill occur it would not only intervene with air and water sources, but also affect business and travel between places such as Manhattan and Staten Island. Although the government has attempted to regulate the process of offshore drilling, the process remains risky to the lives of those extracting the oil and the consumers of vulnerable resources or services.

In addition to inciting the death of several workers, offshore drilling also poses a health detriment to those exposed to an area where offshore drilling is performed. According to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) from 2009-2016, 29 offshore oil rig workers had died on the job and 1,932 had been injured on the job. 37 of these injuries were related to losing control of the well. There were 969 people who died from fires and explosions, 119 died from collisions, 177 died from the release of gas, and 1,361 injuries related to lifting. There is federal policy that allows for some regulation and safety for offshore oil rig workers, but these regulations are being withdrawn due to orders from the Trump Administration in 2017. The Trump Administration is withdrawing attention from worker safety and the regulation of offshore oil rigs because it ruins the cost effectiveness of the oil rig. Instead, workers are simply encouraged to enforce a list of “best practices” to avoid any issues. An energy source that requires a human to risk their lives is not a source that the people should allow to happen. Instead, we should move to renewable energy sources such as Hydropower energy and Solar Energy to power New York while ensuring the safety of the people and the environment.

New York despite its efforts to mitigate climate change, is still a big contributor and victim to climate change. In order to change this, we should seek relying on wind and solar power to keep the city running on a sustainable energy source.

Hydropower energy is a source of power that uses giant turbines to capture the kinetic energy from the flow of water and convert it to electricity. This source of producing electricity is the leading renewable energy source in the United States. This type of electricity production should be implemented into the New York green city plan. The boroughs are not only surrounded by water but are broken up by rivers. This means that New York City has great access to water and could take great advantage of producing hydropower electricity between boroughs and outside of them. Hydropower dams also help control flooding in New York City, and aid in controlling freshwater resources. However, city dwellers should just be weary of the limitations of using hydropower and dams. Building a dam between and outside of boroughs could lead to a change in river and ocean ecosystems. The dams may displace fish or remove water sources from local animals. Despite this challenge, switching to hydropower can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure worker safety. Hydropower electricity can assist in avoiding the summer blackouts in New York City that leave several commuters displaced away from home with no means of travel.

Alongside using Hydropower, we should implement a Solar Power energy system. Specifically, Photovoltaic Solar Power is a power source that relies on solar panel cells to absorb radiation from the sun to produce electricity. This is a great source of clean sustainable energy because this source of power is inexhaustible. Though significantly less potent than burning fossil fuels, New York City has constant exposure to sunlight every day. It cannot be used to power everything but is enough to sustain the power of homes and small businesses. The final caveat of using solar panels is the high cost. It is not guaranteed that people can afford the new system and may not be able to overcome the already growing gentrification. However, with a great public assistance program implemented, lower income residents can support the green city movement without having to migrate due to financial issues.

Critics will mention that fossil fuels have been great for the economy and should not be replaced. Offshore oil rigs have created around 285,000 jobs and earned almost $200 billion in revenue. It is true that the burning of fossil fuels have been great for the economy and would not push the growing gentrification taking place in New York City. The cost effective option is affordable and already established so people will be less inclined to switch over and support the green city plan. To combat this, New York City should establish a public assistance program for low income residents who cannot afford the already high cost of living in New York City. Low income residents should receive assistance covering rent and the expenses of implementing a new energy system, decided by how much that household is making. Those who make less money should receive more assistance, and the more money a household makes should mean less assistance. The switch to a green city should be a city-wide effort, requiring contributions from the city and its residents.

Although the burning of fossil fuels has been the best method up until recently for providing energy to millions of Americans, the method puts the lives of the American people at risk and has a heavy contribution to climate change. Switching our energy sources to renewable and cleaner ones will protect consumers and workers alike. Using a hydropower energy source that best takes advantage of New York’s geographical setting accompanied by solar power, will be the best choice to turn New York into a green city.