Author: Ronda Kaysen
Date: 5/13/11
Link:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110513/us_nm/us_solar_newjersey;_ylt=AoHYg6c_gxM0jOnrncvg3r8S.MwF;_ylu=X3oDMTJwZjB2Z3Q3BGFzc2V0A25tLzIwMTEwNTEzL3VzX3NvbGFyX25ld2plcnNleQRwb3MDMTYEc2VjA3luX3BhZ2luYXRlX3N1bW1hcnlfbGlzdARzbGsDbmV3amVyc2V5YW51
Summary:
This article is about how the state of New Jersey is the U.S.'s second highest producer in solar energy. The first highest state producing solar energy is California, where it is sunny over half of the time. In New Jersey it is only sunny 3 out of every 8 days. Some people are upset because New Jersey does not get a lot of sun, but they are wasting money on solar panels. In New Jersey all energy suppliers must get 20% of their energy from "clean sources", but only 2% from solar energy. Some of New Jersey's solar panels are on lights, rooftops, and farms. Rutgers university 60% of their campus is expected to be powered by solar energy in the upcoming years! Although the state leads the way in solar energy, it is expected that the amount of solar panels being built in New Jersey slows down very soon due to people thinking that the state has "Strict laws" on alternative energies.
Graphic: http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/nj-rooftop-solar.jpg
This is a picture of a typical New Jersey roof top with solar panels on it.
Opinion:
I think that it is great that New Jersey has the second most amount of solar panels in the United States. With our reliance on fossil fuels causing us problems, I think that we should encourage other states to produce more solar energy. I do not understand why people are mad that New Jersey has a lot of solar panels because it is cloudy. Solar panels still work in the clouds, and they are good for the environment. My house's power is off of fossil fuels, and I realize that it is very bad for the environment. I hope that in the future my house, and other houses will be running off of alternative energies. I hope that there is a rise in the amount of solar panels placed in New Jersey because it is good for the environment. I don't think that laws can ever be too strict when it is dealing with alternative energies because we NEED to switch our energy power soon! I hope that more people realize that in the years to come.
Questions:
1) Is it good or bad that New Jersey has so many solar panels?
2) Would you buy a house that is powered by solar energy?
3) Do you think that other states will put in more alternative energies soon?
4) Do you like solar energy, or would you rather a different type of energy?
Opinion: I agree. At least New Jersey has something clean in their state…bad joke? Sorry if it offended anybody. All joking aside though, New Jersey is making the right changes to their energy resources, and it will only benefit them in the end. I remember when I went to New Jersey, on the highway, the electricity poles were topped with a 2’/1’ rectangle of PV cells. My dad said that it might have been a Rutgers University project to help change the community. So its actually really relevant to this article.
ReplyDeleteGraphic Extension: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/04/New-Jesersy-Pole-Mount-Solar-537x340.jpg&imgrefurl=http://inhabitat.com/sunpower-new-super-efficient-solar-panels/&usg=__tJpqcCDDBgS0D-LrfPhWEVV22vA=&h=340&w=537&sz=39&hl=en&start=0&sig2=ZxneakDqJhB99UYvOcK7-w&zoom=1&tbnid=6W20jaNJcVyO9M:&tbnh=126&tbnw=170&ei=qs3OTbKaHunv0gG-_d2PDg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dwooden%2Belectricity%2Bpoles%2Bwith%2Bsolar%2Bpanels%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1020%26bih%3D558%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=306&vpy=127&dur=608&hovh=179&hovw=282&tx=171&ty=108&page=1&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0
This picture is basically the solar panels that I saw in New Jersey.
Answers:
1) It can’t be a bad thing, it’s not like they are a nuisance to maintain or a distraction in anyway, and they are making free energy, so what’s so bad?
2) Yes, but I don’t want to rely on solar all the time, so I would like solar panels, but not as my 100% energy source
3) Yes, the crisis awareness is rising and it would only make sense for other states to realize that they can save the environment and some money.
4) Solar energy was always the coolest to me ever since I heard of it. So it’s my favorite, but after the alternative energy unit in class, I’ve been opened up to new and better ideas like geothermal and wind energy which are better in their own ways.
Opinion: I think it is good that New Jersey is making the effort to switch to alternative energy resources, all the other states should be doing the same. It does not matter if it costs more money soon we will be out of fossil fuels and if we don't make the switch until it's too late then chaos could break out because people will know what to do. The switch from fossil fuels to alternative energy resources can be a hard switch it is better that we do it now before it is too late. I know that there are a lot places in Penncylvania that are trying to make the switch to solar powered energy I see a lot of solar panels on houses when I travel to different places in P.A. to play soccer games. If more states switched to solar panels then we will react better when fossil fuels eventually run out.
ReplyDeleteAnswer to Questions:
1) It is good that New Jersey is using solar panels then fossil fuels eventually run out they will be prepared with a back up plan that is already in use.
2)Depending on where I live would decide if I would want to live in a house with solar energy.
3) Yes I do think more states will start to use other alternative energy resources because as time goes by and with fossil fuels running out they have no other choice but to switch to an alternative energy resource.
4) I think I would rather have a different alternative energy because the sun is not always out so solar energy can some times not be completely reliable.
Opinion:
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting because New Jersey is right next to us. I am hoping that the amount of solar energy in New Jersey spreads to us over here in Pennsylvania. I think solar energy is a great alternative. It may be expensive to build, but it will eventually pay for itself over the years to come. The way this connects to my personal life is that my uncle happens to live in New Jersey, and he recently installed solar energy in his house.
Answers to Questions:
1. It's obviously good! We as a country need to start saving energy.
2. Yes I would. I don't know exactly how much they cost, but if I could afford it, I would.
4. I believe solar energy is the best type of alternative energy resource.
Questions I ask:
1. How much would it cost to put solar panels in your house?
2. How much would it cost to buy a solar powered home?
3. How much energy can solar power provide for your home?
Graphic:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.solarpowerwindenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/solarenergystoragebattery.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.solarpowerwindenergy.org/2009/08/09/introduction-to-solar-energy/&usg=__P1mv4VbBH5NwWgi1FVNrY7iHgU4=&h=387&w=400&sz=29&hl=en&start=0&sig2=DtcYDh8OEWmCXJJ1xs3n3w&zoom=1&tbnid=5keL2I6VXTG_OM:&tbnh=147&tbnw=152&ei=vIPRTdT4MOHx0gG6rcHtDQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsolar%2Benergy%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1045%26bih%3D484%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=138&vpy=114&dur=296&hovh=221&hovw=228&tx=121&ty=115&page=1&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
This is a simple graphic showing how solar energy works.