Renewable Energy - Clean Energy

1. How much of the United States’ power today comes from renewable energy sources? In 2050, what can the renewable percentage reach?

a. Currently in the United States about 5% of the power that we consume today is from renewable sources of energy.

b. We are expected to reach a level of 80% of the United States’ power to come from renewable sources of energy by 2050.

2. How much did the US spend on energy subsidies in 2011? What percentage of the total went to renewable energy sources? What energy sector had been supported by the federal government until 2008?

a. In 2011, $24 billion was spent on energy subsidies by the United States.

b. From the $24 billion dollars, 66% of it went to renewable energy sources.

c. The fossil fuel industry was the energy sector supported by the federal government until 2008.

3. Why are Republicans critical of the Obama Administration’s handling of clean energy programs?

a. The Republicans are critical of the Obama Administration’s handling of the clean energy programs because it was said that in 2009 the administration gave out a $535 million federal loan to a California solar energy company without properly evaluating if their business plan made sense. They feel as though large sums of money are spent and loans are being given out without really evaluating renewable energy business plans. They feel as though they are ill-advised and being irrational in some of their decisions in funding some of the renewable energy plans