99% of Costa Rica’s energy comes from renewable sources. They make about 13000 kilowatts of energy in a day which is made up of biofuels and turbines. 70% of the renewable energy in Costa Rica is produced from hydroelectricity. Geothermal and Wind Turbines make up about 15% each and the rest is fossil fuels. The wind turbine site that we visited had approximately 106 windmills however not all of them were running at the same time. One major benefit to wind turbines is that you can control how much energy you want them to produce.One disadvantage to renewable energy is that it can be inconsistent. If the sun is not out for a week or it is not windy, there is nothing that we can do to get energy from those sources which forces us to resort to fossil fuels.
I got to Brigantine New Jersey every summer and I see lots of wind turbines there. I also see lots of signs and T-shirts that say NIMBY which stands for not in my back yard. NIMBY protests often focus on protecting a homeowner’s primary financial investment by preventing developments that might lower property values. Residents also argue that new projects can preserve local neighborhood character and prevent the overextension of existing infrastructure like schools and roads. They believe that those living in a community should have the final say in how their environment evolves. The transition to renewable energy systems offers significant advantages centered on environmental sustainability. By shifting away from combustible fuels, society can achieve a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.