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Renewable Energy Saves Water and Creates Jobs

photo: wind farm energy may save a lot of water. Renewable Energy Saves Water and Creates Jobs

Credit: David Hogan Getty Images

A common argument for expanding renewable energy sources is that technologies such as solar panels and wind turbines are responsible for far less carbon dioxide than power plants that burn fossil fuels. But two other powerful benefits should also be getting much more attention: the switch can save vast quantities of freshwater, and can create a large number of new, high-paying jobs.

Want proof? Let’s look at the data that our detailed research has revealed.

Only about 3 percent of the Earth’s water is freshwater. Most of that is frozen in glaciers — which means only 0.8 percent of the planet’s water reserves can be tapped for human use.

Water is a precious, but limited, commodity. And nearly 1 billion people worldwide lack access to clean water. In the U.S., 45.3 percent of the water withdrawn from lakes, rivers and underground aquifers is used to cool off thermoelectric power plants: nuclear reactors […]

More about energy, water, and renewable and sustainable solutions:

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