ABSTRACT
Community energy issues and policies impact development outcomes, and this is certainly an influential factor in the environmentally sustainable economy subset. This is observed in regions and cities all over the globe. Reliable, efficient and affordable energy is central to long-term sustainability. Energy generation has direct impacts on environmental quality, depending on the type and intensity. Even sources such as solar or hydro convey environmental consequences. Targeting less impactful energy sources fosters sustainability and protects environmental quality. It’s not just about generation or sources of energy, it is about usage and conservation too. Most economic models operate in a linear fashion, with various assumptions about unlimited supply, inputs, increasing consumption, and continuous growth. However, it’s increasingly clear that we have to consider how finite our sources and inputs are, especially in regards to energy. The gradual realization that our natural system does indeed have limits needs to translate directly into effective energy policies.
