This is a discussion ...

With the arrival of the Industrial Revolution, machines became the main source of power for manufacturing and transportation. These machines were mostly dependent on fossil fuels-oil and coal. The world's economy shifted from an agrarian-based economy to an oil-based economy. Today many people believe the world needs to shift again from an oil-based economy to a clean-energy economy. Just as the move from an agrarian-based economy to an oil-based economy created a destabilizing effect on the poor and working class, how might the shift to a clean-energy economy affect today's poor and working class? How will the shift affect less-developed nations in comparison to more-developed nations?

Renewables provide several benefits for people in poverty. For one, new jobs would be created inside the countries installing and maintaining the systems. By bringing the energy sector within countries, governments will no longer be reliant on imports and will be able to redirect funds into social programs that will better benefit the poor. Renewables such as solar panels could be easily implemented in rural areas without the need to invest in expansive transmission lines. Essentially, renewables could easily bring electricity to impoverished people in a very short amount of time. Businesses could thrive by being able to stay open longer, and children could spend more time studying rather than collecting fuel to cook with.