Oil and energy are important in our everyday lives, but they can also hurt the environment. In “The Word Below,” Rick Bass talks about oil drilling and how it affects nature. Oil gives us energy, but drilling can damage the land and harm the environment. In “Two Scenarios for the Future of Solar Energy,” Annalee Newitz explains how solar energy could change our future. Solar energy uses sunlight to make electricity and is a cleaner option than oil. Both stories show how our choices about energy can affect the planet. Oil is still used in many parts of the world, but it can cause pollution…