Even the country of Jamaica has set a Renewable Portfolio Standard of 15% by 2015. When is the US going to set one? There are abundant domestic sources of renewable energy in the United States, yet the US spends three orders of magnitude more on the military budget than on renewable energy research. Are those proportions consistent with your values US taxpayers?
What percentage of GDP should the US spend to ensure unlimited, domestically-source, renewable energy from wind, solar and other really renewable sources? 1%, 2%?
Jamaica's quest for more renewable energy development:
http://www.our.org.jm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=519&Itemid=579
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Leading by example....
Check this out - he'll make a big plus-sign right through the USA:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080418/us_nm/usa_oil_pickens_wind_dc;_ylt=AnAdPs_P7tBu4mZFP1haZhMDW7oF
The question is, how can YOU benefit from investments in renewable energy such as photovoltaics and wind energy?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080418/us_nm/usa_oil_pickens_wind_dc;_ylt=AnAdPs_P7tBu4mZFP1haZhMDW7oF
The question is, how can YOU benefit from investments in renewable energy such as photovoltaics and wind energy?
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Earth Day 2008
Well, at least a bunch of us carpooled to work today (public transit nor walking/biking are really options for me - I biked to work at my last job and loved it. uh, both the job, and the biking). So my wife and I are expecting our first child, and as you can imagine it helps reinforce how high the stakes are about the decisions we make about renewable energy today.
Speaking of decisions, I thought it would be useful to read what the US presidential candidates have to say about renewable energy in their platforms from their websites (only snippets are quoted, follow the links for more):
John McCain:
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/65bd0fbe-737b-4851-a7e7-d9a37cb278db.htm
"He has offered common sense approaches to limit carbon emissions by harnessing market forces that will bring advanced technologies, such as nuclear energy, to the market faster, reduce our dependence on foreign supplies of energy, and see to it that America leads in a way that ensures all nations do their rightful share. "
(there is also some energy related stuff in his economic plan:)
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/4dbd2cc7-890e-47f1-882f-b8fc4cfecc78.htm
"John McCain Believes We Should Institute A Summer Gas Tax Holiday. Hard-working American families are suffering from higher gasoline prices. John McCain calls on Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day"
Hillary Clinton:
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/energy/
"To take the steps necessary to transition to a clean and renewable energy future, Hillary will urge all of the nation's stakeholders to contribute to the effort. Automakers will be asked to make more efficient vehicles; oil and energy companies to invest in cleaner, renewable technologies; utilities to ramp up use of renewables and modernize the grid; coal companies to implement clean coal technology; government to establish a cap and trade carbon emissions system and renew its leadership in energy efficient buildings and services; individuals to conserve energy and utilize efficient light bulbs and appliances in their homes; and industry to build energy efficient homes and buildings."
Barack Obama:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/energy/
“Well, I don't believe that climate change is just an issue that's convenient to bring up during a campaign. I believe it's one of the greatest moral challenges of our generation. That's why I've fought successfully in the Senate to increase our investment in renewable fuels. That's why I reached across the aisle to come up with a plan to raise our fuel standards… And I didn't just give a speech about it in front of some environmental audience in California. I went to Detroit, I stood in front of a group of automakers, and I told them that when I am president, there will be no more excuses — we will help them retool their factories, but they will have to make cars that use less oil.”
Today's post is dedicated to First Lieutenant Gaylord Nelson...
Speaking of decisions, I thought it would be useful to read what the US presidential candidates have to say about renewable energy in their platforms from their websites (only snippets are quoted, follow the links for more):
John McCain:
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/65bd0fbe-737b-4851-a7e7-d9a37cb278db.htm
"He has offered common sense approaches to limit carbon emissions by harnessing market forces that will bring advanced technologies, such as nuclear energy, to the market faster, reduce our dependence on foreign supplies of energy, and see to it that America leads in a way that ensures all nations do their rightful share. "
(there is also some energy related stuff in his economic plan:)
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/4dbd2cc7-890e-47f1-882f-b8fc4cfecc78.htm
"John McCain Believes We Should Institute A Summer Gas Tax Holiday. Hard-working American families are suffering from higher gasoline prices. John McCain calls on Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day"
Hillary Clinton:
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/energy/
"To take the steps necessary to transition to a clean and renewable energy future, Hillary will urge all of the nation's stakeholders to contribute to the effort. Automakers will be asked to make more efficient vehicles; oil and energy companies to invest in cleaner, renewable technologies; utilities to ramp up use of renewables and modernize the grid; coal companies to implement clean coal technology; government to establish a cap and trade carbon emissions system and renew its leadership in energy efficient buildings and services; individuals to conserve energy and utilize efficient light bulbs and appliances in their homes; and industry to build energy efficient homes and buildings."
Barack Obama:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/energy/
“Well, I don't believe that climate change is just an issue that's convenient to bring up during a campaign. I believe it's one of the greatest moral challenges of our generation. That's why I've fought successfully in the Senate to increase our investment in renewable fuels. That's why I reached across the aisle to come up with a plan to raise our fuel standards… And I didn't just give a speech about it in front of some environmental audience in California. I went to Detroit, I stood in front of a group of automakers, and I told them that when I am president, there will be no more excuses — we will help them retool their factories, but they will have to make cars that use less oil.”
Today's post is dedicated to First Lieutenant Gaylord Nelson...
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Hello World!
There seems to be a rivalry among various forms of renewable energy. I've seen the wind energy ads on the metro in DC, solar photovoltaics on billboards, thin-film solar, etc. when what we really need is an educated public on the plusses, minuses, and realistic applications of all of these renewable energy technologies. In places like Hawaii, or the Caribbean where the vast majority of energy is imported, a local source of clean, free renewable energy is as important to long term survival as it is to global sustainability. I welcome your thoughts as we sort through this maze of recently re-discovered ancient forms of energy.
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