Can We Do It? Yes We Can!

Al Gore has set a challenge: 100% clean electricity, 100%!

Get us (the US, and eventually, all the globe) off coal.

And, determine to do this within a decade.

People are going to scream that this is impossible. They will be wrong. This is possible, difficult to do in the timeline perhaps, but absolutely possible.

They will, as with the very mediocre Associated Press story, focus on the cost to buy the infrastructure, rather the overall benefits and the cost to own a renewable electrical system. By doing so, they will be wrong. This is doing a cost-benefit discussion with only mentioning cost, and not the benefits, the huge benefits from electricity to reduced pollution to improved health to improved security.

Al Gore is setting a target.

Do I agree with 100% of his words? No, not necessarily.

But, let us think about something for a second. We should think of objectives at two levels:

Objective: What is what we would really like to have, the ultimate level of capability desired.

Threshhold: What is a minimal acceptable level of capability and achievement that is acceptable.

Al Gore has sent a target, an objective target: 100% renewable electricity in a decade. This is possible, even though a very serious objective level target. We should have this objective in our mind. It is achievable, even if with difficulty.

We should set the objective target but we should also understand what is the absolute minimum threshold target for renewable electricity generation.

Eighty-five percent by 2018, on track to 100%? 75%? However, President Kennedy didn't say 'get Americans near the moon'. President Roosevelt didn't speak of nearly unconditional challenges. Leaders set goals, set targets for us, all of the US, to work for, to strive for. Yet again, Al Gore is showing himself to be a leader and setting an objective worth fighting to achieve.

We might quibble about the dates and exact priorities, but at the core:

This is possible

This is necessary

This is security, economy, health, opportunity ... rolled into one.

Americans should remember that we are, together, Bob the Builder: "Can we do it? Yes, WE CAN!"

Comments

[johnie2xs]

I have had many conversations, in the course of hosting my own radio show, with scientifically astute persons who don't necessarily disagree with man's affect on the planet, but who never the less fault the earth's warming more to the Sun's transitions than anything. How does this square with your thinking. I am quickly being convinced that this may be the case. However I see nothing wrong with aiming for energy independence, especially when you consider the economic and political benefits that could be attained. One thing, in particular, that has been brought out by one of these persons (Ted Tweitmeyer, www.data4science.net) mentioned the fact that there has been a warming of all the planets going on.
What do you say to this?

[Pquilson]

Will someone please tell me the "proper" average global temperature?
Al Gore is famous for saying that the earth has a temperature. How much? When will we know when the draconian measures Mr. Gore proposes, but does not use, have been effective? Using the vernacular of this article, how will we know when we have reached the moon?

[mouselion]

First thing to do: Quit viewing the changes you need to make as "draconian measures", rather, as essential changes. Don't worry about the "earth's temperature" so much as creating a more sustainable lifestyle for yourself.

[Pquilson]

I only ask so that I am aware when these lifestyle changes you espouse have made a difference.
I have asked this question many times, and you are the first to respond. Thank you.
You say don't worry about the "earth's temperature". Is this not the reason for the lifestyle changes you espouse? if not, why change then?

[mouselion]

There's much to be done. Lots to change in your life. Lots to change in the world -- so start right now.

To the Flat Earthers who undoubtedly will be trolling this thread:
Your day is past. Many of us have already been living green, knowing that the majority will join us out of necessity, sooner than later. That sooner than later happens to be now.

They woke up. You need to, as well. Join us. Be the first Green Troll on your block, I dare ya'!

[Pquilson]

You may consider me a "Flat Earther" is you wish, I could not care less. I have not bought the AGW myth at this point.
I will say, however, that when we built our house in 1992, we built it to be as green as we could at that time. Our effort, however, was not to be green, but to save money on heating/cooling. We have done so. We use far less electricity than do our neighbors and not surprisingly, have a lower electrict bill to pay each month. Things like 6 inch exterior walls, when the standard is 4 inches, when insulated saves a ton of money in electricity. Things like double pane glass in windows and doors, insulated metal doors, and even insulated garage doors help. Insulating in the attic by blowing in the insulation instead of batting helps tremendously. Then, the energy efficient appliances help. There are plenty of things to do.
One of the ways to get people to see things your way, however, is not to belittle them and refer to anyone who does not agree with you as a Flat Earther" or a "troll".

[mouselion]

Great job on building your home in 1992. I would not consider you a "Flat Earther" or a troll.

[solarenergy]

Typo alert: I meant "invented" not "invested." Sorry.

[solarenergy]

All true, but the legitimate argument about the cost must be addressed, seriously, rationally, objectively and not dismissed.

The way to pay is from existing revenue streams, i.e. those controlled by the oil, gas and coal industries. There's plenty of profit there to fund alternatives.

Clearly, the losers (for example, the president of Exxon, but even he will benefit from a cooler planet and cleaner air and an employed population) will (and are) going to howl loudly. But this is a matter of survival -- for the ecosystem, our economy, and our national security.

Unlike the Apollo program, in which the technology had to be invested, tested (at great cost) and deployed for the first time, the technology to do this already exists and works well.

This is only an issue of money. And since we the people end up always paying, we should get to -- this time -- say how it will be spent. In our best interest, for once.