Addressing Global Warming: the Next American Revolution by...You!

It's great that U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu promotes energy efficiency. But what about clean energy? "Its abundant, it's there, we know how to get it, and so we have to learn how to use it cleanly," he opined to Steve Inskeep of National Public Radio recently. You would think he was talking about sunlight and wind, which are far more abundant, cheaper, cleaner, and more accessible than what he was really talking about - "clean coal". With such outdated guidance in federal government, it is more important than ever for US citizens to take up energy and climate policy in their own hands at more local levels.

It is time, once again, to start an American revolution in truly clean energy by the citizenry, from the bottom up, as well as the top down. How?

From the bottom up, the revolution is already starting. In many states there are policies to help communities throughout the US to use clean energy. And this is where you can make a difference through your local community government.

For example, the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program offers free solar power systems to municipalities that make substantial commitments to clean energy. Similar programs exist for Pennsylvania, California, and Maryland, among others. In addition, states, such as Massachussetts, are helping community governments to pass resolutions mandating that their supplying utilities provide an increasing percentage of their energy needs from clean energy sources. Gunnison, Colorado, gives homeowners the option of purchasing power from clean energy sources; the resulting cost is 5% more than the average regular energy bill - a 5% solution to climate change. Berkeley, CA, is providing upfront financing for homeowners to install rooftop solar panels that create the energy to run the household. Homeowners then pay off the loan over the next 20 years by paying a special tax on their own subsequent energy bills. As noted in our free downloadable book, there are many mechanisms that exist to increase the use of truly clean energy. But many more communities must get involved to make this a truly national revolution.

How can you help? First, check out any programs within your state that might possibly help your community to use clean energy at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency. Even if there is nothing for your community, check out all the different mechanisms that various communities throughout the US are using to increase their clean energy use. Then start lobbying your community government with ideas, and don't stop until your community is on its way towards using clean energy. Nothing less than the health of our planet, our country and our children's future are at stake.

From the top down, we call on the captains of industry - yup, here's a shout out to Michael Bloomberg, Warren Buffett, and Bill Gates, among others. Join the revolution by creating a billionaire's/multimillionaire's clean energy club. The sliding scale price of admission might start with investment in one large wind turbine and go to ownership of one or more clean energy farms. Fossil fuel financiers get extra perks for investment. The payback? Club members have special access to each other, offering a unique way to network.

If you finance a foundation, create programs that foster the use of clean energy in communities. The clean energy movement already links to the interests of many foundations, since the replacement of fossil fuel with truly clean energy will improve the physical health of much of our community, and through that extension, our economic health.

So here's a toast - whether rich or not, bottoms up to a truly clean energy future!

And Barack Obama called Kanye West a jackass? Time to get refocused on that tidal wave of climate change headed our way, ya think?

Comments

[johnfarrell]

The problem with individual action is that the federal incentives (I noted the link to the DSIRE database) and even state incentives are often tax-based, relying on folks with a lot of personal wealth and tax liability to use them.

That's why models like Berkeley, CA, which provide low-cost municipal financing can provide a more economically sustainable policy for encouraging renewable energy but especially energy efficiency.

Read more on the muni finance model here: http://bit.ly/munifinance

-John

[KenJohnson]

John -
Would the Berkeley FIRST municipal financing program for residential PV achieve, and could it claim, any environmental benefits under the HR2454 cap-and-trade system?

[HillBillyRealist]

Greenhouse gas isn't an air-pollution problem, it's an energy-use problem.

Energy unlike other goods can't be substituted or done without. It is rightly called the master resource, because it's fundamental to everything in the economy. No nation has grown wealth on expensive energy.

Carbon dioxide results from combustion, apart from still-evolving technologies, none exists to remove it, the only way to reduce emissions is to burn less, which means less energy.

There may be no way to replace fossil fuels at any cost. The International Energy Agency noted in its recent annual energy forecast: "Even leaving aside any debate about the political feasibility of the 450 Policy Scenario, it is uncertain whether the scale of the transformation envisaged is even technically achievable, as the scenario assumes broad deployment of technologies that have not yet been proven. The technology shift, if achievable, would certainly be unprecedented in scale and speed of deployment."

[Mary Ellen Harte and John Harte - Huffpost Blogger]

This is a verbatim excerpt from a recent Wall Street article written by a man with a formal business education. He appears to be ignorant or misinformed on many basic points.

Read our book at www.CoolTheEarth.US , which describes how current proven solar, wind and geothermal technologies can almost entirely replace fossil fuels, and we cite several studies that show how. The huge national and international investments in these technologies show that many business entrepreneurs also believe in these technologies.

The International Energy Agency in fact promotes clean energy as part of the solution to global warming. Without a specific citation, one cannot judge the accuracy of the quote attributed to them.

[KenJohnson]

Mary and John, Re "How can you help?": You can help by lobbying the Senate to fix a loophole in the House climate bill that would severely undermine these types of local actions and initiatives.

The problem is this: If you take action to reduce your personal carbon footprint, then regulated entities under the House cap-and-trade system will no longer need to use as many emission allowances to cover your emissions, but they still get the same number of allowances anyway. Thus, for every ton of CO2 that is avoided by your action, someone else will be allowed to emit one more ton. The Senate should give the EPA authority to establish allowance set-asides for state and local GHG-reduction programs; otherwise the environmental benefits of such programs will be nullified by emission trading.

Individuals, corporations, municipalities and states should have the ability, and the right, to take action to reduce their carbon footprint without having their action nullified by increased emissions elsewhere, and without having their investment in clean energy converted into subsidies for fossil fuel industries. The House bill does not give them this right. Unless the Senate corrects the problem, the climate bill will perversely quench incentives for the kind of personal action and personal responsibility that you are advocating.

For more information, see http://ssrn.com/abstract=1421947

[fumes]

is global warming coming here anytime soon?

brrr.. the northeast could use some!