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American Exceptionalism and Renewable Energy: What the Tea Party Missed in 2011

2012-01-08T06:02:00.000-08:00

"In the political gladiator wars within the U.S. parties, there is mostly heated mud-slinging. This fighting may make great sound bites, but it doesn't make much sense. Republicans are attacking everything "green" mainly because the president has made "green" a major theme of his administration. But many republicans over the decades have embraced green: If you heard former California republican Governor Schwarzenegger speak recently at the ACORE dinner or sitting Governor Haley Barbour (former head of the Republican National Committee) speak about the new biofuel and PV manufacturing plants in Mississippi, you'd wonder what all the fuss is about.
. . .

"The United States became the unparalleled leader in renewable energy from the space program in the 1960’s when PV panels were used on early satellites. The U.S. has had the largest concentrated solar plants, the largest wind turbines and wind farms, and the most geothermal plants.

"And contrary to recent media accounts, these industries are growing — from biofuel innovations to leaps in marine tidal, wave and freeflow generation; astounding advances in battery energy storage, to super capacitors to compressed storage; and cutting edge efficiency technologies from LEDs to CHP. The U.S. is not only a world leader with more than 100 new manufacturing plants that opened in the last three years, but it is still the cauldron of innovation that sets us apart. Again, American Exceptionalism." Read more

In Solar Power, India Begins Living Up to Its Own Ambitions.

2011-12-29T01:21:00.000-08:00

Two years ago, Indian policy makers said that by the year 2020 they would drastically increase the nation’s use of solar power from virtually nothing to 20,000 megawatts — enough electricity to power the equivalent of up to 15 million modern American homes during daylight hours when the panels are at their most productive. Many analysts said it could not be done. But, now the doubters are taking back their words.

See this interesting report from the NY Times.

Democratising power

2011-11-24T03:21:00.000-08:00

" What makes solar really interesting is that it has the potential to rewrite the rules governing electricity markets in the same way that the internet has blown-apart the old order in the media and publishing industries.

"Solar is a profoundly democratic technology – for the most part owned and operated by the general public, by schools, community groups and small private institutions. Across Europe approximately two thirds of all solar installations are not owned by energy utilities. By giving homeowners the ability to generate a significant proportion of their own electricity, you cut into the market power of the established utilities." More