We fear a change in the way we power our lives because we fear that any other way will restrict our freedom....the trouble is, by not changing, we already are restricting our freedom.
Through a green glass, darkly: How climate will reshape American history
"During the 20th century, the United States put into place a system of policies, technologies, and infrastructures intended to extract mass quantities of natural resources from the Earth. Those resources established the material basis of the nation’s economic and military power, and they fueled — literally — a popular belief that the future would bring unending abundance and global dominance. Modern conservatism and its party, the Republicans, have become the last refuge of people still holding onto the vestiges of that older vision. Many of us, whatever our political beliefs, are deeply invested in the system that was intended to provide cheap fuel and food and to amass enormous wealth and power. Some people are willing to admit that the end is in sight; some, because the system still rewards them or because they still find the potential rewards alluring, are unwilling."
Even when one of the most conservative entities on our plant wants to take steps to improve national security by finding less dangerous fuels, they run into an entrenched resistance of fear.
On clean energy, the military's biggest fight is with Congress
"The Congressional opponents argue that today’s next-generation biofuels, from algae, waste streams, and other feedstocks, are significantly more expensive than fossil fuels, and that is certainly true. But they also argue that it’s not the Pentagon’s role to pay a premium to help bring new technologies to commercial scale that would bring costs down, and that argument conveniently ignores, oh, about 150 years of U.S. military history. As Navy Secretary Ray Mabus often says, 'Since the 1850s, the Navy has moved from sail power to coal to oil to nuclear. And every time we changed, plenty of people said the new energy source was too expensive, too hard, and too unproven. But every time, we made a better Navy.'"
Since we have broken the link between economic growth and vehicle travel, thankfully, we still have people willing to take bold steps to give "state of the shelf" technologies and strategies an opportunity to take root...
US finalizes big jump in auto fuel efficiency
"'These fuel standards represent the single most important step we've ever taken to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,' President Barack Obama said in a statement.
The new fuel efficiency standards will save consumers $1.7 trillion in gasoline costs and reduce U.S. oil consumption by 12 billion barrels over the period, according to the White House."
...and there are still organizations within our cities undeterred by the prevalence of fear and misunderstanding.
CNT Energy teams with Nicor's Economic Redevelopment Program to bring energy efficiency to all Chicago neighborhoods
"The program focuses its technical assistance on buildings that are located in or will have significant economic impact over economically challenged areas, such as Economic Zones and TIF districts, as well as all projects that spur growth in low-income areas by creating jobs, offering social services, rehabilitating brownfields or vacant buildings, or providing affordable housing. Qualifying buildings should be at least 10,000 square feet and must still be in the early stages of designing and planning so that the program’s energy savings strategies can have impact."
The reward is great when we look past the fear and see what really awaits us....opportunity.
Ski lifts open $25 billion market for storing power
"'Electricity is the only commodity in the world that isn’t really stored,' said Prescott Logan, who heads GE’s storage business in Schenectady, New York, where last month it opened a $100 million plant to make batteries for utilities. When storage becomes cheap and massive, 'the impact will be huge.'
The $260 billion renewables industry needs storage so power companies can absorb surges from solar and wind farms from Texas to Mongolia. The devices will be key for plans by Germany to shift Europe’s biggest electricity market from atomic energy, said Gil Forer, Ernst & Young LLP’s clean-tech head in New York."
Happy Friday!!
Very true. Very timely.
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