They Call the Wind Energy

Campus Report ^ | July 29, 2008 | Jeff Waldmann

[bs9021]

They Call the Wind Energy

by: Jeff Waldmann, July 29, 2008

The solutions to the energy crisis and relief for unemployment woes can all be found across the pond in Europe, according to a July 22 panel at the Center for American Progress.

The panel, including two U.S. experts on both alternative energy and green building and two European officials, discussed energy policy in great detail, and were particularly interested in the application of alternative energy policy in Europe here in the United States.

While the event promised to be a discussion of solutions to global warming, and the policies discussed could certainly have been painted as such, the panelists spoke very little about the effect their proposed policies would have on global climate.

More central to the event were the economic impacts of new and expanded alternative energy policies and how these revised policies would alleviate the energy crisis facing the United States. The distinction between actual and predicted benefits became blurred in the presentation.

Also left vague in the discussion was the source of capital for this emerging alternative energy market. The question of whether it is subsidized by the government or fueled by private investment got no easy answers.

“We are getting a greater return on renewables than fossil fuels,” said Rhone Resch, the president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, “The research potential is absolutely enormous.”

Resch believes that former Vice President Al Gore’s stated goal of having the United States’ entire energy supply provided by alternative energies within ten years is well within reach, saying, “We can do it.”

Perhaps the most interesting commentary of the panel was related to the potential impact of alternative energy on the U.S. economy...

[RightWhale]

“We are getting a greater return on renewables than fossil fuels,” said Rhone Resch, the president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, “The research potential is absolutely enormous.”

No doubt, since they are in the renewables business rather than petroleum.

[count-your-change]

This is the part I like best, “Resch believes that former Vice President Al Gore’s stated goal of having the United States’ entire energy supply provided by alternative energies within ten years is well within reach, saying, “We can do it.”
Seems pretty simple. In the first five years 50% conversion to alternatives energy and during the next four years building on the experience gained and money saved, do the other 50%. That would be a whole year ahead of schedule.
“We can do it.” Why of course, no problem, easy, a mere trifle.

[steelyourfaith]

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[iThinkBig]

How about T. Boons? Great switch and propoganda now that the oil goose is temporarily in decline.

Yeah wind! That’s the way to go! Easy to consider this can indeed power parts of Texas and some outlying areas which were not his idea to begin with, but it is beyond disturbing he is telling the public wind is the answer to all of our needs. Somewhat hypocritcal as well. Invest in whatever makes money but annoying to see him stand there in front of millions of people and act like he now cares about America.

T. Boone should move onto politics and run as a Democrat, he is missing the real action to legislate into his own pocket.