Going Green

We have an opportunity amidst all the turmoil of a failing economy. With solid commitment, leadership and funding, our government can turn this country toward a green economy that would provide new jobs and lower man’s carbon footprint on this planet. Going green at this time in our history seems like such a win-win for everyone, unless they base their economy and livelihood on the continued dependence on fossil fuels.

Picture this. Every home and building would have a combination of solar panels and wind turbines. When it is sunny, the solar panels would create electric power and put it back on the grid or at least lower your use from the grid. Your electric meter would slow and perhaps even reverse, selling your created electricity back to the power company. If it is windy, whether cloudy or the dark of night, the wind turbines kick in and you still produce electricity. Solar panels and collector systems can also replace or supplement hot water heaters now fueled by natural gas or electricity. This is not science fiction. The technology is here right now. In fact, the German government is subsidizing the installation of solar panels on its homes and buildings even now.

So how would the average person afford such new technology? That’s where the leadership and funding of local, state and federal governments comes in. Through the use of incentives, subsidizing equipment, tax credits and community programs that would help low income homeowners, the process of converting our homes and offices into power plants could really take off. Over time, it would require a new business model for our power companies. They would have to transition from a company that provides the power and bills us for that commodity to a company that maintains and repairs the power grid system. Perhaps they even get into the manufacturing and installation of the solar panels and wind turbines. Eventually they would move from building coal burning or nuclear power plants to building and maintaining transmission lines and power distribution centers.

This transition of business models could be the biggest stumbling block for this evolution of how and where we get our power. That is where our government and solid, committed leadership will be needed. The science is there. The oil and gas industry and the power companies will surely oppose any massive switch to green power generated by individual homeowners unless they see something in it for them. Jobs and a whole new market right here at home would seem a good place to start. Customers would still need companies to manufacture and install the equipment. Customers would still need repairs to that equipment and power lines after storms. We would still need companies to maintain and update transmission lines and power grids to ensure the flow and distribution of this locally produced power.

Power plants powered by fossil fuels might still be needed during the transition and beyond, but over time they would be needed less and less. We could eventually eliminate the pollution of coal fired power plants and the problem of nuclear plant waste storage. Wind farms, solar farms, hydroelectric and geothermal plants could be used to fill any gap in the power supply. Even harnessing the power of wave motion along our costs seems a likely option. Think about electric cars charged at home by the sun and the wind! I’m convinced it can be worked out. If we put a man on the moon, then we can surely find a way to stop using fossil fuels and make use of and distribute alternative energies.

If we realize the short term and long range benefits to going green, it will be amazing. The immediate benefit would be the creation of jobs here at home and the development of a new technology that would carry us far into the future. The long range benefits include a lower carbon footprint on our environment and that might help to slow or even stop global warning. It would free us from our dependence on foreign oil and those unstable countries that now supply us. If countries could create their own power, there might be less strife and war. The have’s could no longer hold the have not’s hostage to the supply of fossil fuels, because the sun and wind are plentiful to all. Instead of burning our dwindling oil supplies in cars and trucks and power plants, it can be used for durable goods, medicines and chemicals.

We have a window of opportunity right now. Will we take it?

FOOD for THOUGHT...