Alternative . Renewable . Energy

US government missing the boat on alternative energy

This post is brought to you by  Curt Rosengren ~ Passion Catalyst TM   "Love your work. Change your world."

The idea that there is incredible potential behind the green economy of the future is exciting and hopeful. But the question today still remains, how much potential is there? Part of the answer depends on the choices governments make in supporting, for example, alternative energy. Currently in the US, that's been lacking.

Here's a good article on the issue in BusinessaWeek. Referring to a recent study that projected that "the green economy could produce as many as 40 million jobs and $4.53 trillion in annual revenue by 2030," the article suggests...

Despite the undeniable green momentum, a $4 trillion-plus U.S. green economy is far from likely—even in 22 years—because there simply is no "aggressive, sustained" federal policy. The federal government has failed to create and adequately fund the programs that would make the U.S. a world leader. And that's what the government should be trying to do, for reasons that go far beyond rising carbon levels. The U.S. risks falling way behind other countries in the development of green technologies. On its current course, this country could trade oil dependence for reliance on alternative energy products built by other nations already far ahead of it.

It goes on to talk about the positive developments on state and local level, as well as from the private sector. But...

Silicon Valley didn't become a global tech leader thanks to private equity alone. From the funding of the Arpanet, the granddaddy of the Internet, to research and development tax credits, the federal government helped the technology industry grow. The green economy envisioned by the ASES report will never be realized unless the government takes a similar approach. Despite condemning "America's addiction to oil" and promoting the importance of alternative energies in his State of the Union addresses, President Bush has consistently failed to follow through on his promises to fund for alternative energy research. He's generous with the green rhetoric, just not with actual greenbacks.

"Every robust energy technology has existed because of government support and tax subsidies," says Joel Makower, editor of GreenBiz.com. "But there hasn't been the appetite [in Washington] to do that for clean energies."

And if the federal government doesn't get its act together?

It's not over, but the federal government needs to take meaningful action, matching the bottom-up efforts of state and local governments, activists, and venture capitalists. If it doesn't, it won't just mean jobs lost. Even worse, today's dependence on foreign oil will transform into tomorrow's dependence on foreign alternative energy technologies.

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Sweden goes for green energy

In my early 20's I lived in Stockholm for a few months, so it always does my heart good to see the progressive stance Sweden tends to take. Like its goal of massive reduction of fossil fuel use by 2020...

It now aims to break with fossil fuels by 2020, when it also wants greenhouse gas emissions, blamed by many for global warming, cut by 25 per >cent against 1990 levels.

"We have to transform into a non-oil economy," said Stefan Edman, who heads the Swedish government's oil dependency panel. "We have very high ambitions, although I don't think it is realistic that not a drop of oil will be used in 2020."

Sweden has already cut oil use in home heating by 70 per cent in the last 20 years and has kept consumption flat in industry since 1994, despite a 70 per cent increase in production.

Interestingly, the article points out that Finland (where I also lived in my early 20's)  is upping its nuclear power capability, with the first nuclear power plant in Europe in ten years scheduled to come online in 2009.

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China's goal: Double renewable energy reliance

More promising news out of China...

China, the world's second biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, announced plans yesterday to more than double its reliance on renewable energy by 2020, which could make it a leading player in the wind, solar and hydropower industries.

Of course, like most things you have to look at the big picture to put it in perspective. While encouraging, critics say that China's net impact is still negative.

But environmentalists said that Beijing's new target was still not ambitious enough to offset the climatic damage caused by its spectacular economic growth, which will continue to be predominantly fuelled by coal.

Still, from the perspective of developing the global alternative energy industry (which can only come from heavy duty investment, whether in the public or private sector), that has to have a positive effect.

[via Climate Change Blog]

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China's "Green GDP"

Is it possible to combine economic growth and sustainability? The Chinese government apparently hopes so. They're working on a measure for a "green GDP."

[via TriplePundit]
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Bottom-up environmental change

An article in the Seattle Post-Intelligence points out the difference between energy policy developing in Washington D.C. and that developing in major cities like Seattle.

Just outside the capital, President Bush touted as a "good bill" a House-passed energy measure that would dole out more than $37 billion in tax breaks and subsidies to the coal, nuclear and oil industries.

In the Emerald City, at that hour, the Seattle City Council was getting an initial briefing on Green-Up, a Seattle City Light program that will offer utility customers the option of buying into renewable energy sources such as wind power.

The article points out the importance of endeavors like Green-Up...

It shows how thinking outside the box, treated as heresy in Washington, D.C., is catching on in the provinces. In America today, new ideas flow from the bottom up.

And it's not just Seattle...

Green-Up will help Seattle practice what Mayor Greg Nickels has been out preaching.

Nickels is a driving force behind the recently adopted U.S. Conference of Mayors climate protection agreement, which commits cities to reducing global warming pollution by a dozen different methods.

The mayors -- 164 signed on even before the resolution was adopted -- promise to do everything from increasing fuel efficiency in municipal vehicles, to building code improvements, to building bike paths, to keeping urban forests that increase shade and absorb carbon dioxide.

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Germany commits to 100% renewable energy

It appears that Germany is leading the charge in aggressive renewable energy policy. This article on SustainableBusiness.com says that the German government has committed to a transition to 100% renewable energy.

Germany's most urgent conclusion is that the period lasting until about 2020 comprises "make-or-break" years for the renewable energy transition. It is this conviction that has driven German policy makers to introduce the world's most aggressive support for renewables, to stick with it during the past decade and to guarantee that support for the next 20-30 years.

The renewable energy industry has signs of being an economic engine as well.

By the end of 2003, Germany had an estimated 45,400 permanent jobs resulting from the wind industry alone, a figure expected to increase to 103,000 jobs by 2010. About one new job is created in the German wind industry for every 300 kW capacity installed, for a technology that contributes 6.2% of the nation's demand for electricity. In contrast, the German nuclear industry, which supplies about 30% of the nation's electricity, employs 38,000 people. The German wind industry therefore produces 10 times as many jobs per unit of installed capacity, and more than 20 times the jobs in terms of delivered electricity. About 35,000 people are employed in the solar industries. Total solar sales grew by 60% in 2004, to more than 2 billion euros (US$2.6 billion).

Finally, the article suggests that Germany's experience can be proof other governments to believe that a massive shift to renewable energy is possible.

Starting from almost no renewable energy applications, Germany has moved to the forefront of global renewable energy in just 10 years. Governments need no longer doubt if it is possible. Other governments would do well to follow suit, by recasting their national energy policies to capitalize on nature's renewable bounty.

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China passes renewable energy law

An article on SustainableBusiness.com says that China recently took a step that could have a positive impact on renewable energy markets around the world.

China has passed a renewable energy law, setting the stage for the country to transform world renewable energy markets.

The Renewable Energy Promotion Law, which takes effect next year, requires power grid operators to purchase resources from registered renewable energy producers.

It also encourages oil distribution companies to sell biological liquid fuel, and offers financial incentives, such as a national fund to foster renewable energy development, and tax preferences for renewable energy projects. 

The move has the potential to make a large environmental impact because China is one of the worlds biggest producers of carbon dioxide.

China relies on coal for about 75 percent of its energy and coal-fired plants account for most of its pollution. China is now the world's second biggest producer of carbon dioxide accounting for a seventh of the global total. Only the United States is worse, according to the International Energy Agency.

By virtue of the sheer size of the Chinese market, this move also has the potential to ratchet up the focus on the business potential of renewable energy.

Last year, the market for wind energy in China grew by 35% even without the new law. China has huge potential for solar, wave, tidal and biomass power and there is huge commercial interest in developing renewables there. Combined with energy efficiency improvements, NGOs believe China could meet all its energy needs from renewable energy and efficiency alone.

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John Kerry's energy plan

Want to see what John Kerry has up his sleeve on the energy front if elected? Alex Steffan at WorldChanging points to an article in BusinessWeek, as well as information on Kerry's site.

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The Apollo Alliance

I just came across The Apollo Alliance, a group that is pushing for a major investment in energy independence. According to their web site:

What is the New Apollo Project? The New Apollo Project is a $300 billion, public-private program to create three million new, clean energy jobs to free America from foreign oil dependence in ten years.  It is a program that reinvests in the competetiveness of American industry, rebuilds our cities, creates good jobs for working families, and ensures good stewardship of both the economy and our natural environment.

Why is it called the New Apollo Project?

The name is homage to President John F. Kennnedy's Apollo Project, which put a man on the moon in under ten years.  The New Apollo Project calls for a bold leadership vision, strong public action, and a shared national commitment to pressing challenges.

They seem to have done an excellent job thus far of lining up broad support from a wide variety of quarters - industry, environmentalists, labor, etc.

On their site, they outline a Ten-Point Plan for Good Jobs and Energy Independence.

1. Promote Advanced Technology & Hybrid Cars
2. Invest In More Efficient Factories
3. Encourage High Performance Building
4. Increase Use of Energy Efficient Appliances
5. Modernize Electrical Infrastructure
6. Expand Renewable Energy Development
7. Improve Transportation Options
8. Reinvest In Smart Urban Growth
9. Plan For A Hydrogen Future
10. Preserve Regulatory Protections

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Energy politics in the US

Adam Keiper, Managing Editor at The New Atlantis, pointed me to an interesting article by Stephanie Cohen in this quarter's issue. It does a nice job of summarizing the energy debate from both a conservative and liberal perspective.

If you'd like to get a feel for energy politics in the US, this is a good primer.

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