I know the health care debate has taken up most of our attention this week, and with good reason. We definitely need to keep the heat on Washington until the bill is passed. But that doesn't mean we can't talk about alternative energy, does it? I say no.
Today, a bipartisan group of 29 governors arrived in Washington with one message-give us an energy bill! Among their recommendations:
Fast tracking a national Renewable Energy Standard, beginning with 10% by 2012.
Developing new infrastructure for electricity transmission
Enabling transmission to distant renewable energy resources.
Funding technology to develop wind energy in "wind-rich" coastal areas.
Streamlining the permitting process for wind energy projects.
Extending an economic stimulus grant program for wind projects
Providing a long-term extension of the wind energy production tax credit.
The governors reside in states that have either passed goals for renewable energy production or that have already passed a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES), requiring electric utilities add more renewable power to the grid. The states that have gone the furthest with their standards have the most green job growth. California, with a 33% requirement by 2020, has 36% green job growth. The RES states have also lowered greenhouse gases the most. The Northeast states that added an average of 17% to the grid to meet state RES are some of the same states that have achieved greenhouse gas levels to below Kyoto 1990 levels.
Starting today, California offers a new rebate to those who buy a zero emission or plug in hybrid. The rebate is worth $5000. One concern is that the rebate comes when there are no real affordable options for such vehicles on the market. Tesla cars are still pretty expensive, and the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf are not yet on the market. Maybe this came a year too soon, but it's still a good step forward.
But there is one affordable option on the market. Green Vehicles recently began selling a $20,000 electric car called the Triac. The 3 wheeled car has a range of 120 miles and can travel up to 70mph on the highway. Charging the lithium-ion batteries that power the 20kw electric motor takes about 6 hours, and there is an optional capacity boost battery pack available that extends the range by 20%. The Triac is available from the dealership in San Jose. Check it out:
Ted Turner is expanding his commitment to renewable energy:
Ted Turner’s newest renewable investment firm; Southern Turner Renewable Energy has wasted no time in signing its first solar plant, a 30 MW thin film PV project they just contracted from First Solar, within months after opening their doors for business. Construction will start this month.
The brand new company began business last month to develop and invest in large-scale solar photovoltaic projects throughout the US Southwest. It is a very smart alliance between CNN media mogul and philanthropist Ted Turner, who owns more land than any other individual in the US, and is an avid environmentalist – and Southern Company, an energy generation giant attempting to develop a greener sensibility.
There is a new, important player in the solar industry:
RF Micro Devices could soon become a "monster" player in the quest to turn sunlight into gold. The microchip maker said Monday it has developed a way to manufacture cells that convert sunlight into energy that could lead to some of the cheapest and most efficient solar cells yet.
The game-changer is that RF, which makes and ships about 2 million semiconductor chips for wireless communications every day, will be able to make solar cells without modifying its existing equipment.
The most important aspect of this story is the fact that such an established manufacturer is jumping into the solar market. RF Micro has hundreds of millions of dollars in plants and equipment to produce products, and they employ 1400 workers in Greensboro NC. If such a company sees solar power is a smart investment, something that can make them money, this is one of the best ways to quickly advance the technology.
Iowa has become one of the nation's leaders in wind energy:
Wind energy accounts for up to 20% of Iowa's total electricity production and is helping to keep the state's power costs among the lowest in the nation. That's according to a study by the Iowa Policy Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research group based in Iowa City.
If you read that story, you'll notice this interesting quote:
"Iowa has been a leader in producing wind energy and is poised for even greater results in the future. This renewable energy source has not only helped power Iowa, but at the same time has created green jobs for Iowans. The wind energy tax credit that I authored has been a tremendous impetus for the state to harness the power of wind for both clean energy and good paying jobs."
Who said this? Why, none other than Senator Chuck Grassley. So I guess we can count on you vote for the cap and trade bill in the Senate, right Chuck?
The current leader in wind energy, Texas (I was surprised too), continues its investment in wind energy, with $5 billion allocated to building wind energy transmission lines throughout west Texas.
I'll leave you with an idea that is not about energy, but rather how we live. It's called the Ultima Tower, designed by Eugene Tsui. It acts almost as a human termite nest and costs $150 billion. Two mile high green towers would house over one million people in a one mile wide area. Instead of floors, the building’s interior would consist of a multi-dimensional ecosystem complete with neighborhood districts and 30-50 meter high skies. Lakes, streams, rivers, hills and ravines comprise the soil landscape on which residential, office, commercial, retail and entertainment buildings can be built.
Now, are we going to be living in one of these anytime soon? Probably not. But it's an interesting idea, and with overcrowding looming as a real problem, it may be an option going forward.