Treehugger has an interesting report that utility companies account for less than half of alternative power generation in Germany.
Over $100 billion worth of private investment in solar and wind has raised Germany's renewable energy share to over 20% of electricity consumed.
Solar power output in Germany is up 60% for 2011.
This is an important trend we should emulate in the US, I think.
While some of the large solar arrays, wind farms, etc. may still be required to provide the huge juice needed by industry, we don't really need that kind of grid for most home and business use, so much, it seems to me.
Decentralized local grids would truly mean more "power to the people", instead of perpetuating the present contrived centralized dictatorship of corporate dominance and manipulation of the energy market and virtually our entire economy.
With sufficient progressive Democratic plurality in the House and Senate, the necessary incentives and subsidies could really focus on putting solar panels on the roof of virtually every structure in the nation, as well as other kinds of localized wind, hydro, etc. appropriate alternative tech applications.
This would save citizens huge money on their utility bills going forward, and a crash war-effort kind of comprehensive program to fully roll out the new green paradigm, all the way, on all fronts, would allow us to put everyone back to work, bring the troops home, have health care and education, etc.
I also think that a properly funded and staffed EPA would fairly quickly put a report on the President's desk, informing him that there really is no such thing as "clean" coal or "safe" nukes, and that we must go green, all the way, immediately, to save the planet.
And I believe the Prez would say "OK, let's do it!", if he had the backup, And the jackup, heh, in Congress, to "make" him.
Only under such circumstances, of a fully functional, science-based EPA and Energy Department NOT dominated by corporate hacks, would we be able to trust any determination that the latest generation of nuclear power technology is safe "enough" to deploy, to supplement alternative sources of energy, should that really prove "necessary" or desirable, going forward.
But that would take generations to actually determine and deploy, while existing alternative tech is now ready for immediate deployment, far more cheaply and safely.
And the more aggressively we roll out the alternatives, the more the costs will go down, with economy of scale in manufacturing, research and development.
Meanwhile, existing obsolete nuke (and other polluting tech) de-commissioning, which will also take generations, could be accelerated, as the alternatives come on line to replace them.
The only thing holding us back is the relative right/left plurality in the House and Senate.
As long as the right, the Republicans (and Blue Dogs), and their corporate sponsors, retain sufficient plurality in Congress to block, delay and sabotage all progress, the whole world is screwed, regardless of the issue.
The principal problem with the Democrats, such as they are, is the very considerable amount of coercion, co-optation and, yes, corruption, that emanates from the right.
ONLY removing that pressure from the right, democratically, electorally, legislatively and judicially will allow us to surge forward into the 21st Century, for justice and peace, to save the planet.
The ultimate, real, root issue is democracy.
Bring the Better Democrats!
All Out for 2012!
Death to monopoly corporate fascism!
IMPORTANT NOTE:
For those who may be "concerned" about the militancy of my position, in terms of "Death"...This is meant metaphorically, rhetorically speaking, of course.
Unless they seek to resist the popular democratic mandate with civil war, of course.
This is NOT about being "mean" to capitalists.
We'll treat them far better than they have Ever treated us.
This is NOT about ripping anyone off, or knocking them on the head and throwing them in a cage, to be raped, brutalized and further de-humanized.
Substantial incentives and subsidies will be offered, to get on the bus and comply with the popular democratic will.
Only the most recalcitrant and intransigent anti-democratic elements need be subject to harsher measures, subject to a fair trial...
But monopoly corporate fascism must face revolutionary justice...which is ALL about democracy.