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Endorsements for this Idea
Nonprofits and bloggers can formally endorse an idea they support. 12 current endorsements:
- The Unknown Candidate
- Backstage w/ Supak
- EcoLabs
- Focus the Nation
- Amoration
- Green Dads
- From the Sole
- Sustainable Food
- WebEcoist - Offbeat Environmentalism
- Why Not?
- 1Sky
- evoasis
You are going to have to facilitate an enormous change in the mind-set of these greedy utility executives who own and operate all these filthy coal-fired power plants in this region of the country before anything good can happen on the energy-environment front.
These jokers have been so married to coal for over 75 years -- you have no idea. And their real political power and influnece are way out of proportion to what they should be.
Right now, Governor Mitch Daniels is attempting to force every natural gas distribution system throughout the state to agree to take-or-pay contracts to support a multi-billion dollar coal to natural gas conversion plant spomewhere here in southwestern Indiana. When you read the legislation, it sounds like a business model straight out of the communist manifesto or something that would be imposed upon the industry by the Chinese government.
From every indication, it appears as if everybody in the energy industry around here seems to be going along with no questions asked.
Suggested by David Coker on 01/20/2009 @ 05:30AM PT
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Make it easier and cheaper for people to upgrade their home to be energy efficient and to have their own power. Where I live it's very expensive and it takes a long time to install anything energy efficient. Our water heater went out and we tried to get a tankless model installed. We couldn't find anyone that knew how to install one, it was going to take a long time to get the one guy that knew how to do it to come out, so we ended up with a regular tank water heater. We live in a good sized city...this shouldn't happen. Make the materials readily available, cheap and give installers incentives install them. Also, I looked into adding solar power panels to my home...ouch. They are so expensive I would never be able to afford them. If we want people to start using them, they have to be made economically feasible weather it's a power company, home or business that's installing them.
Suggested by Michele Morgan on 01/19/2009 @ 07:42PM PT
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Yes, 10 years is too long. We have already waited too long. Please, please accelerate the utilization of solar (PV and other forms of using sunlight, i.e. passive solar) and wind energy using today's technologies while continuing to aggressively invest in expansion and advanced R&D to further reduce the costs. Incentives may be needed. If the US sets the stage, the rest of the world is sure to follow. All nations will be energy independent since we all have the Sun and the Wind.
Krishna Sapru
Suggested by Krishna Sapru on 01/19/2009 @ 03:03PM PT
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Research/funding for tidal energy: http://re.pembina.org/sources/tidal
Suggested by Mayah Kane on 01/18/2009 @ 07:15PM PT
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Conservation needs to be emphasized. Why produce energy only to waste most of it? Passive houses in Germany use a heat exchanger system and require no heater or air conditioner. Pour some of the rescue money into solarizing and weatherizing our buildings so we don't need to use so much energy thereby reducing the need for long transmission lines which waste an enormous mount of energy. Replace some of the white reflecting value of the lost arctic ice by requiring all house roofing be white and of a highly reflective material, ditto for all cars. We really need to go carbon negative so pour tons of money into research on soaking up carbon, methane and other greenhouse gases. One fellow is experimenting with creating forest ecosystems in the melting tundra in Siberia. We have to change our U.S. profligate lifestyle into one with respect for the planet's carrying capacity. We can't consume, consume, consume, while others starve.
Suggested by Wren Osborn on 01/18/2009 @ 07:48AM PT
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Our sun delivers 89 petawatts of photo-voltaic power to Earth, which is almost 6,000 times the current human usage of 15 terawatts. Assuming there are `100 million private homes, commercial and government buildings in U.S., which can be considered idle "power plants" , I propose federal requirements that all new and retro-fitted structures be largely energy self-sufficient Solar energy is versatile;It can produce photovoltaic electricity,heat water, and pumps can transfer geothermal energy for cooling and heating Architects can utilize passive effects for above and underground homes. Solar technology has advanced to the extent that environmental engineers and architects envision 100% self-sufficiency. Fortunately, excess electricity can be sold to the local utility. Certainly,local production and consumption of electricity can reduce the necessity for some larger plants such as wind farms, etc. and cut the costs of some transmission lines and cut the costs of detrimental fossil fuels by hundreds of$ billion I envision a major program , which the new Administration seeks, putting many $ and hundreds of thousands of unemployed people to work.
Suggested by walden and betty joura on 01/17/2009 @ 08:00PM PT
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I don't feel we have ten years, and we cannot wait until a new technology is developed. We need to do something yesterday, and so I suggest a multi-pronged "attack" on the energy issue, that will also create jobs and stimulate the economy.
Invest in All alternative energy systems, beginning with small wind and solar. By making it affordable for homeowners and businesses to install power producing wind turbines and solar panels, they will be reducing their energy costs while reducing GHG emissions, and promoting manufacturing and jobs.
Invest in building, not rebuilding a power grid system with intelligence. Starting at the local levels, and then regionally, to produce decentralized distribution connections with fault tolerance and redundancy. This removed a major terrorist target.
Instead of bailing out auto makers who do not have a good business plan to become profitable, invest in auto makers who are willing to produce electric drive vehicles utilizing a small fuel engine for generating power when all other power production is not sufficient.
Invest in ideas like the solar roadway which will produce power, store it, and provide safe driving in all road conditions. The solar roadway can be self cleaning with the additional of heating cells that will melt ice and snow, eliminating the need for plowing and spreading chemicals.
Rebuild the nation's interstate highways system with solar/wind power generation all along shoulders or medians. This can be used for information/warning displays, lighting, rest areas with safe lighting and charging stations for plug in electric vehicles. Eventually, the technology will permit inductive or wireless transmission of electric, And vehicles can be powered by that energy while moving. Tolls could be charged for electric usage, which will pay for the costs of the equipment and road maintenance. As less fuel vehicles travel those highways, less exhaust and leaking radiators and engine oil will be spilled onto the surface, which will allow the roads to last longer between resurfacing. Of course by utilizing the Solar Roadway concept, maintenance and repair costs will drop.
When the majority of American homes and businesses are producing electricity with clean renewable sources, the need for the power industry will wane. City and County public works will maintain the grid system in their jurisdiction, while the state and federal government will maintain the interconnects from county to county and from state to state respectively.
America CAN be energy independent within five years if we get the government support required to do so. I don't feel that rewarding banks and auto makers who have proved to be bad business models, with our tax dollars is worth the risk. I find that the plans that I have set before you here is one that will provide a rapid economic recovery and growth in the shortest amount of time.
Fred Mars
Corvallis, Oregon
Suggested by Fred Marsico on 01/17/2009 @ 12:19PM PT
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Vague is right. It could even mean that Liz is into Corn and Soy as good bio fuels. They are not. The fastest growing plants are bamboo, hemp and rapeseed. All three do not need chemical pesticides or Monsanto genetic seed manipulation/mutation.
Too bad that the new Secretary of Agriculture is Pro Monsanto.
It makes me wonder if Obama even has a clue about this?
Suggested by Star Shields on 01/17/2009 @ 10:46AM PT
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I think this is a excellent idea we need to go green and quick as possible. We are polluting the air and toxins are floating everywhere, Cars & trucks need to go green and energy needs to go green, so that we allow clean energy to reduce the toxins in the air and help our environment. I myself plan to go back to college for environmental studies and work in the field we need more jobs in this field. It will take some time to convert just like it did for digital cable. We can do it but it will take us the people to help out on this idea.
Suggested by Lawrence Decoste on 01/17/2009 @ 09:14AM PT
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We need to make energy improvements to residential properties deductible from income tax in the year the improvement is made instead of in the year the house is sold.
We need to fund photo-voltaic solar electric without mortgage financing and compound interest.
We need to empower private industry to create a large scale solar electric power plant on top of the rooftop of our cities. To do this we must improve the grid to receive distributed power generation and compensate for intermitent power output and variability in power supply.
We need to create the legal landscape for a new generation of green power industries, to include energy arbitrage or trading of energy securities.
We need to empower inventors to patent energy related invention at rates that common working people can afford to pay.
We need to create million new family supporting jobs building the rooftop power plant.
We need to create another 5 million jobs rebuilding the grid and creating energy storage, because the grid must have a backbone to support distributed power generation.
Suggested by Terry Walker on 01/17/2009 @ 09:04AM PT
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