Renewable Energy Tops 10% of U.S. Energy Production

I have seen windmills still running, doing exactly the same jobs they were originally designed to do pumping water, milling grain and sawing wood, some almost 400 years old. The cost of fuel today(wind) is exactly the same as it was 400 years---free.

It is impossible for anyone to say exactly what the cost of nuclear fuel will be tomorrow, next week, next month or 400 years from now. At one time, we were told that petroleum would also always be in plenty supply and cheap to buy.

I've never heard of anyone who died as a result of ionizing radiation from a wind mill.

Advocates for Renewable Energy are in a struggle for attention and dollars given to the Nuclear Industry. Here's what I think is an excellent argument for Wind (& Solar, Hydro, Biofuel, and Geothermal) investmenet Instead of Nuclear:

"The Nuclear Industry is asking the US Department of Energy (DOE) to provide loan guarantees in the amount of $122 billion, which significantly exceeds the $18.5 billion in loan guarantees available under the June 30, 2008 Nuclear Power Facilities solicitation. The aggregate estimated construction cost of 14 projects is $188 billion. If all projects are constructed, they would add 28,800 megawatts."
http://www.energy.gov/news/6620.htm


In the Renewable Energy World article:

Record Growth for Wind: What Comes Next?
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53436

"The US installed 5244 MW (Wind) in 2007, more than double the 2006 figure and increasing total capacity by 45%. This figure is the largest ever installed in one country in one year, beating the 3200 MW installed in Germany in 2002. With plenty of additional construction under way, 2008 should also be a good year for installations."

"Any forecast for the US market will depend significantly on whether the production tax credit (PTC) gets renewed. "

"overall value to the global wind turbine market at around $300 billion over the next five years."


My (partial and still developing) Case for Wind over Nuclear is:

At 2007 Rates, in 10 years the US could install 10 x 5255 MW = 52,550 MW or 52 Gigawatt

-versus-

the Nuclear Industry's plan for 28,800 MW or 25 Gigawatt at a cost of $188 Billion which includes $122 Billion of Public Taxpayer Loan guarantees.



We need to do all we can to make our case Public and Loud.

Someone above wrote:

"In the U.S., We have the Best Wind Resources in the World. Global Companies want to invest in developing and profiting from our Wind and Solar resources much like We invested in Middle East Oil".

Indeed the landscape will continue to change and the need to have internationally educated individuals will become a major major challenge especially with the American jobs; as most Amercans speak only English- and not well.

With that in mind,...if any decision makers should be reading this and you need internationally traveled, trilingual employees, you should email my wife. Christine speaks reads, speaks and writes in English, French and Spanish.

Please pass this note along should you have the right contacts,...this is the only way to find good jobs today; 6-8 years of college, and a "little luck and timing".

Iberdrola are you listening?

English, Spanish and French; perfect for the venues across North Amercan and parts of Europe. "Have passport and International travel experience,...ready to interview".

Masters degreed, ready to work in "sustainable energy".

christine_berry1@verizon.net

Derek---tell me if I'm wrong, but what I read out of your post is that you think is that investing $100 Billion in renewable energy is a better investment than investing $700 Billion to $1 Trillion to bail out banks that got themselves into financial trouble by trying to be casinos.

I couldn't agree more---I just hope Congress and everyone else will agree.

In the U.S., We have the Best Wind Resources in the World. Global Companies want to invest in developing and profiting from our Wind and Solar resources much like We invested in Middle East Oil.

We can create 2 Million Clean Energy jobs in just 2 years with a $100 Billion investment. Imagine how many $700 Billion would create (14 Million New Jobs?):

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN0930092120080909

In Political debates, we must Change the focus to Job Creation and Renewable Energy investment. An Investment of $100 Billion in Renewable Energy Investment Tax Credits has the potential to generate $700~800 Billion of new Investment into our Economy, along with Millions of Jobs. In the long run it also frees us from sending Hundreds of Billions to the Middle East for Oil.

Report: Global Green Job Market Expected To Explode:

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53686


TAX REVENUES FROM WIND FARMS OFFSET TAX INCENTIVE

http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.2430


Renewable Energy Tops 10% of U.S. Energy Production

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/infocus/story?id=53684

Renewable energy such as Wind, Solar, Hydro, Biofuels, and Geothermal creates Millions of Jobs in Manufacturing, Construction, Maintenance, Electronics, Networking, Mechanics, Fabrication, Steel, New materials development, Education, and dozens of other industries.

The best way to encourage this is to join the political discussion and change the focus to Jobs and Renewable Energy Infrastructure development.

Advocates for Africa are encouraged to do the same. Having a stable government and educated work force certainly helps make your case, especially for European investment and development in African resources that stay local and provides jobs.

To: Gregor Giebel

Yes, I agree, the numbers appear switched: .244/.164 = 1.487. Probably a typo of sorts. Still, if this information is true, it's a phenomenal accomplishment for Renewables, nearly the same power as nuclear. I can envision Renewables surpassing nuclear in the near future.

WelcomeAtef. Thank you for the info.

Africa has substantial potential from new and renewable energy, more than 70% of the population of sub-Saharan Africa has no access to electricity and more than 70% of the final energy consumption in sub-Saharan Africa is based on wood energy with all its consequence for the environment. The International Energy Agency expects the number of Africans lacking electricity to increase from 535 million now to 586 million by 2030, most of them in rural areas. America and European countries should development Africa to exploit these potential to protect the environmental, and keep the climate from change
Atef Marzouk
Policy Officer in charge of Renewable Energy
African Union Commission
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
E-mail: atef_nrea@yahoo.com
Cell: 00 251 912 214 709

Copy&Paste error?

"Wind power saw the largest growth rate of any generation technology, increasing from 0.244 quads to 0.164 quads a jump of almost 49%".
Something's wrong here... Are the numbers switched?