Graham's Comments

Chris, that's part of the conversation that I think needs to be brought up more and more realistically. It seems like every event we go to as journalists, we're hearing about how renewables move us away from oil. The problem of course is that most of them don't. High efficiency wood heating technologies here in the Northeast and biofuels are the only ones that do and they're not ready to make the same kind of impact that solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower can and are making to replace coal and and natural gas.

Steven, that's a good catch and has been changed. Thanks.

The announcement certainly was short on details wasn't it? I think business, rather than activism is at the core of the deal, which explains the timidity of his quote compared to his thoughts on global warming in the past. I would be willing to bet that Turner will be leasing a lot of his land for solar, wind and transmission projects.

Thanks for your comment ynot. It is indeed the case that India is looking to develop 20 GW of solar by 2022, not 220 GW.

The link in the story now links to the LBNL reports database. Thanks to everyone who noticed the error.

Bill: Another great point that needs to be considered. Leases for land have been a big part of wind development as well. And as much as those in the renewables industry don't like to admit it natural gas will probably play a big role in our near-term energy future. It is a fossil fuel and obviously emits far more greenhouse gases than solar PV, but it is a domestic energy source and helps to secure (at least for a while) our energy future. It's definitely a wider discussion and one that is and will continue to be a subtext to the debates over renewable energy that are taking place around the world. We just need to keep putting money on the tortoise and hope that it catches up soon.

Bill: I understand. Yes, it's difficult to get people to see the net positives for company's and individuals' bottom lines when it comes to climate change and renewables but the case can be made and hopefully we as an industry will find better ways to make that case.

Bill: I'm inclined to agree with you, but from my perspective as a journalist its very difficult to simply dismiss e-mails, commenters and other feedback as simply being from idiots. I think that climate change is very obviously the result of the carbon intensive industries and energy sources you mention.

As Jennifer points out, I think the doubters need to be sidestepped rather than ignored, the security, economic, health and other tangible benefits of renewable energy, emission reduction and sustainability need to be put front and center. To borrow a comment from earlier in this thread, this is how we get everyone on the same sinking ship.

LMerry: It's the people who disagree with the science or think its a fraud that the industry has to worry about in my opinion. These are the people who will be at town hall and planning meetings railing against "expensive" renewable energy projects that are "unnecessary" because climate change is a myth. It's getting them to even acknowledge that the ship is going down that seems to be the problem.

To me the answer to them has to be that climate change, carbon and renewable energy policies and implementation will be an economic driver and a jobs creator.

I can tell you that Rhone Resch and more SEIA leadership is in Copenhagen looking out for and promoting the US Solar Industry. If I see any more I'll post some link.s

John: When your study comes out, please send any press releases as well as a copy to editor@renewableenergyworld.com. Thanks so much.

Hello Emile. You should contact Sun Day directly at the phone number available on the page that the story links to, or at sun-day-campaign@hotmail.com.

Bama: Thanks for your comment. It is true that Ocean Power Technologies Stock Ticker symbol is OPTT. However the company abbreviates its name as OPT both in its press releases and on its webpage. We will try to make that clearer in the future. Thank you.

Jim, thank you for your comment. The story has been changed to better reflect the press release.

Part 1 of this story is now linked at the end of the story. Thank You.