JAPG,
A reporter for the Chicago Tribune called me yesterday for an interview for a story he's writing on alternative energies. Although I told him there are many contributors to this thread far more qualified to discuss the subject, I tried my best to convey reasoned thoughts and sound opinion. I also suggested he contact my old buddy Amory Lovins at the Rocky Mountain Institute. rmi.org
BTW -- The November Discover magazine has a good article on Amory's hydrogen economy notions. Not yet on their web site but I'll post when it shows up.
In addition to some of the points you make in your posting, I mentioned to him that the government must take a more active role in the promotion of alternative energy with increased research funding and fiscal incentives. This morning I e-mailed him the following article which shows some of the leadership and incentives I had in mind.
I also suggested that should the now cavernous gash in lower Manhattan be re-built the buildings should be designed to produce their own energy without reliance on a single drop of imported oil. Such a statement would send a powerful message throughout the world.
Should the Trib article actually see the light of day, and, since I don't get the Trib, if the reporter sends me a link, I'll be sure to post it here.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply and substantiating link.
Jerry in Omaha
Wednesday, 3 October, 2001, 10:06 GMT 11:06 UK
The road to renewal
news.bbc.co.uk
Behind the famous black door, Downing Street has gone green. The UK Government's Cabinet Office is the latest electricity consumer to switch its supply to renewable sources.
Next time Tony Blair stays up late to digest the details of some government policy document, the midnight oil he burns will be slightly different.
Downing Street has renegotiated its contracts with electricity suppliers so that in future its power will come from renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro and landfill gas.
And where the government leads, thousands of individuals and business are expected to follow.
Almost all electricity supply companies operating in the UK now offer so-called "green tariff" schemes to their customers.
Initial uptake has been sluggish - there are only an estimated 18,000 subscribers so far. But awareness levels are increasing among consumers as electricity companies gear up for a new legal requirement, called the Renewables Obligation, which is due at the start of 2002.
For customers who sign up to renewable energy contracts, there is no change in the type of electricity piped into their homes.
The difference is at the supplier-generator end. Suppliers, such as PowerGen and Npower, are "middlemen" who buy units of electricity from generating companies and sell them on to consumers, both commercial and domestic.
When someone switches to become a renewable energy customer, the supplier simply cuts its quota from traditional generators and ups its supply from "green" generators.
Most renewable schemes charge customers a premium. Those signing up to London Electricity's Green Tariff pay 0.4p more per unit. Over a year, the average household would pay about £13 extra for the service.
The company, which has received up to 1,000 inquiries since launching the scheme three weeks ago, currently takes its green power from a combination of renewable sources. But in the long-term it hopes to build a wind turbine park on the Norfolk coast.
Npower, one of Britain's biggest energy suppliers, also has designs on building a wind farm to feed its renewable energy customers.
Greenpeace backing
Unusually, it supplies green energy at the same price as more traditional supplies.
Currently, Npower sources its renewable power from a hydroelectric scheme in Snowdonia, north Wales.
Its plan is to convert 50,000 customers by 2003, and get backing to start building a wind farm at North Hoyle, on the north Wales coast.
The Npower scheme, which is only available to domestic customers, is also unique in having the support of Greenpeace. It is one of the few occasions the environmental pressure group has backed a commercial venture.
However, take up so far has been slow, an Npower spokeswoman admits. The operator expects to have 10,000 converts by January.
Spencer Clubb, of the electricity watchdog Energywatch, says consumers are used to greener options costing more.
Rising costs
"Most people are reluctant to go through the process of switching suppliers. People are fairly lazy about this sort of thing," he says.
But a rise in renewable energy is assured when the Renewables Obligations comes into force.
The legislation is expected to state that by 2005, suppliers will be obliged to draw 5% of electricity from renewable sources, and that should rise to 10% by 2010.
Those that do not meet the obligation will have to pay a "buy-out price" which will then be re-distributed among suppliers who do match up.
And in the long-term, our electricity bills will rise to cover the greater expense of generating energy from renewable sources. Mr Clubb says consumers can expect a 5% rise over 10 years. |
