Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Earth Day goal: Democratize energy
This is the most hopeful sign I've seen this Earth Day because it's from a former Republican Party officer in Louisiana. IF he gets it, then maybe there are enough others to swing the balance in favor of doing what needs to be done.
Earth Day goal: Democratize energy
5:15 AM, Apr. 22, 2012
Written by Michael Stafford
Today marks the 42nd anniversary of the first observance of Earth Day, and there is much to celebrate.
However, there are dark clouds on the horizon. The Tea Party has essentially declared war on the environment. Sadly, renewable energy is a favorite, and a frequent, target.
...
The opposition to renewable energy programs is particularly unfortunate. Globally, the United States already lags behind other nations, such as Germany, in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources.
...
Renewable energy's potential to localize and democratize energy production can be seen in Germany. An astonishing 51 percent of Germany's renewable energy is generated by private citizens and farms. Moreover, many of Germany's larger-scale renewable projects are locally owned and operated.
Leading voices in the United Kingdom have also recognized the revolutionary potential of locally owned renewable energy. For example, ResPublica, an influential British think-tank, has called for, in the words of Senior Researcher Caroline Julian, "a truly transformative capitalism [that] will place markets back into the hands of the people" by focusing on local energy production rather than simply "greater market efficiency and increased competition amongst the larger energy suppliers""...
5:15 AM, Apr. 22, 2012
Written by Michael Stafford
Today marks the 42nd anniversary of the first observance of Earth Day, and there is much to celebrate.
However, there are dark clouds on the horizon. The Tea Party has essentially declared war on the environment. Sadly, renewable energy is a favorite, and a frequent, target.
...
The opposition to renewable energy programs is particularly unfortunate. Globally, the United States already lags behind other nations, such as Germany, in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources.
...
Renewable energy's potential to localize and democratize energy production can be seen in Germany. An astonishing 51 percent of Germany's renewable energy is generated by private citizens and farms. Moreover, many of Germany's larger-scale renewable projects are locally owned and operated.
Leading voices in the United Kingdom have also recognized the revolutionary potential of locally owned renewable energy. For example, ResPublica, an influential British think-tank, has called for, in the words of Senior Researcher Caroline Julian, "a truly transformative capitalism [that] will place markets back into the hands of the people" by focusing on local energy production rather than simply "greater market efficiency and increased competition amongst the larger energy suppliers""...
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/DG/20120422/OPINION/204220320/Michael-Stafford-Earth-Day-goal-Democratize-energy?odyssey=nav%7Chead