Organic Pulse

In an earlier post, I said I believe the availability of renewable, clean energy is the most important issue facing us at this time. A major component of the Stimulus package passed by congress this weekend was investment in clean energy. Of the $800 billion approved by congress, over $115 billion is allocated to clean energy investments which are consistent with the comprehensive measures proposed in the New Apollo Program. For a good summary of the initiatives included in the Stimulus package for energy related investment see the summary on the Apollo Alliance website.

I have previously posted on the importance of the work being done by the Apollo Alliance. The Stimulus package, more formally known as The American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill, that is being debated in Washington this weekend is the single largest spending proposal in American history. While the economic merits and future effects on our economy of increasing the deficit to “stimulate” the economy can be debated by the Keynesians (for) and monetarists (against), the good news is that the bill strongly addresses the nation’s need for alternative energy. Much of what the Apollo Alliance represents is being incorporated in the bill. For a great summary and chart showing the Apollo Alliance proposal compared to the Stimulus bill, see Data Points: Comparing Approved House Stimulus With Apollo Recovery Act. The Apollo Alliance and its supporters should be applauded for their efforts to make this bill into something that will benefit us now AND in the future.

I firmly believe that during this century the availability of energy will determine the course of mankind. If we are wise enough to invest the resources necessary in new sources of renewable, clean energy, the future will be bright for mankind. If we continue to rely on the same dwindling supplies of fossil fuels, the next century will be marred by fighting over those resources. This is THE most important issue facing us at this time.

Early indications are that the Obama administration is heading in the right direction on energy policies. Among their plans are the following:

• Provide short‐term relief to American families facing pain at the pump. Easier than it looked – this may be the only benefit from the current state of the economy. We need to be careful that the temporary low fuel prices do not derail plans for alternatives.
• Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years
  to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future. During the campaign, $150 billion looked like a big number. The bail-out and economic stimulation bills have put that in perspective. The good news is that according to a January 25, 2009 Washington Post article, “Obama wants to double renewable energy capacity within three years, creating enough additional capacity to power 6 million homes, and he plans to leverage $100 billion to finance private-sector clean-energy initiatives.”
• Within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela
  combined. We better. Oil production peaked several years ago in most of the middle east and world consumption, with the exception of this (hopefully) short hiatus due to the economy, continues to increase.
• Put 1 million Plug‐In Hybrid cars – cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon – on the road by
  2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America. If they get 150 mpg, they can come from Botswana.
• Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by
  2025. Only 25% in 16 years? If our consumption grows at slightly over 1% annually, that might cover our increase in demand. We have to act quickly!
• Implement an economy‐wide cap‐and‐trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80
  percent by 2050. Hopefully, there will be some dry land and breathable air left by then.

All kidding aside, the plan is certainly an about-face from our previous administration and is setting us on the right course.

Several large privately-funded groups have formed to promote their ideas concerning the need for alternative or “green” energy. In the February 19, 2007 post on this blog, an overview of some ideas from the Apollo Alliance were presented. In this post, two more groups will be reviewed – The Pickens Plan and Wecansolveit.org.

Pickens Plan

The Pickens Plan is focused on removing our addiction to foreign oil. They are lead by T. Boone Pickens, a Billionaire who made his fortune on oil, but has recognized we need to find an alternative. Their plan is:

• Create millions of new jobs by building out the capacity to generate up to 22 percent of our electricity from wind. And adding to that with additional solar capacity/li>
• Building a 21st century backbone electrical grid
• Providing incentives for homeowners and the owners of commercial buildings to upgrade their insulation and other energy saving options
• Using America’s natural gas to replace imported oil as a transportation fuel.

Almost 1.4 million people have joined the Pickens Army and Boone has the ear of many of the most influential businessmen and politicians from both parties.

Wecansolveit.org

From their website: “We can Repower America with 100% clean electricity within 10 years. Doing so would deliver the affordability, stability and confidence our economy needs, as well as help solve the climate crisis. All it takes is the political will to support national policies that…

• Get the most out of the energy we currently produce.
• Rapidly deploy the clean energy technologies we already know can work.
• Create a new smart, integrated grid to deliver power economically from wherever it is generated to wherever people live.”

Wecansolveit.org has over 2 million members and growing.

The grass roots support for these relatively new organizations coupled with the new mentality in Washington bodes well for our ability to solve the critical issues we face in solving our energy problems.

Anyone interested in organics and the Green Movement, probably has a keen interest in renewable energy. Those who have not yet heard of the Apollo Alliance may be surprised. This is a non-profit organization devoted to spending the time and money to make the nation energy independent using clean, renewable sources. Similar to JFK’s call for the nation in 1961 to put a man on the moon within a decade, this organization calls for the U.S. to be energy independent within a decade. When JFK challenged the nation, pundits decried it as a waste of money and resources. Little did they foresee that it would lead to the information age and the high tech boom that has driven our economy for decades. For more about the Apollo Alliance visit their website at:

Apollo Alliance

The Apollo Alliance has a 10 Point Plan for Good Jobs and Energy Independence that is one of the best common sense proposals on energy yet. The full plan is in the following link:

10 Point Plan

Everyone who cares about our planet and the future of this country should support this organization. If you have the resources and would like to donate follow this link:

Donate to the Apollo Alliance