Re-Energize America

The Re-Energize America campaign brought its message to a Town Hall meeting at the University of Miami this evening  as part of its educational series about solving global warming and ending oil addiction.

The Re-Energize America campaign has hit upon a smart holistic approach to draw people together over the energy debate by inviting speakers from political life, the business world and the religious community. It worked very well Monday, with each speaker adding a complementary angle to the debate. I'm happy to say that the meeting was the first carbon neutral event I have attended, thanks to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation which sells 'green tags' to offset carbon emissions. I was also able to purchase a clifbar.com 'cool tag' at the door for $2 to offset the car emissions getting to and from the meeting.

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz told the meeting that the public needed to take a bigger role in the energy debate, through more efficient energy use. "We can all make smarter choices," he said. Diaz recently bought a hybrid as the Mayor's official car and plans for the city to have 1,000 hybrid or alternative energy fleet vehicles by 2012. The mayor plans a conference in Miami later this year to invite 'green' developers from around the country to explain the thinking behind green building design. He has also set up a Miami Green Commission to serve as an alternative energy advisory panel.

Adrianna Quintero, Latino Outreach Director for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), started things off by explaining the gravity of the problem of global warming, but stressing that it is "not too late" to stabilize global warming by reducing C02 emissions into the atmosphere. To bring greenhouse gas emissions under control, Quintero said we need to cut our oil consumption by 2.5 million barrels a day within the next decade, and reduce CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050.
This could be done, she said, by using energy efficent technology, from energy saving light bulbs to green building design and alternative fuels.

Jim Fenton, director of the Florida Solar Energy Center focused on some of the ways to reduce energy consumption, pointing out the added attraction that "you can save money doing this."
The need for greater energy efficiency is especially apparent in Florida which ranks fifth nationally in the amount of energy consumed per capita, and third in total energy use.
Fenton estimates that the state could save $20 billion in fuel importation costs by reducing dependence on oil. He noted that 51% of electricity use in Florida is residential, due to the state's lack of heavy industry. That meant the public could have a greater impact on energy costs.

Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell, Associate General Secretary with the National Council of Churches, delivered a faith-based 'Protect Creation' message, which is one being heard across the country more and more. (see the New York Times story Oct 15). Her message was simple; put the facts about global warming together with Biblical principals and you have an even stronger case.

"The church has the chance to bring a moral voice to this conversation," she said. "We say to you 'give us the facts and we will connect to our faith, and make things happen."

Girton-Mitchell explained that eco-justice is the NCCC's fastest growing program area under the guidance of Cassandra Carmichael, the program leader. (Carmichael even puts out an eco-blog called Capsules). The NCCC has brought out several publications on the issue in the last couple of years, starting with a document called 'Cry of Creation' in 2004. Girton-Mitchell likes to talk about man's 'stewardship' of the planet. "We are all called by our faith to care for creation," she says. To be sure, God created the Earth for us to use it, but "he didn't mean for us to destroy it," she adds.

Former Senator Bob Graham has long been a friend of Florida's environment. He is now hoping to lend his weight to the energy debate through two educational centers he is creating at the University of Miami and the University of Florida. "Do we have an energy policy, or are we just drifting?" he asked. "The good news is that we do have an energy policy. The bad news is, it's an horrendous policy," he said.

He highlighted the dilemma with two pieces of data:
1./ The US consumes 25% of world's oil production.
2./ The US possesses only 3% of the world's known oil resources.

Graham advocates stretching US oil resources so as not to "drain America first." Increased foreign fuel imports would be needed while "we fundamentally shift to a long-term strategy that will move America beyond oil."

On Wednesday the Re-Energize Campaign will be in Orlando. For details visit (www.ReEnergizeAmerica.com)

Click here to view Fenton's power-point presentation: 'Taking Charge of Our Energy Future.'

Click here to read the Miami Herald report on the Town hall meeting.

Click here to learn more about NRDC's Latino outreach program, 'laondaverde.com'

- David Adams

Comments

[Jay Draiman]

MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY – THE ENERGY EVOLUTION –R4

In order to insure energy and economic independence as well as better economic growth without being blackmailed by foreign countries, our country, the United States of America’s Utilization of Energy sources must change.
"Energy drives our entire economy." We must protect it. "Let's face it, without energy the whole economy and economic society we have set up would come to a halt. So you want to have control over such an important resource that you need for your society and your economy."
Our continued dependence on fossil fuels could and will lead to catastrophic consequences.

The federal, state and local government should implement a mandatory renewable energy installation program for residential and commercial property on new construction and remodeling projects with the use of energy efficient material, mechanical systems, appliances, lighting, etc. The source of energy must by renewable energy such as Solar-Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Wind, Biofuels, etc. including utilizing water from lakes, rivers and oceans to circulate in cooling towers to produce air conditioning and the utilization of proper landscaping to reduce energy consumption.

The implementation of mandatory renewable energy could be done on a gradual scale over the next 10 years. At the end of the 10 year period all construction and energy use in the structures throughout the United States must be 100% powered by renewable energy.

In addition, the governments must impose laws, rules and regulations whereby the utility companies must comply with a fair “NET METERING” (the buying of excess generation from the consumer), including the promotion of research and production of “renewable energy technology” with various long term incentives and grants. The various foundations in existence should be used to contribute to this cause.

A mandatory time table should also be established for the automobile industry to gradually produce an automobile powered by renewable energy. The American automobile industry is surely capable of accomplishing this task.

This is a way to expedite our energy independence and economic growth. (this will also creat a substantial amount of new jobs) It will take maximum effort and a relentless pursuit of the private, commercial and industrial government sectors commitment to renewable energy – energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, energy storage (fuel cells, advance batteries), energy infrastructure (management, transmission) and energy efficiency (lighting, sensors, automation, conservation) in order to achieve our energy independence.

Jay Draiman
Northridge, CA. 91325
1-7-2007

P.S. I have a very deep belief in America's capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis--the one in 1942--President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.

Solar energy is the source of all energy on the earth (excepting volcanic geothermal). Wind, wave and fossil fuels all get their energy from the sun. Fossil fuels are only a battery which will eventually run out. The sooner we can exploit all forms of Solar energy (cost effectively or not against dubiously cheap FFs)the better off we will all be. If the battery runs out first, the survivors will all be living like in the 18th century again.

Every new home built should come with a solar package. A 1.5 kW per bedroom is a good rule of thumb. The formula 1.5 X's 5 hrs per day X's 30 days will produce about 225 kWh per bedroom monthly. This peak production period will offset 17 to 24 cents per kWh with a potential of $160 per month or about $60,000 over the 30-year mortgage period for a three-bedroom home. It is economically feasible at the current energy price and the interest portion of the loan is deductible. Why not?

Title 24 has been mandated forcing developers to build energy efficient homes. Their bull-headedness put them in that position and now they see that Title 24 works with little added cost. Solar should also be mandated and if the developer designs a home that solar is impossible to do then they should pay an equivalent mitigation fee allowing others to put solar on in place of their negligence..