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Prosperous future for decentralised renewable energy

it highlights the role that far-flung places can play in clean energy innovation. Where electricity and fuel prices are high, new energy technologies are often much more competitive.

Want to See the Future of Energy? Look to Alaska and Hawaii   The Atlantic, Alexis Madrigal  , 21 July 2010, “……….a  hydroelectric turbine for Gustavus Electric Inc. spins in a small metal building not much bigger than a farmland garage.TThe operation is the 27-year dream of resident Dick Levitt, who battled regulators and political opponents to get the turbine installed.,,,,it highlights the role that far-flung places can play in clean energy innovation. Where electricity and fuel prices are high, new energy technologies are often much more competitive. ………….Hawaii, for one, has taken on the mantle as a leader in non-fossil energy. Right now, the state relies on imported oil for 90 percent of its energy, but by 2030, it wants to meet 70 percent of its energy needs with clean power. To get there, the state will need to bring on a lot of renewable sources like a 30 megawatt offshore wind farm and drive down energy usage through efficiency.

Alaska hasn’t been quite as ambitious, but still has the second strongest renewable energy goal in the country. Sarah Palin’s energy plan as governor of the state called for generating 50 percent of the state’s energy to from renewable energy by 2025. (Of course, about a quarter of the state’s power already came from large hydroelectric dams, which are renewable, but not the innovative kind.)

If both states hit their goals — which, it must be said, have not been codified into a renewable portfolio standard — they’ll easily surpass states like California that have been more noted for green policies.

Want to See the Future of Energy? Look to Alaska and Hawaii – Science and Tech – The Atlantic

July 22, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | decentralised, USA | antinuclear, climate change, energy efficiency, global warming, renewable energy, renewables, solar, wind