I have to start somehwere

So commenting on a post that appears in the Renewable Energy Business Network Group on LinkedIn seems as good a place as any. Over the past month or so I have been deeping my involvement in LinkedIn and in its groups. I have come across a few voices that are constantly trying to put forward the idea that global warming, climate change, dwindling of resources is just a concpiracy put forward by "Greenies" who have what to make from such ideas. Others, like Robert L. Tomlinson raise legitimate questions about existing renewable energy technology though in this case with a bit of an exagerated headline as follows: Solar power is not so "green" wastes millions of gallons of water.
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgreeninc%2Eblogs%2Enytimes%2Ecom%2F2009%2F10%2F27%2Fwater-use-by-solar-projects-intensifies%2F&urlhash=Hr3p

There are so many technologies in each of the renewable energy fields. Most of them, just by the way, are essentially harvesting different forms and manifestations of solar energy (perhaps excluding GeoTh). There are horizontal and vertical wind turbines, large scale wind and small scale, onshore and off. There is PV (PhotoVoltaic) , SolTh (Solar Thermal), CPV (Concentrated PV), BIPV (Building Integrated PV), thin film, large scale and small. There is biomass energy using pyrolisis, combustion, decomposition, large scale or small, as well as different types of wave harvesting techniques, biofuel etc.

Some of these technologies are older than others. Many of them started off in universities and were then funded by governmental R&D grants, private investors and venture capital. For many years, they could not even come close to the $/kWh ratios that fossil fuel could in producing electricity. Oil was cheap, close by, shallow and in abundance. Some of these early entrepreneurs believed that the current oil age could not continue, others were scientist who could not help themselves. Some of them understood that the playing field was totally crooked and heavily tilting towards fossil fuels. The tilt, as we most deffinately know today, was that fossil fuel and fossil energy transfer negative external costs, mainly health and environmental costs, onto the public while hording tremendous amounts of profit. They weren't, for the most part, doing anything illegal. They were playing by the rules – though often then had a strong influence on formulating them as an in-depth look at the CVs of many of the Bush administration's top people will show.

And now, thankfully, the tables are turning. More and more of us, citizens of the planet, connected to each other like never before using this web, are quickly understanding that that which was till now cannot continue. We are understanding that even though we cannot destroy the world, we can definitely make it uninhabitable for us humans at a grave risk to the accumulation of wisdom that we humans have been able to produce during our relatively brief existence on it. For the first time in human history, in this time and in this generation humans actually have the capability to destroy ourselves entirely, as a race. This capability never existed in the past. Oh sure, we have always been good at killing each other but never before could we really threaten our real existance. Never could we do so much damage to the plant so as to make it uninhabitable. And humans, using technology, can do this in two general ways: by using WMDs or through poisoning and/or negatively affecting our environment to a point that it is no longer inhabitable for us.

More and more of us are also learning that oil is finite. This notion was put forward by a one of the most important geologist of our time who has yet to get full credit for his discoveries. He is M. King Hubbert and his discoveries of Peak Oil which I inetned to go into in greater depth in the near future.

And, therefore, the race is on. The race to stop doing damage and, hopefuly, to start reversing the damage that has already been done by use of fossil fuel coulpled with the race towards the day that oil will run out.

It is true, in the process of doing damage and using oil we have improved the quality of living of most of us Western hemisphere global citizens - those with capability, if not interest - to reach this blog. It is, however, arguable that the majority of the citizens of the planet have benefited from the petro-chemical revolution that started around 100 yearsr ago. Recent numbers tell us that one quarter of the world's popultion are living in the same conditions as their ancestors lived in 6000(!) years ago! Now, I want to put it forward that I am not a Luddite. I don't want to destroy what we have done. I do, however, want to look at the things as they are and muster up human inginuity, innovative thought, will power, determination and intelligence to ensure that my kids and theirs will have a place to stay. I am quite certain that with a "business as usual" this will not be the case.

Now back to the technologies. I think that what is so exciting about these times is that for the first time, a true and deep look into all manufacturing process is taking place. New standards are being developed. Exteral impact, carbon footprint, cradle2grave approaches, full life cycle etc. This is totally new and will affect EVERYTHING! Every manufacturing process, every product and service, every sector. It is going to involve regulatory steps, taxation, profitability, employment, full industries, the works. It is also going to create new opportunities and, probably most importantly, it is going to level the playing field.

I admit, most technologies are not perfect. A lot of time and effort is being put to improve them. The market - yes that capitalist one - is still playing its roll and will chose the best, most competitive, most efficient and those that are not will not succeed. Some use too much water and others too many chemicals. Some produce too much carbon in the manufacturing process etc. But, nearly all of them come with the same goal of producing clean renewable, sustainable energy and they should be getting all the help they can.

And, btw, those who don't agree with me, and there are some, don't waste your breath. I am not going to waste my time and argue with you. Though perhaps arrogant on my part I understand where you are coming from. You have what to lose from this big shift that is going on. You are also in a declining minority. You happen with every shift of technology, with every advancement, you are those who lose their jobs to technolgoy, to automation. You will probably lose your current job but, hopefully, you will find another, better, cleaner, more sustainable one.