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Thursday, May 14, 2009
Wind and Solar Development on Western Landscapes
Great, well-balanced op-ed by Sarah Gilman from Writers on the Range on the development of Western lands with wind and solar energy production. As with anything there are pros and cons. On the one hand more solar and wind production means less use of fossil fuels, but on the other hand solar and wind production needs vast quantities of land. So as Ms. Gilman posits, do we build clean solar and wind energy sources anywhere on BLM land or do we reduce our energy consumption? I don't know. But what I do know is that we don't have much time to figure it out.
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Wishful Thinking
*Before adding PV, wind, or solar thermal to your residential or commercial structure, the first step is to analyze this structure's energy consumption through a professional energy audit. I'd like to see some public education on the importance of an energy audit for any structure. Remember Smokey the Bear's forest fire shtick drilled into our heads over the last few decades? How about something like, "Henry the House" desperately wanting to know how much energy he consumes and wastes throughout the day?
*With over 300 sunny days a year on the Front Range is it too much to ask for solar PV and thermal modules on every residential and commercial unit (after an energy audit of course)?
*How about affordable plug-in electric cars that go more than 100 miles on a charge with PV and wind powered recharging stations?
*Dreaming of companies large and small adopting business sustainability practices to maximize profits, reduce their carbon footprint, and enhance the lives of their employees and the communities that surround them.
*With over 300 sunny days a year on the Front Range is it too much to ask for solar PV and thermal modules on every residential and commercial unit (after an energy audit of course)?
*How about affordable plug-in electric cars that go more than 100 miles on a charge with PV and wind powered recharging stations?
*Dreaming of companies large and small adopting business sustainability practices to maximize profits, reduce their carbon footprint, and enhance the lives of their employees and the communities that surround them.
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2 comments:
I think there will be more wind and solar on western landscapes.
I think you're right solar panels. Part of me is not opposed to vast swaths of our Western landscape blotted with concentrated solar power plants and wind turbines. The other part wants the simplicity and the serenity of a world without the need for electricity.
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