There is another aspect of this debate...and while I
know I am repeating myself to many of you...here goes...
As many of you know, I am originally from
Ontario.
And as CEO & Founder of an emerging aerospace
manufacturing firm, I am with colleagues, and 15 Angel investors, on track to
produce an innovative system for the airlines of the world that will reduce
their carbon footprint. And I have invested everything I can personally,
so I am dedicated to taking action...not just talk.
And we are disrupting a complacent global industry
that has ignored the increasing demands to address climate change...until
now.
That said, and in contrast to the complacent AEP’s,
there are electric utility firms that are accepting the challenges that the
climate change crisis demands. Not everyone has the “cling to the past”, or
“there’s a war on coal” attitude.
Ontario examined the real cost of coal fired power
back in 2005, and determined renewable energy was cheaper when you add the
horrific costs and very real external costs of health care and the environment
directly attributable to coal. So they embarked on a program to shut down
all their coal fired power plants, and completed it by the fall of 2014...and
were able to lower their utility rates. (Ontario used to be Arch Coal’s
biggest customer!)
So much for the argument that renewables will raise
utility rates. Read about it at www.ieso.ca.
And I recently read that all of Canada is now without
any coal fired power plants, and there are more jobs in renewable energy than in
fossil fuels there...in spite of the Tar Sands Oil push by the Harper
Conservative Government.
And in this country, there is another solar success
story. One is the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, or “SMUD”.
I urge all of you, if you have not already from my earlier rants, to go to www.smud.org., scroll down to “Wondering if solar is right for
you?”
SMUD executives recognized 30 years ago that they were
not going to be able to keep up with the demand for power as the Sacramento are
kept growing...so they developed a strategic plan to make their customers their
partners in expanding their power capacity by structuring a leasing program to
install solar cells on churches, shopping centers and multi and single family
residences.
From everything I have been able to read, it’s a solid
success.
I simply ask the question...”Why not
here?”
Ok, yes I know why the coal industry and the AEPs will
answer that...but what about all of us...where is the groundswell of demand and
rabble rousing in every PSC and Legislative hearing to get a change in
attitude? And make PROGRESS to addressing the very real threat of climate
change while accelerating the transition to renewable
energy!
At my age, I’m tired of being nice to these “keep my
profits safe” opponents.
Your good thoughts?
Allan
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2015 2:20 PM
Subject: Re: [EC] [WVHCBOARD] Utilities want higher charges placed
onrooftop solar customers
Jim
I do NOT agree. The utilities are just clinging
to the 19th Century concept of large central plants and the inefficient long
long lines of a power grid.
It’s the 21st century.
I can make the better case for generating power where
and when its needed. It makes more sense financially for the economy, the
efficiency of electric power generation (drastically reducing the current line
losses), and obviously by dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions which
we must do NOW...not in the future.
Huge central plants are as obsolete as horse and
buggies, which were the means of transportation when they were invented.
They made sense then...but are a Neanderthal today.
And of course we cannot transition to all clean,
renewable distributed power over night, but we must accelerate that transition
if we are to keep the planet from having a fatal fever...and I am committed to
preventing that even though at 83 I may not see it get there...but I do not want
it to for my grandchildren and theirs.
And the scientific literature is quite clear...the
data overwhelming...we are on a very dangerous course of climate change...or
climate disruption as I prefer to call it.
the utilities are pure and simple trying to protect
their profits at your expense.
And if you’d like to see what a progressive utility is
doing, go to the SMUD* web page and link into their solar energy program...a 20+
year success story of transitioning form a large central plant concept to
distributed power making their customers their partners. (*Sacramento Municipal
Utility District.)
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2015 1:46 PM
Subject: Re: [EC] [WVHCBOARD] Utilities want higher charges placed
on rooftop solar customers
I have to say I'm just
slightly sympathetic to the elec companies in this one.
Net metering customers DO use
the distribution system with the expenses that entails.
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rea