Solar Power Crossroads

Solar power is at a crossroads and should be on all our minds. No nation is unique to the problem and all nations will suffer the inevitable if we sit back and do nothing regarding solar power as an alternative to fossil fuel.

The worlds energy problems will only be resolved by an international transition to clean renewable energy and solar power is the right choice. There are no short cuts and no easy way about it. We have the technology now we need the private sector with support from our collective governments to mobilize.

The United States generates approximately 70% of its electricity using outdated fossil fuels, and as such, emits approximatel 10 million tons of pollution in the form of sulfur dioxide another 3-4 million tons of nitrogen oxides, approximately 2-3 billion tons of carbon dioxide , and well over 50 tons of mercury in a given year and growing. This is just the USA. These emissions are extremely toxic to human health and constitute a very serious public health problem which magnifies when you consider Europe, Mexico, South America, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

There are reports available that concluded that fine particle emissions from fossil fuel electricity generation kill around 30,000 Americans a year, a rate that is actually higher than those killed by reckless drunk drivers. Solar power does not incur these challenges. The emissions from fossil fuel electricity generation are the largest contributor to the problem, responsible for over 30% of the country's overall emissions of carbon dioxide. We can stop this now with solar.

Our politicians are too worried about forcing the car makers to improve miles per gallon. They don’t get it. Look at Germany! They get it and they have done something about it with unique financing for individuals and business owners to help create the future energy grid for their country. They do not have the level of SUN Days we do and yet they lead the pack in gaining independence. Wake up our Senate and Congress now. Vote and use your voice! Scientists around the globe believe that global warming is the most significant environmental threat facing society today, with predicted effects ranging from a dramatic rise in sea levels, inundating many heavily-populated parts of the world; habitat changes that could wipe out entire ecosystems; and increasingly severe weather patterns that are anticipated to cost billions of dollars to all nations of the world.

This topic is not selective in where it will strike. Although the major contributors will see the harmful effects of pollution right away. Their impact to the rising seas and incredibly stronger weather systems effects all ecosystems internationally.

Solar energy is a safe and mature technology with the potential to play a large part of the overall solution if we engage our maximum capabilities as nations. So, what can be done right now? With current technology, solar energy can and will supply a large portion of the USA requirements so the benefits are quite clear:

• Really clean, as in zero emissions. In the US, emissions from electricity generation are the single largest contributor to global warming, as well as toxic to human health and the environment. No need to elaborate more here.

• Dependable and highly reliable. With no moving parts, solar panels need little to no maintenance and can come with 25-year warranties standard.

• No manufacturing of the source. The fuel is delivered every day, to every corner of the globe, free of charge, until the end of time. Energy independence is a critical priority for our country. Its all too obvious!

There are many organizations you can join the fight to mobilize our Nations into a concentrated effort and pull the science community together like never before. Wage the ware on energy not the middle east. By solving energy dependencies you might just solve the myster of the middle east at the same time.

Germany Is Committed

Germany didn't wait for the world to vote. They implemented a fair and equitable financing strategy for the commercial and residential customers to achieve ultimately what we all want. A complete turnkey solution for alternative energy via solar powered homes and business.

Germany stepped up plain and simple. They developed a plan with the banks and their own fiscal budgets and delivered a way for everyone to particiapte and now they are leading all nations in achieving one of (if not the highest) highest levels of alternative energy in the world. Their plan is simple which is why it works! Take your current monthly cash flow out to pay for electricity today. Then borrow enough to install and implement a solar powered generating system so that the funds are equal to or close to your existing monthly outlay for electrcity. This is a fixed payment.

That's the key! A fixed payment will actually make money over time as last we looked the price of energy is not going down. So if you are paying at say, $1/kwh (example) and this is fixed for 20+ years or less to pay off the loan and you are generating more electricity than you use and in the future the cost of a kwh is now $1.20 you are making $.20/kwh not used but generated. Who wouldn't do this I ask?

Wake up America! We need a plan similar to this and we can do this and the blueprint was on the news 2 months ago on Discovery Channel I believe. Stop talking and start walking!

Solar Power Associations

Dateline August 3, 2007

It takes disasters and forecasts of severe droughts to wake up the developing world along with the super powers. There is so much interest now among worried nations — many who are facing drought conditions, floods and the searing heat — that the two-day meeting was extended for an extra day so that more countries could describe their climate-related problems, how they are coping, and the help they need. People this is exactly the type of media support we need. Keep focused and do not become a passive supporter on changing of the guard!

“We now have the momentum,” General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa told delegates at the closing session Thursday evening. “What we do with this is more important. We need to ensure that we agree an equitable, fair and ambitious global deal to match the scale of the challenges ahead.”

They beleive this will take several years of intense and difficult negotiations, which are expected to start at a December meeting on the Indonesian island of Bali. We cannot let this drag on for several years. Do not accept this! It will focus on a replacement for the Kyoto protocol, which requires 35 industrial nations to cut their global-warming emissions 5 per cent below 1990 levels by 2012, when the accord expires. This is not acceptable. We could do so much better if we adapt current technologies faster!

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has made climate change a top priority since taking the reins of the UN on Jan. 1, urged all countries to reach a comprehensive agreement by 2009, which would leave time for governments to ratify the accord so it could take effect in 2013. This is not acceptable. The year 2013 is not an effective date when you look at the planet in crisis now!

In an effort “to build on existing momentum” and “galvanize political will” for the negotiations, Ban said he was convening a high-level meeting on climate change on Sept. 24, a day before the General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting begins. This is the right approach. Everyone shoudld unite in applauding stepped up moves like we see from Ban.

The question of what to do to tackle climate change has become increasingly complex because of competing environmental, economic and energy concerns from countries with different priorities. Without changes we can kiss the economic gains goodbye as our monies will shift completely towards FEMA and Healthcare to stem the relief efforts caused by indecision in 2007! Say no to 2013. These people cannot get away with this passive approach.

The United States, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is not a party to the Kyoto agreement, and large developing countries such as China, the second-largest emitter, India and Brazil are exempt from its obligations. They are afraid they will be called on to reduce emissions after 2012, which would hurt their economic growth and poverty-eradication efforts. Not acceptable either. Copy and paste these words to your congressman now. Push.

At the same time, small island states in the Pacific are demanding action to deal with rising sea levels that could wipe them off the map, while oil-producing countries are concerned that a major source of revenue could be harmed by climate change action in the future. The oil companies are concerned? Well take your last 3 years of RECORD profits in the Billions of dollars and do something about it. They are holding key funding capabilities without being held accountable. Tax them now.

Koji Tsuruoka, the Japanese Foreign Ministry's director-general for global issues and point man for climate change, said inviting world leaders to the Sept. 24 meeting was important because unless new negotiations start “under top leadership, you can't expect any progress or results.” Write to the foreign minister and aide his appeal to nations of power. Give them the logistics they need in your words now!

He said it was critical to get all countries to participate in negotiations and avoid the mistake of Kyoto where proceedings were rushed and “the most important passengers” were not on board. Accept no other end solution. We need one hundred percent support from all nations or this will not work. Share the technologies we have for alternative energy now.

After the Sept. 24 meeting, Mr. Tsuruoka predicted that climate change “will become top priority agenda politically to each and every nation.” How can this not be at the top of the list now. Amazing.