UCBerkeley asked:

State Programs: Integrated Resource Planning, Renewable Portfolio Standards, Net Metering and Renewable Energy Credits (Continued) & an Introduction to Local Government Programs: Municipal Utilities, Coops, and Community Aggregators – September 10, 2008 A look at the state laws about requiring energy service providers to maintain a specified mix of renewable resources. In addition, an effort to create tradable renewable energy credits raises many strategic choices and some Commerce Clause concerns; The special opportunity that user-owned energy providers have to promote renewable energy, and other local programs to programs to promote renewable energy

Humberto

IowaPublicTelevision asked:

After the oil crisis of the 1970s, Congress authorized the creation of a government laboratory tasked with solving the puzzle of how to save energy using renewable resources. Three decades later, more than 1100 scientists and engineers continue their search at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado. For more from Market to Market follow the link to… www.iptv.org

Danny

Madison Greene asked:


A couple years ago when New York City had its blackout, many people woke up to the fact that we use way too much electricity as an energy source. They had been taking their electricity for granted.

This event also made us aware of other depleting natural resources, such as oil and that these resources as well should not be taken for granted. Pollution, global warming, high oil costs and the threat of running out of non-renewable resources had put a spark back into the search of alternative energy resources.

Although we still have a ways to go good progress is being made. Hybrid vehicles and solar powered homes are beginning to be more accepted as ways of the future and more and more people are using them. Yes you may run into a naysayer on the street, but remember we are making progress and you should always be optimistic towards our future.

What Does It Take To Make People Aware of Alternative Energy Resources?

Most environmentalists have been cautioning the world for years that the current methods of producing electricity are not going to be around forever. Using coal and oil products to turn turbines to make electricity, they warned, is going to deplete the supply and alternative energy resources that will be needed.

They often advised the time to act was before the supplies were gone. Additionally, they stressed the importance of alternative energy resources that did not pollute the air, water and send particulate matter into the wind.

Alternative Energy Technology Still In Its Infancy

The use of water to supply power has been around for decades; seemingly ever since electricity and windmills have been supplying power in many areas of the world. The use of solar power is becoming more acceptable and using the water, wind and sun as alternative energy resources are still being examined. While many technological advances have been made, developing a cost-effective production method is still in its early stages.

Why didn’t we work on this years ago? When these technologies were first introduced there was no real financial incentive to continue development. Prices for coal and oil were still low and methods to clean the air at coal-fired plants kept pollution concerns to a minimum. However, recent increases in coal and oil prices and threat of running out has made the hunt for alternative energy resources more urgent.

Lack Of Competition Keeps Prices High

Many blame the cost of the technology for the prices of using alternative energy resources, but most agree that a lack of competition among companies using them are the biggest culprit. Many contend the prices for alternative energy resources is artificially inflated using the supply and demand calculation that the supply has not increased sufficiently to offset even the slightest increase in demand, which sends prices even higher.

Many countries have initiated incentives for companies and individuals to find alternative energy resources that can save natural resources, reduce prices and save the environment. The scare of global warming has many looking at new methods of producing power without producing a hotter environment.

Right now, it is difficult to find a cheap alternative energy resource for your home for the reasons stated above, but we are making progress, and good progress. Eventually, as technology advances, we may be able to make the alternative energy resources we have a little cheaper.

It is just too bad we procrastinated for so long to get started. Just get educated, stay optimistic, and do your part to convert the energy in your home to an alternative source.



Mindy

James Copper asked:


In the United States, Canada and Australia both commercial and residential consumers can buy green energy from their standard local utility provider of from a provider that specializes in green energy. Many third party suppliers of energy provide green energy electricity that is produced from renewable resources. This energy is delivered to consumers by way of their local electric utility company. The consumer who opts for this green energy course pays a small premium each month on her or his utility bill as the additional cost of the green energy they are getting. The other option is to buy directly from the green energy supplier.

Of course, when a consumer buys the green energy via the local utility company he or she can not know its really green energy in other words, they do not know that they truly got what they paid extra for. It is a matter of trust. The local electric company buys the electricity from the various producers. These can be nuclear, coal, hydroelectric power on a large scale or green energy providers such as solar and wind energy producers.

Must electricity from the local utility company in any country comes from fossil fuels or nuclear power that is not renewable and or pollutes the environment to a high and dangerous level. Green energy is the current provider of a minimal percentage of our worlds electricity. In fact, when utility companies buy green energy for the consumers that request it they generally only buy 25 percent of what they ultimately provide to all.

Consumers who sign up with their local utility provider to pay a premium each month for green energy are not only helping to save their environment but they are also sending a message to the utility companies and the legislature that they are willing to pay extra for healthy air for us all.

There are environmentally conscious, forward thinking countries such as the Netherlands that have committed themselves to matching their consumers purchase of green energy with an equal amount of green energy buy for governmental use. The government of Holland exempts green energy producers and users from its pollution tax. This exemption brings the cost of green energy consumption down considerably.

Several organizations in Europe promote the consumption of green energy, and there are a number of green energy providers, although the high cost of electricity in those countries has kept the use of the less expensive gas and oil the majority provider.

At work now are efforts to distribute cheap renewable electricity in these countries so the average electrical consumer can afford to support the environment and clean air efforts with the use of green energy products. Consumers can install their very own renewable green energy system, based locally.

This may be solar, wind or even water power. Geothermal heat pumps also provide green energy by tapping a few feet into the earths temperature.

Many U.S. states now offer monetary incentives for those who want to use the more costly green energy electricity sources.



Norma

drohilm asked:


We live in a world eager for new resources of energy. But despite the huge progress and development of green energy and renewable resources, we did not yet reach the goal of good fossil fuels replacements.

There are several directions of research for new energy sources, but all of them cannot supply enough energy to make a real change. The real “green” resources are wind, waves, hydro and geothermal power, which are good resources, but certainly not sufficient to supply the demands.

The more promising sources of energy are:

1.Solar energy – which is for now very inefficient and expensive.

2. Hydrogen – which is hard to produce right now.

3. biofuels – that can compromise our food supply.

The question is – what is the most promising? – in what resource we should invest?

Before we all start to walk in the solar power road, we first must understand that for now, biofuels are the real solar power supply.

why is that? well, our solar harvesting devices are very insufficient comparing to engines using fossil fuels. but from where these fuels came from? well, these fuels come from ancient plants and animals that were much more efficient in term of harvesting the sun’s energy. I am talking about photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis is one of the most efficient processes on earth, maybe the most competent. Cyanobacteria, algae and plants can use almost 100% of the sun’s energy to produce chemical energy. nearly hundred percents of the light captured buy the photosynthesis apparatus, is transformed to electric currents and then to chmical energy stored in sugars and fats. these sugars and fats turn to be our fuels millions of years later.

But today’s plats and algae can still produce this solar energy as good as they did millions of years ago, and we use this energy in our foods to maintain our lives. Agriculture was the driving force that first let humans to control this enormous energy supply, and probably was the main trigger for the development of the human society.

In order the satisfy the ever growing demand for energy in the modern and post-modern society, we must increase a little beat our agricultural skills. Why we need to re-invent new ways to harvest the sun’s fruit, when evolution already sis it for us, and created an amazing machinery in plants?

The real goal of the people who seek for new energy sources should be dramatically increasing the yield of the agricultural production, in order to be able to use plants sugars and fats to produce ethanol, biodiesel and other bio-fuels to use in the modern industry and transportation.

Let change our investments from traditional engineering approaches to bio-engineering, guiding our research toward more proficient production of biodiesel and ethanol, the easily accessible solar power.



Gabrielle

James Copper asked:


While there are a number of fine energy courses and certified or degreed programs in the various universities and colleges for those who want to make energy efficiency their career in some form or other, there are also free energy courses for those who simply want to make some energy-efficient improvements in their own homes. Here are some ideas on where to find these credit or non-credit energy courses.

The University of Oregon, for example, offers online energy courses as part of its degreed program for graduates as well as undergraduates. Its commitment to a healthy and energy efficient environment is spelled out on its Web site. Pointing out that the way in which we are exponential using a finite amount of fossil fuel and other non-renewable resources is dooming our successors, the University offers energy courses for those who want to stop this harmful tide.

Included in these energy courses are a basic physics course that teaches the ins and outs of how energy and the environment work in concert with each other. The next course teaches students about renewable energy resources and the other green energy resources that can be put into place. An environment studies course follows these prerequisites, teaching quantitative methods of improving the environment. The study of our population growth and its impact on finite resources is the topic of another of the energy courses. One course is dedicated to the study of the depletion of our ozone. One of the basic energy courses offered on the Web or in Oregon classrooms is a brief look at the basics of fossil fuel – how it works, how much we have of it, and how it harms the environment. The University also teaches a laboratory class on solar radiation and its use as a renewable energy.

The University actually offers a complete program of environmental studies. Building on a tradition several decades long of research and activism in the area of energy efficiency and environment improvements, the Oregon campuses have packaged their energy courses into a complete environmental program. Its mission is to train energy-efficiency leaders who can creatively solve program, think critically, and, after empowering and instructional energy courses, become responsible and productive citizens.

The University of Oregon energy courses and environmental program are actually interdisciplinary, promoting dialogue that crosses borders and promotes collaboration. More than 100 faculty members participate in these energy courses and activities. They are scattered over thirty campuses and dozens of departments. This degree program enables students to not only take energy courses from scholars of world class renown but also work and learn along side noted researchers. They can develop concrete energy efficiency skills and analytic capabilities as well as gain valuable and relevant hands on skills. These energy courses and this program can then lead to government careers, or work in various non-profit organizations, teaching institutions or private industries.

Energy courses can help one homeowner save her or his own money and energy. They can help a green-energy enthusiast start a satisfying and lucrative career in energy efficiency and assessment. They can also help save the environment for us all.



Tembin