I wrote one week ago about Al Gore's important speech setting a very high bar indeed for renewables. I have believed in 100% renewables for many years but, to tell you the truth, never thought the stars would align as they have to make that vision perfectly realizable. Well, if you've read the many posts I've done here on renewable energy and energy efficiency, and you look around the world at all the incredible activity, it's already happening!
There was a particularly off-key op-ed in yesterday's "NY Times" calling for Solar from Space. (This evokes the old Muppet Show sketch: "Pigs in Space.") It , very strangely , lumps together everything that's not Solar from Space into one category, saying: "alternative energy sources ‚ coal, oil shale, ethanol, wind and ground-based solar ‚ are either of limited potential, very expensive, require huge energy storage systems or harm the environment." Huh? Oh well, maybe the guy drank too much Tang.
In any event, if you'd like to see six minutes of highlights of Gore's speech, see this:
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/F9cllAiXImg" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
For the full half-hour speech and transcript you can go here.
In the spirit of my post from a good while back, If You Don't Like Al Gore, Then , here are some reactions to Gore's speech from three Presidential candidates and an EPA administrator under Reagan. (from wecansolveit.org)
Sen. John McCain: McCain said he admires Gore as an early and outspoken advocate of addressing the global warming problem even though "there may be some aspects of climate change that he and I are in disagreement (on)." Of the goals Gore outlined Thursday for generating more electricity with solar and wind resources, McCain said, "If the vice president says it's do-able, I believe it's do-able."
Sen. Barack Obama: "For decades, Al Gore has challenged the skeptics in Washington on climate change and awakened the conscience of a nation to the urgency of this threat. I strongly agree with Vice President Gore that we cannot drill our way to energy independence, but must fast-track investments in renewable sources of energy like solar power, wind power and advanced biofuels …"
Bob Barr: "America responds well to challenges, if it is laid out, if it's in terms that people can understand and relate to, if it makes sense , and what he's laid out makes sense."
Lee Thomas: "Our environment, economy and national security interests are threatened as never before. It's time for all of us to commit to a comprehensive plan to break free of these threats. Al Gore is challenging each of us to be a part of the solution. I believe it will take this kind of bold initiative and strong national leadership if we are to be successful."
