When Will Alternative Energy Become Energy?

Stanford researcher Mark Z. Jacobson says we can do it in 20 to 40 years.  The Stanford University News has the story.  Here is some of it:

A new study – co-authored by Stanford researcher Mark Z. Jacobson and UC-Davis researcher Mark A. Delucchi – analyzing what is needed to convert the world’s energy supplies to clean and sustainable sources says that it can be done with today’s technology at costs roughly comparable to conventional energy. But converting will be a massive undertaking on the scale of the moon landings. What is needed most is the societal and political will to make it happen.

BY LOUIS BERGERON

If someone told you there was a way you could save 2.5 million to 3 million lives a year and simultaneously halt global warming, reduce air and water pollution and develop secure, reliable energy sources – nearly all with existing technology and at costs comparable with what we spend on energy today – why wouldn’t you do it?

According to a new study coauthored by Stanford researcher Mark Z. Jacobson, we could accomplish all that by converting the world to clean, renewable energy sources and forgoing fossil fuels.

“Based on our findings, there are no technological or economic barriers to converting the entire world to clean, renewable energy sources,” said Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering. “It is a question of whether we have the societal and political will.”

This is the political opportunity that Prez Obama missed in his first 100 days.  You want a legacy?  Try a clean energy revolution.  Plenty of jobs, serves the economy and the environment.  Health care reform?  Please take that on in the wake of this kind of big government manufacturing economic push.  Commit 5% of the defense budget to this project and see what happens.  Commit 20% of the defense budget and make it happen.  Of course we we would need to withdraw from Afghanistan and Iraq and maybe shut down some foreign bases.  But we would not need strategic power and influence all over the globe if we could plan for an energy grid that did not depend on foreign oil and environmentally destructive extraction technologies.

It ain’t rocket science there, Barack.  It’s late, but maybe it ain’t too late.  Do it now.  Campaign on this change, a revolution of energy, a future of green energy independence and manufacturing jobs in the USA.

Thanks to my friend Walt Jorgensen for bringing this to my attention.