Houston, We Have a Solution

By Rebecca Cantwell

Renewable energy technologies, along with more efficient buildings, vehicles and industry,  together can reduce carbon emissions enough to avoid the catastrophic effects of global warming later this century, a summary of the SOLAR 2006 findings reveals.

Dr. Chuck Kutscher, an NREL scientist and chair of the conference, summarized the findings of nine experts who were asked to analyze the potential impacts of various strategies by 2030.

“These add up to greater than what’s needed’’ by showing a potential for the U.S.  to remove 1300 million tons of carbon from the atmosphere , he told cheering attendees at a closing luncheon. That is more than experts say is needed by mid-century to reverse global warming trends before they lead to disastrous consequences for the earth. MORE >>

WEDNESDAY MORNING PLENARY

Build Smart, Think Big and Act Fast

By Rebecca Cantwell

DENVER July 12—Architecture and building design must undergo a rapid transformation as a key step toward reducing carbon emissions enough to avoid the catastrophic effects of global warming.

That was a central message from the international experts who addressed SOLAR 2006’s plenary Wednesday morning.

“What has seemed too hard becomes what simply must be done,’’ said Princeton University engineering professor Robert Socolow.  Unlike other research fields, he noted, “”experts are more worried than lay people,’’ about the effects of uncontrolled carbon emissions. MORE >>

TUESDAY MORNING PLENARY

Renewables Show Promise Amid Scary Signs of Climate Change 

By Rebecca Cantwell

DENVER, July 11, 2006 - Earth’s inhabitants are showing increasing stress from global warming as trees fall over in Alaska, penguin chicks die in Antarctica and traditional villagers near the Arctic seek new homes because their coastal villages have washed away.

While examples abound of policies heading in the wrong direction —witness the aggressive Chinese coal plant building schedule -- hopeful signs are beginning to mount as well. MORE>>

OTHER TUESDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Carbon Caps Might Not Result In Less Pollution

By Rebecca Cantwell

DENVER, July 11, 2006 - Chances are better than 50-50 that within three years, installing solar power systems will result in no reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. That was the startling assertion of Rob Harmon of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation in discussing carbon caps at a workshop Monday afternoon at SOLAR 2006.  If a cap and trade policy similar to that in effect for sulphur dioxide is put in place for carbon dioxide, Harmon said it will not result in a net reduction in the pollutant.

Rather, Harmon said, a system based on how much power each source contributes to the power grid would give clean energy producers proper credit. “Under a cap and trade system, the only way to reduce air pollution is to reduce the number of allowances to emit,’’ he said.

Energy Efficiency and Renewables Need To Go Hand-In-Hand

By Rebecca Cantwell

Renewable energy and energy efficiency – whose advocates sometimes show some sibling rivalry – need to join together to solve the nation’s energy crisis and the world’s global warming dilemma. “There is no one silver bullet,’’ said Bill Prindle of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy at a SOLAR 2006 workshop Monday. “We need a serious new look at ways to tap efficiencies and renewables jointly.’’

Energy efficiency – which he referred to as “steady Eddy’’—holds more promise to contribute in the next 5 to 10 years, while the potential for renewables grows over time.  They are complementary in other ways: renewables tend to be more capital intensive and efficiency tends to be more labor intensive. “”If you combine, you can make more political constituents happy,’’ Prindle said.  A number of states are starting to combine the two in one clean energy portfolio for which standards can be set.

MONDAY MORNING PLENARY

Scientists Call For Swift Action on Global Warming

By Rebecca Cantwell

DENVER, July 10, 2006 - Time is rapidly running out to avert the catastrophic effects of continued global warming, two internationally known climate scientists told attendees at SOLAR 2006 Monday morning.

The threat of global warming is “a clear and present danger,’’ because of the continued growth in emissions of greenhouse gases, said Dr. James Hansen, who heads the NASA Institute for Space Studies. While there is still time to act, “the window of opportunity is very rapidly closing,’’ he added. MORE>>

SUNDAY EVENING PLENARY

Political Leaders Bullish on Renewable Energy

DENVER, July 9, 2006 - Denver Mayor Jophn Hickenlooper, who calls himself a “recovering geologist’’ said he usually tells conference attendees to go spend money in his city. But in welcoming SOLAR 2006 attendees Sunday evening, he said  “Stay in the building.’’ The task at hand is so important that the solar experts should remain focused on finding new energy solutions. “Solar becomes a bigger and bigger part of the cure,’’ he said. MORE >>

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