Solar Power Promises – When Will We Really Go Green

Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth

I love Al Gore.  Not a romantic love (good grief!) but, a “thank you for opening my eyes,” kind of love.  The former Vice-President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate received an Oscar for his 2006 documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.”  Startling images of huge melting glaciers still haunt me after viewing the film.  People are finally waking up to the reality that is global warming and seem ready to do something about it.  After years of solar power promises, are we ready to see some deliverables?

Mr. Gore has been an exciting cheerleader recently, assuring us that we can shift 100% to green power sources, like solar energy, within 10 years.  On the other hand, Greenpeace International believes it will take until 2090!  Who is right?  Will our children’s children’s children still be fighting for solar power projects against Big Oil interests?  Who do we believe?

Barack Obama, President-Elect

There is a new team coming to Washington in January 2009.  Barack Obama and Joe Biden campaigned heavily on clean-up – both in D.C. and globally.  Obama has made the following solar power promises to the American people in his New Energy Plan, and we sure hope that he can make good on them:

1. Creation of 5 million “green collar” jobs by investing $150 billion over 10 years to jump start private development of clean energy sources, such as solar power
2. “Fast track” investments in renewable energy sources
3. Establishing a national Renewable Electricity Standard under which utilities must obtain 10% of their power from clean energy sources by 2012, and 25% by 2025
4. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020, and cut in half from present levels by 2050.
5. Solar power plants with 8-hour storage capabilities will meet 10%-to-13% of the projected demand (110-to-180 gigawatts).
6. Solar PV projects will provide 3%-to-6% of the projected demand.

“Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today.”

 Mr. Obama makes solar power promises from PV Powered, a solar panel/solar inverter company in Bend, Oregon on May 10, 2008:

Many believe that Obama’s plan is more realistic than Gore’s projections.  Another relevant fact to consider is that Greenpeace’s dour prediction of 2090 is based on a world-wide shift to 100% renewable energy, not limited to the United States.

Still, President-Elect Obama has promised a lot when it comes to going green.  He has quite a bit to manage in his first 100 days in office, let alone the next 4 years.  The economic crisis will definitely require immediate attention, which could easily push the solar power promises down on Obama’s “to do” list.

When it comes to solar power, are we listening to politicians making promises they “knew they’d never keep?”  My trust is in Mr. Obama and his new administration to finally get our country going green and achieving energy independence.  I am tired of all the promises, promises.

What do you think?  Will we see some real change in the next four years?  Or do you think the solar power promises are not realistic?

Tags: al gore, an inconvenient truth, barack obama, solar power promises