I'm recovering from the Canada to Los Angeles roundtrip drive solo, and busy catching-up. While waiting for my car tune-up, I met Sr. Project Engineer Steve Gibbs, of Clipper wind turbine company, who told me he has around 700 men out of work or under-working because few companies are erecting wind turbines.
He said his company is one of the biggest out there. If that's true in the emerging age of clean energy, well, I wonder about our green, clean environmental talk.
What does our clean energy talk get us?
Yesterday I shared a meal and movie with Dave Freeman, the acting head of LADWP (Los Angeles Department of Water & Power), who explained the biggest obstacle toward renewable energy here is money. In this lousy economy, no one wants the increased fees rate payers would have to pay in order to buy and create distribution of renewable energy sources.
Distribution of solar and wind is a huge expense.
The fellow from the wind company echoed the distribution blues. Sure, there's plenty of wind in North Dakota, he said, but how do we harness the wind and distribute it through the United States. Obama, are you listening?
I see your White House web site on clean energy investment but I don't see how Los Angeles, one of the most polluted cities in America contributing to climate change and air pollution using a lot of coal to light our world, is benefiting with renewable energy infrastructure.
Regarding your speech about Smart Grid for the country where does L.A. fit in?
Speaking of wind in North Dakota, based on my recent Canada to Los Angeles drive, I can attest to several howling wind spots. I'm not sure how well turbines may be secured but I feel qualified to be a wind scout. I own hats with straps to protect against wind and cold. A must when driving to Canada! :-)
The movie last night was Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story. We loved it, highly recommend.
To read about Denmark and how they created a society based on sustainable wind energy, click here.
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