Comments on: On Individuals Spending Millions Installing Alternative Energy Sources.

By: Krystal

Krystal — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:47:03 +0000

It would be great to see an increase in renewable energy. In Calfornia, there are various solar companies popping up and I'm sure other states can increase there renewable energy sources too. With the current job market I'm sure an increase in renewable energy could really help many people. I'm sure it would also help if people who are interested can find Solar Training .

By: David

David — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:08:53 +0000

We are going to have to agree to disagree on this particular thing. I agree that advertising is important, no doubt…but actually doing something substantial with the money could encourage other people with a ton of money to do something as well. I really like what Al Gore has done in the last couple of years, but really, I think people are tired of hearing him just talk – a $300 million investment in powering any 80,000 homes would be a real event that maybe even the Walton’s could get involved in. I am not holding my breathe for them to do anything for anyone other than themselves though…

Thanks Tim, you are not rambling – its good to hear from a “policy” guy on this stuff!

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 07:42:54 +0000

1. $300 million just isn’t what it used to be! 300 megawatts would be an outstanding yield, realistically we’re probably talking more like 275MW, which would power about 80,000 homes. And then what? How we decide who gets it? We are also then back where we started, except 80,000 homes get free power.

2. I’m afraid we can’t shy away from the political here. We need to keep pressing for substantive policy changes that can only be achieved by mobilizing the public to be political. And maybe that’s what Gore does best. There are plenty of people out there with that kind of money underneath their mattresses who don’t have the political skills to do squat, but they can do all kinds of good things with their money (i.e. building windfarms). How about Richard Branson? The Saudis? Warren Buffet? The Waltons (not John-Boy and them) are worth $75 billion between them alone!

3. I am not rejecting philanthropy. $300 million dollars could do a lot of good for a lot of people. But I think this is just one piece of a much larger movement that’s got to coalesce around this thing.

sorry for the ramble, but I get into this stuff

By: David

David — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:50:52 +0000

I agree in principle – I mean, I know we need to spend money on advertising and spreading the news – and this is being done daily by websites, blogs, the media, magazines and of course, regular old advertising. But imagine the impact of “Al Gore and his friends have put together a 300 megawatt windfarm in rural Penn, which will power XYZ amount of homes free of charge to the homeowners” as a headline, instead of what people will see as “Al Gore is coming to talk about global warming again” ? No doubt he does some great work around the globe; I am not sure anyone does more for the cause. But with that kind of scratch, the tangible difference it could make would be absolutely astounding.