The 10 Myths of Renewable Energy

Hi everyone.
As many of you know, I am involved with the Scotian WindFields. I normally try to keep this blog independent of my work with Scotian, but this was too important to leave out. See the following communication about the 10 Myths of Renewable Energy...

The Nova Scotia Department of Energy is currently re-evaluating its Energy Strategy in light of concerns about Climate Change and increasing energy costs. The Department is currently looking for public and stakeholder input on this issue, and has published a discussion paper to help this process. Despite their best intentions, the discussion paper is heavily favoured towards further development of fossil fuel based industry, rather than utilization of our world class renewable energy resources.

The Scotian WindFields are currently developing a formal response to the NS Department of Energy’s discussion paper on Energy Strategy. Scotian is hoping to re-focus the debate over energy from fossil-fuel based ideals to the basic principals of renewable energy. Through its response, Scotian hopes to get the energy debate going in the right direction by dispelling some of the common myths about Renewable Energy. (see below, in order that they appear in the discussion paper). The goal is to help Nova Scotia realize its potential to be environmentally sustainable and truly prosperous, through a future energy strategy focused on promotion of renewable energy.
The 10 Myths of Renewable Energy:
1. “Our economy and energy demand will require fossil fuels for some time” (page ii)
2. The current cost of wind and wave energy is higher than fossil fuels (page 2)
3. “To meet all of our energy demands, we still need fossil fuels” (Page 4)
4. There are technical obstacles to renewable energy (Page 6)
5. That there are “natural limits” to the amount of renewable energy available to use (Page 8)
6. “putting more wind power onto the grid may not lower emission levels” (Page 8)
7. “Energy cannot be efficiently stored” (Page 11)
8. Carbon sequestration may prove cost effective (Page 12)
9. Nova Scotia is “without large-scale local clean energy sources” (Page 13)
10. The opportunities to manufacture competitive renewable energy products in NS is limited (Page 18)

The Department of Energy is currently holding a number of public meetings around the province. If you feel that our government should be doing more to promote renewable energy and address climate change concerns, make sure to attend the meetings in your area:

Nov 29, 2007 Halifax 9:00 am World Trade Convention CentreSuite 101
Nov 29, 2007 Musquodoboit Harbour 4:00 pm Community Center (Rink) 67 Park Road
Dec 3, 2007 Amherst 4:00 pm Wandlyn Inn
Dec 4, 2007 Antigonish 4:00 pm Keating Millennium Centre Conference Room St. Francis Xaxier University
Dec 5, 2007 Truro 4:00 pm Truro Convention Center
Dec 6, 2007 Halifax 4:30 pm World Trade Convention Centre

Harper in the way, Australia changing course

Stephen Harper continues to show the world that the government of Canada is not interested in setting binding targets to reduce GHG emissions. This most recent declaration took place at the Commonwealth summit in Uganda this week. All of the 53 Commonwealth nations were in favour of binding targets expect for Canada and Australia. The push for binding charges was lead by Malta, a small island county who may cease to exist if sea waters rise due to inaction on climate change.

The good news this weekend is that this will be the last international meeting that Australia will be standing next to Harper (and Bush) against binding emission targets. John Howard, who has led Australia for over 10 years suffered a major defeat in a federal election yesterday. And what was the major platform of Kevin Rudd, the man who won this resounding electoral victory? Commitment to Kyoto and binding emissions reductions. If only we could be so lucky here in Canada. Despite Canadians insisting that the environment is the most important issue for voters, there has been little resistance from Canada's other political parties. Hopefully, that will change soon.

The spokesperson for Harper at the conference said that they want to continue to push for the targets agreed upon at the recent APEC summit, which are "aspirational" targets for 2050. Imagine if the Allies had said that "We would certainly like to get rid of Hitler?" rather than taking action.

Harper's continued efforts against real emission reductions will soon make its way to the world stage. Almost every county in the world will be in Bali in December to discuss the follow up to the Kyoto accord, which ends in 2012. I guarantee that Canada will be one of the few nations, along with the US and China, that are against the further strengthening of emission targets. Harper has managed to take Canada form a world leader, to one of the most stubborn opponents to taking action on the greatest crisis the world has ever faced. All in the name of protecting the Tar Sands.

Canada needs a new leader, so our planet can survive. But hey, at least we'll have 5% GST soon.

Back at it..

Hi everyone,

I haven't written on this blog in almost a month. A little vacation time along side many other distractions, and before you know it, a month has gone by. Unfortunately, there has been lots to talk about since I last wrote. This includes the IPCC's 4th report, which gives the strongest scientific warning yet about climate change, severe drought in South East US, severe fire in South West US, growing opposition to the Tar Sands, Deep Panuke given the green light, and Canada's continued stalling to implement effective climate change strategies. I hope to be able to write about each one of these.

That being said, I would like to post a video today that doesn't address any of these items specifically, but gives a very simple argument for why they are all important. The video is about 9 minutes long, but it gives everyone an excellent source of ammo for those arguments against people who don't believe in climate change. For your viewing pleasure: