Last week, President-Elect Barack Obama’s said that his economic stimulus plan will create half a million new green jobs for America.

“We’ll create nearly half a million jobs by investing in clean energy – by committing to double the production of alternative energy in the next three years, and by modernizing more than 75% of federal buildings and improving the energy efficiency of two million American homes,” the president elect said. These made-in-America jobs building solar panels and wind turbines, developing fuel-efficient cars and new energy technologies pay well, and they can’t be outsourced.” 

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Al, I am sorry that you still buy into a centralized electrical energy system. It is disappointing when someone with such good intentions, education, and voice still advocates for big utilities and corporations instead of a real solution. Why did you limit your comments to a 100 by 100 mile photovoltaic collection site? Especially, when you pointed out one of its fatal flaws, transmission to the sites of use. By the way. another fatal flaw is that this approach leaves us at the mercy of the utility companies.

A better solution is to promote the incorporation of photovoltaic collectors into building materials such as: siding and roofing. This technology exists today and could be substituted for conventional shingles, metal roofing, and aluminum siding. In essence, every building in the world could help to solve the energy problem. How much electricity could we generate if installed this technology on every building in and around Atlanta, New York City, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Dallas, etc? Generating electricity at the site of use in this way nearly eliminates the need for long distance transmission.

Wind can be added simply to this system using small sinusoidal wind turbines, about 6 feet in size, that can be mounted on roofs and on the sides of skyscrapers. These turbines are not susceptible to damage by high wind like the mega turbines. They look more like ornamental wind mobiles and don't have the aesthetic obstacles that large wind farms have. They are relatively cheap and can help bridge the gap during low sunlight.

Yes, we need a smart grid. We do need to transmit excess electricity to industry and areas experiencing low production. What we don't need is the means of production in a few corporate hands remotely located away from the areas of use. We need to require that the grid buy the excess electrical production at fair market price like they do from conventional generators. We need a system for powering long distance travel on our roads using electric vehicles. My suggestion for this is a system using short distance wireless electricity transmission built into the interstate highway system based on Tesla's proposal at the turn of the last century. Cars and cargo haulers would run off this system saving their batteries for local roads. A device like EasyPass could track their energy usage.

I am disappointed that Al and this site seem to be so set on centralized renewable energy instead of a small "d" democratic approach. The sun shines everywhere. The wind blows everywhere. Geothermal energy radiates out from the earths core everywhere. Why limit ourselves to isolated areas of use? Why maintain our dependence on the whims of large corporations? Why continue the insecurity of our economic stability on the good intentions of the same corporate executives that got us into the current crisis out of greed? Let's push for a real long term solution to these issues.

CALL TO ACTION:

CONTACT ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS

TO USE HEMP TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF

GLOBAL WARMING AND TOXIC ENERGY.

Hemp 4 Fuel - a roll-in from 'Time 4 Hemp'

(Webeo link above to TIME 4 HEMP'S
intro from BILLION DOLLAR CROP)

Artist Statement From Youtube: Added: October 11, 2006
"This is a segment from the film, 'The Billion Dollar Crop' created by John Birrenbach. It was used as a roll-in on the television series, 'Time 4 Hemp' hosted by Casper Leitch. To find out more about the first television series to ever focus on the topic of marijuana, check out 'Time 4 Hemp' where you can find over 80 free video and 100 free audio downloads. Time 4 Hemp cable access © Casper Leitch - 1991 "

Text of webeo from the show Time4Hemp:

"Fuel. Hemp can also be used for the production of methanol.

According to World War II production rates of hemp per acre, we can produce the equivalent of 10 - 15 barrels of oil from one acre of hemp.

If we use the production rates that are in evidence in countries currently producing hemp, we could produce the equivalents of 20-30 barrels of oil per acre of hemp.

Can we fuel the nation with hemp?

The answer is YES!

According to United States Agricultural statistics, in the United States we have an excess of 950 million acres of farm land.

Of that land we planted in 1987 some 450 million acres.

This leaves some 450 to 500 million acres un-planted.

In order to produce the amount of methanol to fuel all of our transportation needs, we would need to plant some 12-34 million acres of hemp.

This would produce the biomass necessary to fuel our country."

 

This webeo explains how in 1980's energy needs, we could grow our way out of the energy crisis with hemp using only 34 million acres of unused farmland. If our energy needs quadrupled since then, we're only talking about 136 million acres of farmland to grow enough energy to power our needs. Double 136 and it's still only 272 million acres of farmland to solve our energy and have an impact on our environmental crisis. The aftermarket products that come from this vast resource material can have a positive impact on our economy and health care (life empowerment) systems.

Since hemp is a weed, it can grow in many places, inside and out, to contribute to solving our problems now. We're talking hemp biofuel and biomass to power engines cleanly while removing excess CO2, the cause of global warming, from the air as it grows.

YES, WE CAN DO IT NOW!!! WE JUST NEED TO THROW OFF THE LAWS OF DEAD PEOPLE THAT ARE KILLING US, LIKE HEMP BEING ILLEGAL TO GROW.

Hemp is nature's way to remove the oil from the land and change it into useful items like energy.

Hemp is a biomass champion that is 4 times more efficient than corn as biofuel.

Hemp energy pellets burn clean as biomass to fuel the nation's electric plants.

Anything toxic energy can do, hemp can do better.

The question is 'How many hemp acres do we need to grow our way out of this energy crisis in modern times?' The next logical question is how much hemp do we need to grow to remove enough CO2 to have a reversal impact on the global warming crisis. Research on the second will be posted shortly in a separate blog entry.

Looking beyond the webeo above, let's get to real world calculations. The film clip from Time4Hemp's webeo from the film the BILLION DOLLAR CROP does not explain if they calculated one or 4 crops per year per acre.

We're looking at different energy reference sites for how much energy do we need as a nation and as a planet, given the reality that we all are one. Below are some research links we're using, and will post others here for consideration.

'How many acres do we need to grow our way out of this energy crisis?'

1. How much energy do we need?

Renewable Energy Consumption http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/alternate/page/renew_energy_consump/table1.html

Just How much energy does America Use http://www.2dtime.com/weblog/C1379175330/E1115191134/index.html

International Energy Outlook 2008 http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/highlights.html

"Total world energy use rises from 462 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2005 to 563 quadrillion Btu in 2015 and then to 695 quadrillion Btu in 2030 (Figure 1). Global energy demand grows despite the sustained high world oil prices that are projected to persist over the long term. "

Annual Energy Outlook 2008 with Projections to 2030 http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/demand.html

Here's some historic numbers of energy use: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/pdf/pages/sec1_3.pdf

2. How many "barrels" "acres" can exceed the nation and the world's projected energy needs?

Of course an effective energy strategy is one that combines clean energies like wind, solar, hydro, magnetic and other biofuels. Working together, we can create a better world for future generations, the real purpose of life.

Tell the politicians, 'we don't need no toxic energy.' Any energy strategy that can hurt us and/or generations ahead should be turned off and replaced with clean, natural and in some cases free energy.

For more information on hemp please visit the USA Hemp Museum, a private museum with a virtual wing. Richard M. Davis is the museum's founder and curator and he has a book called HEMP FOR VICTORY: A GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTION which is a great piece on how to use hemp to solve the problem of global warming.

Other research pages on hemp energy include:

Hemp Biofuels Room, USA Hemp Museum: http://hempmuseum.org/ROOMS/ARM%20BIO-FUELS.htm

Renewables: http://www.ratical.org/renewables/

Fuel and Fiber: http://fuelandfiber.com/Hemp4NRG/Hemp4NRGRV3.htm

Davis is proposing using the successful WWII Hemp For Victory program and solve the problems of global warming and our growing energy needs. We'll be posting his projections here soon and please share your thoughts on this blog.

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1) Key Players:
Countries, Governments, Oil Companies, Populations, Fossil Fuels, Lobbies, and Environmentalists

2) Big Picture:
Populations use fossil fuels because they're the easiest resource to use. Oil companies get revenue and, not only do they not have an incentive to research alternative fuels, they have an incentive to actually try and halt research. Lobbies get legislation to protect the Oil Companies. They influence the government and halt the flow of funding to alternative fuel research. Governments also feel that if they switch to alternative fuels, they'll be giving up resources to other governments in other countries. They feel that paying for research is too expensive and other countries will just keep taking more of the fossil fuels.

3) Below the Surface:
The reason Governments and Oil Conglomerates are unwilling to change is not due to lack of public support for these changes. The call for change is apparent. The problem is incentives. Until governments and, more importantly, Oil Companies that sign the checks for lobbyists understand that switching to alternative fuels can actually bring them revenue and increase their market share, these changes won't happen.

I hate to keep bringing up Neuro-economics, but it's important for this problem as well. When we evolved it was in the zero-sum world of yesterday when resources were scarce. If I benefit and increase my chances of passing on genes, you lose and decrease your chances, and so-on. Every one of us, including members of Government and Oil Companies, is hard-wired to think that if we spend the time and resources to research things like alternative fuels, we'll be the ones taking the hit and other countries will simply continue to use and profit off of fossil fuels.

4) The Solution:
Environmentalists need to focus on showing Oil Companies and Governments that alternative fuel research is not a zero-sum game and that both can profit dramatically from making these environmentally friendly changes. That's why groups need to pool resources and reach out to experts from a number of fields (economics, business, marketing, advertising, engineers, developers, etc.) who can provide data to these companies. For example: if an Oil Company like BP profited from alternative fuel research dramatically, other oil companies would join. Social media and online collaboration tools are built for this kind of work and they're perfect for this issue.

Forget apocalyptic climate forecasts: focus on the incentives and you'll get much further. It's not losing sight of your goals, it's communicating more effectively in a way that the audience (Oil Execs) will understand.

Hi...I am starting this blog in hopes of finding concerned, interested, action-oriented persons that are interested in helping to move Michigan towards a more "green economy" by sharing ideas, plans, events, etc.. I would like to hear what others in MIchigan are doing around alternative energy, green building, and sustainable agriculture. Thank you for your input!
SusanZ

CALL TO ACTION: ASK AL GORE TO INCLUDE THE EFFECTIVE TOOL, HEMP, TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF GLOBAL WARMING.

Vice President Gore, thank you and your crew for your brilliant speech about a 10 year challenge to solve our climate crisis. With a little bit of luck, we can get this done much sooner.

Not once did you mention the amazing hemp plant as part of your solution. It's time to stop pretending not to know that nature's solution to global warming and other problems includes the restoration of her hemp plant.

When the problem is too much CO2 in the air, the solution is to remove the excess CO2. Hemp is a master at removing excess CO2, yet, it's the illegal solution to environmental pollution.

Hemp can help heal our environment, economy and have a positive impact on our health.

WE HAVE MADE NATURE ILLEGAL AND WONDER WHY WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ENVIRONMENT. LET'S LEGALIZE NATURE AGAIN.

For more information on how hemp can help us solve our environmental problems, there is a research edition of the book HEMP FOR VICTORY: A GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTION by Richard M. Davis of the USA Hemp Museum, www.hempmuseum.org . The book is posted http://www.hempmuseum.org/H4V/H4VAGWS.pdf   Read More »

Lets start with some information:

Informative Fact Sheets about Solar Energy Solar: photovoltaic:

• Lighting Up The World 200,000 homes in the U.S. use some type of photovoltaic solar technology-and the market is expanding at a healthy 15% annually.
• The main resource required for many PV modules is silicon, a major component of sand. The amorphous silicon cells manufactured from one ton of sand could produce as much electricity as burning 500,000 tons of coal.
• PV modules covering 0.3% of the land in the U.S., equivalent to one fourth of the area currently occupied by railroads, could provide all of the US's electricity needs.
• The US leads the world in the development of PV technology. PV systems are currently providing electricity services for: communications, health care, crop irrigation, water purification, lighting, cathodic protection, environmental monitoring, marine and air navigation, utility power and other residential and commercial applications.
• In the past 20 years, the US has spent a total of about $1.4 billion on developing solar power and photovoltaic's. Aided by that investment, US companies now capture 44 percent of the estimated $1.1 billion in worldwide sales of solar products every year.
• If photovoltaic's were used for just 10% of new power generating capacity outside the U.S., the revenue would amount to approximately $13 billion per year.
• Three new automated PV manufacturing plants were ribbon-cut in the US in 1996 (VA, WA, MI) and far more ribbon-cuttings are being planned for 1997 (CA, OH, DE, NM, MA NV).
• The new PV manufacturing capacity brought on-line in 1997 will almost double the current capacity.
• It is predicted that photovoltaic's and other direct conversions of sunlight will be the most rapidly growing form of commercial energy after 2030 with sales exceeding $100 billion. Shell Oil Company itself has acquired two photovoltaic's companies.
• Since 1992, the Japanese governmental national budget for photovoltaic's has increased at least 15% per year.9 Japan's 1996 federal R&D budget for PV was $130 million and $55 million in Germany as compared to the US's $62.5 million.
• Worldwide sales of photovoltaic products totaled over 90 megawatts in 1996, up 14% from 1995. US firms have a 43% share of this $1 billion global market.
• 200,000 homes in the U.S. use some type of photovoltaic solar technology-and the market is expanding at a healthy 15% annually. The main resource required for many PV modules is silicon, a major component of sand. The amorphous silicon cells manufactured from one ton of sand could produce as much electricity as burning 500,000 tons of coal.
• PV modules covering 0.3% of the land in the U.S., equivalent to one fourth of the area currently occupied by railroads, could provide all of the US's electricity needs.
• The US leads the world in the development of PV technology. PV systems are currently providing electricity services for: communications, health care, crop irrigation, water purification, lighting, cathodic protection, environmental monitoring, marine and air navigation, utility power and other residential and commercial applications.
• In the past 20 years, the US has spent a total of about $1.4 billion on developing solar power and photovoltaic's. Aided by that investment, US companies now capture 44 percent of the estimated $1.1 billion in worldwide sales of solar products every year.
• If photovoltaic's were used for just 10% of new power generating capacity outside the U.S., the revenue would amount to approximately $13 billion per year.
• Three new automated PV manufacturing plants were ribbon-cut in the US in 1996 (VA, WA, MI) and far more ribbon-cuttings are being planned for 1997 (CA, OH, DE, NM, MA NV). The new PV manufacturing capacity brought on-line in 1997 will almost double the current capacity.
• It is predicted that photovoltaic's and other direct conversions of sunlight will be the most rapidly growing form of commercial energy after 2030 with sales exceeding $100 billion. Shell Oil Company itself has acquired two photovoltaic's companies.
• Since 1992, the Japanese governmental national budget for photovoltaic's has increased at least 15% per year.9 Japan's 1996 federal R&D budget for PV was $130 million and $55 million in Germany as compared to the US's $62.5 million.
• Worldwide sales of photovoltaic products totaled over 90 megawatts in 1996, up 14% from 1995. US firms have a 43% share of this $1 billion global market.

Senator John Kerry and Newt Gingrich are having a Virtual Energy Forum today and tomorrow on line at:

www.virtualenergyforum.com

Of course a search for the word hemp at the forum came up wanting. Though they ignore hemp as a solution, they have a lot of main stream alternative energy information up.

It's worth checking out.

Hemp is a biomass champion whose biofuel is 4 times more efficient than corn as energy and does not need toxic chemicals that kill life in the rivers and ocean.

For more information on hemp as alternative energy visit the USA Hemp Museum, www.hempmuseum.org. The biofuels's room is located at http://www.hempmuseum.org/ROOMS/ARM%20BIO-FUELS.htm

The truth that hemp scrubs the air of excess CO2 as it grows and burns clean as biofuel can free us from the horrors of global warming and its accompanying woes. Yet those in charge still want to pretend not to know what hemp can do.

We can solve it now. Start with truth.   Read More »