Transitioning to a renewable energy future
Posted: 16 November 2003
New white paper outlines policies for sustainable development
and
environmental preservation
At a time when pressure is growing
for government at all levels to provide a vision of an affordable
and
socially responsible transition to sustainability and clean energy,
the
International Solar Energy Society has produced a white paper that
clearly
shows where smart governments are investing their efforts: Renewable
Energy
and Energy Efficiency.
The Paper provides a rationale for effective governmental renewable
energy
policies world-wide, as well as sufficient information to accelerate
effective government policies. It is the thesis of the Paper that
a
worldwide effort to generate the renewable energy transition must
emerge at
the top of national and international agendas, starting now.
In the history of human energy use, the White Paper records that
sustainable resources were the sole world supply, even in nascent
industrial development well into the 1800s, and that the world will
necessarily again have to turn to sustainable resources before the
present
century is over. The fossil fuel period is therefore an era, not
an age,
and highly limited in time in comparison with the evolution, past
and
future, of civilizations and societies. Accordingly, it is critical
for
governments to view what remains of the fossil fuel era as a transition.
The renewable energy transition will accelerate as governments
discover how
much better the renewable energy policies and applications are for
economies than the present time - and resource - limited policies
and
outmoded and unreliable centralized systems for power production
and
distribution.
The Paper proceeds to outline the technologies, policy instruments,
market
forces and socio-economic measures that governments at all levels
can
apply, to enjoy the benefits a sustainable, renewable energybased
economy
can bring. The transition thus becomes not a burden to be shouldered
but
rather an opportunity to be embraced.
It specifically addresses bioenergy, geothermal energy, wind power,
solar
energy, and the built environment. Throughout, it highlights new
elements
driving public policy towards a renewable energy transition, whilst
clearly
and understandably presenting the characteristics, status of development
and relative potential of various technologies. It examines national
and
local factors supporting the development of renewable energy technologies,
especially in terms of issues like job creation, greenhouse gas
emission
reduction, and economic stimuli.
In addition to a general overview of policies and incentives, it
clearly
presents exemplary practices based on concrete examples, with a
special
focus on cities, utilities and the relationship between local, regional
and
national policy.
The Paper, which will be widely disseminated through the international
network of offices and members of ISES and partner organisations,
will
underpin a global movement towards the application of innovative
policy
instruments to realise a controlled, universal transition to a globally
sustainable and environmentally-friendly energy economy.
The author of the Paper, acting for the International Solar Energy
Society, was Dr. Donald W. Aitken.
Dr. Aitken has served the renewable energy field in a number of
prominent roles, including that of Vice-President and Secretary
of ISES and twice President of the American Solar Energy Society
(ASES).
Formerly Senior Staff Scientist for Renewable Energy with the 100,000
member Union of Concerned Scientists, he now independently consults
with U.S. and international governments on the topic of energy and
renewable energy policy, as well as the sustainable built environment
His web site is http://www.donaldaitkenassociates.com
For more information see www.ises.org.
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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