How do we….

…move toward world peace?

…move toward collaboration on climate change?

…move toward economic and environmental responsibility?

…become energy independent and a member of the world community?

Here is a huge step in the right direction…

I just had to share this wonderful new video “Sol Solution” with all of you!

An inspiring combination of youth, hope, and solar energy… what’s not to love!

We need more uplifting solution oriented videos like this to empower our youth and all the big kids too!

In-joy,
Bruce

[video]
Find more videos like this on Community2025.org
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This exciting new technology has the potential to revolutionize national electircal grids using the simple principle of hot air rising.

The concept is simple…. use the sun to provide air movement which pushes turbines that create electricity and do it with a design that makes no impact on the quality of our air, water or soil…. what’s not to love?

I have provided a number of the videos detailing existing test installations and projects hoping to go forward.

Enviro-Mission - Roger Davy’s Solar Power Tower…

1800′ - 3100′ tall

a base of glass 6 times larger than New York’s central park.

Powering over 100,000 - 200,000 homes with no fossil fuel burning.

This would be the equivalent of taking over 90,000 cars off the road.

The Enviro-Mission proposed project in Mildura, Austraila desert 3281ft tall!

http://www.enviromission.com.au

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An Opportunity to Reduce Global Warming and CO2? -Discovery Channel

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Test installation Solar Tower Energy in Spain, Madrid

 Citizenre is part of the new wave of ‘GREEN’ economies… and it is happening on a global scale. Just like the Climate Changes…

“Increasingly, combating climate change is being perceived as an opportunity rather than a burden and a path to a new kind of prosperity as opposed to a brake on profits and employment.”

United Nations - More and more companies are embracing environmentally-friendly policies and investors are pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into cleaner and renewable energies, according to a new publication released today by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

While the impacts of climate change range from the melting of permafrost and glaciers to extreme weather events, UNEP’s Year Book 2008 shows that it is also causing a shift in the mind-sets, policies and actions of leaders of governments, companies and the UN itself.

continue reading the article…

This is great news about the solar industry and our market. It also gives a picture of the scale and scope of our first 500 megawatt manufacturing plant considering this huge jump in 2007 was only 314 megawatts! The excerts from the article below also raises valid concerns about the ramifications of congress not getting the extension to the renewable tax credits passed.

In-joy,
Bruce

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January 23, 2008
Solar Energy is Economic Engine for U.S. Economy

Statement by Rhone Resch, SEIA President:

“Over the past few years, the solar energy industry, which includes manufacturers and distributors of photovoltaic, concentrating solar power and solar heating technology, has witnessed unprecedented growth. 2007 was a record year for solar energy, with 314 megawatts of new solar installed in the U.S. This is an increase of 125 percent from 2006. This growth pumped over $2 billion into the U.S. economy and created 6,000 new jobs. And Wall Street invested billions of dollars in solar energy companies, foreseeing the growing global demand for clean, renewable energy sources.

“In addition to manufacturing, solar creates development jobs. As of today, there are 80 utility-scale solar energy projects in the planning stages that represent about 56,000 megawatts of new electric power and 20 thousand permanent jobs. As these projects move forward, they will create hundreds of thousands of construction jobs.

“We recently conducted a survey of our members and found that developing solar energy is an economic engine for America. From 2006 to 2007, their collective revenue grew by 116 percent and their job base grew by 103%. For 2008, the industry projected 60% growth in jobs and a 108% increase in revenues. Almost all of this growth is directly attributable to the solar investment tax credits created in the 2005 Energy Bill that are scheduled to expire at the end of this year.

“Specifically, if the investment tax credit for solar energy is not extended and expanded early in 2008, we will see a net job loss of over 40,000 high quality jobs by 2009.

“I want to echo the words of my colleagues and ask Congress to make an investment in renewable energy. Make an investment that will create jobs, improve our energy independence, ensure American energy security, and begin to address the biggest environmental issue that we face today - global warming. Extending the tax credits for solar energy is timely, targeted and temporary and will help stimulate the US economy.

“It is time for Congress to listen to the will of the American people and pass common-sense policies like the solar investment tax credit.”

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http://www.seia.org/solarnews.php?id=158

This is an amazing presentation from the UK-Channel 5.
It has many, many points woven into a problem solving approach to the out of control Consumerism that is growing on a global scale. It makes the point, much like the “Story of Stuff” that we are living a linear mode of consumption on a finite planet… we will run out of resources.

It may take a few minutes to watch all four parts but it will be well worth your time.

Big Ideas That Changed The World - Consumerism (1/4)

Big Ideas That Changed The World - Consumerism (2/4)

Big Ideas That Changed The World - Consumerism (3/4)

Big Ideas That Changed The World - Consumerism (4/4)

Consumerism re-born?

There are many ways to think of how to funnel the impressive power of a group of individuals and the larger community. One way is by setting an example for the renewable energy wave of change that is under foot.

Sometimes it is difficult to be the first one in your neighborhood to make the move to renewable energy. Most all of the time it is well worth the effort and has benefits that go far beyond your expectations!

Below is a wonderful video by Good Energy Films in England. This north London church brings solar energy to the community providing green electricity and raising awareness for renewable energy.

Suprisingly, buildings produce the biggest share of green house emmissions. More than transportation or industry. The good news… is that no other sector offers a simpler or cheaper way to cut emmissions and save energy.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released a report in April 2007 highlighting the importance of energy efficient buildings in the global campaign to combat climate change.

“By some conservative estimates, the building sector worldwide could deliver emissions reductions of 1.8 billion tons of CO2,” says UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner. “A more aggressive energy efficiency policy might deliver over two billion tons or close to three times the amount scheduled to be reduced under the Kyoto Protocol.”

Currently the building sector has it’s CO2 emmissions are rising at the rate of one and a half to two percent per year. So conservation, higher efficiency, better insulation and renewable energy are key elements to dramatically reduce this trend. Sustainable building practice has attracted some high-profile projects and has gone mainstream over the last few years. In May-2007, The Clinton Initiative launched the Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program, a five Billion dollar project that will create more efficient energy consumption in existing uban buildings.

The new green standard Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) has garnered a new respect in the building industry and has has a tremdous amount of public interest.LEED certifications take into account site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. Some insurance companies are now offering lower insurance rates due to the lower risk factor…. everybody wins.

In-joy,

Bruce

Energy From The Community - Good Energy Films

RSI Silicon wins the 2007 Ignite Clean Energy Business Presentation competition for their innovative technology that could dramatically impact the solar industry. While Citizenre Corp. has denied any business arrangement with RSI Silicon Mr. James Dunn, Vice Presidentof RSI Silicon, mentioned a company that has contacted them with a business model similar to Citizenre. Their inovative technology will dramatically lower the cost of production and bring much more availability of solar grade silicon to the market. Two key factors that will help the Citizenre manufacturing process. RSI Silicon will use the $200,000 award to build a pilot line and R&D facility, most likely in Massachusetts, followed by a large silicon plant to produce up to 15,000 tons per year.

There is also a radio interview with David Gregg done by Mr. James Dunn who is on the panel of the Radio Show - Energy Freedom Fighters. You can find it in the Associate back office resource section.

Here is an excerpt from an article by Sterling D. Allan of Pure Energy Systems News…

‘RSI is a new energy materials company that has developed a unique process for making solar grade Silicon at a production cost of around $7-9 per kilogram, compared to a production cost of $25-30 via a typical Siemens plant. Additionally, the capital costs for building a 5000 metric ton RSI Silicon plant is projected to be one tenth the cost of a comparable Siemens process plant, and a shorter completion time of just 15-18 months.

The net result is that once RSI is in high-volume production, the price of photovoltaic solar products will be able to drop significantly, making solar energy 35-60% cheaper than at present. The impact is far-reaching for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, and in making solar power not only feasible, but close to being competitive economically with conventional grid energy.

The cost of the Silicon in a current panel or cell is about $1.50 per Watt. RSI will reduce that to about $.25/W over the next 5 years. This should help reduce the current retail cost from $4/W to under $2/W, achieving grid parity at about $1/W, targeted for 2012-2015.’

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Another notable mention is another company that was in the top ten of the MIT competion… GreenRay. They are developing a revolutionary product that will transform solar electric systems into a broadly accepted household appliance by simplifying the design and installation of PV systems and provide lower cost solar electricity. Citizenre will no doubt have a similar ease of install system.

Here is there website: http://www.greenraysolar.com/

“GreenRay is developing a solar appliance for residential homes. While today’s PV systems use discrete components and require specialized expertise to design and install, our plug and play system is fully integrated. The modular AC solar panel units plug together and snap into a specially-designed roof mount. By reducing design and installation time, we make solar more accessible and simpler to install. Our patent-pending technology sets the new standard for residential solar electric systems.”

Here is an article about GreenRay getting federal funding…

Bob Schneeveis, the inventor of the Solar Powered Walking Chariot!
Bob is a brilliant and eccentric character who studies nature and then turns it into sustainable, solar-electric vehicles and gadgets… Bob also donates his time to students studying robotics, and certainly gets our award for being the truest of nutty professors!
Check out how clean powered engine drives these legs and rollerblades in such a human-like fashion…amazing! This thing actually has a lot of kick to it and is capable of covering all kinds of terrain it seems.
Best of all, this chariot demonstrates that earth-happy innovations and creativity are all around us.
“I got my buddy  George… doing something he is qualified to do, and he is good at it too. So I’d like to see him do more. He has to run totally within the bounds of sustainability, not muck’n up the atmosphere.” -Bob Schneeveis

Here is the clip from the Hippy Gourmet TV show….

Great news for Massachusetts’ residents!

Boston, Massachusetts [RenewableEnergyAccess.com]
Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles has announced that Commonwealth Solar, the state’s new program of rebates to encourage the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) power is now accepting applications from businesses and homeowners looking to reduce the cost of putting solar panels on their roofs.

“Solar energy is a key component of the clean energy economy we are developing here in Massachusetts, and a rebate is the most efficient, cost-effective way we can make solar power more affordable. Now is the time for businesses and homeowners to find out what Commonwealth Solar has to offer.”
–Ian Bowles, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Announced in December, the program, which makes use of existing renewable energy funds, is expected to result in the installation of more than 27 megawatts (MW) of solar power capacity over the next four years. Commonwealth Solar is part of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s pledge to increase installed solar power from 5 MW today to 250 MW by 2017. This was made in April in connection with Evergreen Solar Inc.’s commitment to locate its first full-scale U.S. manufacturing facility in Massachusetts.
“Commonwealth Solar is open for business, and that’s good news for the economy and the environment,” Bowles said. “Solar energy is a key component of the clean energy economy we are developing here in Massachusetts, and a rebate is the most efficient, cost-effective way we can make solar power more affordable. Now is the time for businesses and homeowners to find out what Commonwealth Solar has to offer.”
Information on how to get a Commonwealth Solar rebate can be found at www.commonwealthsolar.org.