By: Joann Bally CSCS
Most people now agree that global warming is real, pollution is not good for you, and alternative energy is something to be desired. But is alternative energy far in the future because of high cost and technological problems? Look at a couple examples.
In 2000, California was being subjected to rolling blackouts because of electricity problems. The CEO of Sierra Nevada Brewing was rightly concerned about this, because if refrigeration failed, he stood to lose thousands of gallons of ale. This was a present and future problem. With help from the state, the brewer built a power generation system that cut electricity purchases by 50%, reduced fuel costs by about 40%, and slashed air pollution.
Here’s how it works. The brewery’s wastewater treatment plant produces methane as a by-product, and the methane helps power fuel cell-based generators. Heat from the fuel cells is used to reduce the amount of natural gas needed for the boilers. A 9,000 panel solar cell installation joins the fuel cells and together they produce 80% of the brewery’s heat and electricity. Elsewhere the carbon dioxide generated during fermentation is recycled to add fizz to the beer, and the remains of the grains and hops is fed to local cows.
Although some of the big brewers have shown interest in their system, Sierra Nevada itself is not a giant company—more of a micro-brewer. That doesn’t mean that big companies are not moving ahead on alternative energy. Look at this one.
Wal-Mart is as big as they come, and they have been installing conventional solar panels on 22 of their properties in California and Hawaii. In northern states, roofs might not be able to support solar panels plus the weight of snow, so Wal-Mart has been looking at next-generation solar cells: flexible thin films and cells incorporated right into the building materials. This is progress toward the company’s goal of using 100% renewable energy.
Do you think Wal-Mart became the biggest company in the world by caving in to the demands of environmentalists and people pursuing anti-business policies? Or do you think they ran their business to make profit? Not to take away from their present progressive policies in this area, but you can be sure that Wal-Mart does things that will eventually make them money. Thus, this is a win-win situation. They make money; we all get cleaner air.
Note that these alternative energy initiatives are happening now, not 10 plus years from now after drilling-finding-building transportation structure-building refinery. And not after the 20 years it takes to build and make profitable a nuke plant. Forward-looking companies and a more imaginative, progressive government pushed by citizens like us health and fitness enthusiasts can save the environment, if we don’t wait too long.
Information on Sierra Nevada and Wal-Mart projects from Environmental Defense Fund
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