Google Aims at Clean Energy by 2030
October 2nd, 2008 by Damon CliffordGoogle as come out with an energy plan that would reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by 2030. Google wants their Clean Energy 2030 proposal to “stimulate debate” so we can have a real conversation about how we are going to solve our energy needs for the future.
The Wall Street Journal says:
While requiring $4.4 trillion in expenditures, Google estimates that the plan would return a net savings of $1.0 trillion over its 22-year duration and create many new jobs. Work on the report was led by Jeffery Greenblatt, climate and energy technology manager for Google.org, the company’s nonprofit arm.
And the highlight of the plan is:
Greenblatt wrote that the “Clean Energy 2030″ plan would involve heavy investments in transmission capacity for wind and solar power in the “Great Plains and desert Southwest” to help cut 88% of fossil fuel use and 95% of carbon-dioxide emissions by 2030.
The Clean Energy 2030 plan covers these issues:
1. Reduce demand by doing more with less
2. Develop renewable energy that is cheaper than coal
3. Electrify transportation and re-invent our electric grid
It doesn’t surprise me that businesses and other prominent people are putting together energy plans. From the Pickens Plan, Google’s energy solution, and a number of other energy plans have been brought forth.
As I have said before, in today’s world it’s corporations and private companies, not government, that drive many big social changes. There is no time to wait on government plans because they would take too long and be inefficient. However, businesses with money on the line will find ways for clean energy to be profitable and available to everyone.
What are your thoughts on Google’s Clean Energy 2030 plan?
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Tags: clean energy, energy plan
October 5th, 2008 at 8:53 am
4.4 trillion and a proposal to stimulate debate?
I like the Google Clean Energy plan, but i have to say that I’m a bigger fan of the Pickens Plan for some very practical reasons.
Directly from the Pickens Plan website:
Building wind facilities in the corridor that stretches from the Texas panhandle to North Dakota could produce 20% of the electricity for the United States at a cost of $1 trillion. It would take another $200 billion to build the capacity to transmit that energy to cities and towns.
The natural gas currently being used to run power generators would be freed up for transportation usage. It’s possible to fit most engines for natural gas for about $300 (although most mechanics willing to do it charge a heap more). When you consider that natural gas is 1/4 the price of gasoline per mile, that refitting cost is peanuts.
I’m all for the Pickens Plan because it CAN be accomplished in a matter of years and have real people saving real money quickly.
November 17th, 2008 at 1:35 am
I applaud Google’s efforts in going for more ” greener ” energy sources , Our dependency to fossil fuels is one of the major source of greenhouse gases that is causing the global warming crisis.
If only more major companies begin this shift into more environment friendly energy sources so that we can ultimately save the global ecosystem.