Renewable is Doable: WildEarth Guardians’ Solar Santa Fe Program
Rebecca Sobel
|
|
Santa Fe Fiesta Historical / Hysterical Parade 2008
Our dependence on fossil fuels is having devastating effects not only on our wallets, but also on our health and the health of our natural landscapes. The United States hit peak oil production around 1970 and the world is at or rapidly approaching peak oil production. Nothing will change the fact that oil is a fossil fuel; an un-renewable resource, and there is only so much of it in left the ground.
Most people in the US know that we have to use less oil and will do so. Soon enough, energy conservation will no longer be an option but will be necessary for any project development. The time has come to turn toward profitable, clean, and environmentally friendly solutions to chart our course through the next century and beyond. Traditionally, environmental groups like WildEarth Guardians have been forced to fight threats to our natural landscape, but with risks like climate change and political policies beholden to special interests, we must start advocating aggressively for win/win environmental solutions.
|
It’s not a novel idea that New Mexico could lead America’s renewable energy revolution. New Mexico’s combination of ideal weather and entrepreneurial spirit make it a potential epicenter for renewable energy in the twenty-first century. In addition to an abundant wealth of technological know-how, the state experiences more than 340 days of sunshine per year, and in the eastern region, sustained winds are the norm, making the Land of Enchantment an ideal location for solar and wind energy.
All of New Mexico’s energy needs could be met by covering just 7% of White Sands Missile Range with commercial grade photovoltaic (PV) panels (or 2% with satellite grade PV). Nationally, clean energy accounted for $13 billion in revenues in 2003. In the next 10 years, that figure is expected to rise to $92 billion. And clean energy creates jobs – in the case of coal mining, wind and solar energy generate 40 percent more jobs per dollar invested. We would be ill served not to take advantage of this opportunity to lead and re-energize New Mexico.
The solutions are clear. Energy efficiency and clean energy are much better options than fossil fuels for meeting our energy needs in the arid West. Energy efficiency measures such as replacing old appliances, using compact fluorescent light bulbs, and installing insulation are the best alternatives because the cleanest and cheapest kilowatt-hour of electricity is the one that is never generated. But for those kilowatt-hours that we must generate, solar and wind energy systems dramatically minimize damage to the environment and create mutually beneficial energy opportunities.
New Mexicans must voice their support for clean energy. One of the major obstacles facing more widespread implementation of energy efficiency measures and wind and solar systems is the up-front cost. Once in place, these alternatives to fossil fuels save money, but the initial investment can seem significant, especially for low-income families. To address this obstacle, WildEarth Guardians is pushing wide-scale implementation of our Solar Santa Fe campaign to help property owners jump on board the ship to sustainability.
The way it works is simple. The City of Santa Fe issues municipal bonds at a very low interest rate. The City then takes the money it gets from issuing the low-interest bonds and loans it to property owners for the installation of solar systems and energy efficiency measures. Then, property owners repay the loan with the money saved on their monthly utility bill over the life of the solar system or energy efficiency measure.
|
