Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Al Gore Sets Energy Goals
by Heiky | July 17, 2008 at 08:59 am
1367 views | 17 Recommendations | 47 comments
Looks like Al Gore is trying to raise the bar and fight against climate change. His goal is for the United States to produce every kilowatt of energy through eco-friendly energy sources such as solar, hydro and wind power within 10 years. Looks like the Nobel Prize-winning former vice president is set on change, and he hopes that the next president will embrace this goal.
"I have never seen an opportunity for the country like the one that's emerging now," Gore told The Associated Press in an interview previewing a speech on global warming he planned to give Thursday in Washington.
Gore said he fully understands the magnitude of the challenge.
It's funny to think that this same man had been previously criticised for his huge energy consumption, even if it is renewable, green energy.
Public power and gas bills turned up by the group show that the man behind the Oscar-winning global warming wakeup documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth," uses much more overall carbon-based fuel than the average American, spending thousands of dollars a month on electricity and gas.
"As the spokesman of choice for the global warming movement, Al Gore has to be willing to walk the walk, not just talk the talk, when it comes to home energy use," Tennessee Center for Policy Research President Drew Johnson said in a statement. The center says on its Web site that it "promotes personal freedom and limited government."
Yes, we should be using energy that is more environmentally friendly, but the quantity of our usage is also important. Think about the movement "Flick Off". The issue we should also be addressing is on using greener and LESS energy.
"We have at most ten years—not ten years to decide upon action, but ten years to alter fundamentally the trajectory of global greenhouse emissions.” Jim Hansen, NASA.
FLICK OFF is a movement to fight climate change by getting Canadians to use less energy. We need you! Time is short to prevent a climate crisis, but it hasn’t run out—so join the FLICK OFF movement. How? Click here!
In spite of that, I've got to admit that Al Gore is trying to lead change in the direction for the better.
What do you think?
July 17, 2008 at 08:59 am by Heiky, 1367 views, 47 comments
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (47)
at 10:09 on July 17th, 2008
I think Al Gore is really cool. His concerns for global warming are evident.
at 00:17 on July 18th, 2008
The Al Gore pic was taken in Rome, during the launch of current_tv here in Italy, on May 8th 2008.
giorgia has contributed a photo to this story.
at 01:33 on July 18th, 2008
I think this story is out for the third time now! Sorry!
at 02:50 on July 18th, 2008
Heiky, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Al is doing the right thing
at 02:53 on July 18th, 2008
Heiky, I like this story. It's good stuff.
- reply
Pablo Hat 02:59 on July 18th, 2008
This was a video stream of Al Gore's message at the ICANN's Gala Dinner in Los Angeles (10/31/08). The message was about recognition and farewell to Vint Cerf as Chairman of ICANN.
Pablo H has contributed a photo to this story.
at 03:44 on July 18th, 2008
Heiky, I like this story. It's good stuff.
- reply
duckchowat 04:02 on July 18th, 2008
The contributed photo shows evacuated tubes; part of a water-heating system in Vermont. A small PV panel provides power to a circulating pump.
duckchow has contributed a photo to this story.
- reply
abram_stephenat 04:29 on July 18th, 2008
I met Al Gore when he did the keynote for the SLA (Special Libraries Association) Denver Conference. One of the results was that the very next conference in Seattle went "green" in a big way. We also made our HQ green too. He's awesome.
abram_stephen has contributed a photo to this story.
at 04:49 on July 18th, 2008
Heiky, only women can combine electricity with forward thinking.
Don't take it to serious, But when Clinton and Al Gore have been in power, they did not much for going green. In their book published to the election you could read: environment yes but only when the money is here, meant economy first. The money was then here, but guess who used it, Bush for petrol war. A real money tragedy, hope it doesn't repeat.
at 05:05 on July 18th, 2008
The photo used in this story is of Former Vice President Al Gore at the TED 2008 Conference in Monterey, California
redmaxwell has contributed a photo to this story.
- reply
paspogat 06:22 on July 18th, 2008
This is the roof of the public swimming pool in Montreuil (France, right next to Paris). I do not intend to spoil the fun, but Montreuil was, until early this year, run by the French Communist Party. The French Green Party (Les Verts) put together a coalition and won the city council in march 2008.
paspog has contributed a photo to this story.
at 06:38 on July 18th, 2008
Heiky, I like this story. It's good stuff.
- reply
justuswendellat 07:09 on July 18th, 2008
While I was in Africa, one of the NGOs was working with other NGOs to find sustainble energy sources especially for people outside of the city of Monrovia, Liberia. Solar energy is one such option, the one downfall is that it is still expensive, and few in Liberia know how to maintain or repair such a unit.
This particular unit was installed by International Resource Group on a Creative Associates Learning Resource Center in Bong County. The Resource Center was getting power from a diesle generator.
justuswendell has contributed a photo to this story.
at 11:32 on July 20th, 2008
justuswendell you got it, maintain and repair yourself, Lighting Africa Accra was the same result with worldbank support
- reply
Linda Stricklandat 07:26 on July 18th, 2008
This wind turbine was in Wisconsin. I was told there are 78 of them in the Mayville area. I love seeing them, they're so beautiful and majestic. A wonderful energy alternative. I just had to stop the car and take pictures of them. We heard mostly positive things about them from the local people in the area. I was very encouraged.
Linda Strickland has contributed a photo to this story.
at 07:34 on July 18th, 2008
“For decades, Al Gore has challenged the skeptics in Washington on climate change and awakened the conscience of a nation to the urgency of this threat. I strongly agree with Vice President Gore that we cannot drill our way to energy independence, but must fast-track investments in renewable sources of energy like solar power, wind power and advanced biofuels, and those are the investments I will make as President. It’s a strategy that will create millions of new jobs that pay well and cannot be outsourced, and one that will leave our children a world that is cleaner and safer.”
–Democratic candidate Barack Obama in response to Al Gore.
at 08:28 on July 18th, 2008
Thanks for the excerpt!
- reply
scarlet.starletat 07:48 on July 18th, 2008
Mt Storm, West Virginia
scarlet.starlet has contributed a photo to this story.
at 07:54 on July 18th, 2008
I live in Cedar Rapids, IA but drive to Minneapolis/St. Paul frequently and have always been fascinated by the massive wind farms on Hwy 218 and I-35. On the trip back I decided I wanted to take some pictures of the mills. This one was one of the better shots.
playbsides has contributed a photo to this story.
at 08:18 on July 18th, 2008
One of the photos used in this story came from my Flickr account, with my permission of course. I live in Palm Springs near literally thousands of wind turbines. Many megawatts of energy are generated in the San Gorgonio mountain pass area just north and west of Palm Springs, and partly in the city too.
To see billions and billions of local windmill photos please visit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_rider/sets/72157605339565722/
and
http://stevesphotos.org/2003_08_31/index.htm
- reply
Stuart Alan Martinat 08:22 on July 18th, 2008
I spotted this in a German Village of Schwan it is a Solar panel (one of many) and the best is that it follows the sun aroound all day making the best of the suns energy
Stuart Alan Martin has contributed a photo to this story.
at 08:28 on July 18th, 2008
The biggest argument I have heard from people who are against the use of renewable energy, wind turbines in particular, is that the structures are ugly. Now it's my personal opinion to say that I don't think they are, but its common knowledge that they don't have as much impact as pylons strung with wire crossing along beautiful countryside. As far as looks go, they are at the very worst the lesser of two evils, but I, and many others, think they are majestic and clean and a nice site.
jondavidoakley has contributed a photo to this story.
at 08:45 on July 18th, 2008
Gore's current work is important, but until he walks the walk, it is pure hypocrisy. There is nothing green or environmentally friendly about a 20-room mansion. For a little compare and contrast, READ THIS factoid from Snopes.com.
- reply
EcofuturesBuildingat 09:10 on July 18th, 2008
The South Boulder Zero Energy Home was Ecofutures Building's first net-zero energy retrofit project, completed in November, 2007. To learn more about this and other zero energy projects, visit: www.ecofuturesbuilding.com/ZEH_in_progress
EcofuturesBuilding has contributed a photo to this story.
at 09:17 on July 18th, 2008
This solar panel array is powering a new green home in Western Massachusetts. Adjustments will be made as the home operates throughout the first year, and the power collection technology is monitored. Our friend who has had her green home built to her specifications is eager to reduce her carbon footprint, and has found some very practical ways of doing so. We'll be staying in touch with her to keep abreast of her green activities.
netty1 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 09:35 on July 18th, 2008
Este modelo de energia reduz os índices de poluição da região metropolitana de Fortaleza. Ademais, preserva em parte a paisagem habitual. Impede ainda a construção de edifícios próximos à orla que ultrapassem 3 andares, o que contribui para maior e melhor circulação de ar na cidade, diminuindo a temperatura e diminuindo o consumo de energia elétrica com condicionadores de ar.
É uma medida de custo relativamente baixo e tem origem na responsabilidade social das empresas. Deveria ser uma prática habitual em qualquer lugar.
guedes.bravo has contributed a photo to this story.
at 12:18 on July 18th, 2008
Heiky, I like this story. It's good stuff.
I like that you've chosen to bring the fact that we ALL need to use LESS in order to make any kind of a difference
at 14:56 on July 18th, 2008
My photos that are on this page are of several wind farm projects in Nolan County, Texas. T. Boone Pickens has made two stops to Sweetwater (Nolan county seat) within the last three weeks.
at 15:02 on July 18th, 2008
Why can't we have someone like Al Gore in every country ?
z50rc has contributed a photo to this story.