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The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) recently held its annual conference dubbed “Windpower 2009) which had a heavy, heavy focus on one major issue: Pass a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). The conference featured leaders in public policy from all around the nation, including the outspoken AWEA person of the year T Boone Pickens, who spoke on wind issues and praised the great potential it holds in the US’s economy and energy consumption.

First, what is the Renewable Electricity Standard (RES)?

The RES is a policy the AWEA is hopeful for to continue wind energy’s momentum as a renewable energy source.  The policy would be a national commitment to mandating that X amount of the US’s electricity comes from renewable energy sources, of which wind energy is obviously a major part of.

The policy is broader and more robust than anything we’ve seen before, and is probably something I endorse fully.  If the government is still adament on mandating renewable energy utilization in our cars with ethanol, (a completely irrational and failed source of energy in my opinion before cellulosic technology arrives), I see no reason why the government shouldn’t excercise its regulatory strength to come up with a broader standard to include wind energy.

Wind Energy and Job Creation – The economy

Like other issues today, the AWEA mad a strong appeal to those concerned about the economy, touting the amount of quality jobs wind energy can create and the industry’s readiness to meet the demand if a RES is passed. For example:

• The Windpower 2009 Conference featured many exhibits of firms that exist due to the wind industry.  From logistics and manufactuing to all the other support services that would benefit from a RES, the AWEA showed how wide of an impact a RES policy would have on US industry and job creation.
• Michigan touted its auto suppliers, not for their current businesses, but for their suppliers’ ability to switch over to wind energy products given the demand from a future Renewable Electricity Standard.
• Everyone loves federal jobs, right? The Department of the Interior was present touting its commitment to utilizing public lands for the use of wind energy.  Something I fully support, since such actions could create a much needed revenue source for the Treasury to finance all of Obama’s economic stimulus plans.

While I am a conservative at heart, I find no great reason for the government not to move forward with a Renewable Electricity Standard, especially as oil and energy prices are continuing to creep back up from their all time lows.

Check out the AWEA for more Wind Industry information.

GE is getting cocky showing off their smart grid technology with a new online ad.  The digital ad is interactive and really a neat time waster if you have printer and a webcam. A microphone helps too.

The great smart grid movement has been capturing the eyes of many US Big businesses, including General Electric and IBM.  With all the waste in the current energy grid, billions in infrastructure spending, massive potential, and the green movement it’s understandable why GE continues to unleash their massive ecomagination campaign and green energy focus.

While Detroit automakers GM, Ford, and Chrysler are literally on the verge of bankruptcy or another reckless government bailout, BMW is still trucking along, and doing so in a manner that consumers actually demand and appreciate unlike their domestic competitors. BMW is promoting their new, innovative diesel engines which are some of the most efficient and cleanest diesel engines in the world.

These beastly green machines are Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC engines.

So for the facts:

• When the BlueTEC engine was used first in 2007 in a Canadian Mercedes, and the vehicle was voted “World Green Car of the Year” due to it’s clean, efficient characteristics
• The engine is 20-40% more fuel efficient than its comparable gas counterparts
• It reduces the polluting nitrogen oxide normally released in emissions by an astounding 80%

Currently, the engine is utilized in Canadian Mercedes models, and is supposedly one of the only vehicles to meet the future, stricter emissions standards.

So a quiet running, fuel efficient, green, low emissions [renewable] diesel powered vehicle.  You’re thinking, great, but I cannot afford it. Which is the same thing I’m thinking, but….

Mercedes is not keeping their innovative engine technology proprietary, but they’re instead opening up the technology to other car manufacturers. Presumably, they’ll license this great technology as a socially responsible company so it could potentially be available to the masses very soon.

While diesel technology inherintly has its drawbacks like every current, plausible energy source, it does have its environmentally sound niche as shown by BlueTec.  So if/once US automakers get on the right foot and begin making green cars people want, lets hope that BluTEC esque technology finds its ways into our automobiles.

With the less than stellar state of the economy revolving around never ending financial disasters and credit problems, getting a loan may be one of the last things on your mind. However, First Again dot com has a new special offer for those wanting to go green, but unsure about parting with your beloved cash reserves. First Again offers a special ‘anything loan‘ suited especially for solar projects and solar panel installations.

From the recent removal of the $2,000 tax credit for solar installations, to the new 30% tax break now offered to everyone instead of just corporations, now is actually a great time to take advantage of financing and low rates for your solar installations if you’re in financial position to do so.

First again offers affordable loans for environmental projects through an unsecured, personal loan that now starts at a 6.99% fixed interest rate.

Furthermore, FirstAgain is also a green, environmentally friendly company themselves. By going paperless, planting trees, and offering loan customers $250 to replace incandescent light bulbs with efficient CFLs, they are committed themselves to the cause they are promoting with their specialty loans: going green affordably.

With the great tax benefits and ease of mind from going green, now may be an opportune time to look into a solar installation program yourself which can be financed by First Again’s loans.

For more information, visit the First Again website and check out a recent press release.