Nevada to lead the next American Revolution

I had the opportunity to attended the National Clean Energy Summit 2.0 today hosted by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and US Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) with guest speakers former President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore. It was a gathering of clean energy advocates, politicians, executive entrepreneurs, press, and exhibitionists. As you may or may not know, Nevada is at the center of America's plan to develop and implement renewable energy due to its abundant natural resources particularly solar and wind energy. Moreover, Senator Reid is the voice of Nevada in the Senate and has worked fearlessly for policy change and federal funding.

Held at the Cox Pavilion center on the campus of UNLV for the second year in a row, the entire day was dedicated to discussing and brainstorming on two key topics of concern, renewable energy (renewables) and energy efficiency. The morning session was a panel discussion of twenty participants including Vice President Al Gore, US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, White House Council on Environmental Quality Advisor Van Jones, and energy executive T. Boone Pickens, just to name a few guest from various backgrounds. The guest list was completed with several CEOs, entrepreneurs, and politicians of different levels. The round table was moderated by former Senator Timothy E. Worth (D-CO). Each guest was given the opportunity to speak on one or the other theme and add to the conversation from their perspective and expertise.

Former President Bill Clinton spoke during the afternoon session, delivering his ideas on how American policy reform can lead to action and real change in our struggling economy. Clinton explained that our nation's biggest detriment to the environment is CO2 emission, and 40% of all CO2 emissions escape from our homes, offices, and skyscrapers. As Secretary Chu would say, this problem is a "low hanging fruit." CO2 emission is all around us, but because it is odorless, tasteless, "out of sight, and out of mind," we don't move with a sense of urgency to resolve this manageable problem. Simply, America's buildings must be retrofitted with the latest clean technology in order to be updated and restored to emit close to or zero carbon dioxide.

With such abundant solar and wind energy resources and a staggering state unemployment rate of 12.1%, Nevada is looking to the future and ready to develop and produce clean energy for the nation. Here lies the overall goal of today's discussion, that is, to prepare people for the environmental and economical changes that must and will take place in our country, beginning with the region that is most susceptible to the Renewable Revolution making America more energy efficient, independent of foregin oil, and getting our people back to work.

Back to Basics

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One way to conserve energy is to not use electric dryers but instead dry your clothes using natural resources, wind and the Sun. In order to use wind, clothes must be aired outdoors. What's the problem? Some neighbors in this particular community feel that a simple clothes line, an effort to slow climate change, is a detriment to their property value. They just don't want to be forced to look at their neighbors socks and shirts. This is such a lame excuse. Who complained about seeing their neighbors' underwear before the modern washer and dryer were installed? No one! Some opponents might argue that we have progressed with the times and technology. We have the means to dry our clothes in doors and be civilized. However, due to our inventions and consumption patterns, we are exhausting our limited resources by the second. If a clothes line is too much for us to bear, then how will we ever make any real changes towards limiting our dependency on energy? Impossible. Results can't come without change.

Riding for a Change

This is great initiative to combat global climate change, sponsored by Brita, the water filter company. Last year, over 100 riders biked from NYC to DC to seek climate change legislation and a more advocacy for renewable energy. This year the ride will be held from September 26th-30th.