Let's Talk Alternative Energy, with Scott Sklar

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FINDING A DISTRIBUTOR

How do I find distribut-ors of res idential solar water-heating equipment for my state?
Jonathon G.
Northern California

Contact your local Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) chapter (www.seia.org/statechapter)s.php or your state s chapter of the American Solar Energy Society (www.ases.org ). In states without either, I d contact the closest state chapter because many distributors cover multistate regions or will know of a contact in your state. The vendor you buy the system from can recommend a good installer, too.

A quality installer should belong to a state or regional SEIA chapter or the national association. Ask to see pictures of previou-s installa tions and request references you can contact.

DIMINISHING WIND POWER?

With recent Exxon Mobil ad-s rele gating wind to less than 1 percent of future energy use and the -introduc tion of legislation to restrict wind farms by Sens. Lamar Alexander, RTenn., and John Warner, R-Va., has the sheen been blown off wind?

Haley R. Winchester,
Virginia

Quite the opposite is true. In 2004, the global wind-power indu-stry in stalled 8,000 megawatts (MW) of new wind turbines, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. Europe led the world wind-power m-arket, in stalling 5,774 MW, which accounted for about 72 percent of that growth. Total world wind capacity now stands at 47,317 MW (1 MW is enough to power 300 U.S. homes).

In March, the United Kingdom s Sustainable Development Commission released a report (www.sustainabledevelopment. gov.uk/publ-ica tions/uk strategy/ uk-strategy-20)05.htm that concludes wind power is a better alternative than- nuclear ergy for addressing climate change. The commission s 176- page report concludes wind power, along with other- renew ables, offers the only -truly sus tainable domestically sourced option for electric generation over the long term. The commission, financed by the usually- pro-nu clear energy Trade and Industry Department, concluded w-ind en ergy is quiet, economical and less expensive than nuclear power.

In April and May, two fact sheets released by the U.S. Department of Energy s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) highlighted the benefits of wind: less emissions from fossil fuelburning electric plants; more energy potential, job growth and -rural de velopment. The Wind Powering America Fact Sheet Series entitled Improving Regional Air Quality with Wind Energy( w ww.nrel.gov/docs/ fy05osti/38071.fp)dprovides an overview of how electricit-y generat ed from zero-emission wind energy can help states and municipalities improve air quality, achieve the Clean Air Act standards and reduce pollution-control costs for taxpayers.

The same report provides a case study about the purchase of wind energy by Montgomery County, Md. The fact sheets also highl-ight to day s rising coal and gas prices, and report how new wind plants compete favorably against other sources of electricity. It describes the top 10 benefits of wind energy, including the growth of new jobs and tax revenues.