Solar and Wind Could Power the West Right Now, All of America in 2026

[bananas]

http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/10/11/340358/solar-and-wind-could-power-west-america/

Solar and Wind Could Power the West Right Now, All of America in 2026
by John Farrell

The Germans have installed over 10,000 megawatts of solar panels in the past two years, enough to power 2 million American homes (or most of Los Angeles, CA). If Americans installed local solar at the same torrid pace, we could already power most of the Mountain West, could have a 100 percent solar nation by 2026, while enriching thousands of local communities with new development and jobs.

<snip>

The spread of solar has also been in harmony with environmental goals. Rather than covering natural areas or fertile land with solar panels, 80 percent of the solar installed in Germany was on rooftops and built to a local scale (100 kilowatts or smaller – the roof of a church or a Home Depot store). Solar in the U.S. also can use existing space. The following map shows the amount of a state’s electricity that could come from rooftop solar alone, from our 2009 report Energy Self-Reliant States:



While the local rooftop solar potential of these states varies from 19 to 51 percent, there’s much more land available for solar without covering parks or crops. Once again, data from Energy Self-Reliant States (p. 13):

On either side of 4 million miles of roads, the U.S. has approximately 60 million acres (90,000 square miles) of right of way. If 10 percent the right of way could be used, over 2 million MW of roadside solar PV could provide close to 100 percent of the electricity consumption in the country. In California, solar PV on a quarter of the 230,000 acres of right of way could supply 27% of state consumption.

<snip>

At least 32 states can get 25% or more of their electricity from wind power within their own borders. This map is updated from our 2010 report and namesake, Energy Self-Reliant States. Click here for a larger version.

The only updated figure is Maryland, due to a new report on its offshore wind potential.

<snip>

[Firebrand Gary]

1. I see political potential for North and South Dakota.

That is a gold mine of clean wind energy.

[Nihil]

2. Those wonderful words "if" and "could" ...

In the meantime - like Germany - the coal-fired power stations are doing
just fine ... throwing out their mercury, their radioactive pollution,
their acid rain without even a cloud on the horizon of their future profits ...

:shrug:

[bananas]

4. Time for a lesson from "The Little Engine That Could"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Engine_That_Could

This article is about the children's story book. For the 1991 film, see The Little Engine That Could (1991 film). For the 2011 film, see The Little Engine That Could (2011 film).
"I Think I Can" redirects here. For a song by The Pillows, see I Think I Can (song).

The Little Engine that Could is a children's story that appeared in the United States of America. The book is used to teach children the value of optimism and hard work. Some critics would contend that the book is a metaphor for the American dream.

http://www.childrenstheatreplays.com/itic.htm

[Nihil]

5. I love it when you provide sources ...

:evilgrin:

Have a nice weekend. :hi:

[watercolors]

3. The small Island Of Cozumel is going to install 700 windmills

on the southern tip of the island.The area is mostly swamp & usless, going green, good for them. our favorite place to Scuba & hang out!

[XemaSab]

6. Swampland is useless?

:o