From coal to renewable energy

This is a guest post from Jutta Splettstoesser:

I still remember the days when the truck dumped a big load of coal on the

pavement in front of my parents house and the whole family worked together to

shovel it into the basement. When we were finished we had the fine black dust

everywhere and needed a long bath. Nobody on the street where I grew up heats

with coal anymore - those days are over. I'm sure that when you ask my dad, he

will tell you that he now enjoys the comfort of his gas furnace. He has a big shop

where the coal used to be stored and the air is much better in the winter.

Every time I go back to Germany I see a lot of change even in just a short timeframe

of 2 or 4 years. Coming from the airport in Duesseldorf I saw in 2009 a lot

of solar panels installed on residential houses. I admired the large 100kw solar

installation across the road on the dairy farmers new hay and straw storage. 65%

of all the investment from German farmers go into renewable energy. The

renewable energy project have guarantied grid access and are prioritized. This

month my brother in law will install 38 panels on his house in Georgetown. When

we got together for Christmas he thanked me for sharing all my knowledge with

him about the Micro-FIT program and that I pushed him to apply for it. Tom

pointed out that Canadian citizens aren't informed enough about the existing

opportunities. How everybody can make a real difference to help to “turn that

corner” on greenhouse gases, toxic waste and other forms of pollution and be

part of the energy revolution is very positive and powerful. Compared to other

sources, wind-energy is an environmental winner. Wind energy is emission-free,

consumes no water, produces no waste, has no hidden health cost and is 100%

renewable.

As a teenager the odd wind turbine went up in our region but the first larger wind

parks were erected in Northern Germany. My dad keeps me updated on any

new development. He is and always was open-minded toward new technology

and energy options. For him things have to make economic sense and in the case

of renewables it does. More Germans are employed in the renewable sector than

in the auto industry. Dr. Hermann Scheer understood very early that by investing

into renewable energy we help the environment and the whole economy at no

extra cost. Since the German government decided on a new energy strategy

there will be more wind turbines built all over the country. My parents are very

ordinary citizens with a lot of common sense that are welcoming the wind turbines

into their backyard. They know of the study from the University of Kassel that

combined solar, bio gas and wind-energy and proved that it is possible to go

100% with renewable energy in the future.

“Any energy-planning conversations must begin with a commitment to robust

engagement and education, so that all those involved are well equipped to do

so, and so that the final products can be presented to-and ultimately supported

by-an informed Canadian public."  (1)

When I read the CFFO (Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario) commentary this 

week I asked myself when will people stop repeating widely discredited oil 

industry backed reports attacking the value of “Green jobs”?

Who is taking the time and continues the educational process that Friends of

Wind Ontario started in 2011?

When do the Canadian farm organizations start a partnership and dialog with the

farmers who have the experience, knowledge and confidence in developing citizen

owned wind parks?

1. “Built To Last: A Successful Energy-Strategy Design Process” Marlo Raynolds, Senior Advisor, Pembina Institute and Advisor to Tides Canada Energy Initiative March 14, 2011 page 4