ENV 206 - Global Perspectives in Alternative Energy

This program demonstrates how wind turbines, solar cells, hybrid automobiles, and coal gasification plants are beginning to transform the way the world is powered. The U.S. Secretary of Energy, the director of the National Wind Technology Center, the CEO of Enron Wind Corporation, representatives of Worldwatch Institute and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and others discuss the challenge of satisfying the rapidly increasing global demand for energy while developing environmentally friendly forms of power generation to reduce air pollution and lessen the threat of global warming.

You won’t read about it in the papers, but a silent worldwide revolution is taking place: renewable energy is becoming cheaper than energy from fossil fuels. More and more, opting for wind and solar energy is no longer an ethical choice but an economic one. This will speed up the transfer to renewable energy. Countries like Brazil, Australia, Chilé and parts of the United States are switching to renewable energy for economic reasons. Over the coming years, the price of solar and wind energy will keep falling rapidly. The number of countries where the tipping point for renewable energy has been reached will continue to rise. A surprising newcomer is Morocco, for example. By 2020 the government expects to meet more than 40 percent of the demand for electricity with solar energy. The Netherlands is nowhere near ready yet.

Access to affordable, sustainable energy supplies is a growing concern around the world. This program looks at successful enterprises that are providing some renewable energy solutions. In Scotland, small-scale turbines put wind power within the reach of domestic users. In Sweden, the world’s first train to be run solely on biogas has been developed. In Nepal, biogas stoves are improving the quality of life in many ways. And in India, agricultural plant waste is being turned into solid fuel briquettes for use in industrial stoves and boilers, while a solar energy company has developed environmentally friendly lighting technology that disadvantaged communities can afford.

Produced in Oahu, Hawaii, during the 2008 Blue Planet Energy Summit, this Fred Friendly Seminar features a panel of high-profile environmental and political leaders tasked with envisioning America’s energy future. Broadcast journalist Frank Sesno, assuming the top post in a hypothetical presidential administration, challenges each “cabinet member” to contribute to a strategy that will end American dependence on foreign oil and all fossil fuels. A separate scenario involving the political and technical aspects of wind farming is also explored. Panelists include environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.; Natural Capitalism Solutions founder L. Hunter Lovins; former CIA director James Woolsey; PG&E Vice President Steven Kline; former CNBC energy reporter Bill Paul; New York Times environmental reporter Andrew Revkin; and several others. A discussion guide and other resources are available online

In this program, Hazel Henderson and NASA Chief Scientist Dennis Bushnell review all the issues around the increasing global shift from polluting fossil fuels and their effect on climate to economies. They discuss today’s harvesting of solar, wind, geothermal, hydro and oceans, as well as the cost savings from more efficient buildings, batteries electric vehicles and charging stations, smarter cities and urban design, public transport and the future of decentralized energy, especially in developing countries. Both Henderson and Bushnell agree that there is ample renewable energy from our Sun for all existing and foreseen human societies’ needs. The issues concern the politics of incumbent interests and the re-design of green infrastructure so as to utilize and scale up all our existing renewable technologies now available, as tracked in the Green Transition Scoreboard

Modern Marvels examines the renewable energy sources most proven and reliable: solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels, and tidal power. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes) Distributed by A&E Television Networks.