Re: [Transition TC] Digest for transition-twin-cities@googlegroups.com - 1 update in 1 topic

[Douglas Zbikowski]

When it comes to climate change and energy I feel that our government is rather ineffective. I follow and support Elon Musk because he seems to be a power player who makes some energy sense. Is it any wonder that he is at odds with the Biden administration? I drive electric and even have an electric lawnmower. I’d have solar panels, except that my house is poorly oriented. Maybe it’s time to buy a new house!

On Tue, Dec 28, 2021 at 9:52 AM <transition-...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

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• From What Is to What If? Made in Minnesota Energy - 1 Update

From What Is to What If? Made in Minnesota Energy

Jon Freise <jon.e....@gmail.com>: Dec 27 01:51PM -0600 Hi Alan, Everyone,   Yes, it is challenging. The paralysis is the goal of some players in the system. By turning climate change into a conservative vs liberal issue the fossil fuel companies have caused paralysis on an issue that should be straightforward. 90% of the economy is non-fossil fuel and can only take a loss from climate change and environmental damage vs the 10% that is the fossil fuel industry. But they turned that into a paralyzing 50% vs 50% with large donations, buying up media companies, etc. Environmentalism is actually a cross liberal and conservative issue. It rests on the values of Fairness and Justice. No one should be able to make a living by destroying the homes and livelihoods of others. Almost everyone agrees on that. Check out the movie "Dark Waters" for an example of a deeply conservative farmer and lawyer take on DuPont for poisoning the farmers land. Again, a straightforward issue is rendered "controversial" by disinformation.   I don't know how to break that 50-50 impasse. But I think there have been some good lessons learned based on altruism and self interest. First, using people's altruism: Pass policies in areas that do have majority consent that get the install base growing in such a way that it lowers the long term cost for everyone. So Germany purchasing large volumes of solar panels allowed large factory construction and volume efficiency and drove down everyone's cost and started the solar PV revolution world wide. If we could do that in a few metro cities for windows and super insulation supplies it would make a big difference statewide.   On the self interest side: Rural areas pay the highest energy costs in the state. And they stand to benefit the most from renewable energy system taxes and jobs. Design a policy that helps on those two fronts and make it hard for those representatives to vote against them. As the number of renewable energy jobs grow they will carry a stronger and stronger political weight. The nation had no problem passing the ethanol into gasoline blending bill (which I actually oppose) because rural areas supported it.   Those are my thoughts. Focus on policies that build momentum toward lower cost for the first 20% then let the market do the last 80%. Germany and solar PV. California and Electric cars. Invest in ways that build constituencies in key rural districts. You don't need them all to pass by a majority.   -Jon

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