Thoughts on Renewables:
surveying the state of things

Introduction

The following essay is an account of the development of my own understandings of small-scale renewable-energy systems. Initially, I had intended to survey the state of the art in the field of renewables in general. As with any good stint of research, though, what I found in my readings led me in quite a different direction than I had imagined--not an entirely different direction, but one with more of a normative stance than I would have embraced had I settled on taking what others are saying at face value.

[NB: For statistics, figures, and records regarding a) energy-production-related, transportation-related, and other forms of pollution around the world, and b) government policies related to renewable-energy technology research, development and implementation, the reader is urged to see the excellent accounts found in many publications from the Worldwatch Institute. I can do no better than they and feel that to reproduce their information would be poor use of time. In particular look for: the annual State of the World report, headed up by Lester Brown; Worldwatch Paper Number 100 from December 1990, "Beyond the Petroleum Age: Designing a Solar Economy;" and Paper Number 138 from November 1997, "Rising Sun, Gathering Wind: Policies to Stabilize the Climate and Strengthen Economies."]

One of the reasons I have decided here to focus on my own hopes and dreams regarding power/electricity generation rather than exclusively on what energy professionals are saying is that I realized, after nearly six years, that I originally found myself in the Pacific Northwest (and by extension, in school in the first place) indirectly because of an old drive in me for independence, especially energy independence. I had, all those years ago, started a homestead on family land on the coast of Maine; I headed west through Seattle on my way for a second trip to Taiwan to earn money, teaching English, to invest in renewable-energy equipment. In particular, I dreamed of buying a few solar panels and a wind turbine.

So it is that with this final project of my college career, I am reminded of an old passion for decentralization with energy at the center. When I began this project, for some reason I saw it as separate from the bulk of my studies, which have revolved mostly around Sustainable Development theories; but those theories in the end are to no small degree about the importance of decentralization and, as Kirkpatrick Sale would put it, building power at the bottom rather than trying (in vain!) to take it from the top.

During my schooling, I am proud to say, I have learned that my earlier desire to secede from mainstream systems (inspired most strongly by Helen and Scott Nearing) was right on the money. What school has done for me to a great extent is to help me see why my younger anti-establishment sentiments and systemic critiques were entirely appropriate; even better, though, school has given me the ability to speak of those critiques with a great deal more depth. It would be a disservice to my new self to treat small-scale renewable-energy systems objectively, in, say, purely scientific or pragmatic, political terms. To me, they represent a basic piece of practical philosophy in action. My main intention, then, is to speak of the importance to Sustainable Development visioning, to the philosophy of sustainability, of small-scale, renewable power.

I have learned a great deal over the past few years about power, power mechanics, electricity, energy systems, etc. When I entered school, I hardly even knew how a commonplace engine worked. There are five main phenomena that have helped me along: 1) my study of physics, 2) my study of power mechanics and engineering with Dr. Mike Seal at Western Washington University's Vehicle Research Institute, 3) my internship with John Mottl of Rainshadow Solar on Orcas Island, 4) my ownership and use of an electric vehicle, and 5) my understandings from a course I took entitled "Northwest Energy Policy."