Climate Memo Mondays #1
The Old Incrementalism and the Green NEW Deal.
Every Sunday the PBS program “Real Green”
appreciates praiseworthy projects for the planet. Today 12-13-20 the Solar Living Institute at
Hopland, CA received the spotlight. Its
founder and director, John Schaefer, has built a wonderful energy oasis. Not only do the solar collectors on the
buildings welcome the sun, but grapevines prohibit the sun where not
welcome. The building walls are built
from straw. There’s a windmill for all water needs, an edible landscape, and a
large operation to recycle vegetable oil into biodiesel. And the Institute promotes its work by online
education.
It is a
veritable showcase of the energy innovations my generation was discussing
during the 1970s and after.
Alas, during
the years since then, global temperatures have continued to rise. The “Real Green” program doesn’t mention
that.
Fortunately,
what’s called the Green New Deal intends
to bring these excellent oases into national programs following the model of
the New Deal. Only a large vision like
that can surmount the consequences of the catastrophe the rising temperatures
are already producing. Think scale.
“Real Green” today also presented
an onion farm where the skins and ends waste goes to cattle feed and to make
electricity. Good for business profit;
good for environment. But no mention of
the temperature—and increasing hurricanes and droughts, nor of cattle-driven deforestation.
Is “Real Green” brought to us by the
Republican or the Libertarian Party?
Next week: What
the New Deal Teaches Us About the Green New Deal
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