Advice for President Obama on Green Power

Max's advice for February 11, 2009

Dear President Obama,

Max grew up as the son of a man who knew 'ALL' the answers to the problems of the world. Max's father said so! Many times, his father let everyone know that anyone who didn't know that he had the answers was a turkey or a knucklehead.

The famous Ma Bell, the second most powerful force in the world (next to God of course), thought so much of Max's father's opinions, that she made him 'Supervisor of Troubles'. This is true!

The advice Max promised you, President Obama.

Open Green Power to the American Public!

Max believes that the founding fathers had a few good ideas. They were a people who found ways to do for themselves instead of having everyone else do it for them.

Some of the first things they did for themselves included the building of cities, making their own bricks, growing their own food, and making their own spirits. Basically they made themselves pretty self-sufficent prior to the period of the revolution.

In the world of electrical power the people of the country have been unable to support their own needs since the days of Edison. The 'Electric Company' has always called all the shots. To their credit, many of these companies have done an outstanding job as protectors of the energy trust.

Under the last administration we saw a continuing shift from a paternalistic protector to a secretive predator. The secret meeting with the former Vice President at the beginning was a clue that the managers of the power companies were up to no good.

The technology is available today for more wind and more solar energy. You have committed to doubling the amount on the grid, which sounds fine until the percentage is determined. Then it doesn't look so good.

The people want to be empowered to get on the grid if they are willing to make the investment needed in equipment. There is little true incentive for the owners of the grid, though they are technically public companies, to pay out a fair rate or even let people connect without going through hoops.

Part of the issue is the need to have a national policy on what makes up an acceptable interconnectable solar power system. Similar to the problem posed by simple electrical devices, there is a need for UL listings on components.

Currently people can live beside each other and have to go through different processes and procedures based on state, county, city and power company policies and restrictions.

With the need to protect our country now, the government and Congress should establish clear standards, that if met, permit business to build solar systems and people to place such systems on their home anywhere in the country.

The number that you gave for solar and wind (which may need its own standards) could double up one more time in the same window of real time.

Solar systems on all new schools and government buildings, even if not 100% efficent, can expand this number even faster.

Max wishes you well in all your efforts to be the first green President.

Max writes about greenways, rare diseases, timely topics, places to eat, travel and other issues of interest. He encourages you to add your comments.

Link one is the standards for Hawaii hook up.

Link two is on states advancing solar policy.

Link three claims to be a progressive think tank.