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Within four decades, one of the world’s leading economies will be powered almost entirely by wind, solar, biomass, hydro, and geothermal power.
No nukes, No problem. Germany is proving a rapid transition to renewable energy is possible
Seeded on Mon May 16, 2011 6:19 PM EDT
Article Source: Climate Progress Org.- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (3)
Germany, in particular, is pursuing a path forward that represents a significant departure from business-as-usual in the US and other countries. Rather than developing nuclear power, Germany is aggressively pursuing renewable energy in combination with innovative new electricity grid management strategies. Interestingly, Germany used to depend much more on nuclear electricity (~30% of national supply) than the U.S. currently does (~20%).
- 2 votes
#1 - Mon May 16, 2011 6:21 PM EDTGermany is aggressively pursuing a transition away from both nuclear power and from conventional fossil fuels and will likely encounter the challenges – and reap the benefits – of this strategy before other countries.
Some analysts have hypothesized that Germany’s 20-year support for renewable energy would place a drag on the economy. However, Germany has rebounded from the financial crisis faster than many other countries around the world and is currently enjoying its strongest economic growth (and lowest unemployment) since its reunification 20 years ago.Renewable energy currently employs 340,000, compared to 50,000 in the coal industry (from mining to the power plant) and Germany forecasts that its exports of clean energy technologies and expertise will continue to expand in the future.
If the investment that Germany is making in renewable energy pays off, then it is likely that Germany will continue to remain the economic engine of Europe in the decades to come.
This should have and could have happened in the US....and it still can if we will vote out all reps who support and benefit from the fossil fuel industry.
The US used to lead in many areas of innovation....now we reject innovation and science and cheer on the capitalists who profit from poisoning our country mining, drilling and selling fossil fuels. Eww!
- 3 votes
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