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VP Al Gore lays out plan for unified, RE powered, smart grid for all to plug into

Written by: publius on Oct 29, 2008 10:19 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Macon - Bibb County DFA, DFA Atlanta Alumni Crew, Georgians for Clean Renewable Energy DFA

http://www.wecansolveit.org/

In a 20 minute web cast this evening, Al Gore cited the oft quoted solar electric postulate that existing solar electric photo voltaic and concentrating thermal technologies could power the entire US with 100 sq miles of collectors in the desert southwest.

Citing efficiency and waste reduction as the highest priority, Mr. Gore then indicated renewable (RE) energy could meet demand.

He indicated this southwestern solar resource and the wind resources of the mountain regions and Dakotas would be enough -

IF:

Automobile fleet was converted to electric to serve as a giant distributed battery connected (when parked) to -
a nationwide, unified smart grid buried underground to move western RE generation (and any other RE generation) throughout the nation.

Said unified smart grid could be implemented for $ 400 billion. Indicated that business losses from unreliable power on existing grids add up to $120 billion per year. Therefore, reliability improvements from unified smart grid pay off the 400 b in less than 4 years.

State rate payers ought to consider these compelling options before being on the hook for "bailing out" those planned utility company nuclear and coal plants which are headed toward the "ash can of history."

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Location: Macon, GA

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- GA Senate: Got racism?

By Sitka on Oct 30, 2008 8:23 PM EDT

http://www.dailykos.com

"There has always been a rush to the polls by African-Americans early," Sen. Saxby Chambliss said at the square in Covington......"It has also got our side energized, they see what is happening," he said.

The Republican is outwardly confident, but there’s urgency in his voice as he tours North Georgia, trying to boost turnout in his predominately white base: "The other folks are voting," he bluntly tells supporters.

If that ain't racism, nothin' is. C'mon Georgia -- you're better than your senator.

- Martin would be a Great Gain in the Senate

By publius on Oct 30, 2008 8:55 PM EDT

Fundamentalist pulpits, right wing, and "religious" radio broadcasting have been prominent forces in the GOP take over of state government in GA.

It was the last Southern state to move over to the dark side. We were somewhat fortunate that the first Republican Governor since reconstruction is a moderate in governance compared to some rabid-dog-like personalities in the legislature.

I hope that we will not lag far behind in the reversal in throwing off the oppressive conservative yolk ASAP.

So far as renewable energy is concerned, Chambliss lined up with a bloc of Southern Senators to kill an RPS - renewable fuel portfolio standard - that would have mandated a minimum of 15 percent of utility co electric power to be generated from renewable resouces.

According to the Kos post Chambliss is being quite direct with his pitch. McCain and Palin have made theirs with more reserved rhetoric.

Bill Clinton addressed this for Kerry at the 2004 DNC - "They [the GOP] need a divided America to win. We don't."