California goes to School on Deutschland , Sort of
German solar farm 
Germany is moving out on AE. With a mixture of incentives (that make building and using solar and wind power profitable) and fees (that make continuing reliance on gasoline and goal onerous, not to mention oderous), the country is being built out. Today 10% of Germany's power comes from renewables and it appears to be on track to hit 20% within a decade or two.
Twenty years ago California was the place AE workers outta be, but echoing the rest of the US, even the most progressive state has fallen way behind. Germany is now playing the role of California in Europe, and some Calfornians are looking there for lessons learned. Arnold seems sympathetic, but it's going to be tough taking Germany's model to California.
In Germany, it's not all AE roses by any means (see previous post on wind turbine issues). But this interplay between the European country with the biggest economy and the US state with the same, is certain to produce better and better models of how to grow AE up, out in the world and right here at home.
posted by Andy Bochman at 7:10 AM
 
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