[Lanny_MacDonald]

So is this really possible? Yes, and here’s a rundown of the technologies that can bring this “idea” (oh, ideas are just so evil to some people) to life.

The Electric Car

This is the sexiest of the bunch. Yes indeedy, it is expensive, but the proof of concept always is. Tesla has already sold out their first production run and is close to selling out their second production run, which they haven’t even started! Demand is there already!!! Tesla is already working on their five person sedan model and hope to have it on the road for 2010.

http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php?js_enabled=1

There are other options available, and more coming each day.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/01...ith-batteries/

Here's a crossover SUV that is ready to go. The minute I can find a North American distributor I will plunk down my cash on this baby (if Tesla or GM doesn’t beat them to the NA market).

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/02...or-the-most-pa

And from the guys who “killed the electric car” in the first place, here they are jumping back into the mix with a very cool looking prototype.

http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/

Okay, so the transportation angle for the average Joe is covered, but what about power generation? How can we really move to an electric standard for all of our power needs?

Biomass Power Generation

Biomass is great because it is just lying around doing nothing, and it is renewable. That's right, its the waste from grass clippings, from the chaff in farmers fields, from the highly flammable waste products that trees create in the forests and lead to forest fires, from the waste generated in lumber and paper production, and from animal wastes in our beef and dairy industries. The only costs associated with it are the collection, but that is nothing more than a change in practice. Most of this stuff is already collected but sent off to landfill to rot.

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/...cal_power.html

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/analysispaper/biomass/

This report proves that HOZ could be an endless supplier of power to the world. The bullcrap produced by HOZ could be used by this plant to power his community.

http://biomass.ucdavis.edu/pages/rep...ssessment.html

Closely related is Bio Gas. This is a great technology that takes advantage of our wasteful ways. Bio Gas technology collects the naturally occurring methane produced in landfills and uses that as fuel to generate electricity.

http://www.biogastech.com/

Coal Power Generation

This is very interesting technology, especially to Albertans who have massive coal deposits to exploit. Interestingly, Montana is a leader and key proponent to this technology. Coal has long been considered a big time problem for pollutants, but new technologies have been developed, and new storage proposals for wastes, have made coal a very promising fuel in electric power generation. The use of green technology in coal power generation is explained fully in this document.

http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/commissio...t_3-3-05cc.pdf

The technology in action

http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications.../tl_tampa.html

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/st...00645377&EDATE=

Here's a lawsuit just recently settled that forces this technology into action against one of the biggest creators of acid rain in Wisconsin.

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resour...a/wepco-fs.pdf

Is this really true? Are these electric options "cleaner" than what we presently do? Don't you just transfer the polutants from tailpipe to smoke stack? No, and here's the math behind it.

http://drivingthefuture.com/97pct.htm

Nuclear Power

This technology has been around for years, and it is only getting better. Clean and safe, nuclear power only has to overcome the stigma associated with past accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. Interesting to note is the information contained that outlines the power output versus pollutant output.

http://web.mit.edu/nuclearpower/

An interesting doc outlining cost savings.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear...learpower.html

Solar Power

Soalr power is a technology that everyone can use. If you have a roof pointing south, you have the ability to have a function solar array that can come close to meeting your home power needs. If you have a large roof, capable of handling a multi-panel array, you can exceed your needs and sell the extra power back onto the grid.

http://www.solarharvest.org/

http://www.sunwize.com/index.htm?utm...e+Technologies

http://www.solarelectricpower.org/

Prairie Grass Ethanol

This is a potential Genie in the bottle for North America. This is a native grass that grows almost anywhere, and stores vast amounts of energy. It requires no watering infrastructure and is exceptionally hardy, being able to withstand heat, cold, wet and dry conditions. Even during the dust bowl of the great depression this native grass thrived. At present, the major problem with this fuel source is cost to produce energy, but as with any technology, the more it is implemented and used, the cheaper it becomes.

http://wcco.com/local/local_story_022224523.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...53&ft=1&f=1019

Cane Sugar Ethanol

This is the technology that has made Brazil, a developing nation, energy self sufficient.

http://www.boston.com/business/artic...hanol_profits/

http://www.tifac.org.in/do/sug/case/economics.htm

Tidal Wave Power

Not a solution for all parts of the world, but coastal communities can supplement their power needs with this quickly developing technology.

http://www.fujitaresearch.com/reports/tidalpower.html

Wind Power

Another power source that we could use to harness the power of HOZ. Just let him stand in front of a bank of these giant windmills and watch the megawatts flow! Seriously, for anyone who has lived in, or visited, the Crowsnest Pass or the Lethbridge area, you know just how much power there could be harnessed from the wind. These large windmills can be erected anywhere and used to supplement the power on the community grid.

http://www.windenergy.com/index_wind.htm

http://www.natwindpower.co.uk/homepage/index.asp

Here are average Joes doing their part using Wind Power.

http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_wind.html

Bio Diesel

As I mentioned earlier, I work with a fellow already using this technology to his advantage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bio_fuel

http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html