How do you say ‘Energiewende’ in American?
The answer is, you don’t.
The Germans have a reputation as hard-headed, practical and technically capable, and that reputation is being borne out — so far — as Germany moves quickly toward green energy. In 2000, the highly industrialized country produced just 6 percent of its electricity through renewable sources such as wind and solar; by 2011, that number had jumped to 20 percent.
And as Technology Review points out, the biggest step is yet to come, with Germany aiming to meet 35 percent of its electricity needs through renewables by 2020:
In 2010, the German government declared that it would undertake what has popularly come to be called an Energiewende — an energy turn, or energy revolution. This switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy is the most ambitious ever attempted by a heavily industrialized country: It aims to cut greenhouse-gas emissions 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2020, and 80 percent by mid-century.
The goal was challenging, but it was made somewhat easier by the fact that Germany already generated more than 20 percent of its electricity from nuclear power, which produces almost no greenhouse gases. Then last year, responding to public concern over the post-tsunami nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered the eight oldest German nuclear plants shut down right away. A few months later, the government finalized a plan to shut the remaining nine by 2022. Now the Energiewende includes a turn away from Germany’s biggest source of low-carbon electricity.
Germany has set itself up for a grand experiment that could have repercussions for all of Europe, which depends heavily on German economic strength. The country must build and use renewable energy technologies at unprecedented scales, at enormous but uncertain cost, while reducing energy use. And it must pull it all off without undercutting industry, which relies on reasonably priced, reliable power. “In a sense, the Energiewende is a political statement without a technical solution,” says Stephan Reimelt, CEO of GE Energy Germany. “Germany is forcing itself toward innovation. What this generates is a large industrial laboratory at a size which has never been done before. We will have to try a lot of different technologies to get there.”
How can Germany hope to pull off such a feat without driving electricity prices so high that industry is forced to leave? In part, by making residential customers and small business — captive users, in other words — pay the brunt of the increased cost, while largely exempting major industry.
Even with that arrangement, many business leaders are still not convinced it’s feasible, with one prominent German CEO referring to Energiewende as a “political wish that is without a realistic view of what is achievable.”
Such nervousness is understandable, given the enormity of the task that Germany has set for itself. German officials acknowledge that the technology does not yet exist to make their goal a reality. In effect, they are gambling that necessity will once again be the mother of invention, forcing innovation that otherwise would not occur.
So far, the progress that they’ve made is impressive. But as an American, I’m even more impressed with the fact that their political leadership is capable of undertaking such a bold campaign, with support across the political spectrum. Sadly, that capability seems to have atrophied on this side of the Atlantic.
– Jay Bookman
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431 comments Add your comment
Tom Middleton
June 28th, 2012
12:07 am
Yup, then Hillary!
Z
June 28th, 2012
12:07 am
When you have a congress full of Republican extremist’s, who only care about taking rights away from women, keeping guns in as many hands as possible, turning this country into a Theocracy and keeping every zygote alive, I wouldn’t hold my breathe with this country’s Republican controlled congress even thinking about alternative solutions to our energy needs.
Germany has been working on being green before being Green was popular, most likely the last 40 years at least.
G Mare 71(PLEASE VOTE NO ON TSPLOST)
June 28th, 2012
12:21 am
Oh the memories that evokes, TM. Thank you!
Yeah, I’m really going to bed now, with a smile for those memories.
Tom Middleton
June 28th, 2012
12:26 am
G Mare
One Christmas, my parents gave me a portable phono and two Kingston Trio albums – “Make Way” and “At Large.” Later came Dylan, and it’s been music ever since.
j$
June 28th, 2012
1:09 am
U suk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQLGhPHzxjc
Bruno
June 28th, 2012
3:04 am
Even if shot down completely, don’t think it was a waste of time. At least it provoked a lot of discussion about health care in America. Don’t think anyone wants to go back to where we were before – with pre-existing conditions not covered and some of the other parts of it that are favored by about 80 per cent of Americans
Oscar, et al–Personally, I think the health care debate WAS a total waste of time because at no point did anyone address the root causes of the problems in our health care system: (1) Too many unhealthy people (2) An over-reliance on drug and surgery-based solutions (3) Out-of-control pricing.
The entire thrust of the ACA was a meaningless attempt to further spread costs around. Predictably, people fell for the specious “free rider” argument pushed by Jay and several of the Libs here, foolishly believing that a mandate to purchase insurance is going to lower costs. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence realizes that the ACA will increase overall costs in many ways, increased overhead for doctors only being one of them.
Until Americans start taking more responsibility for their own health, their own lives, their own destiny, no amount of band-aids are going to stop the bleeding.
Bruno
June 28th, 2012
3:06 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xU6Tw9RtTk
Bruno
June 28th, 2012
3:09 am
Catch you guys tomorrow for the victory celebration when the insurance mandate is struck down as being unconstitutional, as a total misapplication of the Interstate Commerce Clause. What makes the US great is freedom. I can only pray that some of the Lbs here wake up to that fact one of these days….
Jack
June 28th, 2012
5:49 am
Been losing a lot of sleep worrying about Germany’s electrical needs.
USinUK - pro-gay-marriage thug and former Girl Scout
June 28th, 2012
6:30 am
“when the insurance mandate is struck down as being unconstitutional”
one can only hope it ushers in a single-payer system.
I’ll unleash a mighty HUZZAH!
Joel Edge
June 28th, 2012
6:46 am
” that capability seems to have atrophied on this side of the Atlantic.”
Along with a lot of other traits that we had at one time. If anybody can pull it off, it’s the Germans. They still have a work ethic, a united society and a tradition of technical expertise. But that’s OK, we have diversity.
nelson howard
June 28th, 2012
6:59 am
Wind power[solar energy] is the future. As we speak there are 400 millimeters of CO2 in the atmosphere. When the number reaches 450 millimeters, that is the “tipping point” where the atmosphere continues to warm.
There is one miniscule port on the St. Lawrence river [Ogdensburg, N.Y.] that has recently been transformed into a bustling transport destination for wind turbines. There are now hundreds of workers there and heavy equiptment off loading turbines from the ships coming in. Businesses like motels, restaurants, everything that people need is being consumed. What the gold rush was to the 1800s, wind turbines are to this area.
In sharp contrast, a small community at the other end of the river [Cape Vincent] has refused to enter into the wind turbine construction. They see preserving the area exclusively for the tourists and summer residents, at what many consider to be, the expense of all others. British Petroleum[BP] has put $300,000,000 on the table for the construction of turbines, which for the small school district would add $6,000,000 dollars [PILOT] at a time when they have a $1,000,000 short fall.
It is the ultimate in arrogance, with the fragile enviroment so close to the tipping point. I might add, that the port at Savannah could be part of the new frontier.
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:19 am
Someone is going to spike the ball today
Not me tho
stands for decibels
June 28th, 2012
7:26 am
Someone is going to spike the ball today
Not me tho
Thanks Jm.
I’m already on record as saying if it goes “my way,” I’ll soberly assess the massive policy work still ahead, and react accordingly.
.
.
.
(No promises on the dark, post-apocalyptic utterances that might spontaneously combust, though, if it doesn’t go “my way.” I might see some silver linings — hi, USinUK! — or I might just decide once and for all that we mere citizens are doomed to be ruled by horrible men who, at best, merely border on psychopathy.)
Joseph
June 28th, 2012
7:29 am
I’m looking for some tripe today about how the demoncrat party is the big tent party…
stands for decibels
June 28th, 2012
7:31 am
Ok. The demoncrat party is the big tent party.
You can leave now.
stands for decibels
June 28th, 2012
7:33 am
Oh, you wanted some tripe with that. Sorry, here’s where you’ll find it, if you can still get this on the black market…
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
June 28th, 2012
7:35 am
Joseph
You are always welcome to come into our big tent.
You could be our own prodigal son.
TaxPayer
June 28th, 2012
7:40 am
Single-Payer!
.
Single-Payer!
.
Single-Payer!
.
Expand the coverage for Medicare to all persons that are mandated to pay the payroll tax.
Jm
June 28th, 2012
7:48 am
Taxpayer
Not gunnna happen
stands for decibels
June 28th, 2012
7:49 am
I’d like to address one particularly thoughtless comment from the typically thoughtless (and sometimes shockingly naive) Rags, above, as it relates to Jay’s Energiewende topic:
Germans are used to dictators telling them how to live their lives; this is still new and alien to us in the USA.
I don’t claim to have a unique insight to the German psyche, but I can claim close relations with several German nationals over the years, along with a few weeks spent in the country itself over the years, both as a business professional and as a vacationer. It’s an admittedly small sample size.
That said, my impression of the post-WWII generations is that they are not only very much aware of their forebears’ collective crimes (that’s a typical word you hear used) against humanity, but are devoutly committed to never repeating not only the crimes themselves, but the conditions that led to such horror. They’ve been incredibly cautious about deploying any kind of military presence beyond their borders, for example. If you bother to read the story Jay’s linked, you’ll see that same zeitgeist. These are people who are not just acting collectively in a responsible fashion, but individually as well.
As Keep Up stated, I don’t necessarily agree with some aspects of the program. But the objectives are laudable, and the means seem pragmatic.
JamVet
June 28th, 2012
7:51 am
I’m looking for some tripe today about how the demoncrat party is the big tent party…
Or you could spam us with how the Lily White Party is!
If you listen real carefully during the August 27 – 30 Circus in Tampa, in the background you will hear, playing very softly, “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!”
stands for decibels
June 28th, 2012
7:52 am
Not gunnna happen
not this year (although there was a very briefly discussed proposal back in 2009 to lower the eligibility age to 55 — it would involve individuals buying in to the single-payer system, it wouldn’t have been free), nor the next, true.
But if we are going to do single payer, that would be the most efficient means to accomplish it.
stands for decibels
June 28th, 2012
7:55 am
You are always welcome to come into our big tent.
Yep. That donkey dung ain’t gonna scoop itself.
stands for decibels
June 28th, 2012
7:56 am
oh well, PPACA sheetz. sigh.
Brosephus™
June 28th, 2012
7:56 am
Someone is going to spike the ball today
Well, Bruno’s already on record. Although I would expect better from him. I also see our little ant hill kicker is here doing what he does best…
TaxPayer
June 28th, 2012
8:00 am
Medicare and Medicaid should be expanded to cover our entire population.
How many of you out there in electronland would give up your current health insurance through your work or Medicare, etc., in exchange for a few hundred dollars extra per month in your pocket and the “freedom” to haggle in an unregulated market place for your healthcare needs?
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
June 28th, 2012
8:02 am
Would be a travesty if mandate is found acceptable…nonetheless, regardless of outcome we are no better, and likely worse off from improving healthcare than ever…this bill is crap…the way it came about is crap, and the lobbyists for insurers and healthcare providers will never allow single payer….too many jobs and campaign dollars will evaporate.
Curious
June 28th, 2012
8:06 am
Most conservatives say why change anything because everyone has medical care available now.
As a result, the ACA will only change how it’s paid for. Those folks using the ER for primary healthcare at no cost will now have to pay for it.
Providers won’t have to pass that cost on the those that do pay for their healthcare.
Personal responsibility is good.
Paul
June 28th, 2012
8:07 am
Morning, stands
“I’ll soberly assess the massive policy work still ahead, and react accordingly”
If the mandate is tossed, it ain’t all bad. Look at how far Republicans have come
“The individual mandate is the right, good and constitutional thing to do.”
“Democrats agree? Wait… the mandate is socialism, an affront to freedom and unconstitutional!”
“We’ll throw out Obamacare.”
“We’ll repeal… and replace!”
“We kinda like no caps.”
“Not getting dropped when you get sick is okay.”
“Coverage for preexisting conditions is good.”
“We think we should have high-risk pools.”
In other words, Democrats lifted the individual mandate from Republicans, then Republicans fought it.
Republicans lifted all the other ideas from Democrats, and Democrats will support them.
Progress.
Paul
June 28th, 2012
8:12 am
Curious
“Most conservatives say why change anything because everyone has medical care available now.”
And they are correct, if one considers stabilizing an emergency situation as ‘everyone has medical care available now.”
If you’d care to see the difference, go into any ER, doctor’s office, specialty clinic and say “Hello. I have colon cancer and no insurance and no resources. You, the hospital, radiologists, labs, pharmacies and everyone else will treat me for free, right?
I sure hope we’re not going to go thru this for the “but everyone gets treated now’ crowd.