AN OUTLINE FOR PRACTICAL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO SENSIBLE PUBLIC INVESTMENT
(Thoughts on intelligent action for energy that is abundant, affordable,
associated with many jobs and economic health in New England and the nation)
** CLINGING TO OUTMODED AND DESTRUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES – WE DON’T
NEED TO ARGUE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE TO SEE THE WAY FORWARD
- Fossil fuels and nuclear have clear and present dangers and damaging effects, on human
and environmental health. This includes the uncontestable pollution involved in production
and use, and the risks of greater disasters, along with concerns about toxic waste that can contaminate our water and more.
- Renewable sources offer a vast number of possibilities for energy production for a variety of uses. To not explore them is wasteful. To stick to same-old, same-old is foolish, and will
leave us at the rear of the pack re: future energy development.
**SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL – LESS RISKY – MORE PRODUCTIVE – MORE LOCAL
1 Solyndra is the bad apple that makes the point. Because something costs millions, or even billions of dollars doesn’t mean it is the way to achieve huge results. The only thing that is huge about propping up mega-corporations is the risk.
2 Making the money available in far smaller amounts to a variety of solar efforts is both less
risky and more promising – gives more chance of positive results. And, to anyone who can
do the math – millions of small installations is as productive as one giant.
3 Smaller projects tend to be more labor-intensive – and offer local employment in a bunch of different places, benefiting the economies of all.
**BENEFICIAL INNOVATION IS NOT BORN IN A CORPORATE THINK TANK, BUT IN THE MINDS OF INDIVIDUAL GENIUSES.
- History tells us that great inventions have been developed by unknowns working in garages, bike shops, etc. We need to look beyond the elite in corporate money tanks and prestigious academia to find the gems in our own backyards.
- One such, Paul Klinkman, has at least 50 inventions on hand, is developing several, has
one patent and a few more in process, most related to alternative energy production.
- The point is that we would find many like him – if we would only look.
- Also, we should be seeking not just new technologies, but new business models.
Check out the example from our greenhouse flyer, other side.
**SAVVY INVESTORS DON’T PUT THE BULK OF THEIR FORTUNES IN JUST A COUPLE OF STOCKS. THEY SPREAD THE RISK BY DIVERSIFYING. LET US BE LIKEWISE SMART IN USE OF PUBLIC MONEY
1 “Renewable energy” is not just about electricity, or even that and hot water. It is not even just those and wind, and certainly more than “solar panels”.
2 We need to explore and use the many different types of alternatives, just as we do in most other aspects of our society.
3 Taking the kind of money that was allocated to Solyndra (or even to 38 Studios here in Rhode Island), and instead investing it in even 10 (or 100) small projects, is a much wiser choice than betting it on another big boondoggle.
**WHAT TO DO? PUT OUR MONEY INTO SUPPORT FOR WIDESPREAD USE OF CURRENT “GREEN” ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, AND EVALUATION & DEVELOPMENT OF NEW, TRULY INNOVATIVE OPTIONS
1 Make renewable energy credits available for all solar, wind and other technologies that show promise for meeting our energy needs.
2 Consider setting up an Important Innovations Center like the one described on the other side.
TWO EXAMPLES OF NEW & EXCITING RESEARCH & BUSINESS MODELS
A. PROPOSED NEW KSD NON-PROFIT IMPORTANT INNOVATIONS CENTER
PURPOSES
**Provide a place where small inventors can get help in evaluating and developing their ideas.
**Provide a place which will focus specifically on inventions that have the potential to benefit the world and its people.
**Provide a place which will especially focus on solutions to energy needs – and to environmental pollution and other damage.
**Provide a place to enable people interested in doing good rather than getting rich to network and cooperate on accomplishing this kind of change in our world.
MEANS
**Invite ideas to be submitted and considered.
**Focus on those inventors who don’t have a large corporation or prestigious university behind them.
**Vet the submissions for both efficacy and social value.
**Locate funding sources that will support such work.
**Locate local and regional businesses interested in marketing and/or
manufacturing new and beneficial designs and products.
**Connect resources with inventors and their ideas.
**Support projects that utilize such innovations for good.
WHAT NOT TO DO: Turn these to large multi-national corporations to exploit for their own gain.
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B. THE UNIQUE KSD BUSINESS MODEL FOR SOLAR GREENHOUSE DEVELOPMENT
**Provide a KSD design package kit that will allow farmers & other handy people to build their own greenhouses
**Include expert consultation & tech support to assist them throughout the process of building..
**Train able local people as helpers to do the on-site assistance in various parts of the country.
**Provide training to locally owned small businesses such as sheet metal shops to manufacture desired parts, such as the solar concentrating collectors.
**Work to develop a network of local resources that could market, manufacture & install greenhouses. Some might also produce & sell biofuel from algae.
**Include non-profit organizations, as partners that could raise money from selling the kits & subsidize or give units to community gardens, food banks, etc.)
**Develop a residential version that could provide gardening & sun space, as well as supplementary heat to an adjacent house.
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SUBMITTED BY: LIBERTY GOODWIN, CO-OWNER, (WITH PAUL KLINKMAN)
KLINKMAN SOLAR DESIGN (KSD), P.O. Box 40572, Providence, RI 02940,
Tel. 401-351-9193, E-Mail: , Website:
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