Draft Recommendations for America’s Energy Future
(from "the Village Square")

1. Diversify energy sources to minimize economic risk.
2. Make 50-year decisions despite 4-year terms.
3. Bank on correct principle, not prophecy.
4. When possible, let the market find the solutions .
5. No one size fits all: Seek local solutions to specific local energy demands.
6. Scale matters. So pay attention.
7. Our economic health is tethered to electrical energy generation.
8. Energy independence is a national security issue.

These were the proposals made at Tallahassee’s “The Village Square” (http://www.tothevillagesquare.org/) at it’s January 8, 2009 meeting as part of it’s “Powering Up: America’s Energy Future” series.

Featured speakers were:
Susan Story, President and CEO, Gulf Power. Story emphasized that we need to keep ALL the energy options on the table.
Sam Kalen, Van Ness Feldman. Kalen advised that we match the energy options in time and technology.
Barry Moline, Florida Municipal Electric Association -- Moderator

Electric Vehicle ride

I gave the EV conversion 1994 Ford Ranger from our fleet a test drive this evening:
- 7.1 miles
- performance: adequate during rush hour
- charge voltage at start: 155v
- charge voltage at end: 150v
Will return it to HQ tomorrow and set to recharge.
Staff at my office are utilizing this truck for local transport between offices, and for testing the operating parameters, such as total range, critical voltage level, and performance under various driving conditions. We keep a clipboard on the seat to log relevant info such as miles, times, traffic conditions, route travelled, AC/no AC.
See link for a description of the vehicle:
http://www.talgov.com/assets/news/news-090513.pdf

Air Pollution!

I get home and my clothes smell of car exhaust! Gotta get those gas-burners off the road.

EV's would put all the pollution into efficient, emissions-controlled electric power plants, and away from people on the road.

Alternative transport = 2 wheels

Rode on the back of a Suzuki Bergman "Executive" motorscotter with my father-in-law. (First time) Two wheels is definitely alternative!  40mph with nothing to hold onto -- just trying not to think about falling off.  I was definitely nervous about it -- sort of like learning to drive a car as a teen.

Now I'm off to see some sustainability projects: rainwater and graywater capture and reuse, composting, vegetable oil diesel car, and a Camry EV conversion. I will tell about these later.

Energizing at NU-WAY hot dogs

Past noon and everyone yelling they're hungry. Heading onto 129 in Macon and wouldn't you know there's a Nu-Way. Red hot dogs! Yeah!

Are we there yet?

The kids are fighting and we've only gone 30 minutes so far. Wonder if they'd fight if we were driving an ELECTRIC VEHICLE?  Maybe a Prius?  I say "next year in an EV!"

Taking a break to Recharge my brain!

I'll shortly be headed to North Carolina, where I'll check for some fresh ideas to send back!

Getting packed, and the kids getting a snack before getting going!