The Ideal Energy Program

by Joe Bigley

Around four years ago a non-profit called Renewable Taos was founded with the mission to transition Taos and our surrounding region to 100% renewable energy that is locally produced by facilities that are locally owned. This original mission is probably close to what some people consider the ideal energy situation. Imagine Taos as an “Energy Island” disconnected from the rest of the World and producing all our own energy using renewable equipment we own. Under those circumstances money to pay for our energy would remain in our community rather than having about $100 million a year leave Taos to pay large corporations and Wall St. for our electricity, gasoline, diesel, natural gas and propane, as we do now.

I stated in my last article in the Taos news, called “We are on the Brink”, that we must stop fracturing the lithosphere and poisoning three essentials of life; air, water, and food. A national entity known as Guzman Renewable Energy Partners, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC), and Renewable Taos have come together to make it possible. Only we can’t be an “Energy Island”. That would not be practical. The latest research conducted by Renewable Taos revealed that it would require too much expensive equipment that would be idle most of the time causing the price of energy to be several times what it is now. Therefore, we can only be 100% renewable as a part of Renewable North America. This concept of connecting to renewable energy systems throughout North America not only makes it cheaper; We can also step completely away from fossil fuels sooner. In time we will link with Renewable Energy communities around the world. It will be a Renewable World.

Connecting with North America and the World on this mission will bring the fossil fuel industry down much faster and could insure World Peace, because most, if not all wars, today are over petroleum fields. Ending wars alone could save the American people trillions of dollars per year. That would be a disaster for the power elite, which is a good thing since they are destroying our planet and making a joke out of democracy.

Actually, some fossil fuel companies are already building solar arrays and windmills. I suspect it is the realization, on their part, that a complete transition from fossil Fuel is inevitable, which will cause them to go broke. Rather than go broke, they decided to expand their renewable energy facilities until they too are 100% renewable. There are only a few such companies now. But it is a good start. In my last article, I stated that the Human Race must come together like the cells of our body and cooperate instead of competing. Renewable Taos, KCEC and Guzman Renewable Partners certainly fit that model. They also are planning to convert to electrical vehicles for all forms of transportation along with charging stations that will be needed along the roads and tracks.

Everyone in the KCEC’s three county service area will benefit from this movement toward 100% renewable energy in countless ways to include better paying jobs which are badly needed in our community. We the people currently possess the potential to evolve from Armageddon to Eden. Climb aboard people! The whistle is blowing! We can start forming member owned cooperatives to produce goods and services for local renewable energy programs. We can emulate the Mondragon Cooperative System here in Taos, across the country and around the world.

Bigley is a writer for Green Party of Taos County