The nighttime map of Europe
and North Africa offers a beautiful illumination of the entire continent. It’s
easy to find Paris, the Mediterranean Riviera and the Nile River valley of
Egypt. It’s almost impossible to identify boundaries between nations, yet the
trade in electricity is limited to just 5% between these nations.
 Now, leading renewable energy
associations and engineering firms have called on the members of the European
Union to open the energy borders and enable competition in the marketplace. They
argue that coal and oil-generated electricity is dictating the price of energy
in many European countries, and the cost of electrical power fluctuates with
the cost of coal and oil. A unified energy grid could take renewable power
and spread it all across Europe, reducing the need for coal and fossil
fuel-derived energy, and allowing renewable energy providers the opportunity to
compete in the European market.
The global organization World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is best
known for protecting biodiversity and reducing our ecological footprint. They
have taken a strong stand for “linking renewables around the world” in
their Energy Report: 100% Renewable Energy by 2050 (original link). This in-depth study uses the Dymaxion Map™ projection from Buckminster Fuller to show several key indicators – plus the
Global Energy Network that GENI has advocated for 20 years.
We are seeing
an accelerated commitment to this initiative. It’s time that all nations heed
the call. We need a common project that every nation, every citizen can
support. Here it is— Develop the renewable energy resources within your
borders. That energy is domestic, keeping money circulating locally, it creates
jobs in the cleantech sector and reduces pollution for all. Then, interconnect
the energy networks so each nation can trade in renewable energy with their
neighbors.
In partnership for the planet, |
