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GLOBAL
ENERGY NETWORK INSTITUTE
a
solution to global problems
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July 30,
2002
GENI
at the Extremes:
Regional
Transmission Organizations in the US, and a light
bulb in Mali
Dear
GENI Friend,
Our world
is a study of extremes, the most critical is the growing
divide between the "haves" and "have-nots".
Whether you look at resource consumption, income or
computer use, the gap is unhealthy. Yet, while the
attached two reports offer vastly different solutions,
they both move us towards a more sustainable world
for all.
The utility
industry is going through tremendous change from
deregulation
and privatization — and the process has not always
been successful, e.g. California in 2000. This failure
has caused many governments to reexamine the process
of opening markets to new energy producers. In order
to allow all generation companies access to sell their
electricity, large RTOs
(Regional Transmission Organizations) are being formed
to move electricity across multiple jurisdictions.
Along with competition, open access should make the
entire system more efficient. This is exactly what
Bucky Fuller envisioned three decades ago.
By comparison,
in
Mali, most families struggle each day to survive.
The majority have no electricity, refrigeration or
clean water. We cannot even relate. This encouraging
report from Mali focuses on the labor intensive
task
of making peanut butter. With a diesel grinder, women
can accomplish in 15 minutes a job that previously
took three days! By adding a generator, a network
of lights now illuminates the darkness. Children are
learning to read and women are getting treatment at
the health clinic. Bucky Fuller stated that electricity
is the fundamental requirement to elevate living
standards
— and Mineta Keita concurs that "it is changing
our lives."
The GENI
Initiative attempts to show how these two extreme
examples are key parts of a similar solution. Ultimately,
the linking of renewable energy resources around
the
world is a strategy that meets the sustainable development
goals of both. You help us to make the world aware
of this relationship. Thank you for that — and your
commitment to narrow the gap.
In partnership
for the planet,
Peter Meisen
p.s.
The Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development
runs from Aug. 26 - Sept. 4th. You can follow the
daily activities through an excellent global media
group. www.earthtimes.org
A
U.S. Tax Exempt 501(c)(3) Corporation committed to
improving the quality of life for everyone without
damage to the planet.
GENI
Affiliates in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand,
Singapore and United States.
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