Renewable Energy Potential of North America

Dear Mr. Daschle,

Energy is once again a premier issue of our nation — the spiking costs to consumers and producers, the emissions to our environment and the affects on the global economy. For the past decade, the Global Energy Network Initiative has built a credible case for a long-term strategy: the interconnection of power grid systems between nations that link local and regional renewable energy resources.

In 1999 and 2000, the US Department of Energy hosted a series of Energy Summits with all the Ministers from Latin America, Africa and APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation). Upon conclusion, each final communique fully endorsed the mutually beneficial strategy to link power grids and encourage clean energy development. As you will see, this plan has received endorsements from Walter Cronkite, Desmond Tutu, Ruud Lubbers, Vicente Fox, Boutros Boutros-Ghali and many other statesmen.

Our research begins by asking the key question: "How do we meet our energy needs today and in the future, while maintaining the environment for generations to come?" This investigation parallels the critical thinking of the World Game simulation developed by Dr. Buckminster Fuller three decades ago.

After the National Energy Plan was released, we offered an editorial entitled, "The National Energy Plan is Half Right." For the first time ever, a US President talked about a national energy grid that extends throughout Canada and Mexico. The report also encourages alternative energy development. Both of these recommendations are positive. However, the emphasis of administration's plan is towards drilling for oil and gas, using "clean" coal, and nuclear expansion. There are better options.

4 questions: What if you knew there was enough renewable energy capacity in North America? What if our energy security came form domestic innovation — and weaned us from a growing dependence on fossil fuel imports? What if these renewables (specifically wind, hydro, geothermal and biomass) were now cost competitive in today's marketplace? And why has Europe taken the lead in all these technologies?

Senator, one of the most important pages from the National Energy Plan is the "Resource Potential of Renewable Energy" (page 6-3) is enclosed. These could provide the bulk of our energy needs!

In partnership for the planet,

Peter Meisen

President