Posted by Leonard Steinberg on November 17th, 2012

While Europe is faltering, Germany is one of the few countries rising above the growing tide of failure. One example of their success is their ability to invest into the future. Some estimate that Germany will produce close to 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050: Twenty-five percent of Germany’s electricity now comes from solar, wind and biomass. A third of the world’s installed solar capacity is found in Germany, a nation that gets roughly the same amount of sunlight as Alaska. More importantly, 65 percent of the country’s total renewable power capacity is owned by individuals, cooperatives and communities, leaving Germany’s once all-powerful utilities with just a sliver (6.5 percent) of this burgeoning sector.

So why does New York not follow this example? Install (in mass) solar panels, solar glass, windmills, geo-thermal systems……the works……privately funded……to become the first energy self-sufficient city run on clean energy?  Maybe then LIPA and Coned won’t need reprimanding for poor service when the next storm blows through?