President’s Column

Chet Ogan

Population, Energy, and Conservation

When I was Bangladesh in 1993 we experienced unplanned blackouts which lasted one and a half to three hours. I also experienced what a mass of humanity the world has. Bangladesh is a country with the population three-fourths that of the United States in an area the size of Wisconsin. I never thought I’d be experiencing rolling blackouts in California. But here they are. Last year we experienced oil shortages which caused raised gasoline prices. This year we are seeing shortages of natural gas, which was once thought to be in adequate supply in the United States.

At recent public meetings addressing the Humboldt County General Plan Update the idea of self-reliance was brought up. The theme was bought up referring to agriculture, but it also needs to be considered in the case of energy and natural disasters. Self-sufficiency and self-reliance begins at the local level, but must be carried through to the state and the federal level.

Providing our energy needs to be many-faceted. We need to conserve energy by practicing good conservation measures in our homes and businesses. Twenty years ago PG&E. set up many energy saving incentive programs that encouraged measures such as insulating our homes, water heaters, and pipes and purchasing energy efficient appliances and thermopane windows. These programs need to be brought back and extended to include older apartments so that apartment owners don’t demand energy surcharges.

We need to look at new or existing energy sources, especially renewable energy sources. New technology has provided solar electric roof shingles with guarantees that are similar to contemporary roofing. These solar electric shingles provide power into the grid, reversing the meter when the homeowner is not using a lot of power. Solar water heaters can provide water temperatures of 80 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit even in our cool coastal climate in winter. New technology has provided us with hybrid vehicles that run on both batteries and gasoline or propane. New technology can provide more efficient generators and transmission lines.

Maybe it is time to reconsider a National Energy Policy that stresses efficiency, self-sufficiency, and sustainability.

One of Audubon’s major national programs, Population, has not received much attention recently. Population and human recreational activities expanding into once wild areas is one of the major reasons we need programs to protect endangered species. A recent Audubon Magazine article looked at many old dams that are being decommissioned. As more dams are being decommissioned to allow fish migrations, power plants may be removed, but luckily the new power plants being built are more energy-efficient. As these dams are removed, wetlands are also being reduced. Perhaps technology will allow us to develop wing-dams that supply water to efficient hydropower plants using underthrow turbines that operate without blocking the migration of fish.