Goal For The Green

The massive Gulf oil spill disaster, has triggered strong reactions from people around the nation.

Most people, are saddened by the situation. The pollution, oil-slicked wildlife, and how it is devastating the livelihood for people in the area, is the main concern. It is the all consuming, top story in the news.  Yet, nothing seems to be happening in a timely fashion, to end the gushing oil, now reaching Florida’s beaches.

So much of the oil, is going to waste, why can’t BP harness it or capture it somehow?  They say they are, but this is just so MASSIVE.  Seems, they are in BIG TIME DENIAL, or overwhelmed, of  just how huge a crisis, this really is!

There is, and has been NO doubt about, the seemingly endless plumes of oil, drifting from the ocean floor into delicate marsh lands. The entire nation is paying close attention,they are frustrated and concerned. It, just doesn’t appear to be a BIG concern to BP.  It looks like, they are more concerned about saving the WELL, than they are about saving the ENVIRONMENT!

This crisis, also appears to have people talking, about how we get our energy.

Isn’t it about time, for us to take a closer look at alternative energy sources? We need to begin thinking, about how to use our energy resources, more efficiently.

There’s better ways, to save our planet. But, those ways, just aren’t being used.  Oil companies, and GREED, are the main reasons.

Our future is in serious jeopardy, if we don’t start developing new, and cleaner technologies.  Like natural gas, solar, electric cars, and various forms of bio-fuels, for starters.

For the last thirty years,we have known about these forms of renewable energies, but haven’t done anything with, or about it.

It would seem that the awful, gut-wrenching images coming from the Gulf, are creating a new demand for renewable energy. We can only hope, that is the case.  The entire nation is watchful, and waiting for this disgusting situation, to turn around.  To at least, see some signs of clean-up, being started on a massive scale, would be encouraging.  Instead, we see the days mounting, and NO action being taken, at least non that is obvious.

Benjamin Grumbles, the Director for Arizona’s Department of Environmental Quality, is hoping Arizona will seize, on the demand for renewable energy sources. He would like to see Arizona, become the powerhouse, for a new era in renewable energy.

He said, “Everyone’s hearts go out to the people of the Gulf. As more people see the devastation, I think this is going to be a catalyst for greater efforts on our part, to recognize solar,and renewable energy in Arizona. It’s going to benefit Arizona, and bring green jobs to our state.”

Grumbles, helped with a congressional committee assigned with investigating the Exxon Valdez spill, and assisted with writing the Oil Pollution Act, of 1990.

Now, he is working to position Arizona, as the place to be for alternative energy whether, that be wind, solar ,or something called Algae Bio-fuels.

ASU, already has a center dedicated to studying how to turn algae into fuel, Grumbles explained.

“We see Arizona, as the potential Saudi Arabia, when it comes to algae, and algae bio-fuels. Algae, can be grown in the desert, in fact, the amount of land we have, and the intensive sun we have, can prompt the development of algae. In algae, you have carbon, you have fuels,and those fuels can be used for transportation, for jet fuels, for military purposes, and for cosmetics,” Grumbles said.

“It is an exciting new development. Universities in the state, have been tapping into that. When you have something as cataclysmic, as the Gulf oil spill, that points the direction to cleaner and greener energy. It also points to creative, innovative approaches, and algae bio-fuels in the southwest, particularly in Arizona, is really going to be a big part of our future, as well as solar, wind,and geo-thermal resources” he explained.

So, as demand for renewable energy grows, Grumbles hopes Arizona will lead the way, taking new technologies from the university to the market, and bringing lots of new jobs,” green jobs”, along the way.

“Technologies for solar, and bio-fuels, are all beginning to develop. If we work together,in the private sector, and in government, to advance the new sustainable clean and green energies of the future, we will profit from it, in Arizona.”

Each state, across the nation, has some energy source, readily available, to contribute to the “renewable greening” of America. Together, renewable energy, will be  the new wave, of the “green” future, for generations to come. We, just need to get started in that direction, on a massive scale, sooner that later! Here’s to many more “green” tomorrows!

Don’t forget President Obama, addresses the nation, tomorrow evening at 8 P.M. EST, and 5P.M.  PST, on the Oil Spill Crisis.  Let’s hope it isn’t more of the blame game, and something good comes of it!