It’s a new year, with a new blog. We at getsolar.com are hoping to see some trends continue in 2008, and some new ones begin. Talking about climate change, energy independence, and renewable energy options is now so commonplace that it is more conspicuous for its absence than its occurrence.
We can see this trend reflected in the blogosphere as well as in the way the media is beginning to treat topics that were considered controversial not long ago. Evidence of the move into the media mainstream is the popularity of Dot Earth, The New York Times blog which is dedicated solely to climate change and energy-related topics, and the fact that all the major Presidential candidates consider these issues important enough to include them in debates even when the mediators neglect to bring them up (as happened this past weekend to the Republicans). The shift isn’t total; note, to take the same topic, the lack of “Energy” or “Climate Change” among CNN’s list of critical issues in the race for President.
So what’s our role in effecting a complete change? To not only join in the remarkably well-informed discourse on renewable energy, but to enrich it. And we need your help for that: a one-sided discussion is no discussion at all.
Agreed, with oil at around $100 a barrel, and heating oil averaging $3.40 a gallon, there are many factors at play in the energy/environment equation. Strong leadership grounded in market based initiatives and discipline will hopefully set the stage for meaningful discourse, which may one day spur national activity on the matter.