Solar Energy Show

We've made great progress with renewable energy -- but from an almost zero base we still have a long way to go. Fortunately, the path is clear. California is already over 12% with a combination of hydroelectric, wind and solar (unfortunately not much hydro this year). Getting to 50% only requires the deployment of existing technology. But can we get to 100%? It depends on whom you ask. Our society has made these transitions before, with new energy technologies disrupting the incumbents. 200 years ago 95% of our energy came from wood; by 1900 it was 50% coal; and by 2000 it was a mix of coal, nuclear, oil and gas. The Union of Concerned Scientists have published a plan for renewable energy to provide 80% of our electricity by 2050. Why stop there? Solar enthusiasts like me want to go for 100%. This goal is possible: there is a recent Stanford paper entitled “100% Wind, Water, Sunlight (WWS) All Sector Energy Plan for the 50 U.S. States.” This plan is surprisingly realistic when one considers the rapid rate o