Google plans investment in renewable energy

[Nick Rosen]

The ubiquitous technology company has posted on its blog today that is aiming to help create competitive green alternatives.

“Our goal is to build 1 gigawatt of renewable energy capacity that is cheaper than coal. We are optimistic that this can be done within years, not decades. If we succeed, it would likely provide a path to replacing a substantial portion of the world’s electricity needs with renewable energy sources.”

The effort will start by reassembling a world-class team.

“We need creative and motivated entrepreneurs and technologists with expertise in a broad range of areas, including materials science, physics, chemistry, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, land acquisition and management, power transmission and substations, construction, and regulatory issues.”

What do you think of that? Is Google only tring to profit the ever-growing need for renewable energies or does this show a possible change amongst corporations?

[Kenwilland]

Publicly listed Corporations are not capable of changing per se as they are legal entities obliged to maximize shareholder profit. This is a major factor in our collective effect on the environment.

Until costs on the environment can be structured in so that companies are obliged to pay for them before they skim off the profit most will not change their attitude. Even if the majority of their board and workers know that this is the right thing to do, they will not change because there will always be competitors prepared to see what they can get away with to gain a competitive edge.

However even without serious economic reform the economics are shifting and corporations are starting to sniff profit from these changes, and that will be a part of the solution.

To bring about a more complete solution we must educate ourselves about the ecologies of the planet, and delve deeper into understanding thst we already have enough in the way of solutions to be getting on with changing both our own attitudes, and our relationship to energy in particular. With a better understanding we can help to embolden politicians to engage in a little joined up thinking on our environmental problems.

Check out

http://www.bigpicture.tv

for some attempts at joined up thinking.

[Author]

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