We have the power

The Bay Area can lead the nation towards a clean energy future

Many of the earth's most pressing environmental problems - global warming, air and water pollution, asthma, mercury poisoning, and many other health problems - are direct results of the use of fossil fuels.

Most of world's governments are beginning to implement the Kyoto Protocol, a first step in cutting emissions of greenhouse gases. Meanwhile the Bush administration not only refuses to ratify Kyoto but keeps weakening emissions rules for power plants and proposing more subsidies for coal and nuclear power.

Is the U.S. a hopeless case? Is there anything effective that we as individuals can do?

Actually, our ability to influence crucial energy decisions has never been more potent. Throughout the world, it is largely local efforts that have been blazing the way to a clean energy future and an end to global warming.. Our San Francisco Bay Area is already setting precedents for the rest of the country. We can become a powerful national model for a sustainable, economically viable energy future. This month's Yodeler Priority Campaign Update asks you to write to your city and county leaders urging them to take action. This issue's volunteer-of-the-month article focuses on local energy activist Doug Beach.

A prime stimulus is California's 2002 law authorizing Community Choice Aggregation. Cities and counties can bundle their residents' purchasing power to seek lower prices and local control of the sources for their energy. We can literally have power over our power. In the Bay Area, that means more renewables, efficiency, and conservation.

Energy can come from many sources, and this Yodeler presents articles about local innovations and problems with several types:

• solar;
• wind;
• biodiesel;
• fossil-fuel plants
• energy efficiency.

The opportunities here in the Bay Area are huge. The Sierra Club envisions an energy system that is:

• sustainable - coming from renewable sources that will last for generations and not run out - for example, sun, wind, plants, and waves;
• clean - causing the least possible pollution or other environmental damage;
• secure and reliable - geographically dispersed, diversified, and domestic;
• economically viable_ providing affordable energy that stimulates local economies and creates local jobs.

California, led by the Bay Area, can show Washington that there is a better way. And through the Sierra Club there are many ways to get involved to help make this vision a reality. The "Priority Campaign Update" lists some essential actions you can take, and several of the other articles list more. In addition, our Chapter Energy Committee and many of our regional groups are active on all these issues; to get involved call Cathleen Sullivan at (510) 848-0800, ext. 316. Help lead the nation to a cleaner energy future!

Cathleen Sullivan, Chapter conservation organizer