Ed Begley, Jr.

Environment
Lifestyle Magazine
Studio City, March 2001

I think we're at the crossroads as regards energy in California. We can continue with the old paradigm of building more power plants that use fossil fuels in a less than optimum fashion or we can go in another direction.

The best place to get several gigawatts (billion) of power quickly is through conservation. Having said that, we also need extra capacity to meet future needs. Where will that come from? Efficiency and conservation only take us so far.

We have the perfect sight for additional gigawatts of power right on top of our house. Many homes have south facing roofs that get full sun during the day that makes the owners ideal candidates for a small solar system.

Let me be clear. I'm not suggesting everyone buy a high-end system like mine, most folks would prefer to buy a small system with far fewer panels. What I'm trying to say is not everyone needs to buy a Ferrari when most folks just need a Dodge Neon.

If the state of California would take 10 cents on the dollar that is currently being used to bail out the utility industry and make that money available in the form of subsidies to those homeowners who want solar, our needs would be met for decades to come.

There is another form of energy I'm in favor of that I know works quite well. That is wind power. I've owned a wind turbine since the mid-80's that sells power to Southern California Edison. It has put out clean power for nearly 20 years and has been a good investment.

There are other tools in the toolbox; fuel cells and the Capstone Turbine are both efficient and exciting new technologies that can be part of the solution. Yes, they run on fossil fuel but they do so in a highly efficient manner.

Let me talk about how conservation has put money back in my pocket. I bought compact fluorescent light bulbs, an energy saving thermostat and an energy efficient refrigerator all over a decade ago. I have gotten my money back many times over as well as easing the strain on the California power system. These measures are good for the economy and good for the environment. You needn't compromise one to benefit the other.