Local Renewable Energy Summer Research Program (at UCSC)

For the past 4 weeks, students from Denmark, Iceland and several European countries have joined with students from UCDavis and UCSC for a program of lectures, field trips and final project on the topic of renewable energy.

Last evening at Ecology Action's "Green Drinks", several students gave us a glimpse of their team projects. They are young, articulate (in a 2nd language!) , focused and clear eyed. We need to listen to what they have to say and we'll have an opportunity to do this Friday morning at UCSC. Here are some of their wide ranging projects:

• Desalination - in Jordan and California
  
• Solar - from Sahara to Europe
• Rentable electric bikes on UCSC - can't wait!
• Data centers - backup electricity stored in molten salts!
• Airships in LA - yes, it's can be true - hop/skip/jump between airfields around the city
• Methane in barns - capturing and using it
  

Special thanks to Ali Shakouri, Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering, Baskin School of Engineering, UC and his staff and counterparts in Denmark and the US for organizing this.

Ross Clark (or here) City of Santa Cruz Climate Action Coordinator, also spoke about 31% reduction in residential green house gas emissions since 1990 levels, but stopped short of discussing in detail other segments of Santa Cruz's efforts, including transportation, which he later acknowledged has been no better than California's overall increases of 1.5%, in response to a question.

I know Mr. Clark is a good guy, but as a political leader we must look to him for straight facts, good or bad, and an honest assessment of what must be done and the WILL- not just optimism. Hope to hear more of his plans soon.