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By Arnold (Arn) Boezaart
Director
Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center
Grand Valley State University

Energy is something that many of us largely take for granted. For those raised in the post-World War II era, access to electricity and other fossil fuel energy sources such as oil and gas is something we consider nearly a birthright. However, most people cannot give a clear explanation of where electricity comes from, how it is generated and what the energy source is that lights our homes and offices.

For many of us, the litmus test on the adequacy of our energy system comes down to this: Are the lights on? Is the beer cold? Is the T.V. working? If the answer to those three questions is affirmative, our interest and concern about energy often ends right there.

The fact is we are living on borrowed time when it comes to the status of our national and local energy generating systems. The last massive investment in our coal-fired power plant infrastructure occurred in the 1960s and 1970s. Some of our coal-fired power generation facilities in Michigan are 60-years-old. Likewise, our national and regional energy distribution grid is dated and lacks capacity to accommodate new technology and transmit the output of growing renewable energy sources such as wind and solar from distant locations. This reality is quickly catching up with us and calls for a national and regional dialogue on our energy future. Solutions are available and new technology options emerge almost daily, but the price tags typically come with a “B” — for billions.

As we end the first decade of the 21st century and look ahead to 2011, the subject of energy and how it will shape our future looms large. Many of our energy challenges and the consideration of a clean-energy future are of global proportion. Likewise, our energy solutions must be tied to a national agenda. Yet, as we look ahead to the New Year, we can also identify issues, opportunities and actions at the local level that can make an impact on our collective energy future.

An overarching challenge globally is the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that human activity puts into the atmosphere. Since the time that the steam engine was invented in the late 1700s, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was around 280 parts per million (ppm). That number has risen as the world’s population grows and the number of cars, factories and power plants across the globe increase. By the beginning of the 20th century as Europe and North America became industrialized, the CO2 count had reached 300 ppm. Present CO2 levels hover at 390 ppm. Climate scientists estimate that the world’s CO2 count will have well passed 400 ppm by the end of the next decade.

Looking ahead to 2011, it becomes clear that a state and local dialogue on the future of energy is of paramount importance. Electric vehicles will enter our showrooms in the coming year. As the new EV technology ramps-up over time, we will see progress in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from internal combustion engines. Yet, we may well be creating new challenges with an electric vehicle infrastructure dependent largely on “old coal” technology. The development of “clean coal” is certain to become part of our energy conversations.

Renewable energy will increase its presence in West Michigan during the coming year. The Consumers Energy Lake Winds Energy Park will begin to emerge on the border of Mason and Oceana counties with the appearance of 56 Vestas wind turbines that will become a 100-megawatt wind farm. As the state legislature wraps up its year-end session, offshore wind development legislation was being discussed. If that were to be enacted, offshore wind development will surely be part of our 2011 energy conversation.

As the prospect of commercial-scale wind energy increasingly becomes a reality in our region, so are the conversations at the municipal level about possible strategies for sharing new energy sources on a regional basis. The 11,000-acre Muskegon County Waste Water Treatment facility is one location where shared renewable energy opportunities might emerge. Similar conversations are underway in Allegan County. The possibility of a shared and cooperative approach to new energy opportunities is exciting, but will require bold and forward looking decision making by community leaders.

As we enter the New Year, one thing is clear; when it comes to energy, status quo is not an option. We must consider new approaches to meeting our energy needs, embrace new technology and we must work cooperatively across communities—if we hope to keep the lights on, the beer cold and the T.V. working.