Editor's Message
Ride the Wave
How We Can Use BP’s Oil Spill as Another Argument for Renewable Resources
I’m sure you are all aware of the ongoing saga of the BP oil spill and the continuous effect it is having on the energy debate. Recently, President Barack Obama addressed the nation about the catastrophe, but came up short on putting the full court press on big oil, coal and other consumable energy producing resources. Even with a man-made disaster, we are still lax as a nation to encourage energy innovation and the exploration of alternative resources. While our attitude toward the oil spill is to punish the companies who created it and still use their products, we should take this situation as an opportunity to show the benefits of renewable energy. Our reliance on oil is incredibly strong, but we can use the negative effects of the oil spill — damage to the environment, lost economic opportunities to locals, etc. — to promote cleaner resources.
Now is the time to ride the wave of energy independence. Solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and any other clean energy source are our allies in developing a future energy plan. It’s no longer about wanting new power facilities; we need these power plants to supply energy to a population that will only continue
to grow. Consumer attitudes are rapidly shifting and we need to be on the frontlines promoting our industry — pushing for more legislation in favor of alternative power sources.
Stay Informed
As the market for alternative power continues to develop, it’s important to stay on top of the latest news and projects that are coming up. It can be as easy as setting up Google news alerts for the different power sectors or checking out renewable energy associations’ websites. The American Wind Energy Association’s and the Solar Energy Industries Association’s websites are two of my personal favorites. And, of course, you can stay in the loop simply by checking out our website (www.altpowerconstruction.com) and subscribing to our bi-weekly e-newsletter.
It is an exciting time for the alternative power production market. As these facilities are being built nationwide (check out our News section on page 8), we are becoming innovators in this new and exciting trade through streamlining construction methods and putting Americans to work. Construction jobs are a huge part of our economy, and we have the opportunity to spur growth by creating thousands of jobs through getting projects online. Don’t miss a beat in what’s going on — be sure to get plugged into news outlets and continue to follow the projects, products and technologies promoting the alternative power industry.
Keep Building,
Rob Krzys
Publisher
