Sustainable Energy

News Flash!

Just Give Me the Warm Power of the Sun!

Watch the video here of the famous song, performed by its composer, John Hall. Hall fronted the band Orleans but is now a Congressman from New York. Hall was joined by Pete Seeger at a recent event attended by Beyond Nuclear's Linda Gunter.

Forget Nuclear! That's the verdict of a new report from the Rocky Mountain Institute. Read more here. Well-paid lobbyists, facile messaging and a gullible press contribute to the prevailing myths about nuclear energy, RMI finds.

Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free! It's an achievable reality in the U.S. according to a new study by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, co-produced by NPRI.. Read the report at Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free.

The San Francisco solar subsidy is under threat. If you live in San Francisco, click here to learn more about the attempt to freeze the funding for this important renewable energy incentive and how you can help.

A world without nuclear power

"Nuclear power is seven times less cost-effective at displacing carbon than the cheapest, fastest alternative - energy efficiency," according to the Rocky Mountain Institute. Furthermore, American homes, offices, and factories contain more electricity savings potential than all the power generated by today's nuclear plants. If each household installed just one compact fluorescent light bulb, we would save as much energy as one nuclear plant produces in a year. Installing 20 compact fluorescent light bulbs per household could displace approximately one quarter of the nuclear plants in the U.S. If we went further and updated the lighting, air conditioning, appliances, and other electrical systems across our economy, we would save more energy than all 104 U.S. nuclear plants produce annually. To find out how the U.S. can live without nuclear power or fossil fuels, read the IEER-NPRI Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free report.

Together we can eliminate the need for nuclear power. Here’s how:

Conservation and Energy Efficiency: Reducing wasteful use of electricity is the fastest way to cut emissions of greenhouse gases. Energy efficient homes and offices help us save money, lower energy use and prevent pollution. In fact, cost-effective efficiency measures could save between 20% to 47% of electricity use, according to studies by five U.S. national laboratories.

Make an impact by:

switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Be Cool!
installing energy efficient appliances, heating and cooling systems
unplugging electronic equipment and switching off lights when not in use
ensuring your water heater is set no higher than 120°F
using energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryers
cleaning or replacing furnace, air-conditioner, and heat-pump filters

Renewable Energy: Renewable energy sources could meet 25% of the nation's energy needs by 2025. All of these renewable technologies can help restore political and economic stability as well as save money…and the planet.

Make in impact by:

switching to clean energy. Learn how with SmartPower, just one innovative nonprofit that can help you make the right energy choices.
installing solar electric panels on our buildings, which can generate excess electricity for the grid
purchasing “green” electricity, an option broadly available to homeowners and renters
shifting to locally generated electricity, enhancing efficiency of service, reducing blackouts and brownouts, and creating jobs
advocating in your community for a Renewable Electricity Standard. Insist that your community or state ensure that 20% of the electricity purchased comes from renewable energy sources.

The vast landmass of the United States offers endless possibilities for renewable energy, including:

Climate Change: Scientists now estimate that climate change will be a serious if not irreversible catastrophe early this century. We have no time to waste. Conservation and efficiency cost less on a lifetime basis than the cost of generating electricity, and so should be our first step in cutting carbon emissions. Renewable energy technology can be brought on line quickly. Its capital expense is far lower than for nuclear power or fossil fuels. Coal and uranium are mined with significant impacts to human health and safety. They will eventually run out. Fuels from renewables are cleaner, safer and far less vulnerable to attack than nuclear or coal-fired power plants.

Sustainable means Safer: A study put together by a blue-ribbon panel of retired admirals and generals – National Security and the Threat of Climate Change – shows how the effects of climate change could impact national security and heighten global tensions. Beyond Nuclear argues that the potential for catastrophe during such conflicts is made even greater if nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons manufacturing remains in or is expanded across the world.

Four Films to Watch

Who’s Got the Power? a new film on climate change by Beyond Nuclear supporter, Casey Coates Danson.

An Inconvenient Truth, the landmark film on climate change by Al Gore.

11th Hour, a new film on climate change solutions by Leonardo DiCaprio.

Kilowatt Ours, a film by Jeff Beattie exploring the consequences of our coal powered economy.