Ms. Sun was continuing her celebration of the galactic new year and getting a kick out of checking in on Planet Earth. She loved eavesdropping on its transmissions. “Those humans are fascinating creatures,” she mused. “With their recently acquired ability to transform my sunlight into electricity, they could create an Age of Abundance with more for everyone.
“I’m just wondering if they’ll take advantage of that, or if they’ll let politics and greed keep them locked into burning things up (e.g. petroleum products) for their energy needs. And goodness! The effects of the heat from greenhouse gas emissions are expensive! One estimate of the damage - the hurricanes, floods, droughts and wildfires - from U.S. emissions alone could be $87 trillion through 2050!
“$87 trillion!?! Hmm…, let’s see - One million seconds is about 12 days, while one billion seconds is about 32 years, and one trillion seconds is approximately 31,700 years. “Wow! In dollars that’s boatloads of money! Seems like there are better ways to spend that kinda dough, especially when I’m sending them all the free energy they’ll ever need.
Ms. Sun continued to listen:*
“I’ve taken a liking to these humans,” Ms. Sun pondered. “So I’m rooting for them to have the courage and wisdom to use all the free energy I’m sending to build a more prosperous world while preserving Earth’s lush environment. What’s not to like about that? After all, those folks are forever… Earthbound.”
*From a “Volts” conversation with Bill McKibben and Jamie Henn
“I’m just wondering if they’ll take advantage of that, or if they’ll let politics and greed keep them locked into burning things up (e.g. petroleum products) for their energy needs. And goodness! The effects of the heat from greenhouse gas emissions are expensive! One estimate of the damage - the hurricanes, floods, droughts and wildfires - from U.S. emissions alone could be $87 trillion through 2050!
“$87 trillion!?! Hmm…, let’s see - One million seconds is about 12 days, while one billion seconds is about 32 years, and one trillion seconds is approximately 31,700 years. “Wow! In dollars that’s boatloads of money! Seems like there are better ways to spend that kinda dough, especially when I’m sending them all the free energy they’ll ever need.
Ms. Sun continued to listen:*
- In just two years solar panels and batteries have cut use of natural gas by 40% in the fourth largest economy in the world – California. (“Gosh, I didn’t realize there are 21 toxins in natural gas!”)
- Pakistan figured out how to install the equivalent of half the country's national electric grid in eight months using rooftop solar panels.
- Two of the world’s most challenging issues are inequality and climate change. Widespread adoption of rooftop solar would “democratize” energy use and address both of these.
“I’ve taken a liking to these humans,” Ms. Sun pondered. “So I’m rooting for them to have the courage and wisdom to use all the free energy I’m sending to build a more prosperous world while preserving Earth’s lush environment. What’s not to like about that? After all, those folks are forever… Earthbound.”
*From a “Volts” conversation with Bill McKibben and Jamie Henn
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