Vermont’s energy future David Blittersdorf, CEO, Earth Turbines, Inc. Founder, NRG Systems, Inc. Renewable Energy Vermont Stratton, Vermont May 15, 2008

Oil prices hit bottom in 2000 A 100+ year trend has reversed A first for mankind! Political supply disruption

Magoon: Are we running out of oil? The big rollover Production peaks years after discovery peaks USA Peak $2. $10. $90. = Peak Oil

Title of Presentation Evidence of global peak production Source: Energy Information Administration World Crude Production Peak: 75 M barrels/day (May, 2005)

Vermont’s Electricity Supply 50% 700 MW average 2100 MW average

What does this mean? Replacing Vermont Yankee (~250 MW average ) Must have aggressive conservation/efficiency and renewables, fossil fuels for backup and peaking only Electricity to increase from 20% to 50+% of energy Shifting to electrified mass transit Changing our energy mindset, moving to distributed renewable resources, not MW fossil or nuclear plants Title of Presentation

Wind in Vermont Vermont has 6,000 8,000 MW of wind capacity available now o miles of ridgeline o 75 miles (~10%) is needed

How do we get there? A good start 750 MW of wind = 250 MW ave Large wind only – MW turbines –Fifteen 50 MW wind farms Community and large wind –150 1 MW turbines (locally owned) – MW turbines –Eight 50 MW wind farms

Here are the facts Rates will go up if VY relicensed or shutdown – market prices rising Renewables must play a large role. Vermonters want a clean energy future. Fossil fuels and nuclear aren’t clean, are not fixed priced for years

Vermont Deliberative Poll Findings 90% support the building of a wind farm visible from where they live. 98% would like to increase the proportion of Vermont’s electricity obtained from renewables. 69% wanted to see the electricity used by Vermonters produced mostly or entirely inside Vermont. Source: Vermont Department of Public Service (2008)

What’s getting in the way? Misperceptions Politics Old ways of thinking Inability to understand a finite earth

It’s possible! It’s REQUIRED & NECESSARY for our survival