Readers speak out on the future of renewable energy and question if the Valley has the will to embrace the opportunities and meet the challenges to become an economic “powerhouse.”

A collective vision has started to take shape of the San Joaquin Valley as the potential epicenter of renewable energy in the U.S.

From solar to biomass, wind power to cow power, the promise of clean energy has obvious benefits for the environment. But the most immediate hope is that it will create jobs, generate valuable efficiencies and diversify our local economy.   

The Business Journal wanted to know what our readers think about renewable energy, so we conducted an online survey beginning last Friday and ending Tuesday and asked readers to answer, in essay form, the following questions:

• What do you see as the future of renewable energy in the Valley?

• What energy technology has the most potential for improving our local economy while also helping the environment?

• Why is that technology so promising, and what do you see standing in the way?

The responses show a variety of opinions about which technologies hold the most promise and face the most challenges in being adopted on a broad scale. There are also mixed opinions about whether local leaders can summon the collective will to make renewable energy a major force in the Valley.

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Solar PV panels on rooftops and over nonproductive land is Fresno's way to a stable economic future. If the panels are built in Fresno, we create hundreds if not thousands of productive jobs (to build and install the panels). While solar has a high front-end cost, the installation pays for itself in a few years and saves the business or homeowner lots of money afterwards.

We still have lots of large, flat roofs that are ideal for solar panels, including our local hospitals, schools and warehouses, all of which currently pay lots of money to PG&E every month. This approach does not require new, multi-billion power plants, does not create ongoing pollution, and can help to decentralize our power supply.

— Howard K. Watkins

We are very fortunate to have natural resources that can be harnessed for renewable energy. There is no doubt that our greatest natural resource is the sun. With global warming looming, there may come a time when the Valley may not be able to lean on its farmland or its dairies as a renewable energy resource.

I see solar and wind energies as the most promising renewable resources we have. What stands in our way is cost, as it takes several years to see a return on investment for solar technology, which prevents current decisionmakers from taking the plunge. This technology is promising because of the vast potential it contains. We have wide-open spaces here where massive panels can be laid out to store up solar energy without burdening the environment.

We have to stop thinking "cheap and easy and quick fix." Only caring about what's inexpensive and hassle-free right now shows a serious lack of concern for the future. It's a journey, not a sprint.

— Amber McRae

The San Joaquin Valley and surrounding areas are in a unique position to capitalize on renewable energy. Wind power may be limited by its inherent problem of killing birds, some of which are endangered species. Solar generation provides an opportunity to provide massive amounts of power and to utilize land that may not be arable for various reasons. It does not require any of our precious water resources and it is totally pollution free.

The biggest obstacles in getting renewable energy sources online are the demands of the environmental community. The State of California has discussed setting up a clearinghouse type of entity that will get these renewable energy projects through all of the permitting processes in six months. This needs to implemented immediately in order to move these projects forward and not have to piecemeal the permitting process.

— Tom Lindemann

We need more dams using hydroelectricity and nuclear energy. Standing in the way are environmentalists and liberal elitists who are joined at the hip in stopping anything that will help get reasonably cheap energy in the Valley.

— Dee Baughman

First of all, this isn't really a survey (scientific), but a poll (unscientific). Surveys are a random sampling of the population; polls are like movie exit polls, and a census is a response from everyone in the population.

That being said, primary renewable energy comes from sun, water and wind. We have two in Fresno/Central Valley — sun and wind. Harnessing them would be the most ideal and most likely to be cost-effective. The challenge is this: if I pay $X per kilowatt hour of energy to power my house, but solar power (or wind power) will cost me $2X (twice as much), I won't install the solar panels (or wind turbines). The only way renewable energy will work for the masses is if the energy costs are equal or less to that of the power I already get from PG&E.    

— Peter Robertson

I believe the Valley could be a leader in producing renewable energy. It clearly has the right climatology for solar, though solar does not likely have the capacity to be the only source of renewable energy.

The Valley could also be a place to produce resources for biomass. It may, however, be necessary to get the water issues of the Valley solved before that can be a significant component.

I do not believe we know at the moment which technology is the most promising or everything which is standing in the way. It appears that nuclear power could be a very good component of renewable energy, but the environmentalists and the current thinking from Washington and Sacramento are both standing in the way of that, as they are standing in the way of solving the Valley's water problems.

— Victoria Salisch

I think we have to look at a variety of energy sources for the Valley:

1. We have abundant sun; use the sun with solar panels in areas where we have low or no land use now.

2. We always have wind on west side of Valley. Let's use it.

3. Nuclear. It's a nasty word, but it’s used widely in Europe and is safe by today’s standards.

4. I'm in ag, but am not big on ethanol from corn. If we support ethanol, it must be a crop we can grow here and one that utilizes the whole plant, like sugarcane in Brazil and some of the newer grasses being tested in the U.S.

— Robert Ehn

The Valley can lead the way in solar energy. An obstacle is the cost of solar panels and overall solar systems, because it takes 20 years or more to see a savings.

— John Bradford

The only real answer to electric energy problem is hydroelectric power. The hydroelectric route would solve two problems at once, providing clean, pollution-free electricity and water storage for farming and cities.

Wind power is not practical in the Valley due to our geography and wind patterns. Countless hawks and owls are killed by the massive rotating blades of the wind turbines. Owls in particular are hardest hit since the blades are not easily seen at night. These birds of prey are important in keeping rodent populations under control.

Solar has land use issues since they involve a large area of real estate and are not practical during the foggy season.

Biomass and natural gas-fired generators contribute to bad air quality situations.

I am in favor of new nuclear technology, but realistically would never expect one to be approved due to weak politicians afraid to speak up against the rhetoric of certain environmental groups.    

— Ron Beringer

I support the building of greater hydroelectric power facilities and storage of water for farming and domestic use. I support this because it is clean, reliable, proven and affordable.

I do not support renewable energy plans based upon preventing "global warming," which is an unproven notion. Rather, renewable energy and other sources of energy, such as oil from offshore drilling, should be made immediately available for exploration and exploitation. I support all sources of energy, whether considered green or not, if they make economic sense to develop and provide.

Without reliable sources of energy and water, this Valley's economy will be very slow to recover economically. Nothing should be off the table at this point.    

— Richard L. Fairbank

By limiting this discussion to "renewable energy,” you miss one of the most logical and proven sources of energy: nuclear power. If the French can and do use this source of energy, we should take the exceptional and unusual position of following the French.

— Judge Robert H. Oliver

The region's governments, educational institutions and businesses should collectively embrace the opportunity to promote, install and, most importantly, develop renewable energy technologies that can benefit the Valley's economy, and by extension, its people and environment.

Technologies focused on water usage/conservation/enhancement seem to have the most local applications and potential to be strong job generators due to the potential to export goods and services created in the Valley to the rest of the country or internationally. A risk-taking and open-minded approach to solving environmental challenges will benefit the Valley.

Of course, access to capital, both human and monetary, will ultimately determine if the ideas blossom here or some other locale such as the Silicon Valley. Government can help by becoming early-adopter customers and by making it easier, cheaper and faster for new businesses to get started and by maintaining a "business-friendly" attitude.

— Ethan Smith

The San Joaquin Valley is the bread basket of the world in respect to our agriculture exports due to the incredible natural resources we have in the Valley, including location, climate and the sun For similar reasons, the San Joaquin Valley can and should be the epicenter for solar electricity and is on the pace to becoming one of the nation’s leading regions for solar projects.

With Fresno, Bakersfield and Clovis being the fifth, sixth and seventh leading areas in the state in terms of total number of solar projects, the Valley has proven that the natural resource which has supported agriculture, our largest economic sector — the sun — can do the same for solar.

The future of renewable energy in the San Joaquin Valley is tremendous, but it will take aggressive policy, economic incentives for manufacturers to enter the region, and fast-tracking projects through planning to effectively develop solar. We need to aggressively continue our quest to harvest the true power of the sun.

— Scott Hulme

Nuclear power is the most efficient, clean and best understood source of energy we have. Small dispersed plants that use canal water for cooling would be the best way to support the energy needs of California. Solar could be profitable in 30 years of effort and research.

The only reason we are not moving forward is we don't really want to.

— Gary Pigg

Agriculture and the "science" behind it have limitless possibilities in the San Joaquin Valley.

There are some new crops/technologies that are proven and "cutting edge" in their future potential for local communities and the entire world. The San Joaquin Valley is the ideal location to "showcase" these practices.

Unfortunately, until we stop "bailing out" the private sector/special interest ventures, nothing will happen. Consider the millions of dollars that have been allocated recently (locally) for failing/mismanaged businesses. Imagine the impact those same dollars would have had if they had been invested in "sound" business practices that offered growth, jobs, sustainability and renewability.

The science and the opportunity are there — just not glamorous enough to sell to the public, let alone get votes.

— Steve Ecklund

I don't see energy as an issue. It's water. The depletion/destruction of our underground aquifer, pathetically stupid watering waste by agriculture, political stupidity in Congress and Sacramento regarding "delta smelt," among other things: here's where your energy should be focused. We're living in a desert that we've transformed with water, and inviting more people to live here is insane. Our lifestyle here isn't sustainable.

Solar and hot water panels on every roof would be a smart move. Perhaps PG&E would finance it for every homeowner, like they did insulation with the zero interest program.

— Thom Miller

I think there is great potential for renewable energy in the Valley. After all, we have sunshine most of the time and should be able to benefit greatly from solar technology. I see no reason not to be pursuing solar, wind, methane and non-corn based ethanol (based in switch grass, sugar beets or algae).

There is the potential to create and maintain jobs in the ag industry by producing ethanol-based fuel from sources other than corn, which from my observation is not an efficient source for ethanol. There is also opportunity to install and use solar and wind power here, although I suspect wind power is minimal here in the Valley. We should be pursuing methods to tap methane, such as that produced by dairies, as an energy source.

What is standing in the way, I suspect, is economics. We need to develop the technologies that make each option economically viable. That should be done through private/public partnerships with our research institutions such as CSUF and UC.

— David Gilmore

The only sensible low-cost and environmentally neutral power is nuclear. It is safe and uses a relatively small land footprint as compared to solar and wind.

The technology today is far advanced over nuclear plants already operating in the U.S. The unwarranted scare factor is holding back progress. Even France has been successful with building small local nuclear plants.

— Don Watnick

If the Valley embraces renewable energy and water technologies, which go hand-in-hand, and if the Valley chooses to collaborate and prepare the land to nest these worldwide companies and demonstration sites, then and only then, do I see the Valley as a world center for renewable energy and water technology. This center will encompass energy production, manufacturing and emerging technologies.

Fresno County already has a world-class Water and Energy Technology lab at Fresno State, one of three in the world. The Valley can build on its natural and man-made assets in order to shape its identity in renewable energy and water, but we have to work together. I see the biggest economic investment coming from manufacturing companies that can be attracted to nest beside energy technologies.

— Bethany Thompson

Solar energy and biomass plants. Solar energy would probably be a first priority.

The future is very bright, because we have plenty of space for solar farms and we enjoy sunshine most of the year. Solar technology is continuing to advance, and we are seeing more residential, commercial and industrial applications.

The government needs to provide more tax credits and stimulus money to get these projects out of the ground. The more we become dependent on solar-generated energy, the less dependent we become on hydroelectric, gas-fired generation and other forms of electrical power generation.

I'm also not opposed to building some nuclear plants in the Valley.

— Neal Lehman

The cost of photovoltaic (solar) energy to the average citizen is prohibitive. PG&E rates will spiral out of control, and the average person will be forced to go into debt to stay warm in the winter and reasonably cool in the summer.

Global warming is a hoax. We are being fed a truckload of hype, which translates to politicians and insiders making big bucks off of scare tactics.

— Nancy Flynn

I believe the future of renewable energy in the valley to be solar. The technology is already there and is thriving. If you look at the available "renewable commodities" that are available to our state, the sun is one the Valley has consistently and affordably available to us.

There are several industries that are currently developing more opportunities for "solar products." Plainly stated, we have all of the major components.

1. Availability.

2. Lower cost labor to manufacture.

3. Renewability.

If we could have a local politician lobby for our area, we could find ourselves becoming the "hub" of manufacturing of solar products and using them to offset some of our local costs for energy.

So how about it? We did it with our recycling program: Why can't we have the most wattage provided by solar energy in a metropolitan area in California?

— Brent Thompson

While nuclear power can and should play a role in the Valley's energy future, hydroelectric is probably the best future source of renewable energy for the Valley, unlike most of the rest of the U.S. We continue to have potential sites for reservoirs in the Valley, and more dams can provide both electricity and water storage that is sorely needed.

— Jared Gordon

I'm not an expert in comparing energy technologies, but I think the high number of cows in the Valley is a potential opportunity to convert an air quality problem into a promising renewable energy source. I'm not sure the technology is there yet to make it affordable on a large scale, but resources should be used to explore this form of energy generation.    

— Cynthia Cooper

With all the sun we get, it's got to be solar. What else makes sense? We could manufacture innovative products in the research and technology park in Clovis. Clean and green. Let’s do it. We can rename ourselves "Sunshine City" and be proud of the sweltering temperatures.    

— Vic Pasnick

The Valley has abundant sun and wind as great resources, and it needs to conserve water to maintain its agricultural economy. We would do much to put our area on the map if the Valley communities were to take the lead in developing new businesses around these three items as well as providing incentives for individuals and families to participate in water and energy conservation through solar panels and water heaters, passive solar home design, reasonable and easy water use limitations, and grey water systems attached to landscaping irrigation systems.

In the wake of our state's current economic disaster, such a “bootstrap" approach, setting new standards for green businesses and conservation and not just surviving but thriving, would be seriously impressive to a nation that depends on the Valley for most of its fruits and vegetables.

— Kirsten Englund

Nuclear power has the most potential of improving our economy. Irrational fears and regulations preventing development of nuclear power stand in the way.

— Charles L. Krugman

While every effort should continue to find increasing water resources, such as additional dams and storage facilities, in order to continue to be the rich agricultural resource for our country, adding a new, clean industry is in the best interest of the Valley and its residents as well as becoming another resource for the nation.

The large area we have for clean solar energy should not be wasted. The potential resource of acres of cow manure should not be wasted, and this could even clean that part of the environment.

The investment is going to be enormous to do it well. The potential for jobs should get public support, but with our chicken elected officials, it won't. It will also require great private resources and we may not have enough brave millionaire entrepreneurs, but the return would be great in dollars and human values. We should all support it as much as we can.

— Steve Parks

Solar. All that open space on roofs of homes and businesses and land currently fallow. Semi-mobile solar panels that ranchers could relocate depending on which crops were being grown and where. Problem: activists worried about the effect of reflective surfaces on plants and animals. Who owns the energy collected? The company? The landowner? The tenant?

Wind power in the nearby mountains such as at Huntington Lake has consistent breezes that could move strategically placed wind turbines. Yosemite? Or over the Grapevine route to the South? Again, environmental issues with wildlife and esthetics.

We need more recharge basins to replenish the aquifer, water banking, bring water in from areas that flood such as the Delta area; all the rainwater in Los Angeles and San Francisco that just drains out to sea; thunderstorms in the Midwest. Problem: right of ways for canals/pipelines.

Biomass generation from farming trimmings and prunings. Short transport from field to generator location. Problem: "NIMBY", "not-in-my-backyard" attitude.

— Treva Lee

To lessen the dependence on petroleum-based energy production, it is time to focus more of our efforts to use the solar power and other renewable means to achieve this goal. The solar power potential in California, especially the San Joaquin Valley, will offer the greatest return on investment.

— Dan Whistler    

Because of the abundance of sunlight in the Valley, you would guess solar, but I don't think the technological economics are quite there. Therefore, I feel nuclear power is the future power of the Valley, but it will never be built because of people’s fears.

— Jerome Salvador

Install a mass-transit system to link the Fresno-Valley area to major California cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. Reduce the use of automobiles and freight trucks traveling the Valley freeway systems (Highway 99 and I-5). As far as renewable energy, develop hydrogen technologies and make better use of windmills.

— Allen Kachadurian

Solar is the future. Two things stand in the way — upfront costs and the size of the area needed to produce enough power.

I think we can do street lighting, parks and other things. I also think limited wind power (small turbines) could be used in housing tracts.    

— D-B Heusser

We have huge potential for solar in the valley. I feel we have a long way to go with this resource. As prices become more affordable, it will continue to boom and create more jobs.

I definitely want to see more methane generators for the dairy industry. Please use that resource.

— Tim Conboy

Let’s complete a nuclear reactor facility for energy, and then we should start our renewable energy projects.

— Andrew Casado

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