{"id":560,"date":"2010-06-19T21:22:45","date_gmt":"2010-06-20T01:22:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/energyrealist.com\/?p=560"},"modified":"2010-06-19T21:46:10","modified_gmt":"2010-06-20T01:46:10","slug":"small-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/energyrealist.com\/?p=560","title":{"rendered":"Small People?"},"content":{"rendered":"

President Obama spoke for 17 minutes on the Gulf oil spill and the commentators then spoke for thousands of hours since, parsing every word. (One of the many sites giving the full text is here<\/a>)<\/p>\n

A day or so later a number of news outlets published an article regarding the situation in Nigeria (here is the Guardian, UK version published before (!) the speech<\/a>).\u00a0 There oil, by the millions of gallons, has spilt into the environment for over 40 years.\u00a0 We can all argue who is at fault; the companies or the locals who sabotage and tap the pipelines, or both.\u00a0 Bottom line, the stuff is spilling, polluting and being wasted.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

still flying...<\/p><\/div>\n

This would seem to be the perfect time to make a bold announcement regarding renewable energy resources.\u00a0 But no, I guess we\u2019ll mosey along as usual.<\/p>\n

And of course there is natural gas aplenty!\u00a0 All it takes is hydraulic fracturing \u2013 \u201cfracking\u201d \u2013 with the \u201cusual\u201d expected environmental results.\u00a0 I have not seen the film \u201cGasland<\/a>\u201d that has made the rounds of the talk shows (as here<\/a>) , but some of the scenes sound like a lot of fun \u2013 like being able to light your tap water on fire.<\/p>\n

With all that as backdrop here\u2019s a view from one of the \u201csmall people\u201d. (No matter what the intent of BP\u2019s chairman, the phrase will live on<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

I finally completed my BPI energy auditor certification.\u00a0 Got the card to prove it – even if it has some other guys picture on it.\u00a0 But what the h\u2026, they\u2019ve promised to send me a replacement card with my own boyishly handsome, yet rugged and experienced, visage.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Of course there are no energy audit jobs to be had in the state of NJ.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 The state halted its support of the program<\/a>,\u00a0 having run out of funds.\u00a0 To quote: \u201cThe program’s budget is being reviewed to support applications received prior to the posting of this notice\u2026..\u00a0 Contractors submitting applications after the posting of this notice (May 7, 2010), will be notified that the application cannot be accepted.\u201d<\/p>\n

The budget was to be reviewed yesterday (June 18), and I will update the site when a decision becomes known.<\/p>\n

I wish the state would EITHER cancel the program outright and let the customer decide if $300 or so is worth getting a detailed energy audit and recommendations on their house.\u00a0 OR, make sure the program, which reduces the cost to the owner to $125 out of pocket, is guaranteed for at least a year at a time.\u00a0 This limbo situation is the worst possible, because all audits are on hold.\u00a0 Nobody will spend $300 this week, if next week the same thing will be less than half the cost.\u00a0 And when it does restart there is no guarantee it will not stop in another couple of months from now.\u00a0 What incentive do I have to invest in some $6000 on equipment under this scenario?<\/p>\n

Small projects on the sustainable energy front are also slow.\u00a0 I know these are just anecdotal stories, but they do seem to indicate the malaise in this sector.<\/p>\n