German Village Produces 321% More Energy Than It Needs!

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http://www.zeitnews.org/energy/german-village-produces-321-more-energy-than-it-needs.html

Ok, those Germans are just showing off now. Not only has the nation announced plans to shut down all of its nuclear power plants and started the construction of 2,800 miles of transmission lines for its new renewable energy initiative, but now the village of Wildpoldsried is producing 321% more energy than it needs! The small agricultural village in the state of Bavaria is generating an impressive $5.7 million in annual revenue from renewable energy.

It’s no surprise that the country that has kicked butt at the Solar Decathlon competition (to produce energy positive solar houses) year after year is the home to such a productive energy-efficient village. The village’s green initiative first started in 1997 when the village council decided that it should build new industries, keep initiatives local, bring in new revenue, and create no debt. Over the past 14 years, the community has equipped nine new community buildings with solar panels, built four biogas digesters (with a fifth in construction now) and installed seven windmills with two more on the way. In the village itself, 190 private households have solar panels while the district also benefits from three small hydro power plants, ecological flood control, and a natural waste water system.


All of these green systems means that despite only having a population of 2,600, Wildpoldsried produces 321 percent more energy than it needs – and it’s generating 4.0 million Euro (US $5.7 million) in annual revenue by selling it back to the national grid. It is no surprise to learn that small businesses have developed in the village specifically to provide services to the renewable energy installations....more

:woohoo: Just proves that a combination of small, local alternative energy sources is the answer. The nuke and oil corporations must hate this; just waiting to see the posts from their bloggers lurking around.

[piratefish08]

1. USA USA USA! We're #! !! We're #.. ...........

oh.

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4. yea, we're the ONLY superpower!

:crazy:

[MadHound]

2. But, but, but, green energy can't power a modern city!

It must be true, I heard it here, from multiple posters.

[KT2000]

3. It can be done!!!

The is really encouraging. Thanks for posting.

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5. I encouraged the Dem running for mayor in my small town to say she'll use this town as a model

for how we can become energy efficient AND solvent.

Our town is $3 million+ in the hole each year and the Repug admin, which has been in power for 2 decades, keep telling people how fiscally responsible they are. They haven't created one fricking job.

[bluestate10]

6. Good job. Keep encouraging the Dem candidate and work your ass off on her behalf.

Getting more technological information on green energy initiatives to provide her with ammo will help even more. Smash every republican candidate that you possibly can.

[TheWraith]

7. You're forgetting that their "plan," such as it is, hinges on using MASSIVE amounts of COAL.

Germany is anything but an example to be emulated, given that they're currently building seventeen new coal-fired plants to supply their electricity, as well as restarting old ones, etcetera.