‘Obama, Please Beat Us!’ on Renewable Energy, says Denmark

This week, Obama’s alternative energy promises prompted Danish Minister of Climate and Energy Connie Hedegaard to say she’d be happy if the US took Denmark’s first place title on renewable energy.

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Obama, visiting a wind power plant in Iowa on Earth Day, said that the US would make great efforts to surpass Denmark as the leader in wind power and other renewable resources. The US President said that currently America produces less than 3% of it’s electricity from renewable sources, like wind and solar.

“Now, in comparison,” Obama said, “Denmark produces almost 20 percent of their electricity through wind power. We pioneered solar technology, but we’ve fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in generating it, even though we’ve got more sun than either country.”

“I don’t accept this is the way it has to be. When it comes to renewable energy, I don’t think we should be followers, I think it’s time for us to lead.”

Danish Minister for Climate and Energy, Connie Hedegaard, a leader on alternative energy, says she’d like to see him try. Really. Hedegaard told Danish news agency Ritzau:

“It would be super if the US could supply its 300 million inhabitants with renewable energy to the same extent as we do in Denmark. If it is feasible, they would take over the leading position.

“The speech yesterday is consistent with the reports that we have received in recent times. Across the board the country shows that climate change is at the very top of their agenda,” the minister said, noting that it’s not free to make such optimistic promises.

”Every time [politicians] say so in public, they commit themselves to take action,” she said.

Currently, Denmark holds first place on renewable energy for some of the following reasons. In Denmark:

• They get 20-25% of electricity and heating from renewable energy, mostly biomass, biodegradable waste and wind.
• That will be 36% by 2025.
• They build houses with green roofs made from seaweed. Nuff said.
• Since 1973, they’ve gone from a 99% dependence on Middle East oil to 0% today. None.

Via: COP15

Image credit: Stephen ONeill via stock.xchange

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