Abdiel Mercado's Page
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Helping Hispanics reach the Alternative Energy goal one Hispanic at a time!
Thank you so much for inviting me to join your group! I'm looking forward to making a difference and getting to know all of you.
Kindest Personal Regards,
Cheryl Shuman
Beverly Hills, CA
Helping Hispanics reach the Alternative Energy goal one Hispanic at a time!
Helping Hispanics reach the Alternative Energy goal one Hispanic at a time!
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Helping Hispanics reach the Alternative Energy goal one Hispanic at a time!
Profile Information
- Are you interested in becoming an organizer in your area?
- Maybe--But Not Sure What to Organize
- Tell us about your experience with alternative energy:
- In Atlantic City approximately 12 miles from I currently live we implemented 4 wind turbines and have helped with electical bills to the city by an approxiamtly 350,000 yearly.
- What excites you about this campaign?
- That we should be investing that 700 billion dollars that's leaving our country to other foreigh country's, and help maintain our economy. Not to mention the idea that we can be a leader in alternative energy globally, a country with this global power should be proactive and not reactive to this type of money management.
- What do you want to do to help?
- Anything that I can will be far more than I am currently doing now.
Comment Wall (10 comments)
- At 8:06am on August 16, 2008,
Bruce Eric Montgomery said… - Classes teach solar power as clean, green career
Kelly Zito
Friday, August 15, 2008
After a recent layoff ended his 20-year construction career, Javier Hernandez turned to what appears to be one of the rare sunny spots in an otherwise murky economy. Literally.
This summer, amid soaring U.S. fuel prices and increasing worldwide focus on global warming, Hernandez, 63, took the kind of step presidential hopefuls, low-income advocates and Silicon Valley tech lords dream about: He enrolled in a solar panel installation class at San Jose City College.
"We are definitely destroying our planet, and if we destroy the planet, we're destroying ourselves," said Hernandez, who lives in Sunnyvale and considers himself an environmentalist. "Hopefully, I'm going to find a good job after I finish this course, and I can get more experience and eventually bring this technology to (Mexico)."
From a political and economic view, much has been made about "green-collar" jobs. They are "clean" and in the renewable energy arena, are not as likely to go overseas, and could bolster a country hemorrhaging industrial, blue-collar jobs, the argument goes.
But there remains a wide gap between the projected demand for solar, wind and geothermal energy and the expertise necessary to make, install and sell the systems.
That's where Hernandez's class comes in.
He and about 20 others took the second class in solar installation ever offered at San Jose City College. Two evenings a week, the group is learning their way around terms like "photovoltaic modules" (solar panels) and "power inverters" (which convert electricity from direct current to alternating current). During half-day lab classes on Saturdays, they get to design, put together and dismantle systems with their own hands. All for $20 per credit, or $80.
The new green-collar classes - some variations are offered at other community colleges around the Bay Area, such as Cabrillo College - grew out of talks that began two years ago between the education establishment and Silicon Valley's growing solar industry. Eventually, the group was named Solar Tech, and it set out several objectives. Along with streamlining the building permit, utility connection and state rebate systems, the group aimed at advanced training.
Filling the need
Tom McCalmont is the chief executive of Solar Tech and founder of REgrid Power, a Campbell solar design and installation firm. According to a survey by the group, there are currently between 6,900 and 8,000 solar industry workers in the nine-county Bay Area - far short of the 20,000 to 40,000 projected to be needed over the next decade.
"That's a huge need," McCalmont said. "And the nice thing about these jobs is they are green-collar jobs - the types of stable, middle-class jobs that we haven't had in the Bay Area for a number of years now. We have low-paid service jobs or highly paid white-collar jobs."
Roughly speaking, a starting solar panel technician earns up to $19 per hour - about $40,000 per year. Within a couple of years, that can go up to as much as $35 per hour - or nearly $73,000 annually, McCalmont said. Classrooms have primarily focused on solar training because wind, geothermal energy and other sources aren't as widespread and have fewer local businesses.
Savings for home projects
Like Hernandez, Marc Fontana is pursuing solar technology as a second career. Fontana, 52, worked as a software support engineer for Hewlett-Packard for 26 years. After taking early retirement in 2005, Fontana has been getting educated about renewable energy. He also volunteers with a program that puts solar arrays on low-income homes. Eventually, he may become a solar system designer or a HERS rater - someone who uses technology like infrared sensors and blowers to evaluate the energy efficiency of homes and businesses. HERS stands for home energy rating system.
Recently, he installed a 2,500-watt solar system on his own house - another reason some take solar installation classes. Between generous rebates from his local utility, tax credits and savings from his own labor, the system cost him $2,500 - a tenth of the cost of a typical system.
"You won't find a lot of people who can do that because I did the installation myself and I took advantage of the best (local rebate) system in the state," he said.
Rebate deadlock
Though the popularity of renewable energy systems is expected to soar, there are some factors clamping down on the industry's recent growth.
Congress is deadlocked over whether to renew federal tax credits for wind and solar systems for homes and businesses. Though the credits - which max out at $2,000 for residential customers - have helped bolster the industry, they are set to expire at the end of this year. While the House has proposed funding the credits by ending tax subsidies for oil companies and closing a tax loophole for hedge fund managers, Republicans have rejected the ideas, arguing they are stealth tax increases.
As a result, it has been challenging for some recent local graduates to find jobs. Educators who hope to expand renewable energy training classes hope it's just a hiccup. But they are staying in close touch with the industry to tailor classes and curricula during troubled economic times.
"I don't want to flood the market with graduates who can't find jobs," said Kathy Werle, dean of applied sciences at San Jose City College. "Right now we're waiting to see if people get more state and federal incentives. If that happens, there will be growth. But if it doesn't happen... people won't be willing to spend $25,000 on solar systems for their homes."
- Kelly Zito kzito@sfchronicle.com
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/15/BA1C125J23.DTL
http://push.pickensplan.com/group/greenjobsnow
- At 7:51pm on August 15, 2008,
Bruce Eric Montgomery said…
- 'Green-collar' jobs a growth area, U.S. group says
Companies are stepping up their environmental initiatives, and that may mean a boom in "green-collar" jobs.
A recent forecast by the American Solar Energy Society found that renewable energy and energy-efficient industries were responsible for the creation of nearly 8.5 million jobs in 2006, and by 2030 that number is expected to reach 40 million.
Colleges and universities are taking notice, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., a job placement consulting group.
Many have introduced specialized degree programs in eco-commerce, environmental accounting, green and social marketing, and ecological economics.
"The demand for 'green-collar' jobs is really exploding, especially as the cost of energy continues to climb," said John Challenger, the group's chief executive. "Students need to start thinking about developing skills that will give them an edge for these types of careers that did not even exist until recently."
Popular jobs include urban planners, forestry professionals and environmental lawyers, Challenger said. There is also a growing demand for architects and engineers with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit.
http://push.pickensplan.com/group/greenjobsnow
- At 7:06pm on August 15, 2008,
Luis Garcia VA District 9 Leader said… 
Hello...
My name is Luis Garcia and I live in the Virginia Appalachian Mountains. I'm originally from South Florida but moved here 5 years ago for a slower paced life. Working from home helps! Welcome the community you're in the right place if you're passionate about alternative energy ideas and helping Americans sober up from Black Gold (Oil)
KissTheEarthGreen.com
- At 5:06pm on August 15, 2008,
Abdiel Mercado said…
- At 2:09am on August 15, 2008,
JT said… - Hi. You're quite welcome at the Passive Power Solutions group, and I look forward to your participation. Please don't use it as a soapbox from which to advertise non-related groups, though.
As to hispanics and alternative energy, take a look at the Dell City, TX telephone coop. They're using solar-powered microwave radio transceivers to deliver both phone and high-speed internet to homes that are off-grid. Most of the residents and employees are at least part hispanic.
I'd encourage your group to bring alternative energy options into less developed hispanic countries. There the language is a much bigger issue.
While I do still see some disenfranchisement amongst hispanics in the U.S., I don't see it occurring within the group of people involved in energy and energy alternatives. Quite the contrary, the hispanics I've come across seem well educated and capable, familiar with the technologies. People from ALL races and walks of life will benefit from being educated about passive energy resources.
Peace & Creation,
JT
"The opposite of War is not Peace. It's Creation." -- Jon Larson
- At 8:30pm on August 14, 2008,
Albert Alejandro said… - Kool Im so glad you thought of this. I will join. Can`t wait to see what`s instore for us. I started Inexpensive Clean Energy . Check us out.We have links to legislative directory,write your elected officials,see what your representative voted,see how much big oil contributed to your representative,wind turbine wholesalers,retailers,green jobs,latest news etc..
- At 12:40am on August 14, 2008,
vinbeazel said… - Hello Abdiel, I have been hoping to see a group for Hispanics as we continue to expand our education outreach on our radio shows.
I would like to invite you to visit our web site, and look at our schedule for future shows and visit our groups. AlternativeEnergy.com
We are also organizing training in both languages for trainers of young people about green collar work. Hispanics can become owners of all that the green industries have to offer, but only through education and training. Check us out and keep on sharing the message of Libertad Para Todos!
- At 8:49pm on August 13, 2008,
Abdiel Mercado said…
- Good Day Friends,
First and foremost I would like to thank each and everyone one of you for supporting a plan that will change America's Economy the PickensPlan. As Hispanics sometime we are not involved with what's happening in our country, maybe due to fear of even broken language. But to those of us that are fluent in both the English and Spanish languages it is our duty to help those in need. Why not stand up for our fellow Hispanics and help support them, to support our goal. This is why we joined the PickenPlan wasn't it?
My question to you is: What are you going to due about it?
- At 7:34pm on August 12, 2008,
Bruce Eric Montgomery said…
- Great promise lies ahead for Cellulosic Ethanol
Last December, Congress amended the national Renewable Fuel Standard, setting a goal that the U.S. will produce a whopping 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2022. It's no surprise that much of this renewable fuel will be ethanol.
Given the rapid industrialization of Asia, global demand for fuel ethanol is steeply increasing and is expected to do so in the foreseeable future. In order to satisfy this big demand, let alone meet the Renewable Fuel Standard, there is a growing concern that the standard U.S. practice of mass producing fuel ethanol from corn won't be feasible. There simply isn't enough corn acreage available in America to meet the future domestic and international demands for fuel ethanol.
Scientists contend that the answer to this problem is cellulosic ethanol, a technology that is now under furious research and development at many universities, national labs, and private industries across the globe.
This is an interesting technology, because it makes ethanol from cellulose feedstocks such as ordinary trees, perennial grass and cropland residues instead of food crops such as corn or sugar cane.
Scientists contend that cellulosic ethanol, once it is perfected, can significantly reduce America's imports of foreign oil, while creating a big variety of "green collar" jobs including farmers, truck drivers, business professionals, engineers, and scientists.
Before cellulosic ethanol becomes a commercial reality, there are many technology hurdles to overcome. Crop scientists and chemical engineers are furiously studying the genetics, the molecular structure, and other biological aspects of trees and plants in order to improve the efficiency of cellulosic ethanol production.
Last year, our country embarked on a once-in-a-generation effort to study the underlying science needed to improve processing efficiency. In the meantime, scientists are making great headway. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded $125 million to establish the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, a partnership between Michigan State University and the University of Wisconsin, to study the science of processing cellulosic ethanol.
Also, Michigan State University and Michigan Technological University recently partnered with the Mascoma Corp. (a Massachusetts company), to build a cellulosic ethanol plant in the Michigan Upper Peninsula.
Last May, at a scientific lecture in Copenhagen, Denmark, by Dr. Niels Lagvad of Danish Biogasol Corp. (www.biogasol.com). It was revealed that this company now has a proven, turnkey system to mass produce ethanol from a big range of perennial grasses and hemicellulosic feedstocks. He referred to the process as a "bolt-on, second-generation ethanol plant" which, in essence, attaches to the back end of a conventional plant making ethanol from food crops. "Second generation ethanol" refers to the use of non-food feedstocks to make ethanol, whereas, "first generation ethanol" refers to traditional methods that use food crops such as corn and sugar cane.
The immediate U.S. market for this Danish technology is to retrofit American corn-to-ethanol plants. In this concept, corn stover (corn leaves, stalks, and cobs) and distillers' grain (a voluminous, natural by-product of the corn-to-ethanol process) would be used as inexpensive feedstocks for ethanol production. The technology is now in the demonstration phase; a full-scale plant is planned for 2010 in Boardman, Ore., as part of a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Energy and the Pacific Ethanol Corp.
Danish Biogasol also markets the same technology to electric power plants, regardless of whether the electric plant is fueled by coal, nuclear, natural gas or oil. Why this terrific market? Electric plants routinely produce massive amounts of waste heat. This waste heat is harnessed by the ethanol plant, which in turn greatly reduces the cost of ethanol processing. Imagine a line of semi-trucks, all loaded with massive bales of locally grown perennial grass, driving to the local electric plant - which makes fuel ethanol too.
I am excited to imagine where this technology is headed because America is blessed with abundant trees and native grass. I believe we're in for some hopeful times ahead: new jobs from locally made auto fuel with no imported oil.
- At 7:16pm on August 12, 2008,
Linda C said… - Hello, My name is Linda C. I hope you enjoy your experience on PickensPlan.com. If I can help you in anyway or answer questions, just ask.I have a group called Seniors Online Supporters. Please stop by and look around.
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