Hermann Scheer — Heavyweight Champion of Renewables
It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Hermann Scheer, a man who will always be remembered for his incredible vision — and effectiveness — with respect to the deployment of renewables. Through his tireless work over 30 years in the German Parliament, his country soared to a position of unrivaled leadership in replacing fossil fuels and nuclear with solar, wind, biomass and hydro. Germany deployed more solar power last year than the rest of the world combined.
In my mind, Scheer was best known for his position on energy policy, namely that the biggest single mistake we’re making as a civilization is asking the energy industry to perform objective studies of fossil fuel supplies and dangers. They are the only group on Earth, he notes, that stands to win by delaying the migration to renewables.
But he paved the way for a solution — and, to a large degree created one, at least in his homeland. In particular, he pointed out that the oil companies’ power lies in their ability to control Congress with their enormous contributions, buying whatever influence they need to continue to dominate the energy industry. Scheer noted that although this is a sad truth, it’s not a death sentence for renewable energy. The will of the people is still paramount, as our senators and representatives still require the support of the electorate – and if that electorate is sufficiently well informed, Big Oil will ultimately be unable to control Congress and manipulate the world in their favor. Thus, we have the imperative to get out there and tell the story.
Scheer also observed that the US, the world’s largest political and military power, needs to approach the king of Saudi Arabia “from the position of a beggar,” and that this defies all rationality. We move through the decades, completely beholden to regimes of dubious values and intent, spending fortunes to prosecute wars to protect the supply of oil in the Middle East, and this makes so sense intellectually or morally.
Speaking on the imperative and defining the path forward, here’s one of the last interviews Hermann Scheer gave — just a few weeks ago. Thanks for the ideas, Mr. Scheer, and for the courage you displayed in putting them into action. You’ll be sorely missed, but I hope you left this world confident in our ability to pick up where you left off.
I note that he also quite correctly observed, and helped illustrate – by creating real-world examples – the necessity and the benefits of a stable subsidy structure and a predictable investment environment for renewables.
Certainly dirty fuels neither need nor deserve any financial assistance from any people through their government, and certainly a wise and self enlightened population would never allow the level of taxpayer subsidy that we currently gift to filthy energy profiteers. But then, with our ‘representatives’ as thoroughly and self-righteously pocketed as they are, and with our highest court anointing the fraud of corporate personhood and equating cash as free speech, achieving a wise and self enlightened population is only half the battle.
Mr. Scheer wisely noted as well that a bottom up solution is the only one likely to achieve anything like sufficient progress, and that’s as true for campaign finance reform (or, as I like to call it, “Equal Campaign Funds”) as it is for sensible sustainability in energy planning. Indeed, he’d gone some distance in his life to demonstrate how it has been done.
Here’s a link-rich link:
http://www.metafilter.com/96710/RIP-Hermann-Scheer-19442010
We the people have to realize – en masse – that the “fossil fuel industry” and the addicted infrastructure and lifestyle that we’ve allowed it to create around us are grave threats to our present national security (at a minimum) and are lethal near term threats to global food security.
This is not just a local problem, but the solution is in our hands. We know the cost, we know the causes. When will we rise and take command? The blood is not in the distant future, not only some far away place. We talk of our parents’ children – we who sit here today.
We’ve got to wake each other up! We are our only hope!
Fantastic comment. Wow, you write beautifully. I hope you have a job in which that ability comes into play.
Ja, Hermann was a great advocate for renewables and one of
the reasons I had aspired some years ago to go to Germany to study. I remember watching a speech of his at Google on YouTube some years ago. I was stunned, even after 1.5 hours of talking (he loved to talk).
A colleague of mine in Kassel, DE had a chance to see him this past April where he presented the movie Energy Autonomy (http://www.energyautonomy.org).
And this past week, Amy Goodman on DemocracyNOW! interviewed him only a few scant weeks ago–one of his last interviews. The entire broadcast was dedicated to him. http://www.democracynow.org/2010/10/15/hermann_scheer_1944_2010_german_lawmaker
It is a real pity to see him go so soon.
Dear Craig,
i have always been writing about the widening gap of demand and supply.
its the individual participation regarding power, water and sanitation which can revive and restore the lost ecological equilibrium, lost link in the food and water cycle.
Every individual is looking up only on the centralised approach where as his efforts are none. This is the basic reason for the widening gap. i do not blame anyone but ourselves. let us get involved at individual level which eases the burden of the centralised approach by more than 50%.
what do you say?
vasan.
It is with sadness that I read of his passing.
It is interesting to note that Germany is importing large amounts of nuclear-generated electricity from France in addition to importing coal and natural gas from Russia.
I heard about Hermann Sheer’s passing away yesterday. I listened to a recent interview with him. I was totally impressed with what he tried to do to bring Renewable Energy to Germany.Have you personally met him, Craig? If you know more about his efforts and strategies in introducing RE in the world, you should write an article in your web-site about this. What a great visionary he was.
Its sad to see such visionaries depart from this earth when we need them so much
His work has been inspiring and should be embarassing as well: Germany gets less sunlight than Seattle and yet they are doing more than any (or even all )other countries. Arizona could become the Persian Gulf of solar by just deciding to. Wind (solar power once removed) can be used to power most of the US as well. Between the two the US could be the leader in bringing about the end of a petroleum based economy. That would be good environmentally as well as national security. Safer and cleaner skies!
rip
Sad to learn the passing away of Mr. Hermann Scheer. He was a visionary and advocated his vision effectively all his life. His dream of replacing fossil fuels with renewables has benefitted not only Germany but has spread the message throughout the world. Let us all strive to keep his vision alive to make this world more secure, prosperious, equitable, clean and sustainable by introducing renewable energies.
Indeed it is a great sadness.
I just came back from a pan European conference: and to hear that Germany is far far ahead of us here in Britain not only in term of legislation but with their heart can only be accounted by such the ceaseless worker Herman Scheer was. Both the UK and Germany are targeting an 80% CO2e reduction by 2050, Germany by reducing its energy consumption, England by increasing it. We can see there how Herman Scheer’s vision has percolated through. I was impressed by the financial incentive put in place by the German Government. We may still see his work bring common sense to other part of the world.
I have just recently been exposed to Hermann’s wisdom through the documentary film The 4th Revolution – Energy Autonomy.
http://www.energyautonomy.org
As a long time advocate of renewable energy in BC Canada, and the US, I have been frustrated and astounded by the lack of public awareness of the energy crisis issues. One of the fundamental approaches Hermann took in Germany was the democratic pressure of the people over the government of the day in Germany, that sparked a renewable revolution in the entire EU. Ultimately, people dictate the policies of their elected representatives if they exercise their franchise and vote! Those of us enlightened to the propaganda of the energy giants must continually carry the message that renewables can and will replace the fossil fuel 100% if we demand it.
Go to the website renewable autonomy, write your congressman, write a letter to your local newspaper editor, join a local or national lobby group, support them financially, use your power of purchasing and support companies that buy renewables, buy renewables from your local utility, etc.
Hermann has given the entire world inspiration by example and tireless promotion of an idea that could change our world forever for the better. What an incredible legacy. Let’s take up his cause and dream the dream into reality.
‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’
DAVID KIESS
VP of Project Development
Evergreen Power Corp.
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True energy crusaders like Hermann Scheer are one in a billion! God bless you!