I’m posting from foggy Denmark. Much like Vermont, but flatter and with thatched roofs (beautiful roofs, but how would we attach PV)! A few hundred years ago the area we are in, Tisvildeleje, was buried by sand dunes due to deforestation. These dunes buried entire villages including a church we visited! Eventually they reseeded, then reforested 60,000+ hectares of dune and then shoveled many things out. Took about 150 years to fight the dunes back but they were successful.  A lesson we need to relearn in many more parts of the world today. (They are doing a massive tree planting program west of Beijing, which is threatened by sand dunes.) Nothing can stop the sand dunes except replanting. Can’t plant fast enough really.

Meanwhile, after a horrible night’s sleep and a late start, we managed to go to Helsingor, (legendary setting of Elsingor for Hamlet) and tour the castle Kronborg. Quite impressive, considering it was first constructed in late 1500’s. Again took public transit successfully (though we did take the ‘long way’ accidently!)

And although I have been enjoying an actual vacation, I have been keeping in the loop of news and media surrounding the climate conference and have a few observations:

• there is considerable angst surrounding the proceedings. I think there is a feeling, finally, that something needs to be done.
• the EPA’s announcement that it can and will regulate greenhouse gases is a huge step forward. While we cannot solve the problem using just the hammer of the clean air act, it is a hammer that can help move the Congress forward.
• Some back room deals that are being discussed, while poor in overall equity and outcome, do seem to show the US tentatively agreeing to very significant cuts in the long term, deeper than anything that has been discussed previously.
• I think the confluence of Obama being here with the other world leaders could in fact, have a huge effect. It will be a show of huge suspense and imperiled outcome, with obstacles at every turn.

More to come from Copenhagen…

Wonderful bike ride in Denmark. Like VT, but flat. 25 km – good for out-of-shape guy!

Most people take a vacation to escape the day to day of life and work and to really rest and relax. Jeff & Dori Wolfe are not “most people.” Our founders are taking a vacation to Copenhagen, Denmark to be there for the climate change conference.

As Jeff said, “We’re going to Copenhagen not simply to watch, but to move the world toward a sane climate policy. Taking vacation at a climate conference in not most people’s idea of fun, especially in Denmark in the winter, but Dori and I did not hesitate to commit to it.”

Jeff & Dori are traveling as part of the delegation from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). SEIA has “party status” – meaning the organization has been nominated by the U.S. to participate in climate discussions at the conference. SEIA will be working with other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) during the conference.

While in Copenhagen, Jeff will be presenting Al Gore’s climate slideshow – an updated version of the one seen in “An Inconvenient Truth” – at the local Bella Center office of the U.S. Alliance for Climate Protection on December 14.

On Sunday, Jeff posted the following to his Facebook account:

Why are people so ready to deny climate change? I guess just like people hate going to the Dr., and don’t believe the bad news they sometimes give. People want to avoid bad news any way they can. Those who are obscuring the truth of climate change are affecting us all, and putting us in grave danger.

Responses to the post came quickly and passionately. You can see all of the responses on Jeff’s Facebook here (friend him if you are not already connected).

We’d like to open up the same discussion here on the blog. Why are people so ready to deny climate change? What are your solutions to our cultural (or perhaps biological) inability to recognize and respond to future danger?

Great quote from Jeff Wolfe for an upcoming interview with B-Green Collaborative:

Beating back climate change and transitioning the world’s energy supply to renewables is inarguably the biggest economic opportunity we have ever seen. It makes the internet and telecom economic boom seem like a pop rather than a boom.

The full interview should be up on B-Green Collaborative in a couple of weeks.

Jeff got more air time at Solar Power International last week talking about groSolar’s marketing efforts with Solar Fred. For those of you not involved in the day to day world of solar marketing, Solar Fred is a blogger on RenewableEnergyWorld.com, a partner in SolarPowerRocks.com and consults on solar marketing.

Check out the video of Jeff talking with Solar Fred about marketing.

Jeff Wolfe was part of the CEO panel discussion titled “Surviving the Solar Shakeout” at SPI09 in Anaheim, CA. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson opened the session with a keynote address which was followed by the CEO panel. Forward to minute 37 to get directly to the CEO Panel. Jeff speaks at minutes 49, 52, 59, 1:08, 1:12, and 1:15.

Jeff Wolfe Speaks at SPI09

Solar Power International kicks off tomorrow in CA. If you’re planning on being in Anaheim, be sure to check out groSolar at booth #309. Also, Jeff Wolfe will be speaking on the Thursday morning CEO Panel, “Surviving the Solar Shakeout.” As many of you know, Jeff is very active in the solar industry and this is a great opportunity to hear him speak. We will update the blog with pictures as they come in. Check back soon!

groSolar was recognized for its impressive growth last night at the 7th Annual 5×5x5 Growth Awards from Vermont Business Magazine. The 5×5x5 Growth Awards recognize 5 companies in 5 sectors who have experienced major growth over the last 5 years. This is the second year that groSolar has been recognized. groSolar experienced 3429% sales growth over the last 5 years.

John Boutin - President Vermont Business Magazine, Scott Carpenter - KeyBank, Jeff Wolfe - CEO groSolar

I had the pleasure of participating in the Edison Electric Institute Annual Conference in San Francisco earlier this summer. I spoke on the panel on Solar Power which was the platform for some interesting quotes including my quote from the title of this post. You can see some of the other conference quotes here.