Renewable energy needs to find more ways that won't work

By John McGory

Support for renewable energy is nonpartisan.  Polls show Republicans and Democrats equally support the development of new sustainable sources of energy for our country.  This hasn’t prevented the presidential candidates from sparring over the bumpy road to renewable energy. 

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney continues to slam the Obama Administration over the $528 million in loans the administration gave to the now-bankrupt Solyndra, a solar-panel manufacturer located in California.

The Obama camp has fired back about Massachusetts’ Green Energy Fund which was supported by then-Governor Romney.  Three of the 12 companies funded by the state have gone bankrupt or were sold for a loss.

If support for renewable energy is strong and nonpartisan, then the U.S. must not only accept failure, but embrace it.

One of America’s great inventors, Ohio’s own Thomas Edison, realized the importance of failure in innovation.  Edison said this about his many attempts at creating the light bulb, “I have not failed.  I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Edison and his team worked around the clock for a decade to create the first central electric generating plant in the United States.  The Pearl Street Station in lower Manhattan lit J.P. Morgan’s house.  He was one of Edison’s major investors. 

Morgan’s house had 385 light bulbs that were powered by a specially built steam engine and electric generator in the basement.  The wiring set Morgan’s library on fire and the equipment had an irritating clanging noise.  Morgan commented that “I hope the Edison Company appreciates the value of my house as an experimental station.” 

Edison’s biggest complaint was financing the expensive project.  Costs were a serious problem as the price for copper, needed for the wires, kept going up.  His comment regarding his investors sums up today’s struggles with renewable energy development.  “Capital is timid,” said Edison.

His plan to bring electricity into private homes was ridiculed by many.  Experts appointed by the English Parliament disregarded Edison’s innovations as “good enough for our transatlantic friends” but “unworthy of the attention of practical or scientific men.”

Today our country has an integrated electric grid system second to none.  The genius and persistence of Thomas Edison is one of the main reasons for its success.  If our goal is to power our cities through renewable energies 100 years from today, then that same zest for finding ways that won’t work is needed.  Complaints about perceived failures in achieving this goal are unworthy of practical or scientific men.

John McGory is an Ohio Energy Soldier.  OES supports the research and funding of renewable energies and every Ohioans responsibilty to reduce their personal carbon footprint.  Go our Facebook fan page for more information.