August 20, 2015: Günter Mögele – The Energiewende Message From Germany: Local Prosperity

Lessons from Germany: Leveraging Energiewende for Local Prosperity
Speaker: Günter Mögele, Deputy Mayor, Wildpoldsried, Germany

Thursday, August 20th at 12:30P
Port Townsend Yacht Club, 2503 Washington Street, Port Townsend

The Jefferson County Energy Lunch Program for August is a case study of one of the world’s most successful renewable energy-fueled economic development programs. Key Speaker Günter Mögele, Deputy Mayor of the municipality of Wildpoldsried, Germany (population 2,600), will explain this local energy development success and the national German goal of Energiewende  or “energy transition” from fossil and nuclear fuels to renewable energy sources. Read More (Below Photo)

Wildpoldsried, Germany

To watch a video recording of this Energy Lunch presentation, please click on this link and enjoy!

http://porttownsendmedia.com//energy/Energy_Presentations.php

For perspective, the following is an (edited) excerpt from the Wikipedia entry for Wildpoldsried: A municipality in Bavaria, the village of Wildpoldsried has been recognized for its exceptional achievements in renewable energy production and in reducing its carbon footprint. Starting in 1997, people of Wildpoldsried, in some cases acting as individuals, began a series of projects that produce renewable energy. The first efforts were wind turbines and biomass digesters for co-generation of heat and power. Subsequent projects included energy conservation, additional wind and biomass, small hydro plants, photovoltaic panels on private houses and district heating. Tied to this are ecological flood control and wastewater systems. Today, the effects of this are an unforeseen level of prosperity resulting in construction of nine new community buildings. By 2011, Wildpoldsried produced 321% more energy than it needed and generated 4.0 million Euro in annual revenue. At the same time, there was a 65% reduction in the town’s carbon footprint. Three years later, the village was producing five times the energy it consumed.

Jefferson County is not in Germany and the energy environment in the Pacific Northwest differs from that of Wildpoldsried. Regardless, as prior Energy Lunch programming has demonstrated, the energy sector presents a significant local economic development opportunity. There are valuable, highly transferable lessons to be learned from the organizational, entrepreneurial, and community-based efforts in Wildpoldsried.

Please join us for this inspiring event! Attendees are welcome to arrive early to network with other local alternative energy advocates and professionals. Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch. Doors open at noon. The presentation will begin at 12:30P.

The Jefferson County Energy Lunch Program is made possible by our sponsors. Please join us in thanking Power Trip Energy, Sunshine Propane, Huber’s Inn, Alaska Power & Telephone Company, The Port of Port Townsend, Frederickson Electric, Port Townsend Paper Company, Port Townsend Friends of Energy Lunch and our two newest sponsors: Ravenna Capital Management and Washington State Department of Commerce.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY SPEAKERS AND OTHERS AT ENERGY LUNCH EVENTS REPRESENT ONLY THEIR OWN PERSONAL VIEWS AND DO NOT REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF THE ENERGY LUNCH ORGANIZERS OR ANY OF THE LOCAL SPONSORS.