Winds of Change Newsletter, September 2005     See sidebar for table of contents

Midwest Renewable Energy Fair - A Vision of the Future, Today

	Dianne hugs “her” oak tree (shades of OVEC’s logo!).

While mountaintop removal perpetuators would have us believe coal is the only energy source that keeps the lights on, huge numbers of folks are proving them wrong. They’re creating sustainable jobs and leaving a better world for our kids.

Thousands of these green energy advocates and small-scale renewable energy manufacturers attended the 16th annual Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair, held by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) in Wisconsin. OVEC’s founder and co-director, Dianne Bady, delivered a keynote address at the fair, the largest such event in the world.

MREA president Mick Sagrillo asked Dianne to speak after he learned about her in On Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin’s alumni magazine. In introducing Dianne, Mick said after reading the article he thought, “This is a dangerous woman! We’ve got to have her speak!”

Dianne was a little worried her speech about mountaintop removal would be a downer amidst so much positive action and hope (there were hundreds of workshops and booths at the fair), but she spoke of our successes on other issues and talked about the power of organized people.

There were dozens of exhibits and demonstrations at the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair. photos by Viv Stockman

The audience was shocked to learn that, in southern West Virginia, mountaintop removers use 3 million pounds of explosives on working days. The audience appeared deeply moved by the stories Dianne told about the human and ecological toll of mountaintop removal. We bet her speech bolstered many in both their personal and political commitment to renewable energy.

MREA honored Dianne by planting a tree for her on their Avenue of the Advocates. Mick said they chose an oak for Dianne because it is such a strong tree!

OVEC staffer Vivian Stockman attended the fair with Dianne, and both say they learned a lot.

For instance, Germany has committed to getting 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources! Everywhere people spoke up for the decentralization of our energy systems (as has OVEC).

Many called for a level playing field – either give renewables the same subsidies that fossil fuels in the United Sates receive or better yet, take away the subsidies for fossil fuels, and don’t even give any to renewable energy. Let the free market be free, and let the people choose what power they want. Our bet is parents will choose the power sources that don’t poison their kids.

Dianne and Viv came away from the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair buoyed by the incredible group of people working and living every day with sane, safe and reliable renewable energy.

These folks are determined to change the future for the better, no matter what the fossil fuel fools in DC and certain state governments do to try to stop them.

We have seen the future: It is people power and it is us!