Japan Press Weekly

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2011 April 6 - 12 [ENVIRONMENT]

Promote renewable energy: JCP Yoshii

Akahata on April 11 ran an interview with Yoshii Hidekatsu, Japanese Communist Party House of Representatives member, who raised two key factors in the future course of energy production and use. His interview is as follows:

First of all, energy sources that increase environmental burdens by producing CO2 and radiation must be avoided.

Secondly, energy production should be shifted from the “profit seeking” style monopolized by major electric power companies to a “local production for local consumption” style that meets with the needs and capabilities of each region, from underpopulated rural areas to densely-populated urban cities. The latter style can offer jobs to local smaller businesses to create and install renewable energy equipment and lead to the development of local agricultural and forestry industries.

Coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear fuel will eventually run out. However, the sun produces 4030 zeta-joule (ZJ) of solar energy every year. Considering that only 8 ZJ is produced at nuclear power plants, the potential for renewable solar energy is remarkable.

We can produce energy in various ways. Each region may have a different mix of energy sources they can utilize, including solar photovoltaics and cogeneration, wind power, hydro power, wave and tidal energy, snow/ice cold energy, ocean cold energy conversion, wood pellet, methane fermentation of livestock excreta, and bioethanol.

These renewable energy sources should be further promoted with the utilization of the feed-in tariff scheme and the tax for electric power development promotion, which is now available only for the promotion of nuclear power generation.