Greetings!

You are invited to join the San Diego Renewable Energy Society (SDRES) on Wednesday, March 17 at 7pm to hear a special presentation by Joe Steinberger - "How Spain Became a True Leader in Renewable Energy" and specifically ways they have changed society to create "negawatts" as opposed to megawatts of electricity.

Joe is a past SDRES Director. He is very excited about what is happening in Spain and wants to share his experience since moving there last year.

Europe uses approximately 2.5% of the world's energy, despite having a population bigger than the USA and a highly developed economy. Europe is a leader in the renewable energy field, and Spain and Germany are the leaders of Europe. Spain breaks records almost every month regarding the % of energy generated by wind compared to total consumption. For the month of January of this year, 39% of Spain's energy was generated via renewable sources. Even much of the Obama money earmarked for clean energy is going to Spanish companies. They have placed some smart bets on renewables that are really paying off now. Of the 10,163 MW of new wind power capacity that was installed in the European Union in 2009, Spain accounted for 24 percent, followed by Germany with 19 percent.

Joe Steinberger will synthesize presentations from attendees at a recent renewable energy conference he attended in Spain. He will share personal photos and anecdotes about how we need to change our attitudes or how we can adopt Spanish norms.