Alternative Energy: embracing the creative spirit!

National Geographic Channel invited The IMPACT Blog to join a virtual discussion on the exciting progress in the field of alternative energy. This conversation ties into the upcoming new episode, "Breakthrough: Energy on the Edge" premiering Sunday, December 6, at 9 pm ET on the National Geographic Channel.

The discussion is centered on the following question:

Do you think that by tapping into the new alternative energy sources we can reverse most of the damage we have done to our environment?

As the Zero Waste in ACTION (ZWA) Blog was also invited to join the discussion, Elemental Impact used a point-counterpoint approach to answering the question on alternative energy.

After watching the excellent documentary on alternative energy or "new ways to spin the wheel", Ei was most impressed with the tremendous strides in energy technology along with the significant investments in pilot programs.

energy with tornado & lighening
photo credit: tornado-facts.com

The ZWA Blog article, Alternative Energy: creating solutions or potential disasters?, addressed the long-term implications of technologies developed within an "energy tunnel" without regard for their far-reaching implications.

For the counterpoint, The IMPACT Blog article celebrates the creative spirit!

As documented in the ZWA Blog article, Ei is not optimistic regarding the featured alternative energy resources. Yet the creative spirit enveloped within the research will eventually discover a mosaic of solutions designed to reverse the damage inflicted upon the environment.

Louis w/ his AVG
photo credit: popsci.com

Louis Michaud, a retired ExxonMobil engineer, set out to harness the tremendous energy in a tornado's vortex. Rather than chase dangerous tornadoes, Louis built his first tornado simulator, the Atmospheric Vortex Generator (AVG), in his garage. The AVG came to life at Lambton College via grant funding. Unfortunately, the AVG scaled for regional power generation would cost an estimated $1 billion.

The documentary theme "new ways to spin the wheels" refers to the generation of electricity by spinning wheels between two magnets. As the documentary nears closing the host states "it is up to everyone to keep the wheels spinning."

... but are wheels necessary for the next generation of alternative energy? To date, the focus is on energy generation; Louis was the sole genius understanding energy exists in nature and set out to harness the electricity at a tornado vortex. Yet Louis fell into the practicality of generating versus harnessing electricity.

Fossil fuels are the remnants from past civilizations, whether in the plant, animal or human kingdoms. Could it be we are merely cleansing the Earth of its past so we may move into another life dimension? Fossil fuels must be burned to "spin the wheels" to generate electricity. With the depletion of fossil fuels, the Earth is freed of "waste from past life" and ready to embrace cleaner, evolved life.

Natural electricity is prevalent in everyday phenomena from tornadoes, thunder storms, electromagnetic fields and the human body.

Is it time to break patterns and understand life as we know it must change for humanity to survive on the Earth? Soon the creative spirit will embrace those shifting their focus to harnessing energy, versus generating electricty. By its pure nature, harnessed energy is clean energy, without the by-products of electricity generation.

clear crystal quartz
photo credit: tealtribe.com

Remember clear crystal quartz (silicone dioxide) conducts energy and can be programmed. A Universal Law is "like energy attracts like energy." Harnessing energy may be as simple as identifying Dragon Lines (similar to the Lei Lines, the electromagnetic fields integral to maintaining the Earth's polarity balance), determining their vibration rate, tuning a crystal quartz to the same vibration rate, and collecting the raw energy directly from the Dragon Line. The challenge is diffusing the powerful energy into a useful state.

Breakthrough: Energy on the Edge ends with a profound statement:

We must explore our limits of imagination; find new ways to tap energy all around us.

hmmm.... sounds similar to harnessing energy!

2011: An Amazing Year for Ei

What a phenomenal year!  For Elemental Impact 2011 was filled with national speaking engagements, new partnerships, major ACTION and much more.  On November 16, Ei Sponsors and Advisory Council members traveled from around  the country for the powerful annual meeting at HLB Gross Collins' offices.

Scott, Holly& Chris with the
2011 Going Green Airport Award

After introductions and the 2011 overview, Zero Waste Zones Director Susan Montgomery gave a ZWZ update including the detailed program documentation.  Susan passed around a book filled with recruiting documents from the ZWZ Ambassador program, training PPT presentation and the packet used in national expansion meetings.  Additionally, the ZWZ information was moved from the Ei website into its own website mid year.


The "packaging" of the ZWZ was a perfect segue for Chris Moyer, National Restaurant Association ConSERVE Project Director, to present on the ZWZ evolution into Sustainable Action Zones,  a NRA program in partnership with Ei.   Chris spoke on the powerful synergies inherent within the NRA | Ei partnership and how it brings forth important collaborations.  One such collaboration is with the U.S. Composting Council.

Chris Moyer presenting to full room

Wayne King, USCC Past President, spoke about the upcoming December 12 meeting at the NRA offices.   With only approximately 350 permitted composting sites nationwide, the NRA's political voice is critical. For many of the current permitting challenges to resolve, regulators must hear the major post-consumer organics generators are demanding an alternative destination to landfills.  The industry is on the cusp of making an evolutionary leap and the NRA, in collaboration with the USCC, has a vital role to play.


The USCC | NRA collaboration was an excellent preface for Scott Seydel, Ei Chair & Global Green Chair, to discuss POWER - Perishable Organics Waste to Energy Recycling - status.  In addition, to his impressive PPT on the planned POWER website, Scott spoke of POWER's important role and how it served as an incubator for GREASE - Grease Recycling Energy Alternatives Solutions for the Environment  and the Sustainable Food Court Initiative.

Linda Dunn

Ei Founder Holly Elmore gave the SFCI overview including the 2011 Going Green Airport Award for the Atlanta Airport pilot (see the ZWZ Blog post, Atlanta Airport SFCI Pilot Wins National Award, for details). Linda Dunn, HMSHost VP Supply Chain & Analysis, followed with the important role HMSHost plays in the SFCI Projects, including work at the Tampa & Charlotte Airports.  How empowering to listen as Linda explains the SFCI | ZWZ (and NRA | Ei) collaboration is integral to HMSHost's sustainability commitment and game plan.


After the mid afternoon break, Susan Montgomery presented the Ei Business Projections followed by Sylvia Gort, Ei AC member, leading the strategy session.  Future action paths on Toxic-Free Environments and Health Impact were discussed along with the important role social media can play in communicating Ei's important ACTION.

Ei AC Members Sylvia Gort &
Greg Chafee @ reception

As always, Ei meetings begin with a wonderful lunch and end with a wine reception.  Thank you Bold American Catering for your Ei sponsorship and providing excellent food & service.


The Ei FB album, 11-16-11 Ei Sponsor & AC Meeting, gives a meeting pictorial overview.  Meeting PPT presentations will be loaded on the Ei Speaking Engagements page.


Thank you to those who contribute their resources, financial, time and expertise, to Elemental Impact - you are the reason for Ei program success.  Our important work is educating the corporate community that sustainable operating practices make solid business sense. These are thrilling times - stay tuned!