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Chapter 3: Village - Text Summary
Freiburg Germany can't teach us everything but they can provide some ideas and resources. The history of Freiburg goes back to the middle ages and some connections could be drawn from this. In the 1970's there was plans to set up a new nuclear power station not far from Freiburg. This caused widespread resistance from the population including farmers, wine growers and students. This protest prevented the nuclear power plant from being built.
And then it started. Resistance against one form of energy is one thing. And then you start looking for alternatives. People began to ask where could you find alternative sources of energy. Solar for example. This was thirty years ago and someone had the idea that if you welded or soldered some copper pipes you might produce hot water. It didn't take long a people realized that even though this solar thing was a niche thing there was potential for economic development in this thing of the future.
Shortly after the nuclear power plant debate the institute of solar energy systems was set up in Freiburg. It was rediculed at the time but it is now the largest institute of this kind with more than 600 people.
Grassroots or bottom up is the best description of how the transformation of the community started. This doesn't mean that the majority supported it in the beginning but this lead to the sense of success in this in the majority of the community.
The start of the Green movement came out of Freiburg. Essentially Freiburg was the birth place of the major environmental movement. In 1992 Freiburg was designated the environmental capital of Europe. Freiburg is now rated number one in solar installations. This gets noticed by the wider public. They then start participating. In this is a nucleus for identity with this new and special idea. People are then able to connect their own identity to this solar thing.
The hardest thing is always money. Solar is one of the most expensive forms of energy. You have to raise funds for this. The enthusiam of individuals then becomes important. For example the solar panels on the soccer pitch in Freiburg was financed by allowing citizens to buy shares of the installation. Each citizen then became small scale electricity producers. It being in such a renowned location allowed people to see their electricity production. This type of joint ownership scheme has now been widely replicated throughout the world.
As necessary preconditions of success you have to have reasonable costs (10% is something people are prepared to pay), things must be comfortable and fit with the lifestyle, and finally control is required so that people feel like they have security.
For more information about John Wilson, the producer of this web site and documentary video, contact him at www.NaturalLifeNetwork.com or wilsonjd9@hotmail.com .
