Exploring Climate Reparations: Insights from CleanTechnica

Subscribe to daily news updates from CleanTechnica via email. Or follow us on Google News!

Recently, I have been contemplating the suggestion that the United States, along with several other major greenhouse gas emitters, should provide reparations to developing countries. Although it seems like a troubling concept, it has occupied my thoughts.

I belong to a generation that once believed America was nearly perfect. President Eisenhower was regarded as an exemplary leader, and American corporations operated with integrity. Back then, electricity was priced at just 3¢ per kilowatt-hour, and it seemed like it would remain so forever. I felt fortunate to have experienced life in what was deemed the greatest country ever.

Of course, President Eisenhower warned us about the “military industrial complex.” I was aware, despite the loud claims of my classmates, that Native Americans existed and thrived, thanks to my friendship with a kind American Indian girl. I realized that the treatment of certain races in our history had been appalling, especially after learning the lyrics to “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford, which highlighted the dark side of corporate America, aside from figures like Andrew Carnegie.

Nevertheless, the notion that we might entertain the idea of reparations for greenhouse gas emissions deeply unsettles me. I would assume it was merely the thinking of extreme socialists if I weren’t already convinced that climate change is advancing at a concerning pace.

This train of thought began with a question: What if we created a kit designed for a solar microgrid?

The kit would need to be modular, allowing various units to be combined into a community solar array. We could set a target cost of $1,000 without sacrificing its utility. This pricing would reflect the expenses of large-scale purchases, significantly lower than wholesale rates. It should provide a practical amount of solar capacity, a charger, an inverter, and a battery. Additionally, it would include a computer and a monitor—given that I recently purchased a decent computer for under $100, including its monitor. All components of the kit must be manufactured in the US. Finally, we could distribute these kits to anyone who requests them in any nation that permits such distribution.

I believe the United States could procure a billion of these kits for distribution. Please refrain from expressing shock; I realize that totals $1 trillion. However, that is merely a fifth of the funding Congress allocated to combat COVID-19. We must be cautious, as former Senator Everett Dirksen famously warned, “A trillion here, a trillion there, and pretty soon you’re talking about real money.” (He originally referred to “billion.”)

So, what potential impacts could arise from this initiative?

1. America could gain recognition as a hero in many nations, particularly in Africa, where a significant portion of the kits might be distributed.
2. US companies could establish a foothold in foreign markets that have never had access to electricity before.
3. We could send kits to anyone in Ukraine who requests them, diminishing the impact of Russian bombings on civilian infrastructure.
4. We would be able to face China with renewed confidence.
5. Some countries might refuse our aid in distributing the kits, leaving them to justify their decision to their impoverished populations, which could yield positive publicity for the US.
6. We would stimulate domestic industries to produce the kit’s components, thus generating jobs for creating photovoltaics, batteries, inverters, chargers, and more.
7. Electricity prices could decrease for many low-income Americans.
8. For some, these kits could provide their initial access to electricity, particularly for groups like the Navajo and other tribal communities in the US.
9. The initiative could create tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of jobs within the US.
10. We could enhance resilience in communities in both the US and abroad.
11. As multiple industries scale up production, prices are expected to fall due to Wright’s Law.
12. We would gradually bring manufacturing back to the US for components currently sourced overseas, including computer chips, which would bolster our resilience.
13. We might even make progress in addressing climate change.
14. There are likely more advantages, but I’m running out of ideas.

Now, I invite readers to consider this: We understand the costs involved. What do you believe this undertaking would be worth?

Image: A little electricity is a whole lot better than none at all. Photo from USAID in Africa via Wikimedia Commons.