GUNSHIPS OR WIND TURBINES

Here’s a quick roundup of yesterday's presentation billed as “A New Energy Future: Energy, Oil, and National Security”:

 Cleveland Foundation President (and ex CIA) Ronn Richard says energy insecurity is the biggest US security threat – not Iraq, and that our national security depends on “butter” investments, not “gun” investments. I agree whole heartedly with Mr. Richard’s persuading the Foundation over his 3 1/2 year tenure into taking forward looking positions in the energy policy and energy manufacturing arenas - in Cleveland, NEO, and Columbus.  

Donald Lesiak propounded (too often, too long) Tesla’s suggestion that electric power can be “beamed” (rather than transmitted over wires).

Cleveland Foundation’s energy specialist, Mr. Stuebi, responded to Mr. Lesiak’s “beam” enthusiasm with sincerity and civility, which diplomacy is often difficult when handling what I considered to be a proposal (Tesla energy beaming) not quite as challenging as perpetual motion.  Then, of course, we are already beaming energy as microwaves and RF to our cell phones – so let’s keep an open mind. 

Leroy Davis, of Brook Park, had   practical suggestions for energy security – build with heated concrete floors (as his house was constructed years ago), install skylights (in every new house being built in New Orleans and elsewhere) so the bulbs can go off (skylights even provide some illumination at night!),  and encourage people to work together (difficult for money strapped, dog-eat-dog hierarchically top down legacy managed NEO).

 Dean of Levin College of Urban Affairs,  Mark Rosentraub, introduced Guest Speaker Richard and invited the audience to address Mr. Richard from the open mic after Mr. Richard’s prepared presentation (all oral, no power point).  Dean Rosentraub suggested that the audience present “questions only, no statements” which was too restrictive and mostly disregarded by the speakers from the audience.  Mr. Ricciuto’s  “Appreciative Inquiry” is the right approach.  Herb Crowther pointed out that the kilocalories of energy stored in the iron and concrete materials in the Marcel Breuer building were a reason on their own to recycle the structure – not demolish it.

 SPEAKING TO THE REI CHIOR:              Dean Rosentraub privately expressed his enthusiasm over the more than 200 persons who took the time to attend the free CSU forum.  When I looked around the audience, I recognized many, many of the same faces that were brought together at Case in 2004, 2005 by Ed Morrison’s determined REI team of Sue and Craig James (Catalyst Strategies ) and Case staff Betsey Merkel and Susan Altshuler.  The REI effort was funded primarily by SBC Global and SBC should get credit for bringing much of the Levin audience out networking into the “civic space” which Morrison so strongly advocates is the only model (as opposed to the traditional Union Club, Key Tower, Terminal Tower, Republic Steel top down model)  which will lead to the rejuvenation of NEO.   Case’s Myron Roomkin was misguided when he chose to shut down REI – Now CSU is the benefactor of the tremendous “free” publicity which CSU generates for itself by engaging with the public.   I appreciate CSU’s welcoming and efficient open-architecture presentation “atrium auditorium”,  as well as the cheese and coffee which was gobbled up by the students as soon as the public emptied from the building.