Connecting to Nature through Local Renewable Energy
Meet Lucian Beebe, whose love of nature and its elements has led to an interest in and commitment to local renewable energy. Lucian’s story highlights that much potential exists for local renewable energy systems, but we must invest in them as a society to make it possible. This post is part of Profiles in Living Connected to Place, my series that portrays individuals living connected to place with intention and the support of systems that make it possible. Prior posts can be found here.
Lucian Beebe grew up near the beach in Florida, spending his free time in the water and sailing. In the boat, he cherished the intimacy with the ocean and exposure to the elements. Lucian sailed on two adventures across the Atlantic during college in the Northeast. Sailing from Boston, he and his fellow sailors crossed the Bermuda Triangle twice. Lucian described it as “a crazy, unpredictable place with extremely weird weather and where storms can linger for days.” Lucian learned through science that the ‘mystery’ of the triangle can be explained through the forces of nature at work there. These early experiences with nature and science led to a lifelong interest in weather, geography, and how they influence our lives.
Lucian worked in Boston after college and then moved to San Francisco, where he has been for 30 years. He’s had a successful career in software over all these years but would much rather talk about his wind-related hobbies. He started flying kites as a hobby in Boston. When he moved to San Francisco, he began windsurfing in the bay. He currently enjoys kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, and flying kites in the bay and nearby water bodies. The Bay Area geography and weather fit well with these activities.
Over time, Lucian’s strong connections to the water, wind, sun, and local nature grew into an interest in renewable energy.
Lucian and his family’s home, where they have lived for 20 years, and his electric car are powered by rooftop solar electricity. To him, solar and wind energy is about “capturing what is all around us.” Seven years after installation, their solar panels paid for themselves, and despite now being old technology, they continue to produce electricity beyond original expectations. Even in the months of San Francisco fog, they generate more electricity than he anticipated. The panels have provided all the energy he and his family have needed for years.
Lucian and his family utilize nature and local elements to save energy in their home. Their house, situated on the rim of a natural canyon within the city, has a large wall of south-facing windows. These windows reduce their need for lighting during the day and keep the home warm in winter. They do not need air conditioning, given San Francisco’s climate and the sun not shining through their windows in the summer months when it is higher in the sky.
Lately, Lucian has been thinking about ocean energy. It’s a worthy idea for local energy in San Francisco, which is surrounded by the ocean and bay on three sides. He reflects:
Ocean and bay currents are powerful but hard to harness. But unlike the sun and wind, they don’t ever stop, except for a few minutes of slack every six hours.
Lucian helps us imagine possibilities for meeting energy needs locally. If we direct our time and resources to it, innovation will result. What seems impossible may become possible.
Whether recreating or powering his home and car, Lucian works with nature in mutually beneficial ways. When building energy comes from local sources powered by sun, wind, and other natural phenomena, we protect the environment and vulnerable communities from the harm of fossil fuel power plants and transmission. In turn, nature provides us with the energy we need and saves us money. Moving towards a decentralized, place-based renewable energy system makes sense in all these ways and more.