The Real Deal #7

Welcome to The Real Deal - getreal.earth’s climate and energy newsletter.

As we’ve mentioned often, we’re new to this space and learning more new things all the time about what’s going on on the planet.

You have heard us mention the Brooklyn Bridge a few times on this newsletter.

There is a reason we wanted to get involved in this space. Anything to do with climate and energy changes almost always revolves around innovation.

Throughout history, people have solved problems with innovation.

Consider the following problems and solutions:

We are confident that everyone gets that the bottom row in that table - the problem of carbon - can be solved in many ways that are possible in the coming decades. This is no different from all the others problems.

Now, to the bridge discussion.

Recently I picked up a book that was given to me a few years ago: The Great Bridge, by David McCullough, the author of John Adams and several other historical narratives.

I am about a quarter of the way through it. I’d like to share some insights about what I’ve read so far because it’s relevant to present times…

Another thing we say a lot on this newsletter is that the climate/energy game is not about politics, but about business.

The first quarter (or more) of The Great Bridge is a detailed narrative about a German engineer named John Roebling who moved to the US as a young man and began building bridges.

When I picked up the book I thought it was going to be a story about a German immigrant making the most of American Opprtunity.

To my surprise, that story was covered before a single brick was laid; it’s over in the first fifty pages. Roebling did take advantage of American opportunity. He built bridges in Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, and many other places in the mid 19th century.

He was (and is) considered a pioneer in suspension bridges, mostly because the cables he used to assemble the bridges were designed and made by him.

But the story of the bridge’s building is separate; Roebling died before it could get started. The real story is about politics, money, perseverance, conflicting interests, fear, greed, families, and legacy.

I haven’t read enough of the book yet, but I’ll pass it along when I do — I’ll spare you the “suspense”: The greed and stealing of funds to build that bridge. It was systematic.

Have we learned nothing?

Unfortunately, John didn’t live long enough to build the bridge, but it was a little surprising to learn just how much dirty business went into its construction. And of how men on both sides of the East River got it done.

The ending can’t be spoiled - the bridge is there after all - but the main takeaway thus far is that that there were as many forces working against the project ever getting started than there were for it’s success.

The benefit was clear (to most): Bringing the two cities of New York and Brooklyn together, creating a better trading and industrial community by weaving two into one.

But many residents of both cities were against it.

Back then, the politicians worked deals for shares in the bridges, tunnels, railroads and other infrastructure that was built. They removed barriers for personal gain.

Today, things are really no different. It seems as though we as a society have short memories. It is common for us to only deal in terms of what we see today. There was no “purer time” in our past, when politicians were not self-serving. That is a ruse.

So why do we continue to rely on them?

What I believe today is that what we have is a real struggle - with so much technological advancement, from new cleaner power sources and ways to capture the carbon after it’s created, to different ways of transporting ourselves and our goods… interests are competing.

Most threatened are old ways of doing things, and people’s willingness to adapt. Changing how drive, fuel our cars, power our homes, earn a living. We are living in a protracted time of domestic peace during which our infrastructure has been built on oil, coal and gas.

I’m not naive. But the industry of clean energy has to become industrialists.

We have done it before.

John Roebling was a thinker AND a doer.

The Brooklyn Bridge is still standing. It’s around 150 years old. It’s been part of the US for more than half of the country’s life! It’s a symbol of the infrastructure - built around the automobile - that we’ve been used to for over a century.

To me the bridge stands as a symbol of American ingenuity and accomplishment. But it also serves to remind us of the obstacles we create for ourselves as a population, when trying to complete such feats.

The parallels between what we are experiencing today are surprising in some ways. Did there need to be a bridge? Depends on who you asked.

Do we need to remove or reduce carbon emissions? Same answer.

The ones who believe so also believe we are getting closer to developing and implementing solutions that do not require government help. The somberness of last week’s Green Energy Consumer Alliance meeting was justified; it appears that many of projects they work on are federally funded, and they are worried.

I’ve come to really love that organization and I plan to work with them on what we’re building.

They’ve sent out some hopeful posts and positive messages. They believe enough in what they’re doing to keep up the fight for the Massachusetts and Rhode Island residents they serve.

This is about investing. Investing in our future, our infrastructure, our home. And in our energy independence.

Look into green jobs, companies, researchers, ideas… if you want to get involved we want to help you.

Coming in 2025!