13 questions for Ian Bowles

We had a few minutes today with Ian Bowles, the state's secretary of energy and the environment. On the day the state's new biofuels bill was being signed, we had a few green questions for him.

1. The Museum of Science wants to place nine wind turbines atop their Charles River building. Hull is reporting great success with its wind program. Where else do you expect to see wind turbines in the next few years along Greater Boston's skyline?

A. Wind has a lot of potential in Massachusetts. For utility-scale wind, you'll see (development) along coastal areas and ridgelines, because that's where the wind is best. For architectural-scale wind ... it really serves educational purposes. ... For example, Deer Island is putting up two wind turbines up by next summer. It's very good wind, right on the coast, and it's a high-profile location.

2. Speaking of wind, how long do you think it will be until Cape Wind is erected?

A. I can't really comment because it's pending before the state Energy Siting board, which I chair. ...The state environmental review is complete and it's in permitting at the state level. A federal draft is out and a final is expected by the end.

3. The state has 400-some dams, some dating back a century or more. Are there efforts being made to see if they could provide modest hydroelectric power for parts of the state?

A. The next generation of hydrotechnology is very exciting, that doesn't have adverse effects on fish. I think hydro is an important part of our energy future. There's an interesting company called Brookfield Power that just moved its headquarters here -- I think you'll see more from them, and the new energy bill will help us move on this. ... I think you'll also see more focus on rehabilitating old dams, and you'll see old dams taken down -- they're no longer efficient, and they're impeding fish flow.

4. The state's made a big bet on solar, but the federal government has so far not extended a big credit for solar through year's end. In the past, such a move crippled the industry. What do you think is the prognosis for such a credit, or what's the holdup? If there is no credit, will most of our companies, if they don't move, make solar panels for countries with huge subsidies, like South Korea or Germany, instead of for Americans to increase our energy independence?

A. Governor Patrick and the Mass. congressional delegation have been unified at making the tax credit a top priority. It's vitally important for solar as well as the installations in our area.

5. If an outfit like the IBEW builds a wind turbine, why is it obliged to sell energy from it to a utility at a rate that is a pittance compared to peak energy charges? Isn't that a disincentive to developing alternative energy?

A. That is a problem that was fixed in the new energy legislation. The ''net metering'' in the energy bill means they can sell energy to the utilities at a favorable rate. They can sell back in (the grid) like they're a power plant now.

6. I heard that in California, massive investment is really causing the price of solar panels, including installation, to dive downward. Are you seeing that here?

A. I think we will. Half of the cost is the delivery; half is the panel itself. The more we grow the solar industry, (the more) you'll see that cost of installation go down. As traditional energy costs go up, solar becomes more competitive.

7. It seems odd that in a nation that basically subsidizes oil drilling and let's you mine all over its national lands that we can't get more for public transportation. With MBTA ridership increasing to record levels (I mean, it's hard to get a rush-hour Red Line seat at Alewife these days, much less on later stops) and with the T begging for more Red and Orange Line cars, what is the chance that our congressmen can bring home more funding for public transportation?

A. There's a major reauthorization of federal transit funding currently pending in Congress, and I think our delegation has done an excellent job on this. It's a key part of pursuing our Smart Growth objectives and giving consumers more alternatives in an environment of high energy costs and growing appetite for public transportation.

8. Utah has begun a four-day workweek, as have a number of area communities, like Sudbury and Newburyport. Harvard encourages most of its staff to work four days a week. What would be the savings for the state if Massachusetts followed suit for most of its employees -- except for safety and public works and emergency workers? Is that on the way?

A. It's an idea that because of the service nature of state government poses more challenges than private enterprise. ... It's something that will discussed in a statewide task force on rising energy costs. ... I think the private sector faces a different set of opportunities than government does -- it's something to look it, we'll take a look at how Sudbury is doing.

9. Hundreds of readers have written us in the past week about inadequate biking trails and lanes. All seem to agree that the current road-sharing between cars and bikes just isn't working, and some point out that in Europe there are many more bike-only options. With more and more people biking, particularly now, don't you think there's a newfound urgency to more bike routes, before the number of accidents swells? On a personal note, are you biking into work sometimes?

A. I live in Charlestown, about two miles from work, so I mainly walk. This morning, though, I took the bus. (On biking), there's an urgency to (coming up with a solution). Over time, with high gasoline prices, we need to accommodate the alternative ways for transit.

10. Everybody can do more in their daily life to save energy or be a better steward of the Earth. Is there anything you or your family has done or switched to in the past year that has helped? Are there things you used to do that you are doing less of now, regarding energy or conservation?

A. We installed programmable thermostats in our house, which give you a powerful way to control your heating and energy use. We replaced all of our windows with super-efficient windows in our home, and also updated our washer and driver with new front-loading models. We can see the results in our electricity bills.

11. What tip would you give a resident who wants to do something now to defray an expected big, big jump on home energy costs this winter?

A. Insulation. Insulation and weather-stripping. Those are the highest-return, lowest-investment items.

12. Gov. Patrick is signing the biofuels bill today. How will that help an average state resident?

A. The biofuels bill makes Mass. the first state to leapfrog the current debate on biofuels, and focus on advanced low-carbon biofuels. Non-corn ethanol. The legislation puts in a greenhouse gas test that no biofuel can benefit from the incentives or mandates (of the bill) unless it has 50 percent lower lifecycle greenhouse gas than petroleum.

13. Other states knocking on the door about the biofuel bill?

A. Several states have asked us about our task force biofuel report, and have discussed with other New England governors. California has launched a Low Carbon Fuel Standard, and Massachusetts has proposed that with our neighboring states as well.