PROGRAM INFO
- Title:
- Alternative Energy Strategies: The Crystal City Experience After The Coastal Gas Shut-Off
- Program #
- 1980-39
- Themes:
- Politics, Society
- Series:
- Social Issues
- Host:
- Linda Fregoso
- Guests:
- Pablo Aguillon, Pleny Fisk
- Date:
- Aug 1, 1980
Alternative Energy Strategies: the Crystal City Experience after the Coastal Gas shut-off
Guest Pleny Fisk discusses his work with Crystal City and their efforts to build alternative technologies that can solve the energy crisis caused by the Coastal Gas cut-off in 1977. Pablo Aguillon then talks about how local residents have responded to the new measures. Fisk, an architect and the head of Maximum Potential Building Systems, explains that he is working to help free Crystal City from its dependence on outside energy sources. To do so, his group tries to work with renewable resources available locally. Fisk also discusses some of the negative consequences of globalization and explains that his organization develops technology that helps rural regions opt out of multiregional dependence while addressing the need for conservation.
In Crystal City, Fisk has worked with Raza officials to install over 900 stoves that can help warm houses and heat water. He then discusses the city’s efforts to produce solar collectors locally. He hopes the local factory will eventually turn into a cooperative solar utility. Fisk believes that government aid encourages dependency, and that without it Crystal City has been able to develop innovative, sustainable and affordable ways to address the energy crisis.
Aguillon, of the Community Agency for Self-Help, then talks about how the community has implemented Fisk’s plans and how local residents have adapted to the situation. He also explains how his organization helped select the families that receive the solar collectors.
KEYWORDS
1965 Voting Rights ActAlternative State and Local Policies Conference
Asherton
Big Wells
Carrizo Springs
CASH
Coastal States Gas
Community Agency for Self-Help
Conservation
Cooperatives
Corporate Control
Cotulla
Credit Union
Crystal City
Dolph Briscoe
Edward Kennedy
Energy Crisis
Environmental Justice
Environmental Movement
Federal Aid
Gas
Gas Cut-off
Globalization
Green Technology
Heat
Jimmy Carter
Jose Angel Gutierrez
La Raza Unida
Local Energy
Max’s Pot
Maximum Potential Building Systems
Pablo Aguillon
Pleny Fisk
Privatization
Progressive Mayors
Renewable Resources
Solar collectors
Solar energy
South Texas Winter
Sustainability
Sustainable Energy
Technology
Third Party Politics
Urban Planning
Water
Water conservation
Winter
Winter Garden
Zavala County
Zavala County Corporation