Blog – Page 1246 – 2GreenEnergy.com

What Will Become of Most Renewable Energy Concepts?

craigshieldsPosted on May 17, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Business

Frequent commenter “MarcoPolo” (the original pictured left) writes:

While it’s true that some technologies do become mainstream innovations, most never fulfill the dreams of their supporters, and remain only hobbyist or small scale applications.

Like you, every week, I receive dozens of proposals by dedicated, enthusiastic (sometimes a little rabid and fanatical ) innovators, seeking to finance the development, or commercialization, of all sorts of wonderful new innovative concepts. I try to sort these into five categories: (more…)

Divestment from Fossil Fuels Is a Big Deal in Today’s World

craigshieldsPosted on May 16, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Business

We often hear that young people are much more environmentally conscious than previous generations, and we certainly have to hope that’s true. It’s certainly the case with a young woman named Emma, who writes as follows:

As a trainee journalist…I’ve been lucky enough to be part of some really exciting projects…but there few things I find more exciting than a mass movement of people fighting back – and it’s hard to imagine a more important fight than climate change. (more…)

Tagged with: Divestment from Fossil Fuels, fight climate change, investments steer away from fossil fuels, Keep it in the Ground, young people environmentally conscious

Covering the Subject of Synthetic Fuels for "The Hedge Connection"

craigshieldsPosted on May 15, 2015 Posted in Energy Storage

Here’s another monthly installment that I write for The Hedge Connection, where, in this case, I present a short introduction to the subject of synthetic fuels as a viable method of energy storage.

I begin with a reminder to Hedge Connection readers what 2GreenEnergy is all about, i.e., that it represents an effort to bring together entrepreneurs in renewable energy and related disciplines with the sources of investment capital they need to take their business concepts forward—a task that has required me to review literally thousands of ideas (more…)

Tagged with: electrical energy cost-effective storage, electrical energy has a unique frailty, synthetic fuels, The Hedge Connection, viable method of energy storage, Windfuels

Pope Francis’s Messages Don’t Resonate with Everyone

craigshieldsPosted on May 15, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Politics

It’s hardly a surprise that the right wing here in the U.S. is taking issue with the Pope’s involvement in politics. Hardly a week goes by without the Pontiff’s explicating some aspect of God’s will and how He commands that we care for one another and the environment around us. These concepts have profound implications as to how we conduct our society and govern ourselves, and predictably, we have Republicans suggesting that His Holiness stay out of the political arena and limit his concerns to strictly religious matters. (more…)

Tagged with: blasted U.S. politicians for denying climate change, Gandhi united one quarter of the world’s population with the idea of caring decency and mutual respect, God commands that we care of the environment

Re-Establishing Our Relationship With Our Power Utilities

craigshieldsPosted on May 15, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Business

Brace yourself for a plethora of stories like this: Utilities and consumers at war over the use of rooftop solar. Fans of renewable energy object to the cap that NV Energy in Las Vegas, Nevada has placed on the number of homes that can sign up for its net metering program. The utility argues that each new installation reduces the revenue base that is required to keep its utility financially viable, though this reasoning does not impress a number of different groups who are vocally objecting to the utility’s position. (more…)

Tagged with: distributed generation, fans of renewable energy, Get rid of coal plants now, net metering program, NV Energy in Las Vegas, Re-Establishing Our Relationship With Our Power Utilities, reduction in fossil fuel consumption, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, sustainable approach to energy

Air-powered Car – “Coming Soon”

craigshieldsPosted on May 14, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Science

Over the years, I’ve had several friends send me this “air car” concept. It’s a terrible idea in terms of engineering and physics, but that’s not the most objectionable thing about it; it’s a bald-faced attempt at deceit. (more…)

Tagged with: Air-powered Car, compressed air requires energy, Zero Pollution Motors

Trans-Pacific Partnership: An Eco-Disaster in the Making

craigshieldsPosted on May 14, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Politics

I just received an email that reads:

Craig, we won a big victory in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday—when Democrats voted against moving on fast-track legislation for the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) agreement.

But the battle to stop a secret corporate trade deal is not over. (more…)

Tagged with: ruin our eco-systems, TPP eco-catastrophe, Trans-Pacific Partnership Eco-Disaster, Trans-Pacific Partnership terrible for the environment

Carbon Capture and Storage

craigshieldsPosted on May 14, 2015 Posted in Fossil Fuels

Here’s a webinar that readers may want to check out: Fossil Fuels Without the CO2: Can Carbon Capture and Storage Deliver?

My take, albeit an oversimplification of a very complex issue: Obviously it can “deliver” in some sense of the word if we invest enough money into it. But why not take that incredible amount of resources and make the equivalent investment in clean energy and efficiency? Instead of creating a temporary and iffy solution, why not handle the problem forever, with 100% certainty, while eliminating the myriad of other toxins (oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, methane, mercury and other heavy metals, radioactive isotopes, etc.)?

The answer: The coal industry has one and only one interest–burning coal. 60 of our 100 Senators come from coal mining states. Look no further.

Tagged with: Carbon capture and storage, Fossil Fuels Without the CO2, investment in clean energy and efficiency

People Who Favor the Migration to Renewable Energy Have Big Hearts–But Sometimes Impractical Ideas

craigshieldsPosted on May 14, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Science

I’m in close communication with the World Business Academy, a Santa Barbara, CA-based non-profit dedicated to the migration to 100% renewable energy. I urge readers to check out their website and form their own opinions.

They often ask me to attend their conferences, but I decline, as I explained in what I just wrote below to its executive director in response to his most recent invitation. (more…)