Here's an article that reminds us of an important aspect of the U.S. military: these people take energy security very seriously.  They refuse to allow the availability of oil to be a necessary condition to safeguarding our country.   Their main tack? Biofuels, which are a straight-up replacement for jet fuel derived from petroleum. Take a plane that costs $68 million to build and flies at 1500 MPH, and simply substitute fuel made from kitchen grease and plant seeds. The two perform identically; the one and only difference: biofuels burn a bit cleaner.  This,  btw, is why U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK--pictured above), a puppet of the oil companies, ultimately was unable to pass a bill that would have made it illegal for our military to purchase an ounce of biofuel if it cost a penny a gallon more than conventional jet fuel.  The armed forces pointed out the fact that they had the responsibility to protect our country, not only today,  but 50 years from now as well, and needed flexibility and innovation to accomplish that.  Suffice it to say, we really got that.  Inhofe's corrupt attempt to protect the oil companies at the expense of national security finally fell apart when millions of people called for him to face treason charges.  If we're going to put our soldiers in dangerous,  no-win situations, we should at least not prevent them from protecting themselves. Here’s an article that reminds us of an important aspect of the U.S. military: these people take energy security very seriously.  They refuse to allow the availability of oil to be a necessary condition to safeguarding our country.

Their main tack? Biofuels, which are a straight-up replacement for jet fuel derived from petroleum. Take a plane that costs $68 million to build and flies at 1500 MPH, and simply substitute fuel made from kitchen grease and plant seeds. The two perform identically; the one and only difference: biofuels burn a bit more cleanly.  (more…)

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How the Military Is Incorporating Green TechnologiesAmerica depends on its military to keep the country safe, and it still has to have the ability to maintain troops and power military operations. As anyone with an online military history degree knows, for years the military has been heavily dependent on foreign oil and utilizing gas guzzling vehicles for land and air support. The implementation of green energy sources, such as renewable batteries, solar panels, and bio-fuels are all steps to ensure a more secure and cleaner military. (more…)

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More Optimism in the Face of the Trump PresidencyI thought I’d reproduce this conversation I’m having on Facebook.  2GreenEnergy associate Dan Sturges makes a really good point that shifted my way of thinking on what we can expect over the next four years vis-a-vis the environment.  The discussion begins with another colleague, Steve Vachss:

Steve Vachss:  I am surprised to see people who are usually intelligent and thoughtful, catastrophizing about imaginary future events. What’s more, I see people basing their supposed view of the future world on BS said during an election campaign.  REALLY? (more…)

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From the Climate Change Conference in Marrakesh, MorroccoHere’s an interview that was taped yesterday at the climate change conference, featuring Daniel Kammen, Professor of Energy at the University of California at Berkeley. The bottom line is that he is deeply concerned that the United States is in the process of backpedaling from its position as a leader in global warming mitigation, which will set off horrible chain reactions around the world. (more…)

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Energy EfficiencyWinter is cold, wet, and Christmas aside, sometimes miserable. If anything is going to go wrong in your home, now is when it is most likely to happen. You can’t always avoid problems, but you can minimise the chances of them occurring. Regular maintenance is essential when you are a homeowner. If you rent your home, maintenance is not your responsibility, so you can relax, but if it’s your property, the buck stops with you. (more…)

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Climate change Putting The Change In Climate Change One Step At A Time affects every single one of us. We continually abuse our environment and the resources available to us. It’s as though we don’t think we’ll have to deal with the repercussions. The truth is, we face the consequences every day. The confusing weather is proof of just how much damage our actions are having. Don’t think you’re exempt from the damage. We’re all just as guilty as each other when it comes to the destruction of our planet. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way. All it takes are some small changes. Altering your behavior, even just a little, will make a huge difference. Picture Credit (more…)

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Aren't There Two Sides To Our Political Arguments?  In response to my post Optimism in the Face of Trump’s Victory, which admittedly forwards a liberal point of view, long-time reader Chaya asks, “Does being liberal imply that only your opinion is valid?”  She goes on to point out: “The U.S. has a very serious check/balance system.

Chaya: I know you meant this as a kind of rhetorical question, but it actually deserves an answer, albeit not the one you may have expected. (more…)

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Long May You RunIt’s the birthday of singer/songwriter Neil Young, and thus a good opportunity for me to offer the wish: “Long May You Run” to all people of decency and conscience.

I hope you’ll check this out.

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Sierra Club Not Thrilled With Trump's Proposal for His First 100 DaysThose Sierra Club people aren’t too sanguine in Trump’s election.  Here’s what I just received:

Dear Craig –

Trump has released his agenda for the first 100 days. If fully implemented, it is a disaster for our country, our planet, and everything we have worked for: (more…)

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Trump on Renewables, Energy EfficiencyCounter-intuitive as it may be, President Trump (wow, it hurts to even type that) may provide an opportunity for renewable energy.  For one, his energy plans (other than lifting restrictions on fossil fuel extraction) are very vague; it is believed that if we get to him soon, there may be an opportunity.  Second, he’s not beholden to big money, e.g., Big Oil. Unlike the political establishment, he’s at liberty to do what he thinks is right.  (more…)

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