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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Wind Energy

Koch Brothers Hard At Work To Kill Wind EnergyI thought I’d get a quick start on my new book and knock out a few interviews by phone. To that end, I had a call scheduled with a colleague in Kansas, a senior player in the wind energy industry.

Well, this was anything but a quick start; I had technical problems with my recording/transcription system, and my colleague got busy and missed the call (fortunately for me). His email contained some poignantly interesting stuff, though, which I thought I’d publish here: (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Ocean Thermal

OTEC, Powering Civilization from Our Sun, and Questions on Human ConsciousnessFor me, part of the joy of business travel that involves long car rides is the opportunity to listen to amazing radio broadcasts that I otherwise would have missed. Last week found me renting a car in Lancaster, PA (home of my client OTECorporation), and driving it south to Leesburg, VA, where I stayed with one of my best friends from college and his charming wife the evening before a meeting in nearby Washington DC.  En route, I was lucky enough to catch a program that examined the question: Who are we, fundamentally? Incorporeal souls? Ongoing chains of chemical reactions that somehow enable us to form a coherent story about ourselves? (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

photo 320px-Chevy_Impala_zps29e104e5.jpgHere’s an author with the right idea: the industrial age, powered as it was by fossil fuels, is at an end.  Within a few years (by 2030 according to the book, though I believe it’s happening more quickly), disruptive technologies will have rendered essentially everything we know of traditional energy and transportation completely obsolete. People will no more want one of these things in their driveway than they’ll want a hole in the head.

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

photo Jesus_is_coming_Look_Busy_George_Carlin-2_zps2dd02e66.jpgHere’s a response to my post on my new book in which I propose to examine the trajectory for civilization’s success in the face of the vast ecological destruction we’re wreaking on the planet.  Walter writes: Supply and demand of resources are known to always reach an equilibrium in the last resort. Consumption must reduce to meet anticipated supply. …” (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Ocean Thermal

OTEC, Sustainability, and Brain ChemistryHave you ever wondered about the age-old nature-nurture discussion? What are the forces that determine the way we think and act?

My colleague Jim Greenberg, chief sustainability officer at OTECorporation told me during a recent meeting at his office about this study on the difference in brain chemistry between self-described liberals and conservatives. We all feel very strongly that we choose our politics (and our other major modes of thinking). But is it possible that we’re simply wrong? (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Our Path to SustainabilityAfter I published my third book (Renewable Energy – Following the Money) in 2013, I took a break from efforts like this, as, frankly, I had run out of ideas. But just last week I twigged on something that I believe needs to be said, which I summarize here: (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Eco-Friendly Places in WorldWhile regardless we feel the need to appreciate a get-away and set our footprints around the world, it is critical to do so without deepening our carbon footprints. Planning a “green” get-away is restricted to have a ton of fun, not at the cost of our ecosystems. Tuned in to this thinking, numerous excursion spots offering Eco-friendly choices for voyagers. Whether applying vitality saving conveniences to inns or excursion rentals, or offering neighborhood sustenance’s in restaurants, these destinations welcome all earth cognizant visitors to remain. Those uninformed of Eco-set out are certain to find their get-away instructive and agreeable. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainable Building

Going Green -- Five Home Maintenance Tips to Make Your House Cleaner and More SustainableIt’s not practical for every homeowner to renovate their entire home in the interest of going green. Luckily, there are simple changes you can make to gradually increase your home’s efficiency. These home maintenance tasks are easy ways to reduce your energy expenditure without performing a costly, total-home overhaul.

1. Trim Your Trees

Believe it or not, your landscaping can drastically affect the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems.  Just trimming the lowest branches of your shade trees opens up space for air to circulate through your property, so you can take advantage of cool summer breezes. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Given the Immanent Extinction of the African Elephant, What Should We Be Thinking About the Future of Humankind?African elephants will likely become extinct by 2020 if the current widespread poaching continues. Long-time ranger and conservationist Rory Young says that given the current rate of slaughter, he’s “absolutely convinced” that African elephants could indeed be annihilated in the next six years. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Renewable Energy Job CreationI had a very interesting meeting yesterday in Washington D.C. at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill with Randy Flood, a fellow who’s been an important part of the law-making process at the federal level since the early 1970s. The content of the talk centered largely around a subject of terrific importance: renewable energy job creation. In particular, Randy has put his finger on the concept, and I believe he’s correct, that selling renewable energy as a valid industry is equivalent to saying that there are a ton of well-paying jobs associated with it.

And how difficult a concept is that to accept? Or, put another way, which of these two propositions do you find more credible? (more…)

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