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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

It’s the 95th anniversary of the tax on gasoline, in the U.S., at least (Oregon, 1919). Of course, its original justification was the idea that those who drove should pay for the construction of roads, which seems as reasonable today as it did back then. 

Now, however, we have a whole new set of issues, associated with the externalities of burning oil, including long-term environmental damage, challenges to national security, and threats to our health.  For example, the people living within a mile on either side of the San Diego Freeway out here in sunny California have cancer rates that are many times the national average.

Perhaps a larger tax, perhaps in addition to a price floor, could help defray some of these costs, when providing incentives for people to rethink their approach to transportation.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

Tiny particles that penetrate lung tissue called “PM 2.5” come largely as exhaust from burning coal to generate electricity, and have been linked to hundreds of thousands of premature deaths in certain parts of China, where their concentrations are often over 500 micrograms per cubic meter, more than 20 times the levels that the World Health Organization deems safe.  Small wonder these people are upset with their government.  I certainly wouldn’t want to live in air that looks like you can cut it with a knife, watching my family and friends drop like flies.     

The world really needs to get rid of coal as soon as possible.  We need a plan in place to do that.  Why can’t we have one?

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Photovoltaics

Here’s an article on the solar photovoltaics industry written by my colleague Shawn Kravetz (pictured), with whom I conducted a webinar on solar investing last year.  By way of introduction to the article, Shawn writes:

We wanted to share two timely and important updates on a unique investment opportunity we brought to light in recent weeks. Renewable Energy Trade Board Corporation (EBODF) is detailed in the following article, but two items merit investor attention. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Hydrokinetics

South America’s energy demands can be met in different ways, but most countries lean to hydro in one form or another.  One of the reasons I’m so excited about the run-of-river hydro projects I’m trying to put together in Southern Brazil is that, in their absence, that country will soon commence work on what will become the second-largest hydroelectric dam on the planet.  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainable Building

In the last few years, people have realised the importance of living in eco-friendly homes. With technological advancements, green homes have become a lot easier to design and build. In fact, designers and architects can even hide eco-friendly and economical features of your two storey house in a very inconspicuous way. Making your two storey house green helps not only your finances, but also your surroundings. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Had Steve Jobs survived cancer, he would have celebrated his 59th birthday today.  In addition to his other merits, Jobs led a very philosophic life; he once observed, “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Last Friday was the anniversary of the publication of the Communist Manifesto in 1848. Of course, communism isn’t regarded very well in the world today as a workable political philosophy.

But here’s something that also seems broken:  (more…)

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Climate Change

As someone who has been involved in water and flood management for several decades the ongoing delay to SUDS legislation in the UK has been an intriguing saga to follow.

But firstly, I would like to get one thing straight. The small role I play in helping to improve the water management systems of the UK is conducted very much within the heavy engineering and manufacturing sector of the industry. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Smart Grid

Here’s a video just posted on the ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy) YouTube video channel, presenting a bit of information on the U.S. Department of Energy’s involvement in smart grid.  By design, it’s not very detailed; it covers a great deal of turf in less than five minutes.  I’m particularly impressed with the progress that Harvard University is making in flow batteries for large-scale energy storage, and the work being done with power electronics to facilitate high-voltage/current transmission over long distances.  

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Smart Grid

It’s hard to imagine anyone’s objecting to smart grid, a subject that holds so much potential to enable a more efficient and environmentally friendly way to generate, transmit, distribute and consume electrical energy.  When I first heard that there were people who proffered up serious concern about health and privacy issues, I recall asking, “How many?  Four?”  Sadly, the answer is that a lunatic fringe movement has grown up around this point, and that fringe, contrary to the definition of the word, is actually fairly robust.  (more…)

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