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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Climate Change

Here’s a video in which one of my heroes, environmentalist Bill McKibben, speaks about the Keystone XL Pipeline.  His point is that this decision is in the hands of one man: U.S. President Obama.  With it, he will either live up to his promise to take action on behalf of the Earth’s climate, or he will reveal himself as just another politician who would say whatever was required to get elected, but who lacked the integrity to do what’s right.

I’m hoping to get my daughter (pictured on right) and her best friend (left) to join me in the March To Drop the Pipeline and Support Clean Energy this Saturday, September 21st.  Similar events are happening all over the country; linked above is an app to locate the one nearest you.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Photovoltaics

Friend-of-a-friend Harris Roen follows the clean energy sector of the stock market and notes that the solar industry has gone through the roof lately; 2013 has brought an average return of over 50%.  Exactly why?  I’ll let you check out what he says.

Personally, I think it’s because of the consolidation, and the hard times through which the industry had gone over the previous years.  It’s a sector that’s been through the worst, and come out the other side – a sort of “what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger” phenomenon. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

A friend wrote me a note just now that I thought I’d share, as it most certainly contains a great deal of truth.  And as depicted in the photo here, this whole transition packs the potential to be a great deal of fun.  He writes: (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Efficiency

We love our technology, but we could do without the high energy bill. If you’re looking to save some money and make a good impact on the environment, there are plenty of awesome energy-saving inventions you might be surprised to find actually exist. Here are seven green gadgets you didn’t even know you needed.

Windows That Control Temperature

The weather outside can be frightful. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

Here’s an article from my colleague Jesse Berst, who, introducing the piece, writes: “Like many of you, I find it distinctly embarrassing that the United States is the only developed country without a national energy policy. That’s why I was pleased to discover that more than 100 energy experts have collaborated to suggest a way forward.”

Sounds like a provocative start – and an encouraging one at that.  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

It was on this day in 1787 that the United States Constitution was signed by delegates at the final meeting of the Constitutional Convention.

Personally, I’m a big fan of Madison (shown here), who favored a strong central government.  Of course, it’s easy to say this in hindsight, where we can see, 226 years later that very little good has come from 50 different sets of criminal and civil statutes.  Does someone in possession of cocaine pose a worse threat to the people of Texas than to the people of Colorado?  Is it safer to drive at high speeds in Montana than it is in Oklahoma? Is second-degree murder a more heinous crime in Arizona than Vermont?  Of course not.  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

I’m headed back to the East Coast next week for seven appointments in two days scattered from Washington DC to New York – and, luckily, all accessible by public transportation.  Whenever I can substitute a train for a rental car, I’m a happy man: no toll booths, no traffic jams, no cops with radar guns – in fact, less stress of all kinds – just an office on wheels, with a far better carbon footprint.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Hydrokinetics

The PR company I’ve engaged to generate radio and TV interviews kicked off today, with an email blast to a huge number of producers, directors, journalists, etc. with the subject line “Renewable Energy – Following The Money – It Will Be Interesting To See Where It Takes Us…”  These guys (Ascot Media Group) are really good at this, btw; I already have 8 – 10 responses.

Some are direct requests for interviews, which, of course, is what I like to see. (more…)

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainable Building

Queensland is known as the Sunshine State, so it only make sense that it’s paving the way when it comes to innovations in solar power.

Queensland’s latest contribution to solar energy and solar power is the recently opened Global Change Institute, a self-sustaining, energy producing building that is set to turn heads at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus.

Opened in August 2013, the $32 million, 2865 square metre solar powered Global Change Institute is being touted as proof of the University’s commitment to sustainability issues both locally in Queensland, and on a global scale. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

My third book, Renewable Energy – Following the Money, is now available on Amazon, as well as in the Barnes and Noble stores (though most stores will need to order it for you). And my good friends at the very cool local bookstore the Book Loft (pictured here) just agreed to stock a few copies, as I am, indeed, a local author. (more…)

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