Blog – Page 1436 – 2GreenEnergy.com

Good Guys and Bad Guys In the War To Preserve the Natural Environment

craigshieldsPosted on June 8, 2015 Posted in Sustainability

In reference to my post about the Smithsonian, a long-time supporter of 2GreenEnergy writes: Not many Americans are aware that the Smithsonian is “for sale” to special interest groups.

Btw, thanks for the phrase “Destroying the Earth for Profit.”

Sunny Florida’s Gov. Rick “Luddite” Scott offered $100 million as incentives for weapons makers to relocate. Not a dime for renewables. He even instructed the state’s agencies not to insert the term “climate change” in their publications.
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Germany’s Energiewende “Energy Revolution”

craigshieldsPosted on June 8, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Business

A reader just sent me this very interesting, and, I think, very fair piece on Germany’s “energy revolution.” I use the word “fair,” since I’ve read reports from nay-sayers asserting that this is a mess, that the grid is unstable, that rate-payers are outraged, etc. (which is untrue). I’ve also read that this is a very smooth transition that is going on with a hiccup, which is similarly untrue.

Tagged with: Germany’s Energiewende, Germany’s “Energy Revolution”

Sadly, Even the Smithsonian Is Vulnerable to the Pressure of Big Money

craigshieldsPosted on June 8, 2015 Posted in Climate Change

A reader notes: Coming up is exposing the Smithsonian who last September published a news release that it would promote U.S. innovations. This never happened…..David Koch is a board member of the Smithsonian. The Koch brothers contributed $15 million to the Institution. It seems not even the Smithsonian can be trusted.

Unfortunately, you’re right on track here. I can’t speak to what you’ve written above, but it’s most certainly true that The Smithsonian features the David H. Koch “Hall of Human Origins”–a display that deliberately misleads sight-seers with respect to how rapidly our species may be able to adapt to a warming climate. I wrote about it in disgust here.

Tagged with: David H. Koch “Hall of Human Origins, David Koch, how rapidly our species may be able to adapt to a warming climate.

Frugality in Promotion of Renewable Energy Books

craigshieldsPosted on June 8, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Business

A friend noticed that I haven’t been on as many radio and TV shows as I was a few years ago and I admitted that I’ve been a bit more frugal with use of PR firms to promote my books lately. When she questioned my choice of language, I explained that I’ve always liked the word, insofar as it’s so different from “cheap.” “Frugal” means avoiding spending lavishly on oneself; “cheap” means avoiding spending on others. We should all aspire to be frugal, but not cheap.

Tagged with: PR firms to promote books, renewable energy books

The U.S. Has Aggressive Targets for Fuel Economy Improvements—But Are We on Track To Achieve Them?

craigshieldsPosted on June 8, 2015 Posted in Electric Vehicles

I know many readers are interested in tracking the progress that the U.S. is making in achieving its 54.5 MPG target for 2020. Fortunately my friend and colleague Jon LeSage has devoted his life’s work to understanding how those measures are being defined, where fuel economy improvements are coming from, and how likely we are to actually achieve our goal. Above, I’ve linked his latest report on the subject. (more…)

Tagged with: MPG equivalent for EVs, OEMs deliberately distorting figures, OEMs have huge incentives to offer electric vehicles, U.S. 54.5 MPG target, U.S. Aggressive Targets for Fuel Economy Improvements

Energy Policy: Taking a Stand Against Fossil Fuels

craigshieldsPosted on June 8, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Business

I recently instructed the U.S. (as if it takes my instructions) to tell the world:

America as a country, and a heck of an impressive one at that, is proving its moral goodness by phasing out fossil fuels at the maximum practical pace. We’re doing this largely because we’ve become aware of the huge externalities associated with coal, oil, and natural gas vis-a-vis health and the environment. (more…)

Tagged with: Bullish on Renewable Energy, carbon sequestration, externalities associated with coal, health and the environment, huge carbon footprint, Low Carbon Investors conference, multi-billion-dollar private equity funds, phasing out fossil fuels at the maximum practical pace

People Who Threaten Powerful Organizations Do So At Their Peril

craigshieldsPosted on June 7, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Politics

Frequent commenter Les Blevins suggests: Craig, I suggest you require all commenters to use their real names.

I’m not sure how I could do that—even if I thought it was a good idea. I really don’t have a problem with anonymity; I can understand that some people with radical views (in any direction) don’t want to be identified.

I use my real name, but I’m definitely putting myself in some level of jeopardy, with all my rants about the oil companies and the U.S. government. (more…)

Tagged with: Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald, rants about the oil companies, Shell Oil, Why Privacy Matters

“Ask This Old House” Carefully Avoids the Environmental Implications of Energy

craigshieldsPosted on June 6, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Politics

This morning saw the airing of the first episode of the 35th season of PBS’s “Ask This Old House.” I try to catch it every Saturday morning; even though I’m not particularly handy, I love to learn about the various aspects of building and restoring our dwellings, especially classic ones.

Yet I’ve always wondered how a show like this can cover renewable energy and efficiency in virtually every show and not mention the environmental benefit. (more…)

Tagged with: Ask This Old House, elephant in the room, environmental benefit, ethical energy saving device, PBS, protecting our planet from damage

An Energy Policy Should Contemplate Externalities

craigshieldsPosted on June 6, 2015 Posted in Renewables - Business

MarcoPolo writes: …Worse still, attempts to include all sorts of dubious “externalities ” looks like a desperate attempt to cover up old lies and maintain old myths. It may preach well to the already converted, but increases mistrust among the already doubtful, and provides excellent ammunition for skeptics.

That’s a fringe viewpoint if there ever were one. There are more people who believe in the Easter Bunny than people who believe that burning fossil fuels is benign to our health and environment.

Tagged with: burning fossil fuels harming our health and environment, Energy Policy Externalities

Norway: No More Coal

craigshieldsPosted on June 6, 2015 Posted in Climate Change

Norway’s $890 billion Government Pension Fund Global is the largest sovereign wealth fund on planet Earth—and, up until today, was one of the biggest investors in the coal industry around the world. Yesterday, the Norwegian parliament decided to divest itself of coal, making this by far the largest fossil fuel divestment in history.

I’m so happy that I’ve chosen this whimsical picture for the occasion. Imagine an entire country taking a stand re: energy policy as it affects climate change.

Is that something the U.S. could consider?

Tagged with: biggest investor in coal, energy policy affects climate change, largest divestment in history, Norway: No More Coal, Norway’s $890 billion Government Pension Fund Global