Whenever I encounter someone who believes that a huge penetration of variable energy resources (mainly solar and wind) can only come with the advent of cost-effective energy storage, I always recommend this presentation from energy innovator Amory Lovins. I’ve seen him perform this twice, and I find it quite compelling.
Here’s a piece of research from Yale University that corroborates my gut instinct: Americans are increasingly aware of and concerned about climate change.
But here’s something a bit scary that also rings true to me: Americans’ opinions on many matters (including climate change) are vastly divergent from the scientists whose life work is studying those subjects. This has always befuddled me; apparently, we feel qualified to fabricate our own viewpoints on important matters; we don’t have a problem with simply inventing stuff. Perhaps it’s a take-off on “Yankee ingenuity.”
One of the most important reasons to believe in a sustainable future is the approach that young people are taking vis-à-vis the environment. Those looking for a bit of insight into this should check out this video sponsored by 350.org, depicting the work that thousands of college students are doing to encourage their schools to divest themselves of their holdings in the fossil fuel industries. Right on, as I like to say.
It’s Memorial Day weekend here in the U.S., a time we Americans remember those who fought for our country. But because it’s a celebration, it has the unfortunate effect of glorifying war, rather than causing us to do what we can to make it cease.
If you’re looking for something fun to do for a few minutes, you might want to check out this footage of New York City from circa 1900. I especially like the woman frantically trying to keep her dress from being blown up by the wind. It was nice to see her laugh at her little predicament; it’s a reminder that people never really change. (more…)
The folks who argue that wind energy is a bad thing have a very tough challenge, considering all the fossil fuels being replaced and all the jobs (50,000 in the U.S. in 2013) that the industry provides. Somehow, however, none of this seems to deter them.
Strangely, the pro-nuclear people seem to be the most vocal about this. They understand the realities of climate change, but sadly, tend to view all forms of renewable energy, especially wind, as a competitive threat, which I suppose it is.
Here’s a response to another baseless attack on the wind industry; it’s short, yet terrifically powerful.
Btw, how would you like to be the guy on top of the nacelle in the picture? I sure wouldn’t.
Every now and then we being reminded of how our world temperature levels are rising and how, if not checked, will gradually lead to our demise. Scientists, environmentalists and law makers have made policies to try and curb the effects of the climate change. For those who are still not convinced of these effects, the following are highlights of how agriculture is being threatened by the rising temperatures. (more…)
MarcoPolo, a politically conservative reader from Australia, writes:
Solar power will continue to grow in importance as part of every developed nation’s energy dynamic. With growing popularity, it will provide problems for the older distribution power utilities, that must not only generate electricity, but maintain very expensive distribution infrastructure.
(more…)
We read constantly about the subsidies for fossil fuels, but we note how hard it is to pinpoint exactly how large they are. For one, what exactly should be counted and what should be excluded? No one doubts that we fight wars over oil; how about all the military spending, not to mention the deaths, injuries, and other forms of suffering? (more…)
In response to my piece “Heard It At the Low Carbon Investors Conference, frequent commenter “MarcoPolo” writes:
Nobody is saying that research and investment into alternate energy technologies, is dead. Nor would any reasonable person suggest that alternate energy technologies, especially solar, won’t improve and secure a significant role in the energy dynamic, over future decades, especially with better storage devices. But what I’m saying, is that this will be a long process of ‘evolution’, not an apocalyptic ‘revolution.’ (more…)
Readers looking for a quick history lesson about the introduction of the automobile to the American lifestyle in 1908 will enjoy this short and extremely informative video. Shown to the left is a 1921 Model T Ford; it’s extremely similar in every way to the first one that rolled off the assembly line 13 years before.
No one could have foreseen the macro trends that would affect all this over the ensuing 107 years, which I would summarize as follows:
• Development of great automotive styling in the 1930s
• The cessation of manufacturing (in favor of aircraft) in World War II (more…)
