I never memorized the names of the eras and the epochs used to describe geologic time, but I’ve heard several references recently to the idea that scientists are considering calling an end to the current epoch (the Holocene) and starting a new one, based on the profound impact that humankind has had on the planet (to be called the Anthropocene). (more…)
Here’s another remark for our reader who denies a duty to take care of our planet, expressing himself in this comment in my recent post:
There is no “Mother Earth”, nor are we required to be “good stewards” to anyone but our own best interests.
This fellow seems prepared to throw away the entire development of philosophy of religion over the past 5000 years in favor of the thinking of Ayn Rand. (more…)
I had a nice chat with my brother yesterday during which he asked my opinion of a company called Hydro Alternative Energy (HAE). Looking at their website just now, I notice they write:
(Ocean) currents can be thought of as rivers that exist within the oceans, with predictable directions, pace, and borders. Then, the electricity generated by currents can be connected directly to the grid. …. In addition to using ocean currents, electricity can also be generated by tidal flow.
(more…)
As pointed out in this article, the presence of electric vehicles plugged into our grid will one day provide a great number of different benefits, largely in terms of “ancillary services,” but also in terms of absorbing off-peak power, and, perhaps providing some power to the grid in times of peak load. In addition, grid operators will be able to charge EVs at the precise times during the day that enable them to integrate the maximum amount of renewables.
When will all this happen? It’s hard to say, because so many factors are moving at the same time: the smart grid/Internet of Things, the EV adoption curve, the development of different flavors of renewables, the build-out of our power transmission lines, the availability of other sorts of storage, etc.
Recently, one reader made an impassioned comment on our need to take care of our planet, and another responded:
There is no “Mother Earth”, nor are we required to be “good stewards”, to anyone but our own best interests.
I appreciate this very clear and concise remark. In fact, I think that all of human relations comes down to this very point: we either feel a sense of love and duty toward the people around us …. or we don’t. (more…)
There is an ever-growing increase of waste materials being generated by human activity and habitation, which have commonly known hazardous effects on the local environment and human health — and they need to be addressed in a way that allows balance between the needs of society and the needs of nature around us. (more…)
Each month, I submit an article for publication in the “Hedge Connection,” a marketing platform for hedge funds and an information portal for investors, in which I extol the virtues of one of our renewable energy investment opportunities. Here’s this month’s submission, in which I review a collection of run-of-river hydro projects in Southern Brazil.
The message here is simple: If there is a way to waste energy and other environmental resources on frivolous junk, we’ll find it.
The product also has the virtue of flinging more rain on other people around the user. I’d like to see how this works in New York City, and how far the user would get before he was flattened by a fellow pedestrian.
As I wrote yesterday, a wholesale replacement of coal-fired power plants with natural gas has short-term appeal, but an unacceptable array of long-term unintended consequences, e.g., creating an environment in which the development of renewable energy isn’t financially attractive. The author of this piece agrees, and compares the idea to binge dieting, not a bad analogy.
If there’s anyone I respect in the biofuels industry, it’s Jim Lane, editor & publisher of Biofuels Digest, the most widely-read biofuels daily and newsletter. He knows that I’m not a huge believer, but we had a very detailed and completely collegial talk on the subject a few months ago.
Here he writes: (more…)
