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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

It’s Election Day in the United States, much anticipated here for several reasons, perhaps chiefly insofar as it means an immediate cessation of the horrifically mean-spirited and misleading campaign advertising. 

I just got back from the polling place and found this email from Ralph Avallone, who serves as president of the National Green Energy Council, a non-profit green energy advocacy group.  Their main push is job creation in the green energy sector, certainly a laudable goal.  Avallone concludes:

Please get out and vote today…The future of our nation as an economic superpower depends on it.

Absolutely true.  I would only add: Vote in such a way as to maximize the probability that we will soon have a progressive energy policy that both: a) puts millions of people back to work and b) addresses the many different kinds of catastrophes associated with a “business as usual” approach to the subject.

 

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

I don’t know how many readers are in the Sierra Club’s email database.  If you are, you just saw this come across the wire:

Tuesday will be the single most decisive day for America’s environment for years — perhaps ever.

Who will win tomorrow: Champions for our climate, clean air and water, clean-energy jobs, and wildlife? Or Big Oil, Big Coal, and the politicians they keep in their pocket?

Obviously, this is something of an oversimplification. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

I just got back from a fairly vigorous seven-mile hike my 2GreenEnergy financial adviser.  This time we did Gaviota Peak, absolutely stunning, overlooking the deep blue Pacific.  The hike had about 2200 feet of altitude gain, which may not impress you gazelles in Colorado – or Nepal — but it got my attention.

I took the opportunity to promote what we’re doing here, albeit in a very low-key way.  In a canister at the peak is a book with a pen, in which people write their thoughts, such that others may come along and take inspiration.  I jotted down a few notes and invited folks to check out 2GreenEnergy.com.  Of course, if a single person does that, it will be a minor miracle, but as we’ve all heard a thousand times, it’s the thought that counts.

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

Frequent commenter Steven Andrews writes:

Wind and solar have the best characteristics plus on top of that use no water resources.  Why are these systems so under attack by fossil fuel burners?  Gandhi said: first they don´t pay attention, then they deny, then… they attack, lastly, we win.  Wind and solar don´t consume oil, gas or coal, they don´t leave toxic chemicals, or radioactive materials behind, so they are cheaper and better.

Better, yes — in several senses; cheaper, no.  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Lest you think that I spend 100% of my work time productively, I provide you this discussion:

Reader:  I’m trying to raise money to get a patent on a clean energy idea.

Craig: What is your idea?  

Reader:  It’s a simple yet logical mechanism to generate electricity, just like the windmill, the wind creates pressure on the blades. In my own design, pressure is created mechanically in series thus maintaining a steady continuous motion.  But, unlike the windmill, the pressure is steady; continuous motion makes it more efficient.  Also it could be placed anywhere much could not be said about it at this time, after getting patent then everything would be revealed.

Craig:  Well, you’re at an impasse, my friend.  Are you suggesting that an investor send you money to get a patent on an idea you won’t explain? 

Reader:  Well the situation at hand is not doomed, and I’m not asking for investors to invest. I’m just generating funds for a patent. I’m at the threshold.

Craig:  Well, I like your optimism.  But if you find someone who will give you money to get a patent on an idea you refuse to disclose, please let me know.  I want to speak with him immediately.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Wind Energy

What was reason behind the recent energy blackout situation that took place in a large part of U.S. cities? Well, a lot of people are of opinion that the recent power-cut hazard faced by American cities was mainly because of fault in wind power.

Although the total dependency on wind power for America’s electricity supply is no more than 1 percent, faults in wind power can cause disastrous outcome. The domestic wind energy parks produce near about 2,400 megawatts of power energy. This power energy is supplied to around 650,000 homes in America for one complete calendar year. The American President hopes that a day will come when more than 20 percent of the country’s electricity will be produced by wind energy. In fact, in European countries like Germany, near about 25 percent of energy is generated by wind. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

I subscribe to a great number of free online newsletters that cover cleantech at a fairly broad level, and though I certainly don’t read every word, I do glance through them.  If you have a spare minute, I would ask you to check out this article from SmartGridNews, and tell me what you think.

What it showed me is that the world, even here in the U.S., is quietly making significant progress towards a new, clean electrical grid.  Each day, a large collection of different types of companies are making terrific headway in this space.  One could break this out as follows: (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

Here’s an article that makes an important but normally overlooked point: renewable energy systems are generally far less susceptible to storms, earthquakes, and other natural (or man-made) disasters than fossil fuel or nuclear plants.  This is largely due to the fact that they use no fuel, or, more precisely, that their fuel is manufactured in a large nuclear reactor 93 million miles away and sent to us, at no cost or danger, at 186,000 miles per second. 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

One of the most enjoyable aspects of my work week is helping in the education of young people. I love helping my own two kids with their homework, I serve as a tutor to students in the local community, and, through my role at 2GreenEnergy, it’s been my privilege to help countless youngsters all over the world, from 5th graders through college students, to write papers on clean energy specifically or sustainability more generally.

Here’s the result of an interview I did for Nicholas Quin of Australia a few weeks ago.  Nicholas: I hope you get an A, my friend.

(more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Photovoltaics

 The Climate Group “C40 City” of Sydney, Australia has announced a project that will create the largest solar project in their country, installing in over 30 sites around this city, starting with the Sydney Park Pavilion. This project will have a peak capacity of generating 1.25 megawatts (MW).  This project will reduce the carbon footprint by up to 2,250 tonnes.

Mayor Clover Moore said: (more…)

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