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Core Concept of the MaydayPAC Must Succeed If Clean Energy Is To Prevail

craigshieldsPosted on November 5, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Politics

Among other casualties in the U.S. midterms was the MaydayPAC, the self-proclaimed “political action committee to end all political action committees” which hoped to begin the removal of Big Money from the American political process. The relevance here should be obvious: until and unless this goal is accomplished, there is no chance to defeat the propaganda that Big Oil brings to the public discourse on energy.

Even though the project took it on the chin last night, the MaydayPAC’s founder and spokesperson, Lawrence Lessig (pictured here), was philosophical, writing: (more…)

Tagged with: MaydayPAC, political action committee to end all political action committees, propaganda Big Oil, removal of Big Money from the American political process

New Leadership in Congress Will Have a Range of Different Missions

craigshieldsPosted on November 5, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Politics

When I published this piece just now and found this pic of Mitch McConnell eagerly demonstrating his support of the gun industry, I was reminded that the new Senate majority will have other jobs in addition to rolling back the progress that the U.S. has made recently vis-à-vis energy and the environment. Their attention will be at least somewhat diluted across different duties, one of which is expanding Americans’ access to firearms, or at least thwarting the will of 89% of U.S. voters who want to expand background checks for prospective gun owners.

Congress will be taking on other jobs as well, including killing Obamacare, which, when effected, will instantly cancel healthcare coverage for more than 25 million Americans, including over 520,000 in McConnell’s home state of Kentucky alone.

Tagged with: killing Obamacare, Mitch McConnell, rolling back progress U.S. energy environment

Anxious to Check Out New Hydrokinetic Device

craigshieldsPosted on November 5, 2014 Posted in Hydrokinetics

This morning, I had the pleasure of speaking with the inventor of a new hydrokinetic device who happens to reside in Prague.

Every time I needed to go to Europe on business as a younger man I prayed that it would be because a client had scheduled a must-attend meeting in Prague; I secretly hoped for something—anything—that would give me a good excuse to go experience that breathtaking pearl of a city, virtually unscratched in the War. (more…)

Tagged with: calcs and test results on hydro prototype, hydrokinetic device in Prague, New Hydrokinetic Device

Climate Change Deniers Now Control the Legislative Branch of the U.S. Government, But Here’s Why CleanTech Will Not Be Defeated

craigshieldsPosted on November 5, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Politics

In response to my post yesterday: Not a Great Day for Those of You with Lungs in which I lamented the sad outcome of the U.S. midterm elections vis-a-vis the environment, frequent commenter Brian McGowan writes:

Relying on the government will not work. We have to do this ourselves individually. It is up to us. I imagine we will see a hard push for the Keystone pipeline, underfunding or total defunding of the EPA, reduction or total removal of any kind of green energy tax credits at the same time as enhancements of credits for dirty fuel companies.

I hear you, and you’re right that it is up to us as individuals. And yes, the U.S. federal government is now in the hands of those whose paymasters are commanding them to dismantle all the work we’ve done recently in moving towards clean energy and environmental stewardship. I’m deeply saddened, and I won’t sugar-coat that. (more…)

Tagged with: defunding of the EPA, dismantling the work towards clean energy, environmental stewardship, Not a Great Day for Those of You with Lungs, push for the Keystone pipeline, removal of green energy tax credits

Not a Great Day for Those of You with Lungs

craigshieldsPosted on November 4, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Politics

Our political pundits here in the U.S. tell us the Republicans are very likely to take back control of our Senate in today’s elections, granting them complete power over both houses of Congress. This means that our most important law-making committees surrounding energy and the environment will soon be made up of people like Fred Upton (R-MI), James Inhofe (R-OK), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and John Cornyn (R-TX): stanch climate change deniers, and sworn enemies of environmentalism.

The oil companies are celebrating, but it’s a very dark day here for anyone who cares about the future of this planet.

Tagged with: climate change deniers, law-making committees surrounding energy and the environment, oil companies celebrating, sworn enemies of environmentalism

Election Day in the U.S. Poses Tough Questions—Even For Environmentally Conscious Voters

craigshieldsPosted on November 4, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Politics

It’s Election Day here in the U.S., and, as is my custom, I’ll be heading to the polls this afternoon with my young daughter, in part to remind her of one of the responsibilities that all U.S. citizens take on when they reach voting age, i.e., participation in our democracy. It’s a duty each American shares alike, regardless of the feelings of apathy and anger we may harbor associated with the corrupt mess that our government has become. (more…)

Tagged with: Election Day in the U.S., Environmentally Conscious Voters, Green Party, support renewable energy

Ban on Fracking in Santa Barbara County

craigshieldsPosted on November 3, 2014 Posted in Fossil Fuels

I have to say that I’m on the fence about our Proposition P here, which, if passed, would ban fracking in Santa Barbara County. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, those in favor of the ban don’t have their facts straight; the world will be far better off environmentally if fracking is continued as required to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of coal. But those who oppose the measure are essentially the oil companies, who, whether they want to admit it or not, favor an indefinite exploitation of fossil fuels.

Normally, when I hate both choices, I abstain; I guess that’s what I’ll do here.

Tagged with: Ban on Fracking in Santa Barbara County, better off environmentally if fracking is continued, oil companies favor indefinite exploitation of fossil fuels, reduce and eliminate coal

Nuclear Vs. Solar and Wind–A Lame Argument If There Ever Were One

craigshieldsPosted on November 3, 2014 Posted in Nuclear

I took a nice little hike with 2GreenEnergy supporter Cameron Atwood over the weekend, during which we discussed the sad fact that the pro- and anti-nuclear people are generally arguing the wrong points. (more…)

Tagged with: 2GreenEnergy supporter, carbon-free energy future, Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors, overstating the danger posed by nuclear, pro- and anti-nuclear people arguing wrong points

Some Weighty Organizations Believe Climate Disruption Is a Big Deal

craigshieldsPosted on November 3, 2014 Posted in Climate Change

I just got an email from an associate who attached a scanned copy of this article (here and here) on the Pentagon’s viewpoint on the national security threat posed by climate disruption; they seem especially concerned about the imminent shortages of potable water. The comment he included is something I could have written myself: (more…)

Tagged with: climate disruption, Pentagon’s viewpoint on the national security threat posed by climate disruption, shortages of potable water