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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Wind Energy

Not Another Drop of Diesel for El HierroA part of the Canary Islands, 1000 kilometers out into the Atlantic off the coast of Northern Africa, El Hierro is literally never front-page news, or even back-page news.  In fact, with a landmass of 107 square miles and a population of about 10,000, it’s hard to imagine what the folks on this small but intensely beautiful piece of rock could possibly do to attract the least bit of attention in a world dominated by Ebola and beheadings by religious extremists. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Walking the dogs with my wife last night, I happened to mention Arthur C. Clark’s  “goodbye” video that he made on his 90th birthday, when he knew he’d soon be leaving his loved ones and his many millions of fans.   In it, he told us:

“I have great faith in optimism as a guiding principle, if only because it offers us the opportunity of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. So I hope we’ve learnt something from the most barbaric century in history — the 20th. I would like to see us overcome our tribal divisions and begin to think and act as if we were one family. That would be real globalization …” (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Renewable Energy in Brazil Propelled forward by the economically prosperous and populous Southeastern states of Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro, rapid economic growth in Brazil has elevated the nation to the 10th largest energy producer in the world and 8th largest energy consumer. The country’s focus on rural access to electricity (99% electrification rate), the public-private hybrid electric market system and general economic conditions are few in a long list of factors that explain why Brazil is one of the few countries where a great number of large renewable energy job and project opportunities is located. If that weren’t enough, the country constantly updates its long-term energy plans and boasts innovation as well as effectiveness in many of its renewable policies. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Businesses Can Improve On Going GreenAre you committed to going green? Many companies today have corporate responsibility initiatives designed to promote greener activities. But not all green programs are effective. Here are some of the ways that you can improve.

Create a Ride Sharing Program

A ride sharing program among colleagues is a fantastic way to reduce emissions. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

CBS’s Leslie Stahl’s Viewpoint on CleanTech and Climate Disruption?  That Depends--Who’ll Write the Biggest Check?Less than a year ago, CBS aired a “60 Minutes” segment hosted by Leslie Stahl, whose mission was to convince tens of millions of credulous, uninformed viewers that cleantech was a failure, and they, as taxpayers, had been fleeced.  Now she’s telling a different story, but why? (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

End of an Era – I mean “Epoch”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…)

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

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…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Hydrokinetics

Adventures in Ocean HydrokineticsI 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…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

Electric Transportation Will Provide Numerous BenefitsAs 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.

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

On Taking Care of Mother EarthRecently, 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…)

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