I’ve met author and legendary environmentalist Amory Lovins at a few conferences, and I’m always eager to know what’s on his mind. In this short piece, excerpted here in Smart Grid News, Lovins explains precisely how Japan has made such critical mistakes in the adoption of renewable energy, and why he admires the work that Germany has done in this space.
This political campaign ad from the woman running against Mitch McConnell for a U.S. Senate seat in Kentucky reminds me of an important issue—perhaps the only important issue—driving the ultimate success of the renewable energy industry in this country: the promise of jobs.
The ad depicts an out-of-work coal miner from Eastern Kentucky, providing Ms. Grimes the opportunity to promise how she’ll put this fellow and thousands like him back to work. Never mind that he works in what is arguably the world’s deadliest (legal) profession; the quality of the work isn’t really the point here, rather, that the fossil fuel industry claims to be all about jobs. (more…)
Most people, either in the general public or as a part of governmental initiatives, would agree that the environment is very important and that we all need to work together to protect it. Talking about working to protect the environment is one thing, but actually taking actions towards preserving nature takes effort that not everybody is willing to make. (more…)
According to this fabulous report on renewable energy trends in Europe, there are several reasons that the Continent’s power utilities are investing heavily in this arena. The author writes:
The appetite of Europe’s major utilities to invest in renewable energy cannot be fully understood without an appreciation of the many long term challenges to their business models. (more…)
Water recycling is quickly rising up the agenda around the world. Water is a valuable resource that we use a great deal of and finding ways to use cast off water is important, especially in industrial settings where water can be used in large quantities with a great deal of it turning into waste.
Thanks to technology from Mitsubishi Electric, companies that are in the water waste and recycling industrycan find more economical ways to recycle water and manage more of it. (more…)
My profound thanks to our intern from France, Olivier Goavec (pictured here), whose numerous essays over the past few months have brought great insights in the dynamics of the energy industry in Europe.
Olivier: You’re a bright young man with a great future ahead of you. Next time I’m in Europe, I’ll be sure to stop by and say hello.
Here’s an infographic that I promised to publish for some friends in the UK, describing how their RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) process works. (more…)
The power of the atom was shown during the Manhattan project and, more particularly, the explosion of the first nuclear bomb “Little Boy” in 1945. The world has never been the same since. Then, after military usage, it came rapidly into the civil community to produce electricity. In the USA, lobbyists for the industry promised electricity almost free of charge, going as far as to say that the electric meter would be useless in the near future. Today we know that it was a lie, or at best a miscalculation, but it nonetheless sat at the foundation of nuclear technology. (more…)
Today is the anniversary of the first train robbery in 1873, which calls to mind how crime invariably adapts to new technology. Old-timers like me will recall how we needed locks on our cars’ gas tanks to prevent siphoning in the early 1970s when prices shot up during the first oil embargo. Of course, nowadays we have cybercrime, e.g., the never-ending attempts to gain unauthorized access to our bank accounts, stock portfolios, etc.
Green mining in general refers to the latest technological advancements in the mining industry that allows for lower waste production and lowered environmental impact. Aimed at the preservation of Mother Nature, green mining also seeks to reduce the use and wastage of water in the mining procedures. Green Mining is said to have been originated in Quebec, Canada where several groundbreaking technologies were developed by the Canadian Mining Industry. Explosive free rock breaking technology produces less waste by electrically heating up veins containing the valuable gems and minerals. Listed below, are the various ways by which Green Mining helps the environment. (more…)
