The world of private capital isn’t in a horrible hurry to invest in cleantech start-ups–especially those that represent some level of technology risk. What’s interesting is how the entrepreneurs behind these new companies are thinking and behaving as a result. To be sure, there is a lot of whining: the world is cruel, it’s unfair, why don’t people understand how valuable my idea is? (more…)
Longtime friend and supporter of 2GreenEnergy Steve Vachss sent me this piece on the eco-destruction of China. With it, he wrote: Barry Commoner may prove to be right, after so many years of being ignored. His metaphor of the human race multiplying like weevils within a finite bag of flour rings true. Gigantic populations of China, India and Africa may flow over their borders when they run out of potable water and productive agriculture. (more…)
Here’s a discussion on the ecological pros and cons (mainly cons) of hydro-electric dams, which serves as an excellent example of how complex our discussions on “what is green?” can be. The author, not content to point out the usual eco-liabilities in terms of migrating fish, etc., claims that dams cause climate change. The number one reason? Methane emissions. He writes: (more…)
Here’s a short video featuring a young advocate of edible landscaping that packs a powerful message. Quotes include: “The power of our daily actions is all we have,” and “There’s never been a time when your choices have mattered more.”
So true.
Of the $7.7 trillion that will be invested in new power generation capacity between now and 2030, $5.1 trillion will come in the form of renewable energy—mostly solar and wind. That’s why, when I attend top-level conferences on clean energy financing, I run into players from CitiGroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, etc.–each antsy to deploy massive amounts of capital in this space. This is happening in a big way.
My quest to connect solid cleantech business plans with sources of investment capital requires that I have a reasonably good supply of both these two elements. And of the two, investors normally keep a lower profile. They tend not to carry a big sign across their chest that reads: “I’m worth $350 million; please come sell stuff to me.” For that reason, I need to show a bit of cleverness here if I’m to get an audience with the right people.
My current focus is on hedge funds and their clients; I’m trying hard to get to know as many of these folks as I possibly can. And, to that end, I’m happy to report that I’ve recently become friendly with the people at The Hedge Connection, an online platform that enables hedge fund managers and marketers to interact with potential investors, providing all parties a way to get around what was previously an awkward dance. I was delighted when the Hedge Connection founders asked me to contribute–in particular, to send them a monthly article discussing one of the more exciting cleantech business investment opportunities I’ve come across recently.
Here’s my first such submission for their blog, called “The Edge.”
Here’s a post that has nothing to do with cleantech, but everything to do with the heart and soul of the many people who work hard to accomplish something on behalf of others. Did you know that there are over 200,000 groups on planet Earth whose purpose is social and environmental justice? Think about the sheer enormity of all that horsepower. Then, for a moment, think about the many millions of these people who are involved with these groups, working tirelessly to ensure that we leave behind a clean and healthy planet …. and ask yourself: are there times when some of them doubt that they’re making a real difference? You bet there are. (more…)
It’s because we’re all aware of our own mortality that we endeavor to make the most of our days here on Earth. I’m reminded about this, as it’s the 423rd anniversary of the baptism of poet Robert Herrick (pictured), who wrote:
“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, / Old Time is still a-flying, / And this same flower that smiles to-day / To-morrow will be dying.”
In a similar vein, we need to acknowledge that we really are running out of time if we’re going to make a difference in the outcome of humankind vis-à-vis the vast environmental damage we’re wreaking on our home planet. Fortunately, tens of millions of people all over the world are working hard to develop and implement solutions.
One way anyone can make a difference is to be a part of the “People’s Climate March,” September 21, in New York City.
I often quote the number 13,200 as the annual death toll associated with Americans’ breathing the aromatics from coal-fired power plants, but I never actually had seen the source document until a reader sent it to me just this morning. Here it is, assembled by the Clean Air Task Force, headquartered in Boston.
Looks like I’m headed back that way in a couple of weeks. I’ll try to drop by and shake some hands.
As I just noted, California acts as an incubator for concepts in environmentalism. Of course, California has a lot of other things going on that have nothing to do with eco-consciousness—and one of them is car shows. I just got back from a show of American and British cars from the 1910s to the 1970s. I describe the early part of this chronology as follows:
If it’s primitive, with an emphasis on pragmatism and a minimum of attention on design, it was probably made before the mid-1920s. (more…)
