Blog – Page 1545 – 2GreenEnergy.com

The Impact of Biofuels

craigshieldsPosted on April 21, 2014 Posted in Biofuels

One of the entrepreneurs whose project is included on our list of the clean energy business investment opportunities just sent me this article from Time Magazine on biofuels. The author’s point, in brief, is that we tend to underestimate the damage that most biofuels do to the environment; he is completely correct, IMO.

There are several mechanisms at work here, but they largely come down to land use. In some areas, farmers are planting crops whose ultimate use is biofuel, opting to go in this direction rather than planting food crops. In other areas, large swaths of ecologically beneficial forests are being removed to make room to grow the biomass that will be processed into fuels. (more…)

Tagged with: algae more energy-dense, damage biofuels do to the environment, electric transportation, Impact of Biofuels

National Security and Renewable Energy

craigshieldsPosted on April 20, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Politics

I spent most of the afternoon yesterday with 2GreenEnergy intern Louis de Saint Phalle, talking about the project he’s working on: a set of articles that will lay out the main issues associated with the adoption of renewable energy. The first hour featured a walk on Hendry’s (dog-friendly) beach, pictured here, and a discussion of the national security implications of our energy policy. (more…)

Tagged with: adoption of renewable energy, distributed generation, energy generation and delivery from renewable sources, National Security and Renewable Energy, national security implications of our energy policy

From Guest Blogger Brian McGowan: Defection from the Grid?

craigshieldsPosted on April 19, 2014 Posted in Smart Grid

There have been several articles about defecting from the grid talked about here as well as reshaping what the grid means to us and what it should now do for us. While defecting from the grid may not seem likely, I find with things like this happening it may become more frequent if things described in the article linked above continue. (more…)

Tagged with: defection from the grid, smart grid

From Guest Blogger Deepi Makwana: Biomass Briquettes – Substitute To Fossil Fuels

craigshieldsPosted on April 18, 2014 Posted in Biofuels

Biomass briquettes are solid biofuel made from agriculture waste or bio waste under high mechanical pressure with the help of biomass briquetting press machine. It is the process of recycling bio waste material and turn into useful solid biofuel without harming the environment. (more…)

Tagged with: bio fuel briquettes, biomass briquettes, briquetting press machine

Establishing the Greenest Source of Energy

craigshieldsPosted on April 17, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Science

Here’s an article that attempts to identify the least environmentally offensive source of energy. It’s very good, and the bar chart explains this very forcefully.

One conclusion that anyone would draw is that anything except fossil fuels – especially coal – looks pretty darn good – and that’s perfectly valid. Yet, if one wishes to split hairs, here are a few of many things one may consider: (more…)

Tagged with: energy bar chart, Establishing the Greenest Source of Energy, grams of CO2/KWh important criterion but only one, least environmentally offensive source of energy, toxic coal byproducts like NOx SOx heavy metals and many different and dangerous radioactive isotopes

Celebrating a Victory for the People of Vermont – Even If It’s Not in Renewable Energy

craigshieldsPosted on April 17, 2014 Posted in Sustainability

It’s always heartening to see the will of the people vindicated, and it appears that this is exactly what’s happening in the food industry. It looks like the state legislature in Vermont will be forcing Monsanto to label its GMO-based food, while outlawing the agri-giant’s practice of labeling such products as “natural” or “all-natural.”

Of course, this law has no impact on Monsanto’s practices in the other 49 states, though (more…)

Tagged with: forcing Monsanto to label its GMO-based food, Organic Consumers Association, outlawing Monsanto’s practice of labeling GMO products as “natural” or “all-natural”, Ronnie Cummins

Fracking May Wind Up on the Ballot in California

craigshieldsPosted on April 17, 2014 Posted in Fossil Fuels

This week, I’ve run into several politically active Californians who want to add my signature to a petition that would put fracking on the ballot in November. I presume what they mean by this is that they want a public referendum which, if passed by a majority of voters, could ban fracking in the state.

Like anyone with any sense, I have concerns about fracking. (more…)

Tagged with: ban fracking in the state, concerns about fracking, fracking on the ballot, inexpensive natural gas, politically active Californians

We Should Help Our Top Corporations Embrace Sustainability

craigshieldsPosted on April 16, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Business

Obviously, a great deal of immorality exists in both our public and private sectors. Whether we’re talking about the purveyors of junk food, cigarettes, assault weapons, clothing made by children, or, more familiarly, oil and coal, it’s common for certain big corporations to behave badly, while buying favors from government to support their evil undertakings.

The question then becomes: What does one do about this? While there’s no easy answer, personally, I’m willing to help corporations change direction for the better, and, I’m happy to report, there are plenty that wish to do exactly that. (more…)

Tagged with: clean energy technologies. I sent them a few items from our list of clean energy investment opportunities, eco-friendliness, Embracing Sustainability, ocean thermal energy conversion

Bernie Sanders, Who Honestly Stands for Environmental and Social Justice, Might Run for the U.S. Presidency?

craigshieldsPosted on April 15, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Politics

There is no doubt that, were he to run for president, Independent Party superstar Bernie Sanders would garner a great deal of support, for any or all of the six reasons that the author of this article suggests. Perhaps the most compelling is the first: he wants money out of politics. (more…)

Tagged with: Bernie Sanders, corruption from Big Oil in creating a playing field in which renewable energy finds itself at a distinct disadvantage, Environmental justice, George W. Bush and the health of the environment, U.S. Supreme Court decisions empower corporations and super-rich individuals to contribute as much as they’d like to influence our elections in any direct they choose

GreenTechMedia’s “The Energy Gang” – Discussing the Future of the Electrical Utilities

craigshieldsPosted on April 14, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Business

Here’s a post in response to this week’s podcast from GreenTechMedia called “The Energy Gang,” which features a couple of people I’ve come to know fairly well through the years. One is the show’s brilliant young host Stephen Lacey, formerly with RenewableEnergyWorld and Climate Progress, whom I’ve interviewed for chapters in both of my first two books (Renewable Energy – Facts and Fantasies and Is Renewable Really Doable?). I notice that Stephen’s “chops” for conducting interviews, which were always excellent, are even better now. The other is Jigar Shah of the Carbon War Room, whom I’ve also interviewed twice. (more…)

Tagged with: Carbon War Room, Climate Progress, GreenTechMedia, Is Renewable Really Doable, Renewable Energy Facts and Fantasies, RenewableEnergyWorld