I was lucky to happen across Dr. Jason Scorse in my quest to interview an economist who could shed light on the migration to renewables.
Jason is currently Associate Professor and Chair of the International Environmental Policy Program at The Monterey Institute of International Studies, a graduate school of Middlebury College. He has consulted for numerous environmental organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club. (more…)
Obviously, there’s a certain irony here, as the role of the American military is, in large measure, to ensure our access to oil on an ongoing basis. But anyone can see the rationale: depending on gasoline and diesel while you’re actively in battle or defending a military position is a potentially lethal place to be. According to my understanding, more of our soldiers are killed defending the supply line of oil to military bases and outposts in the Middle East than in any other single activity.
Thus the interest in clean energy here is rooted in self-preservation – which is more than fine by me; whatever gets the job done. I’m like anyone; I hate to see young people killed or wounded – for any reason.
I’m working on a project to popularize the concept of aeroponics, the science of growing plants in areas where land is scarce, using a mixture of air, water, and nutrients. Imagine robust, organic produce grown indoors, on rooftops, etc. Now realize a potential downside: you need containers, most of which are made out of plastics that come from petroleum and do not biodegrade.
I’ve had the pleasure of bumping into Ray Lane at numerous industry conferences, and have been lucky enough to hear him speak on subjects that include the financing of renewables and electric transportation. I was thrilled when he accepted my invitation for an interview, as I knew it would add a much-needed perspective of the real-world, no-nonsense exigencies of big money. After all, we can talk about the theory of money—but we can also look at the way in which billions of dollars actually change hands. (more…)
A friend in Australia just sent me a claim for a regenerative braking system that recaptures so much energy that the car has unlimited range. He became dubious, however, when the company, based in Canada, would not pay his way to see the demonstration.
I reply:
Yes, I would be dubious too. I come across claims like this, i.e., those that violate the first and second laws of thermodynamics, about once a week. In many cases, they are made by people I would call “crackpots,” i.e., people who actually believe their story, and just don’t know enough about physics to know that they’re speaking gibberish. Others are made by what I call “charlatans,” people who (according to my perception) do not believe their story, but are attempting to defraud investors. I tell them: “I don’t know about the securities laws in your country. But if you raise capital from investors in the U.S. to build a prototype of something that is theoretically impossible (like what you’re describing here), there’s an excellent chance you’ll go to prison.” It makes for a mercifully short conversation.
Wally’s list of accomplishments in science and technology spans half a century; in fact, he is best known for two achievements separated by almost 40 years: In 1968, he built the Caltech electric car and won the Great Transcontinental Electric Car Race against MIT, only to re-appear in the 2006 documentary movie “Who Killed the Electric Car?”
I’ve known Wally for several years, and every time we talk, I feel I’m a better person for having had the opportunity. Primarily a scientist, Wally brings a profound understanding of the impact that technology has on our world in a great number of ways, including ecologically and sociologically.
The focus of the interview here is cold fusion, along with an exploration of the sad and ironic ways in which politics has invaded the realm of science.
I am very grateful to Wally for his help with the project; it’s always fun to chat with this incredible intellect.
When I’m in the television studio next week, I plan to shoot a video promoting 2GreenEnergy’s relationship with Dan Sturges, to facilitate our telling his story as a transportation visionary/futurist.
Let’s start with a tough question: Who says we need to be pro-active in evolving transportation? Don’t industries evolve on their own as R&D makes incremental improvements in adding features or reducing costs?
Put another way, is there anything truly broken about our approach to transportation? Well, it depends on how you define “broken.” (more…)
After fiddling around with the cover design for what seemed like an eternity, I’m finally ready to launch my second book: “Is Renewable Really Doable?” (You may want to click on the link for a description.) The big day is March 15th.
While I find it a bit awkward asking people to buy something from me, I suppose that’s exactly what I’m doing. Please mark your calendar, and, on March 15th, go to Amazon.com and pick up a copy – or two, or twenty-six.
I think you’ll be impressed with the range of people I’ve interviewed here, and how this all coalesces into an extremely fair-minded viewpoint on the energy scene. You’ll find an engaging mixture of talks with folks representing a great variety of disciplines: physics, anthropology, mathematics, economics, law, and venture capital — resulting in a unique, hard-hitting viewpoint on one of the world’s most important challenges.
If you want to see a resume’ that’s “as long as your arm,” you may want to check this out. If you do, you’ll understand why I was so happy that Dr. Pollin agreed to speak with me and convey his sense of the economics that underlies the migration to clean energy.
Among other things, Dr. Pollin serves as Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts-Amherst. He also functions as a consultant to the Energy Department on implementing the Obama Administration’s stimulus program.
I am very grateful to Dr. Pollin for his help with the project, and I know readers will find his insights quite enlightening.
