Each month, we read more about the battle heating up between the traditional energy industry (the providers of fossil fuels, power generation, transmission, and distribution) – versus renewable energy. But aren’t they natural enemies? Can anyone be too shocked that powerful forces try to beat up on their competition? (more…)
Here’s a conversation the essence of which I have frequently. An inventor, in this case, one Lyle Bates, has a patent on an idea related to renewable energy and wants to raise the investment capital necessary to build it. There’s nothing theoretically impossible about the idea, and that, in the inventor’s mind, means “full speed ahead.” Essentially, it’s the use of waste heat from internal combustion engines to reform methane into hydrogen gas. (more…)
Mark Z. Jacobson is a researcher at Stanford University who has made a splash recently with his findings that, both technologically and economically, it’s possible for us to migrate away from fossil fuels in the direction of renewable energy. He’s even been on the (late-night television show) David Letterman to present his case to casual viewers at home.
In essence, he wants to see 50% of our planet’s 15 terawatts coming from solar, another 40% from wind (mainly offshore), and most of the rest of it from hydrokinetics.
I believe Jacobson is 100% correct that we can phase out fossil fuels altogether; in fact, I think we must. But I was surprised to see his solution. (more…)
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…)
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…)
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…)
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…)
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…)
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…)
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…)
