Blog – Page 1583 – 2GreenEnergy.com

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

Cartoon on Climate Change

craigshieldsPosted on April 14, 2014 Posted in Climate Change

Those looking for a bit of amusement may enjoy this cartoon on climate change — though it’s so true, it’s hard to laugh. I love this guy’s references to the Koch Brothers, restricting the activities of NOAA, and sea level rise.

Tagged with: cartoon on climate change, Climate Change, Koch brothers, restricting the activities of NOAA, sea level rise

U.S. Fossil Fuel Industries Waging a Tired Battle Against Clean Energy

craigshieldsPosted on April 14, 2014 Posted in Fossil Fuels

Here’s an article in Forbes on the “tired battle” that the fossil fuel industry is waging against renewable energy. The author details how this is playing out in various states – even conservative ones like Kansas—where “only” about 80% of the voters favor aggressive Renewable Portfolio Standards, but state legislatures are running up against fierce opposition from the oil, coal, and gas people.

I agree with the position here: the fossil fuel industry will eventually lose the fight, but they’re armed to the teeth with huge amounts of money (and thus political power), and they’re a very, very long way from giving up.

Tagged with: aggressive Renewable Portfolio Standards, article in Forbes, battle the fossil fuel industry is waging against renewable energy.

National Security Implications of U.S. Energy Policy

craigshieldsPosted on April 13, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Politics

2GreenEnergy intern Louis de Saint Phalle is among the hardest working people I’ve ever run across. The metaphor of the shark comes to mind; he feels he needs to be constantly in motion, driving towards his goal — in this case, a comprehensive paper on the national security implications of a U.S. energy policy (or lack thereof). (more…)

Tagged with: 2GreenEnergy intern Louis de Saint Phalle, national security implications of U.S. energy policy, U.S. has no energy policy

Pascal Didn’t Talk About Environmentalism, But He Would Have If He Were Here Today

craigshieldsPosted on April 12, 2014 Posted in Sustainability

Seventeenth Century mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote, “Human sensitivity to little things and insensitivity to the greatest things: sign of a strange disorder.”

Wow, I love that. And it’s so true. I have such admiration for this fellow that, if we had had another boy, I would have considered petitioning my wife to let me name him Pascal. Pascal Shields — it kind of grows on you.

Be this as it may….exactly what Pascal meant by “the greatest things” is unclear, though he was very wrapped up in things like the unknowability of humankind’s purpose and meaning in the cold, dark and hidden universe. Think of how little mental energy most people spend on things like that—or on the disastrous effects we’re creating on our environment–and how much we care about the minutia in our lives.

Tagged with: disastrous effects we’re creating on our environment, environmentalism

PBS’s Ask This Old House Recommends Energy Efficiency – But Misses the #1 Reason To Care About It

craigshieldsPosted on April 12, 2014 Posted in Sustainable Building

I like to watch the PBS show “Ask This Old House” on Saturday mornings. I’m so impressed with the incredible level of professionalism and the cleverness of the solutions these folks come up with.

Whenever it’s possible to mention energy efficiency or solar energy, the plumbing and heating guy, Richard Trethewey (pictured on left), normally dives right in. (more…)

Tagged with: PBS Ask This Old House, reduce the waste of energy, Richard Trethewey, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal hot water heating

Is Wind Energy Poised To Rebound from Its Sharp Decline Last Year?

craigshieldsPosted on April 11, 2014 Posted in Wind Energy

Here’s an article summarizing where the world is with respect to the installation of wind energy. 2013 saw a dramatic decline in the overall implementation of wind, based largely in the U.S., where new installations were down 90% from the previous year.

The real issue, of course, is the whipsawing of federal tax incentives. If U.S. law-makers could have some level of stability and predictability, the big players (and the little guys) contemplating clean energy investments would be far more comfortable making commitments than they are now, where this subject is constantly under attack in Congress, and the fossil fuel industry is spending heavily to make sure renewable energy fails.

Tagged with: 2013 dramatic decline implementation of wind, clean energy investments, federal tax incentives for wind energy, fossil fuel industry spending heavily to make sure renewable energy fails, installation of wind energy

From Guest Blogger Romeo Demes: Five Ways to Make Your Business Greener – The Guide For Eco-Friendly Business Owners

craigshieldsPosted on April 11, 2014 Posted in Renewables - Business

Adopting eco-friendly practices is one of the most strategically important decisions a business can make. Apart from saving the environment, becoming greener can reduce business costs and even improve the business’ standing in the eyes of customers and potential customers. As such, it can make a business more profitable, efficient and competitive.

(more…)

Tagged with: business, go green, Renewable Energy