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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

As readers here know, I take my hat off to those who bravely and consistently speak up about the loss of liberty here in the U.S., and elsewhere around the planet.  Among the most vocal spokespeople (and certainly one of the most articulate) in this regard is Chris Hedges, American journalist, who has reported from more than fifty countries, and has worked for The Christian Science Monitor, National Public Radio, The Dallas Morning News, and The New York Times, where he was a foreign correspondent for fifteen years.

Hedges has been a persistent critic of the National Defense Authorization Act, and, indeed, it’s hard to understand how any person of conscience is not galled by the NDAA.   As I had written previously:  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Energy Storage

Here’s an article from SmartGridNews called “California’s new energy storage mandate: Does it signal the tipping point?”

The answer, in a word, is No. You’re “forcing” Southern California Edison, one of the most progressive utilities on the planet, to deploy 50 MW (less than 1% of the capacity it owns outright) of its power from storage — eight years from now? Zzzzzz.

I’m looking for a tipping point too, but I realize I’m going to have to look elsewhere.  

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Biofuels

Anyone who pays even casual attention to the biofuels industry has come across the “food versus fuel” argument, i.e., that the rise in biofuels comes at the expense of the world fuel supply.   But as shown in this article: “What’s Really Driving Food Prices?” this is specious. 

According to several of the speakers at the Renewable Energy Policy Forum I attended recently, the concept came from a brilliant albeit dishonest PR campaign in which Big Oil got together with a few of the most powerful people in Big Food and fabricated this credible but grossly distorted story.  In fact, the real cost of food has a far greater connection to the cost of liquid fuels required to plant, fertilize, irrigate, harvest, process, and ship food.  Biofuels’ effect   in expanding the supply of fuel lowers the price of food far more than competing with the food supply increases it. Moreover, the biofuels industry has turned away from the use of edible crops (e.g, corn and soy beans) in favor of cellulosic feedstocks (e.g., corn stover). I hope readers will take a few minutes to read the article linked above, and familiarize themselves with the truth here.

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

In this video, FedEx acknowledges that the importance of “going green” isn’t as great in the mind of the typical American consumer as it was a few years ago, but notes that it’s at least as important in the mind of the American business customer. It’s for this reason that FedEx maintains its commitment to a long-term improvement in the eco-impact of its 60,000 trucks and 692 airplanes.

Part of that commitment is electric transportation; FedEx operates an expanding fleet of 111 battery-electric trucks. While the capital costs greatly exceed those of gasoline powered trucks, operational costs are 70% – 80% less.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

Seeing as it’s Valentine’s Day, I would certainly be remiss if I failed to pass along this extremely well-done video, showering the oil companies with love for all the wonderful things they’ve done for us. 

 

 

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Climate Change

I hope you never tire of reading my blog posts every day, as well as my occasional books, white papers, and so forth.  But if I’ve finally written something that sent you over the edge and you find yourself looking for something from someone with a similar style and a nearly identical viewpoint, you won’t be disappointed with Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club. 

Here’s a piece Brune wrote today in which he offers advice to U.S. President Barack Obama, given the sweeping statements about climate change mitigation and energy policy in Mr. Obama’s State of the Union address last night.  He’s nailed it as always: these next four years represent a fantastic opportunity for the U.S. to regain its leadership position, both technologically and morally, and that opportunity is available to us to the degree that we’re willing to make a sincere commitment to changing course with our love affair with fossil fuel-based energy. 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

We’ve had some lively discussions here recently on the validity of environmentalists’ divesting in fossil fuel companies.  Personally, I remain sold that there is merit in the concept, and that a reduction in demand for oil companies’ stock, which brings down the share prices, puts pressure on the companies to change their direction.

Financial analyst Tom Konrad of AltEnergyStocks.com agrees, but, more to the point, notes: 

Divestment from fossil fuels is something we should be doing even if it were not very effective.  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Question: In the United States in 2012, what percentage of the power that came on to the grid was renewable?

Answer: Can be found at http://2greenenergy.com/cool-guess-answers/8732 .

Relevance: Renewable energy has a long way to go if it is to make a substantial reduction of our consumption of fossil fuels and get our carbon emissions back to a sustainable level.  But even nay-sayers are beginning to understand that this is an industry with which to be reckoned. 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

I wrote a piece the other day on Bill McKibben’s 350.org, which has launched a national campaign to persuade colleges, universities, churches, foundations, etc. to stop investing in the fossil fuel industry. I went on to say that lower demand for shares of stock will reduce total market capitalization, and therefore diminish horsepower in terms of all the factors that make the industry what it is: legal strength, political muscle, and good will in terms of public relations.

Frequent commenter Glenn Doty challenges me on this, writing:

That’s not going to work. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Photovoltaics

Recently, my good friend and long-time 2GreenEnergy supporter Tom Konrad introduced me to his colleague Shawn Kravetz, founder of Esplanade Capital, a hedge fund that’s been “focused” on the solar energy market (pardon the pun) since 2006.  When I met Shawn in Philadelphia last week I was instantly impressed with what I saw and heard — and I think you will be too.

You see, I’ve decided to host one of our webinars in March and invite Shawn as my guest. I’ve asked him to discuss the big issues that affect the validity of an investment in solar, things like:  (more…)

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