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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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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Efficiency

In this age of social media, it is easy to talk about pressing issues. Users take to social channels and discuss topics that will impact our futures. Prominent among them is the issue of our environment. But while many people feel they have the answers to the pressing questions of our times, few of these people take action.

In our age of seemingly infinite information and knowledge resources, it is easier than ever to put simple plans into action. That is to say, those who speak up in social forums can also play their part in the solution. Whether it’s organizing a drive to write members of Congress concerning legislation, or taking simple conservation measures at home, the means are readily available. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

In the course of writing my second book (“Is Renewable Really Doable?”) I realized during an interview with the Environmental Law Institute in Washington DC that I had been misquoting the volume of subsidies that the oil companies receive from the federal government.  Their report on the subject did a great job at bringing this all into focus for me (though I think they were far too conservative with what they called a “subsidy”).

Here’s another report on the subject direct from the US CBO (Congressional Budget Office).  Of course, this raises several good questions, like:

• Why does the most profitable industry in the history of the known universe need subsidies from struggling tax-payers in the first place? and

• Aren’t subsidies supposed to help encourage and expand social goods (like environmentally friendly solutions), rather than social evils (like pollution)?

I wish I had some answers for you there, but I don’t.

 

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Climate Change

Virtually every time I meet with my client Jim Greenberg, Chief Strategy officer at the OTEC Corporation, he mentions Rear Admiral David Titley’s “Ted Talk” on climate change, and I characteristically wince when I realize that again, I’ve forgotten to check it out.  No more!  Here it is, and yes, Jim, it’s very worthwhile.  Titley, the U.S. Navy’s head oceanographer, describes the process whereby he went from a skeptic to a believer, and provides numerous other top-line facts about the effects of the melting of the arctic ice, sea-level rise, etc.

Regarding taking action to mitigate climate change, Titley says, “In the military, if you wait until you’re absolutely certain that you’re in grave danger, you’re already dead.”   Something to think about, even for us non-military types.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

I’m fascinated by the dynamics at work in our society that surround climate change.  The United States is notably sluggish in its response to the challenge, and, perhaps because of this, certain groups with progressive ideals are getting fairly militant.  One example is the Sierra Club, which, after 120 years of law-abiding environmental advocacy, announced recently that it will espouse civil disobedience as a weapon to create a progressive change in national energy policy.   (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

When economist Nate Hagens agreed to an interview for my second book (“Is Renewable Really Doable?”) I was quite pleased – in part because I knew that his thinking lies at odds with a great number of others who study the subject, and I wanted to present a well-rounded discussion to my readers.  As opposed to those who see a vibrant new growth economy right around the corner, perhaps one based on an explosion of cleantech, Hagens explains why that won’t happen.  Here’s a recent video on the subject.

As much respect as I have for Nate, I have to say that I’m skeptical of people who claim to predict what life will be like on this planet in 40 years. Here’s a quick list of causes of potential runaway change that I think renders any notion of life on Earth in 40 years completely unknowable:

  • Rogue states with nuclear weapons
  • Climate change and resultant extreme weather events and water/food shortages
  • Breakthrough energy technology
  • The trend toward fascism and people’s reaction to that trend
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