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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

PhotobucketA number of people have commented on the post of frequent blogger Dan C. writes:

The problem IS the money. As long as your solution involves selling and buying something, then you are dependent on the System of systems and centralized currency. Ask yourself if your ‘green’ solution can be implemented locally with local materials and without money from outside interests. If not, it isn’t truly sustainable, it’s just Marketing. Marketing is a religion, fostered by belief in perpetual growth and owned by centralized authority.

It’s certainly true that we’re trained to be super-consumers.  As always, Dan makes some excellent points about the underlying nature of the problem we’re all trying to solve.  But two things:

1) I’m not so sure that the world would be a better place with seven billion Henry David Thoreaus living solitary, introspective, and misanthropic lives in crude huts. 

2) Even if that simplicity would, in fact, be better, it seems quite impossible to turn back the clock and try to get there.  From the end of World War II coming forward, Western Culture has aggressively taught us that we’re pathetic losers if we don’t have the right hair, the right car, vacation in the right countries, and, if we’re guys, sleep with women who look like Scarlett Johansson.  It’s asinine, and it’s unsustainable, but it seems to sum up human civilization right now.

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

PhotobucketYesterday’s announcement by Obama that he’s opening up East and Gulf coasts to offshore drilling is very good news, insofar as it will drive increased visibility of the imperatives for renewable energy.  Coming on the heels of Obama’s announcement of federal loan guarantees for new nuclear power units, this now sets the stage for a strong administration push for climate change legislation by the fall — not that it will be called that, given how politically-charged that phrase has become. Obama is giving more moderate Republicans, especially SC Sen. Lindsey Graham, what they want and need to support a bill that is expected to include, for the first time ever, some sort of cap on carbon dioxide emissions. Exactly what that cap will look like and which companies and industries it will impact most will be the source of a lot of political haggling in the weeks and months to come.

In short, what everyone thought was dead, at least for this year, now seems very much alive. With healthcare out of the way, climate change legislation (which they’ll probably call energy legislation) should become the new buzz in Washington. On Wall Street, everyone’s going to wonder how this will affect different companies and industries, which is where we come in.

Separately, take a look at this recent Reuters story, specifically in the 3rd paragraph the mention of growing “institutional interest” in alternative energy. This too is good news.

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

I notice – with no particular level of surprise – that many of the comments we get on business blog posts suggest fairly radical ideas in terms of social reform. I am by no means an expert on this, though I do try to keep an open mind to ideas other than garden-variety capitalism.

In fact, I often ask myself: What would have happened in Cuba over the past 50 years if the US hadn’t done everything in its power to ensure the most miserable lives possible for those people? Are there valid alternatives to our way of life?

But, looking at these ideas in a cold and pragmatic light, it seems that these alternative social and economic construct only replace one set of horrors with another – in many case, horrors that are far greater. If market conditions do not set levels of production and consumption of goods and services, who or what does? Can anyone reasonably believe that a centralized government will do a better job than free-market capitalism?

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

As suggested yesterday, here is a continuation.

Another Example of Foreign Investment

Danish company Vestas, world wind turbine leader, has been expanding its production base in the U.S. where it says it created more than 1,200 skilled jobs, and expects that number to climb to 4,000 or more by the end of 2010. Vestas was encouraged by the Obama administration’s commitment to develop renewable energy; they say it hopes Congress will pass a national renewable energy standard to stabilize the U.S. market in the long term.

This key point, much discussed and highlighted lately, needs to be understood. The renewable markets, including wind, have been relatively unstable because tax credits and other policies are short-term and lapse with no assurance of continued support. Further, there is no policy enabled by a Renewable Electricity Standard, ensuring purchase of renewable energy by utilities.

Where China provides the wind industry assurance of growth with a $440 – $660 billion clean energy bill and requirement to buy renewable energy generated power, there is no corollary in the US

Europe is the undisputed leader in wind energy. 60% of world capacity was installed in Europe by the end of 2007, says the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA. “Wind Energy – The Facts”, February 2009) — and political support continues for growth. The European Union adopted a 20% renewable target by 2020 and followed with legislation in 2008 to support expansion. EWEA projects 80,000 MW installed by end of 2020. Denmark has already reached 21% of electricity supplied by renewables, and Spain sits at about 12%. The following chart, courtesy of the Energy Information Agency, illustrates the place that wind holds for electricity generation in Europe:

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Underlying key factors in supporting U.S. legislation and policies for the renewable energy industry include:

 job growth and economic opportunities abound;
 clean energy is good for the environment and our health;
 renewables are necessary long-term to wean us away from foreign dependence on fossil fuels

Key legislation, policies and credits are key factors for any country – the U.S or foreign – to invest. While The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan (known as the stimulus funding) is a great boon to the new industries, it too is temporary and expires in 2012. Support will be needed from every quarter to continue the growth.

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Suzlon Wind Energy Corp. announced on March 5th, 2010 that they plan to develop nine wind energy projects in the U.S., totaling 728 megawatts, including 351 installed wind turbines in Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington.

Suzlon helped rebuild Greensburg, Kansas after it was destroyed by a tornado in May 2006. Says Greensburg mayor, Bob Dixson, “Suzlon and the wind farm provided a huge boost to this community after the tornado devastated the region and during our recent recovery. The town is making a remarkable comeback with our mission to be better, stronger and greener. Suzlon’s turbines are helping us achieve our green energy goals…” (PRNewswire, Chicago. March 4, 2010).
(more…)

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

For what it’s worth, my beliefs about peak oil do not align with Kathy’s; if readers are interested, I’ve provided a link above.

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

… for the numerous thoughtful suggestions on my book title. You’ve given me some great ideas, and I deeply appreciate the time you devoted to helping.

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

PhotobucketIf you happen to be home on a Friday night, you’ll find it a great time to watch PBS, with its weekly programs: Washington Week, NOW, and Bill Moyers Journal. Generally, I think these programs depict the world fairly, and make an honest attempt to inform viewers in an objective and unbiased manner.

Yet I took exception to David Brancaccio’s NOW this week, in its gross oversimplication of the migration to renewables. In an attempt to inflame the viewer about the dangers of fracking (hydraulic fracturing, injecting water and chemicals deep underground to pry out gas locked away in tight spaces), the show told its views flatly, “We have renewable energy technology right now.”

At a certain level, this, of course, is true; there are a dozen or so clean energy technologies that are quite functional.  But without context, this statement is horribly misleading. Sure we have the technology now, but there are hundreds of issues that many thousands of people are diligently working on — that will ultimately enable renewables to be deployed in an economically, legally, and ecologically sound way.  As a friend of mine is fond of saying, “There’s plenty of clean energy if you don’t care how much you pay for it.”

If you want to stir up viewers, David, I would urge you to find a way to do so without feeding them a load of half-truths. I would say that to anyone — but especially to a man with a well-educated audience that can deal quite ably with the complete set of facts.

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

As noted yesterday, the annual report of the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index (CEPGI), published quarterly, confirms that 2009 was a record year for green tech.

Automobile companies dominated the top clean energy patent holders; big auto holds five of the top ten spots, with Honda, GM and Toyota in the lead. Honda leads in hybrid/electric vehicle patents.

A few other companies of note:

 GE holds twice the number of patents over its wind competitors.
 Canon was and remains the solar photovoltaic leader.
 The CEPGI index report noted that Panasonic had 29 clean tech patents in 2009 but only six in the prior year – 2009 was an active year for the company.
 Bloom Energy had 8 fuel cell patents in 2009, none in 2008 but four in previous years.
 Tesla had 4 hybrid/electric vehicle patents in 2009, their first since the CEPGI index started tracking in 2002.

As far as academia is concerned, the University of California remains in the lead for patents since 2002 with California Institute of Technology second. The University of Florida gained three in 2009.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) Fast-tracking Green Tech in 2010

The PTO announced a pilot program open from December 8th, 2009 through December 8th, 2010 that is designed to expedite the patent process for clean tech projects; the process normally takes 30 to 40 months, but the fast-track process could shave off a great deal of time. This pilot program was announced by energy Secretary Steven Chu and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, and the first 3,000 patent petitions will eligible.

Chu and Locke support the idea that American innovation and competitiveness are key. “Every day an important green tech innovation is hindered from coming to market is another day we harm our planet and another day lost in creating green businesses and green jobs,” Secretary Locke said. (Green Tech. “Patent Office Puts Green Tech on Fast Track,” by Martin LaMonica. December 8, 2009).

What Does This All Mean?

The increase in patents shows that renewable energy technology is creating force in the right direction. Governmental support with the fast-track process cuts through some red tape for innovators. This bodes well for everyone, as long as research and development monies continue and as long as new governmental policies don’t squash this critical momentum.

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by Craig ShieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

PhotobucketI just had a marvelous conversation with Loretta White, a deeply committed environmentalist who’s playing a major role within The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston (SBN). Founded in 1988, this fine group has been changing the way greater Boston does business ever since, engaging business and community leaders in building economies that are green, local, and fair.

When I got her on the phone yesterday in the afternoon, she told me she’d love to chat, but that she was in Amsterdam. Could I call back tomorrow when she’d be back in the US? Ooops. With eight-hour time difference, it was close to midnight. But Loretta was not the worse for wear. When we resumed out conversation today, I again noticed her unflagging energy level. No jet lag, no whining about the travel, just pure passion for the cause.

I certainly encourage readers to check out their website; I find it amazing how many things can be done to make businesses more sustainable – less based on scarce resources that may not be around forever.

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