TV’s talking heads seem to think that wind and solar power are the answer to reducing America’s oil usage. How stupid can they be? Wind and solar make electricity, which won’t be ready to power large numbers of motor vehicles for many years. Biofuel is the only short-term answer — not fuel-blending ethanol but fuel-substituting algae. I’m still waiting for one of TV’s talking heads to talk about the need for a massive program to put algae-derived gasoline refining on the map.
After Gulf Oil Spill, Focus Should be On Biofuels
| May 5, 2010 | Posted by BillPaul under Biomass |
Don't Be Surprised if BP Files for Bankruptcy
| May 3, 2010 | Posted by BillPaul under Renewables - Business |
With the White House emphasizing that BP is liable for billions in damages from the Gulf oil spill, it would seem only a matter of time before BP files for court protection under bankruptcy laws. The company would continue to operate, and quite possibly the US taxpayer will get stuck for more of the cleanup costs.
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Gulf Oil Spill Could Wreak Havoc on US Natural Gas Exploration
| April 30, 2010 | Posted by BillPaul under Renewables - Business |
As the extent of the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster comes into clear view, expect its impact also to wreak havoc on the US natural gas industry. Expect greater scrutiny on the effects of shale drilling on the water table (aka, people’s drinkng water). New York City has already sucessfully gone to court to stop such drilling in the state.
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Did You Hear What’s Happening in Brazil?
| April 29, 2010 | Posted by BillPaul under Renewables - Business |
One of my golden rules of alternative-energy investing is that, if you want to make money, you’ve to think globally, especially since the US is still out to lunch in formulating policy for a clean-tech energy economy. In two months in Brazil, the government will award contracts for 339 new wind-power farms and 79 other renewable energy projects that will generate a whopping 14,529 MW of electricity. The winning bidders will make a lot of money.
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60% of Chinese Ready to Buy Plug-in Vehicles
| April 28, 2010 | Posted by BillPaul under Electric Vehicles |
New report from Ernst & Young’s Global Automotive Center finds that 60% of Chinese consumers say they would consider buying a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. That’s a much bigger percentage than in the US, and is further evidence that China, not the US, will lead the plug-in revolution. That’s bad news for US car- and car-battery makers, and great news for their Chinese counterparts. Warren Buffett’s investment in BYD is looking better and better.
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North Sea Oil "Has Peaked for Good"
| April 27, 2010 | Posted by BillPaul under Renewables - Business |
Brokerage RJ Energy Group out with a new report this morning. Its conclusion: North Sea oil production “has peaked for good.” This fits into the bigger picture of declining non-OPEC oil production. Our world has two choices: depend even more on OPEC or develop alternative energy sources. Which do you think we should choose?
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Here Comes ANOTHER Billion-Dollar Green Industry
| April 22, 2010 | Posted by BillPaul under Electric Vehicles |
During my 2GreenEnergy free webinar next month, I’ll be emphasizing how vastly and quickly green investing is growing. Here’s an appetizer. While there are only a handful of EV and PHEV vehicles on the road today, by 2015 the infrastructure required to fuel electrically-powered vehicles will be an $11.75 billion global industry, according to research firm ABI. From zero to $11.75 billion in less than five years!! And that’s just one of many green tech businesses about to change the investing landscape!
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Geothermal Industry Popped in 2009
| April 21, 2010 | Posted by BillPaul under Renewables - Business |
The US Geothermal Energy Association just reported a 25% increase in new projects under development in US in 2009. All told, there are now nearly 200 projects in some stage of development which, when they’re finished, will produce as much as 7,875 MW. That’s the equivalent of about a dozen coal-fired power plants.
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The Coming Green Energy IPO Bonanza
| April 19, 2010 | Posted by BillPaul under Renewables - Business |
Bloomberg New Energy Finance is reporting that 19 alternative energy companies plan IPOs this year intended to raise a combined total of nearly $10 billion. Most will likely will be announced over the next few months. Announced IPOs range from EV carmaker Tesla to Spanish solar PV maker T-Solar. Get ready for the universe of alternative energy investing to grow a lot bigger!
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Wal-Mart's 'Green' Image is All About Making $$
| April 16, 2010 | Posted by BillPaul under Renewables - Business |
A number of politicians and economists who seem to think that “going green” would represent a huge financial burden to Corporate America need to pay closer attention to Wal-Mart. For this giant retailer, going green means appealing to shoppers 25-35 for whom protecting the environment is a given. That’s what Wal-Mart chairman Lee Scott recently said.
But Craig Shields adds:
That’s fine, but a friend of mine told me this story:
At a recent webinar at which Wal-Mart presented its “sustainability index,” someone asked, “Well this is terrific, but suppose Pampers score low on the index — which, of course, they will — after all, they’re disposable diapers! Are you saying you won’t sell Pampers?” He said you could have heard a pin drop.
