Please Share Your Thoughts
| August 13, 2010 | Posted by Craig Shields under Renewables - Business |
Every week I get a dozen or so emails from 2GreenEnergy subscribers who make incredibly insightful comments — or ask wonderful questions – about the industry. I write back — normally almost begging the author to become a guest blogger, recognizing as I do that many thousands of other readers would benefit from the intelligence that I see in front of me. But only occasionally does this actually materialize. Is it because some folks are too shy? I’m not sure.
In any case, let me make this clear: We Want You To Share Your Thoughts!
Please consider becoming a guest blogger, and posting your observations, questions, concerns, innovations – or whatever. A political rant? Terrific! A breakthrough solution in clean energy or sustainability more generally? Even better!
It’s Easy!
- Scroll to the very bottom of any page
- Click “Register” to start
- Enter your name and email and click “Register” to complete
- Your login information will arrive instantly via email
Then write and submit an article which will be published — as long as it articulates a thoughtful perspective or research about the technology, business and/or politics of the subject at hand.
Let me know if your need any help by clicking “CONTACT” and sending me an email.
And, on behalf of the thousands of people who will benefit from your ideas, Thank You.
Good luck Craig! I coach people marketing online in ways to build their online presence. I have trouble getting most to post their own information on high ranking sites. I also stress the importance of commenting or co-writing on articles and blogs where they share an interest such as you are asking.
I unfortunately do not have time to follow my own instruction as you have seen from my lack of participation!
I do appreciate your great work and interesting green energy articles and will try harder to participate! Today’s fast paced world leaves little time for a well thought out comment on an interesting article you have just read. Most people are probably off looking for the next article or hot topic.
Yes, that’s exactly right, Scott. I don’t expect most people to blog — but I wanted to make the offer nonetheless. You really would be amazed at the level of comment that is usually directed only to me.
My class in Science at my Middle School was taught by a teacher name David Meawherter. His thoughts were what I think needs to be address in Science Class and how you think about theories. At the time girls were on my brain,lunch,gym class not intense thoughts of Science. I never called it that but my teacher did as he spoke to us. Well our class wrote papers on many assignments. I wrote on what do you do when you think things out. I know now my thoughts were about cars since I had a learners permit but I saw something that gave me a thought why is gasoline going up in price. It was up to 29 cents a gallon from 19 cents (lot of money then). So I ask The Teacher if the price rises every year how can I afford gas when I go away to School? He said scientifically we must develope tecknologies to study this problem. PROBLEM?
Well I decided with my class this would be our project since every guy was looking forward to dating and the car was extremely important. My decision was to put a tank, extra tank in the trunk.Well Hi school came by and sure enough gas was 55 cents a gallon (and going up daily).So I took a tank of propane bypassed the emission and drove on Propane Gas. Gas was in trouble climbing quickly during the Vietnam era. So what does our nation want to do to go on a Date? Go Alternative Fuel.Let stop our non-sense we are back at war and when it is over gas goes up again. At the turn of the Century gas was 1 cent a gallon. Let us clean up and use others methods of Gas.We as a Country are truly last for there are folks thinks this is hooey. When you lose your job,have no food and people are not buying you are closer to a depression. Science Class what is your theory? Nothing? Please go back to class
Question: what will be the biggest event of the New Year with possibly the biggest influence on renewable energy in 2011? Answer: when the ITC “grants” disappear and we get tax credits only. That’s what Sec 48 was all about anyway. I’d like to hear what people are planning on doing to adjust to this “credit only” world. I have a few comments – but I’ll save those for later.
Great question, Rob! What will we do?
Subject: Solving our Energy, Economic, AND Unemployment issues – Using only one stone!
There is a new technology that’s been out their in the public domain for some time now and it is NOT getting the attention it deserves! About me, I am a manufacturing specialist seeking serious financial backing to get this project off the ground and running – within our lifetimes!
Can you even imagine:
A motor that runs WITHOUT fuel!
It’s called a “Magnet Motor” and “YES!” they DO work! You can watch a short YouTube video of a simple version of this motor working at: http://www.youtube.com/watchv=u5lXNpOnurw&feature=player_embedded.
The simple fact is this: a smaller, tougher magnet motor CAN replace ANY/ALL fossil-fuel-burning motors – practically overnight – IF we choose to make it a priority!
Advantages of a magnet motor:
1) Runs indefinitely – WITHOUT FUEL!
2) Emits “Zero” air pollution.
3) Very few moving parts.
4) Mega-Torque – out the Kazoo!
5) Runs under or over water.
6) Does not need air to function.
7) Does not require a cooling system.
8) Starting/running is not affected by the weather.
9) It’s the closest thing you’ll get to something running with/on “perpetual motion”.
10) Takes up less room in the vehicle and weighs less than conventional motors.
Don’t believe it?
Just try the principal that makes this work for yourself!
(Two similar magnets – .5″ dia. x .5″ thick – were used for the following experiment). You can experience how this technology works by trying/answering the following:
1) Have you ever tried PREVENTING two similar magnets from contacting as you move them together (by hand) – with attracting poles facing each other?
2) Have you ever tried FORCING two similar magnets together (by hand) – with opposing poles facing each other?
3) Now try the same two steps (above) with two magnets that are the same size and shape as a hockey puck!
Even small magnets have GREAT power!
Just imagine building a motor that can create the amount of torque you need to run an electric generator for your house, etc. As a matter of fact, a pair of Aussies from “down under” have already done so! You can watch it for yourself at: http://www.youtube.com/user/Megablab#p/a/u/1/YDJpUVlWK0c.
When we look at the 1940′s and our unsurpassed effort and ability to (in a very short time) create a war machine (that – by the way – kicked butt!) AND the amount of jobs that same effort created (ever heard of the baby boom?) – one wanders what we could do if we were to match that same effort with today’s technology!
LET’S ALL WORK TOGETHER TO SAVE THE WORLD BY GETTING THIS TECHNOLOGY GOING…YESTERDAY!!
THE TIME FOR THIS PROJECT IS NOW!!
In response to this desire to work together why does it seem so hard?I have been working to solve this issue for a ten yr period at a minimum.
It needs massive amounts of patience,money and co-ordination!
EkoNation would like to put out there that We have and will continue to work towards the goal of integrating Communities with the idea of
Energy sustainability,this site that allows individuals to interact and communicate should offer an avenue to do some of the co-ordination. It can give those that are really wanting to work together the oppertunaty to interact as well.So lets try and DO IT.We are Eko Environmental Co-op.
I heard about this many years ago and was told that the theory would work, but that anytime anyone got close to getting the public involved they were bought out/silenced. How far are the Aussies with their sales? I could not bring up the websites for review.
Energy revolution is under way on the global scale.Existing fossil fuels dominant energy system is transformed into sutainable energy system
dominated by energy efficiency improvements and renewable energies.
Energy security is no more exlusively dependent on international energy
connections(oil,gas and electricity) but more and more on the energy savings
and renewable energies participation in a country’s energy mix.
Dear Craig,
Thank you for your request to share my thoughts on green energy revolution. I shall do so when my thoughts come up with something useful to say. Please be assured, I shall contribute with my comments at the right time. Meanwhile, I congratuate you for your numerous articles which I have read with great interest.
Thanks! I’m glad you like our content.
What ever is happening today and I mean NOW in connection with promotion /implementation of Green Energy is commendable.
However, its only to the level of excitement and some half hearted level which we all understand is not sustainable.
The main and the only reason, Global warming is yet to be understood by majority.
Reason, the proponents ( Including Gore the initiator of this understanding ) have not been able convey their argument effectively.
Seven (7) people out of ten (10) still believe Gore’s Inconveniant Truth was less researched film- did not have the punch.
I strongly feel that the current effort for understanding of Global warming conciousness ( through easy to understand means ) should be reinforced to make majority people accept the reality of Global Warming.
This way the desperately needed critical mass of understanding could be achieved and that would boost our current efforts to make Green Energy generation achieve the “status of ” the main solution of the current problem manking is facing – increase in Green House gases contributing to global warming.
Dear Mr. Shields.
Your mail is most opportune. Indeed it has been on my mind to share with you our last Progress Report, but we have been waiting for a response from The Icelandic Patent Office, as we have applied for an international patent of our gasification process. As we understand the situation it is only a matter of some days and when we get it we shall mail to you their comments.
Best regards,
Ásgeir Leifsson
Excellent. I’m looking forward to understanding this better.
I feel there is a great niche for a small scale biodiesel producer.This idea came to me a few years ago offsore the coast of georgia while fishing.The smell of diesel fuel made three of the six peole sick on the boat.Expecially combined with rough seas this is intensified.After asking around i found this is a common problem.I feel biodiesel-with the right marketing could be extremely viable.
Sorry to sound like an ignoramus — but wouldn’t biodiesel make people sick too?
Usually Biodiesel is made from vegetable oil not crude petroleum.
therefore the irritants are not present in the fuel or exhaust.
I was a consulting GM for a biodiesel start up in Washington State several years ago.
Indeed, a very attractive market was the marine diesel. The environmental benefits/risk management aspect is huge, from a risk-of-spill perspective to an air pollution perspective. Marine diesel has the highest sulfur content. The ‘crudest of crude’ diesel fuel goes to the marine market, which is the least regulated in regards to air pollution. The high sulfur also keeps those engines nice and happy (re: lubricity).
The business problem is typical: high sulfur marine diesel is cheaper than biodiesel. You’ve got to find the lowest cost feedstock and processing, along with COMMITTED boat owners, and you’ve got to help them through the multitude of clogged fuel filters in transition.
In my mind, the marine and other sensitive environments are the highest and best use for biodiesel, which otherwise adds only marginal benefits to the user.
Find a fleet of boat owners who will commit to purchasing a certain volume, and then you’ve got something.
I have been raised around the Mighty Mississippi all my life.
The respect I have for it is obvious, I don’t boat on it, but I do fish
it occasionally, from the shore.
I’ve thought many times that there has to be a way to harness this massive body of water, with it’s continuous water flow.
Hydro power of course.
There are 26 lock and dam systems on the River, from MN to LA.
I know it would cost a tremendous amount of money to build the infrastructure to sustain a large scale project of this kind, but doing nothing seems like it would cost more.
We would lose the opportunity to generate almost limitless power for surrounding communities in the IA. and IL. area of which I reside in.
But think of the Rivers that run through the other states of this country.
Columbia,Ohio,Missouri,Red River, and if I’ve left some out I’m sure sorry.
It seems to me that the money we spend on some of the other programs to becoming energy effcient that there be room for a Hydro power plant along the Mighty Mississippi to provide energy for a long time to come.
Thank You
R.W.Hines from IL.
Dear R.W. Hines from IL. You are correct. Years ago the only way up the great rivers were by paddle wheel. Well think of this. You have a large flats type boat, with two large paddle wheels on either end. From the big wheels you can power DC or even AC generators. The only problem is dealing with local electric utility companies. All you need to do is anchor the boat and now you are producing electric power. I have a friend here in Florida that is doing the small unit (10 KW DC electric generator) on his house boat on a small river. He need no fuel and the system is very quiet and reliable. This is a perfect expample of Off Grid Living.
As we desire to make the World a better place for all God’s people (earth inhabitants) let’s remember that genuine and truth leadership is sincerely based upon integrity set up by God. Clean energy will continue to remain an illusion and a politicized issued in this way the master of hope and crook udermine and fuel their lust at the expense of the majority with business as usual idealogy. Please, let there be a clear cut policy direction that will hold both actor and policies maker to account.
I believe that rooftop solar energy is a viable market but must be packaged differently. Consumers do not have the money or do not want to spend to install an energy system and worry about maintaining it.
The concept is to package as a Solar Utility meaning sell energy to consumers and the grid from the consumers rooftop through a long term lease or PPA. This concept is profitable to the consumer (cheaper than he pays now) and attractive to the investor. In general, this concept can be used for all types of renewables and compete with the traditional utility.
Your comments are appreciated.
Hydro Electric Opportunity 08. 11. 2010.
For nearly a decade there has been a tidal wave of renewable energy development across the USA; most of this new clean energy is produced in and around America’s agricultural communities in the form of wind generation; ironically another form of generation is being ignored, a form that is far more dependable, has none of the variability issues, and in many cases can be an economic savior for farms and ranches; this is small hydro-electric generation, 10mw’s or less.
Before the onslaught of wind development and advancing solar technologies, but well within this era of “environmental awareness” hydro electric generation was considered as being nearly as harmful for the aquatic environment as coal is for air quality. The call for the removal of dams that stop fish migration has been one of the rallying cries of environmental advocates over the last two decades, the result of this outcry has been a plethora of stringent regulation mandated concerning waters of the USA, almost ensuring that no more dams be built in this country – in spite of the fact that thousands of dams with the potential to produce energy have been built for flood control and irrigation by various federal agencies and private irrigation companies since the turn of the last century.
Recognizing the growing need for energy, as early as the late 1980’s (before wind), the Department of Energy commissioned a study (U.S. Hydropower Resource Assessment Final Report) to investigate hydro-electric generation potential on these previously built dams nationwide and while doing so developed a stringent set of rules to guide developers when considering project sites; this study also calculated the energy potential of those dams that were deemed nearly environmentally benign.
A realistic assessment of this targeted potential is 50,000 megawatts of clean renewable energy, not considering the potential for micro hydro that could be installed on culinary water systems throughout western communities whose water comes from high mountain springs and streams; in many cases small hydro-electric generation can back-feed the grid thus reducing the need for additional transmission installation.
Recently the USDA added small hydro generation to their Rural Development program’s arsenal of acceptable projects, specifically the REAP program, opening the flood gates for hydro-electric development in rural America. The USDA, recognizing that funding for rural energy development, in all forms, was necessary to ensure the financial success of such projects, upped the ante by including a grant for the Feasibility Study required by most government grant/ loan programs, again, including small hydro-electric projects as eligible.
What this means for the rancher, farmer, or irrigation company is the opportunity to develop a revenue source while increasing base energy, helping rural communities, and providing good stable clean energy for America.
Wind doesn’t always blow and clouds cover the sun from time to time but within our farm and ranch communities’ water flows; non-consumptive use of this resource is not only prudent but adds additional value to our agricultural heritage here in America; potential revenues from energy generation ensures a healthy and progressive agri-business for the country.
This is very interesting. Can you provide some websites that would show us more about what is involved here for someone who may be interested in deploying this?