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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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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Are you happy with your company culture? Many companies that have a ‘green’ product pay no attention to their culture. Even those that follow the three P’s (Planet, People, Profit) see the ‘people’ part as donating to charity and not as having a focus on their culture.

Culture is built on agreements. These agreements can be tacit (underneath our consciousness) or conscious. Rarely are cultures designed or created consciously. You can’t prevent a culture from forming, but if you are not aware of how leadership actions create culture, then you can create a culture that is so bad and so intractable that you’ll want to sell your company (Tony Hsieh). (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Nuclear

After the Chernobyl incident, nuclear power became infamous as a potent yet deadly source of alternative energy. It would seem that no one would want to take second chances, not after the calamity that fell on the once prosperous city in Eastern Europe. The unfortunate accident that fell on one of Japan’s nuclear reactor during the March 2011 tsunami disaster was another cause of concern for any country planning to use nuclear power as their means for solving the energy crisis. And lately, the nuclear reactor near Crystal River, which is north of Tampa Bay, have been closed down permanently due to the cracks discovered within the reactor dome in 2009. Fixing the crack caused other cracks within the dome to appear as well. To repair all of the cracks would mean spending at least $ 1.5 billion at minimum, therefore it was more sensible to close down the nuclear power plant. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Insurance companies have been on board with the green revolution for a number of years now, and not only is it easier than ever to get major discounts for already owning an eco-friendly home or car, you can also use insurance to help you make the transition. Eco-friendly lifestyle changes can help you with your insurance prices because studies have shown that people who are concerned with environmental factors are also less likely to be at risk for filing an insurance claim in general. You may be interested in eco-friendly insurance, but you don’t have the money to install a solar system in your home or buy a hybrid car. There are still ways to choose the most eco-friendly policies available to you, ones that will let you save money for all the ways you incorporate helping the environment into your life. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Hydrokinetics

I had a terrific meeting this morning with one of my “Craig Shields – At Your Service” clients on the East Coast, this one involving a new concept in hydrokinetics.  It’s always cool to be paid, albeit modestly, to review original ideas in clean energy and offer recommendations accordingly.  Having said that, I’m glad to have wrapped up my last meeting for the trip, and to be on my way back home, and just ahead of the storm. 

 

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

As I was leaving the Renewable Energy Policy Forum on Capitol Hill yesterday, ready for a brisk walk a few blocks north to Union Station, I ran into a fellow who caught my eye and said, “Not a lot of new news there, was there?” 

“Oh, I thought there were some interesting insights,” I replied. 

“Can you name one?” he insisted.

For what it may be worth, here are a few abbreviated take-aways:  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Here’s one of dozens of articles that purports to advise U.S. President Obama on energy, essentially encouraging the development of fossil fuels as well as renewables.  To me, this makes sense if your sole concern is economic growth and you discount the environmental and health consequences of our energy policy — or lack thereof.

I’m reminded of something excellent I heard at yesterday’s Renewable Energy Policy Forum from Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), which I paraphrase: (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Photovoltaics

I’m sitting in the press room at the PV America East show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where I’ve arrived about an hour before the main show floor opens.  I’m using the time to have conversations with a few of the top vendors, including a very senior representative of Chinese solar PV giant Trina, currently #2 in the world.   (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Ocean Thermal

One of the highlights of my trip back east this week will be a visit to my client OTECorporation, a company with a huge head-start in ocean thermal energy conversion.  “OTEC,” as it’s normally abbreviated, is one of the renewable energy technologies that is essentially a variant of solar; the surface of the oceans in the tropical regions around the globe absorbs and stores vast amounts of heat energy that the Earth receives from the sun – energy that can be converted to mechanical energy (and ultimately electrical energy) through the same concept that lies behind a heat pump: the successive evaporation and condensation of a working fluid. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Frequent commenter Gary Tulie from the UK joins me in musing why the subject of clean energy is so politically divisive in the U.S.  He offers the following:

I think it must only be in America that there is such an entrenched degree of animosity between the two camps.  In Europe, it is not unusual for major traditional energy companies to also invest substantially in wind farms and other renewable energy opportunities.  Why is this? (more…)

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