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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

Here’s another in our series of short introductory videos, in which I discuss  renewable energy generally, including its strengths and weaknesses. We ALL want clean, abundant, inexpensive energy — and renewables hold the potential to take us there.  But as much as we like this concept generally, there are issues; there are costs that need to be understood.  It’s fine to be an advocate, but it’s even better to wrap your wits around as many of the issues as possible: technological, economical, and political.  

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh4Jslrl-SM&w=500&h=284]

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

At an ever-growing rate, I get calls and emails from people all over the world hoping that I can hook them up with clean energy jobs in the U.S.  I wish I could help, but I can’t — at least, not at this point.

I’m hoping that this changes soon, but the U.S. is not embracing renewables to the degree I’d like to see. Did you know that there are more jobs in solar in Germany than there are jobs in steel in the U.S?  I’m not proud of that, but it’s a fact.  I believe that renewable energy will eventually win the day, but it doesn’t appear that the U.S. will be a leader in making this happen.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

Thursday afternoon I had the pleasure of listening to Amory Lovins present his latest thinking on the world energy picture at the University of California at Santa Barbara, which he sums up in his book Reinventing Fire. I’m so glad I didn’t miss this brilliant and compelling talk; you have to experience this first-hand to know what it’s like to be in the presence of a great mind whose life’s work has been figuring out Earth’s energy puzzle. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

I’m headed down to the University of California at Santa Barbara this afternoon to listen to Amory Lovins deliver a talk. It’s hard to think of anyone who has had a greater impact on our concern for environmental issues and the result of our  energy policy on the natural world. I’m hoping for the opportunity to introduce myself and tell him how grateful I am, on behalf of the people of the world, for his work.

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

Here’s a discussion on global climate change featuring California-based venture capitalist Dan Miller, who apparently has some connections local to me. Dan spoke last week at The Midland School, a wonderful private school at which both my kids, Jake and Valerie, attended a summer “Writers’ Camp” a few years ago.  I had to bribe them both in the extreme, offering them both their first cell phones to attend, but I’m glad I made the compromise.  The camp was wonderful.  And Dan’s talk is fantastic.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

Here’s the follow-up to my discussion with friends who claim to have observed a violation of the 2nd law of thermodynamics. Of course, I get claims like this at the rate of at least once a week, and I pay very little attention to them. What makes this interesting is that one of them is a professional mechanical engineer, and they’re both well-educated people.

Friend #1: Craig, please read “Unobservable Universe.” It’ll give you a different perspective on physics and your laws of thermodynamics. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

I get a bit puckish in my writings in the evening, perhaps because I typically have a martini as I make dinner for the Shields family.

Here, I respond to a friend who claims to have observed an engineering breakthrough by which an adjustment in a permanent-magnet motor creates a scenario in which the rotor does not slow down, even with a load applied to it, as it’s able to draw energy from the  magnets.  I’m reminded of other friends who wish me to create a device that taps the energy in gravitation, or other phenomena that don’t contain energy.  I write:

Well, I have to say that I’m dubious. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Nuclear

M. Mayer writes a longer comment from which I excerpt:

Judging the risks (associated with a certain energy technology) is hard because it’s about making guesses about the unknown. … In a way it’s easier to predict that the sun will continue to shine than to predict that nuclear power won’t fall from grace.

Your point about the risk of nuclear falling from grace is an interesting one. I’m sure there are some fascinating discussions going on about the decisions being made in Japan, Germany, Italy, etc. And yes, there is the growing voice of the anti-nuke movement generally. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

Here’s a nice excerpt from “Green Auto Market — The Business of Green Cars, Fuels & Technologies,” an e-newsletter that I’m happy to see gaining ground and increasing circulation. It’s written by Jon LeSage, a very savvy guy, located not too far from me here in Southern California:

Craig Shields’ Second Book on Renewable Energy Launched: If you ever get the opportunity, have a conversation with Craig Shields. He’d previously written a great book on renewable energy, and just had his second book released on March 15, Is Renewable Really Doable? Exploring Clean Energy’s Opportunities and Tough Realities. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

Here’s top climate scientist Dr. James Hansen on global climate change. When people ask where I stand on this subject and why, I simply request that they watch this; I sure wish I had it in my power to get everyone to do so.

Not only are we doing nothing to stop this unfolding catastrophe, we’re actively making it worse, subsidizing the fossil fuel industries worldwide with hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Why? Big Energy wants it that way, and has spent a fortune to convince voters that putting a tax on carbon to curb our dependence on fossil fuels will hurt the economy. (more…)

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