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A Lot To Like About Forester Media’s Distributed Energy

craigshieldsPosted on December 21, 2011 Posted in Efficiency

The heavyweights from Forester Media came up from their office in Santa Barbara to have lunch with me in Santa Ynez earlier today. Publisher Dan Waldman and Group Editor John Trotti met me at the terrific local Trattoria Grappolo for a discussion of a few of their six titles, and a conversation about some sort of cooperative relationship with us at 2GreenEnergy.

One of their properties is “Distributed Energy,” covering energy efficiency and, of course, distributed generation. I have dozens of ways I can add value to what they’re doing there, one of which I’m doing right now, urging readers to check them out, and subscribe to their free printed and electronic publication. Here’s the link to “Distributed Energy.”

Renewable Energy’s Connection to Peace and Freedom

craigshieldsPosted on December 21, 2011 Posted in Renewables - Politics

During the holiday season, we talk a great deal about peace: world peace, the Prince of Peace, and so forth — all good things. But isn’t it a shame that, in large measure, we trot these concepts out at Christmas, only to go back to beating the holy hell out of one another during the balance of the year?

For a moment, ponder the connection between world peace and renewable energy. At first, this may sound like a concept from the 1960s. But in truth, our dependence on oil empowers tyranny all around the world (more…)

Tagged with: alternative energy, autocratic kingdoms, Bahrain, clean energy, democracies in the world, dictatorships, green energy, James Woolsey, regular elections, Renewable Energy, renewable energy peace and freedom

The U.S. Has a Responsibility At This Point In History

craigshieldsPosted on December 20, 2011 Posted in Fossil Fuels

Bill Moore, editor of EVWorld.com has written a splendid article on the failure of certain of the early electric vehicle companies, in which he points out:

Breaking into the automotive business can be relatively easy; making a success of it is pretty damned near impossible, regardless of what type of propulsion system you favor: ICE-age or otherwise; and it’s especially tough if you decide to go electric. Beyond this, the reasons for individual failures are myriad and multiple: right product, wrong time, wrong product; wrong time, etc. Management missteps, unrealistic investor expectations and impatience, government responsiveness, inept marketing, unanticipated technical setbacks, product shortcomings, public resistance to change: the list is long.

I don’t dispute any of this, but let’s look at the subject from a “big picture” perspective. As a country, we’re still married to fossil fuels, and we’re doing essentially nothing about it In particular, we have no energy policy. Hell, we’re about to build an oil pipeline (more…)

Tagged with: alternative energy, burgeoning urban/consumer populations globally, clean energy, countless dead and wounded, crippling debt, ecological disasters, global climate change, global warming, green energy, healthcare, lung disease, national security, ocean acidification, peak oil, Renewable Energy, responsibility at this time and place in history, skyrocketing debt, terrorism, – war we can't afford

Energy Infographics Put Renewables Into Perspective

craigshieldsPosted on December 20, 2011 Posted in Renewables - Science

My team and I are working hard to develop a series of infographics that introduce relative newcomers to the subject of energy — and renewables in particular.

I had fun with the first one, which looked at the history of renewable energy on this planet. The second one, which pointed out that all energy on Earth has come to us as a result of the Big Bang 13.7 billion years ago, was even more interesting, in that it inspired a bit of controversy among certain religious folks that I hadn’t even imagined when I put the idea together.

I’d like to see this bloom into a dozen such graphics over the coming year or two.

Tagged with: alternative energy, clean energy, energy infographics, green energy, putting renewables into perspective, Renewable Energy

News from the U.S. — Federal Government Takes Final Step to Suspend Constitution

craigshieldsPosted on December 20, 2011 Posted in Renewables - Politics

Here’s a piece of U.S. legislation that is unimaginably unAmerican: the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012, Section 1031 which provides broad authority for the federal government to use the military in domestic operations in order to detain Americans indefinitely and without trial. Such a move nullifies the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as well as the natural rights of Americans. (more…)

Tagged with: 4th Amendment, detain Americans indefinitely, National Defense Authorization Act, natural rights of Americans, NDAA, Section 1031, suspending the Constitution, unAmerican, use of the military in domestic operations

2GreenEnergy’s Financial Wizard Bill Paul on Shale Gas

craigshieldsPosted on December 19, 2011 Posted in Fossil Fuels

2GreenEnergy financial guru Bill Paul has a natural gift for looking at the macro issues affecting renewables. Here’s a high-level summary of his thinking on clean energy vis-à-vis shale gas, in which he summarizes:

There’s a distinct possibility that Wall Street’s going to start diverting big bucks away from green tech and into shale gas, if it hasn’t already. I see the billions going into shale gas infrastructure posing a huge impediment to developing clean tech. (more…)

Tagged with: alternative energy, Bill Paul, Chesapeake Energy, clean energy, ExxonMobil, green energy, Renewable Energy, shale gas, solar energy, solar panels, solar power

Taking Aim At the Dirtiest of Coal Plants

craigshieldsPosted on December 19, 2011 Posted in Fossil Fuels

It’s hard to find too many people who approve of the job that U.S. President Obama is doing. The right wing thinks he’s essentially a socialist who’s done a terrible job with the economy, that he’s pushing for bigger, more repressive government and a redistribution of wealth. The left is disappointed that he’s backed away from many of his more progressive campaign promises, and believe that he’s just as much a product of Big Money as are the Republicans.

However, from my perspective as an observer of the energy scene, he’s a whale of a lot better than the guy who preceded him. Here’s some gratifying action aimed at dirty coal plants, of which everyone with lungs should approve.

Tagged with: alternative energy, clean energy, green energy, Obama, Renewable Energy, Taking Aim At the Dirtiest of Coal Plants

German Village Produces More Energy Than It Needs

craigshieldsPosted on December 19, 2011 Posted in Efficiency

Here’s a story of a German Village that produces over three times as much energy as it needs. And I bet fathers (like me) are STILL telling their kids, “Mach das Licht aus!” (Turn off the light.)

Tagged with: alternative energy, clean energy, German Village Produces More Energy Than It Needs, green energy, Renewable Energy

A Collaboration on Fuel Cell Vehicles — But Exactly Whose Interests Are At Stake? Not Yours.

craigshieldsPosted on December 18, 2011 Posted in Electric Vehicles

Here’s an article that describes a collaboration between GM and BMW on fuel cell vehicles.

Wow, that’s remarkable. Just when I had started to trust the car companies based on the sincerity of Nissan/Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn and his people who build and promote the LEAF, I see this. A few basic points:

• The oil companies are the main supporters of the hydrogen economy. They see hydrogen as a mechanism for them to continue to retain a service station which will continue to provide the consumer with something they can pump. Electricity, on the other hand, is ubiquitous.

• Creating hydrogen suffers a 4:1 efficiency issue. I.e., generating hydrogen in a renewable way requires four times the number of solar panels that would be needed to make the electricity to put into my battery.

• Fuel cell vehicles’ fuel pods cost $500,000 to $1,000,000 apiece. (more…)

Tagged with: alternative energy, BMW, clean energy, collaboration on fuel cell vehicles, electric vehicle, EVs, fuel cells, General Motors, GM, green energy, Honda, Nissan Leaf, Nissan/Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn, Renewable Energy, solar energy, solar panels, solar power

Feedback, Please? My Third Book on Renewable Energy

craigshieldsPosted on December 18, 2011 Posted in Renewables - Business

While I’m waiting for delivery of my second book (“Is Renewable Really Doable? – Exploring Clean Energy’s Opportunities and Tough Realities”), I wanted to run a couple of ideas for my third book by you.

Concept #1: “Renewable Energy – Following the Money,” focused on the U.S., featuring interviews with:

Investors (VCs, private equity, institutional)
Department of Energy
Key people in important states (e.g., California, New York, Texas, etc.)
Industry executives
Representatives of think-tanks
Media (e.g., Wall Street Journal)
Stock analysts

Concept #2: “Renewable Energy: A Global Issue – Interviews with Top People on Six Continents”

An exploration of the migration to clean energy in the most populous areas of the world, perhaps China, India, Africa, the Middle East, U.S., Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, and Oceania, based on interviews with key people who could speak to:

The prevailing political and economic climate
The efforts of key people
The cultural zeitgeist
Alternate fuel transportation
Smart grid and energy storage
Efficiency and conservation
Global climate change and the U.N. conferences on the subject

I’d appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

Tagged with: alternative energy, clean energy, green energy, Is Renewable Really Doable, Renewable Energy, Renewable Energy - Following the Money, Renewable Energy: A Global Issue