One can argue that the Tesla Roadster is just too much: too fast, too small, and way too expensive, for starters. It’s harder to make the same claim about the Tesla Model S, due out next year. A full-sized sedan that seats seven, it boasts terrific range and gorgeous styling. It’s still pricey — $57,400 before rebates — but this will be a fabulous car.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_Xc7VM957U]
Here’s a brief video in which I discuss a software platform that, for the first time, provides users — both consumers and businesses — the capability of specifying electricity that was generated from renewable resources. The result? Over time, the power utilities will be able to depend more heavily on clean energy sources, and plan their purchases accordingly, thus bringing more renewables onto the grid.
In my opinion, this is exciting stuff. The company is looking for investor, btw; if you’re interested, please let me know.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmI-Y8EGQnc]
Here’s a short video in which I discuss a unique approach that applies nicely to hydrokinetics in high head conditions, e.g., waterfalls or steep rapids.
Does this scale to the point that it can replace terawatts of fossil fuels? Nope. But in the right conditions, it’s a wonderful solution, and thus, in my opinion, the company represents an interesting investment opportunity.
I honestly don’t know what to make of supposedly honest and professional reporters who write articles that deliberately misrepresent the case for electric vehicles. Here’s Forbes Magazine’s recent piece Electric Cars Are An Extraordinarily Bad Idea, by Louis Woodhill. And here’s the truth, a rebuttal in which Plug-In America co-founder Paul Scott exposes Woodhill’s article for what it is: a litany of disinformation.
Always the gentleman, Scott’s tone is polite and respectful. Mine isn’t. I’m infuriated that millions of people were exposed to this concatenation of distortions and outright lies. If I were Forbes, I’d be deeply ashamed, and I’d certainly refuse to accept another syllable from Woodhill.
When we look at some of the bad actors in Corporate America, it’s possible to reason that nothing good – in the ethical sense – even comes from this quarter. But this is a horribly shortsighted and unfair conclusion. Of course, there are acts of humanitarianism and philanthropy that take the form of corporate giving, which happens to the tune of about $10 billion per year. But more germane – at least to our purposes here at 2GreenEnergy – are corporate sustainability initiatives – many of which are completely sincere, and utterly massive in scope.
Coming soon at 2GreenEnergy will be a special blog to highlight the work of “Corporate Role Models” – those whose efforts in reducing carbon footprint, (more…)
In the course of the radio show I recorded yesterday the interviewer asked me, “Craig, what do you think college students can do to lead ‘greener’ lives?”
“Wow,” I responded. “It’s hard to know where to begin. Obviously, we’re all trying to ‘reduce, re-use, and recycle.’ But certainly the way we eat has a great deal to do with our impact on the environment.”
“Is that true? How could that be?” came the response.
A bit stunned that this might be news to people, I explained the basic thermodynamics associated with raising animals for food — how horribly inefficient these processes are. (more…)
If I may ask another quick favor on selecting a title on my new book, could I get you to rate each of five possible choices? The “survey” is right here. Thanks very much.
A fine young man, Rudy Chavarilla, called me this morning from American Amp and interviewed me for about half an hour. We recorded a show on the subject: What college should students do vis-à-vis sustainability that will be distributed to over 300 college radio stations.
This whole process makes me feel good all over. I honestly love to speak with college students, though when I do, I have a habit of throwing in the kind of cliches that embarrass the bejeepers out of my kids. “Enjoy these brief moments. These are the best years of your life. Read great books. Learn to live an examined life. Kiss a few good-looking members of the opposite sex.” Seriously, my kids want to barf when they hear me I carry on like this. So I thought the better of going down that road, and answered the interviewer’s questions without any of this sort of editorializing. (more…)
In the course of something I wrote yesterday I noted: “In large measure, the world is in its deplorable condition precisely because we tolerate it.” What I should have known is that this sentiment was expressed 100 times better by one of the great Americans in history: abolitionist, lecturer, author and slave Frederick Douglass:
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them…. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.
You may have noticed that I sometimes take controversial points of view in what I write here at 2GreenEnergy. And when I take on an issue like the morality of the oil companies, the validity of cold fusion, or the corruption that Big Money perpetrates on our government, you’ve probably seen that I get comments that range from “brilliant/right on!” to “you’re a fool/get lost.”
I’m perfectly cool on all feedback, positive and negative. There are some super bright people hanging out here – far smarter than I know I’ll ever be – and I’m the better for their corrections and confrontations. It would be quite an uninspiring place if we all agreed on everything, and I’d be learning very little.
If you happen to be someone who loves dealing with the issues in a well-reasoned way, regardless of where you stand on the politics, economics, and the science that surround the world of energy and sustainability, you may want to consider contributing an occasional article. Now that we have the new site up and running smoothly, please take a moment and note the guest-blogging link at the bottom of every page. If you have opinions, observations, rants, or simple matters of fact you wish to contribute, I urge you to take the opportunity to do so.
