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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

I’m headed to New York City today for a series of four meetings—two of which are with heavyweights in bringing equity financing to clean energy projects, and have expressed interest in some of the business plans that I’ve sent them. I’m starting the day at Denham Capital, a global energy and commodities private equity firm, who’s taken major positions in 40 projects over the last 15 years, investing $3.1 billion in the process.

Unfortunately, per my conversations with them, nothing I have is perfect for them (though some of my projects are actually very close). But, even though I don’t have a live deal on the table there, I feel I’m knocking on the door, and since I was in The City, I thought I’d drop by and introduce myself.

Now, it’s on to the Flatiron district for an introduction to the folks at ThinkGreen. I’m really looking forward to this one.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Visits to Washington DC are bittersweet for me. I deeply enjoy the rich sense of freedom, justice, and opportunity that are the core values on which our great country is based. But there are constant reminders that the mechanics of the political process run counter to these values—that anyone with an uncorrupted sense of decency has been systematically removed and is nowhere to be found.

Take the subject of energy as an example. As Shell Oil’s ex-CEO John Hofmeister articulates so clearly, the current political environment effectively pushes candidates into one of two camps, both of which represent nonsensical solutions to our energy woes. In truth, we need to wean ourselves off oil by committing to innovation in clean energy. But who’s making that happen? Not the political right, steadfastly maintaining the fiction that we have plenty of oil and that there are no real issues associated with continuing to burn fossil fuels. Not the left, who somehow feel they cannot acknowledge the role of fossil fuels in sustaining economic stability in the short-term. 

I love to walk around the nation’s capital and take in all the grandeur: the stunning architecture – and the feeling that great things could happen, leading us in the direction of a sane future. But I’m overcome with dread: the cold reality that there are very few people who are honestly trying to make it happen.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles
Tesla with driver Erik Comas, courtesy The Telegraph

Tesla with driver Erik Comas, courtesy The Telegraph

It’s a triumph for Tesla. The Tesla Roadster beat out more than 100 clean fuel vehicles in the 5th Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally, repeating last year’s victory. Driven by former Formula 1 driver Erik Comas, the white roadster proved than an all-electric car is capable of hard competition and endurance.

It has an EU-certified range of 212 miles (340 km) per charge. In fact, the Tesla doesn’t need any special equipment for charging it… a conventional outlet is all that is needed. 

The Alternative Energy Rally covered more than 800 km over four days, from Annecy in the French Alps and Lugano in Switzerland to the sprints in Monaco. It followed some of the same roads as the historic Monte Carlo Rally. Some of the other cars in the race included the hybrids 2011 Honda CR-Z and the 2011 Toyota Prius, a biofueled Saab 9-3 E85, and the full electric Nissan Leaf.

The number of competitors has grown from 36 in the original Alternative race (2007) to more than 120 this year. “Next year,” said Erik Comas, “I will enter 5 Roadsters owned by my company Green Car Challenge into this amazing event.” Bravo!

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

During a slow period at the Electric Drive Transportation Association conference this afternoon, I walked a couple of miles across town to interview spokespeople for the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) – Senior Attorneys Jay Pendergrass and Lisa Goldman.  We talked largely about the subsidies that our US federal government provides to energy companies, insofar as ELI recently completed a comprehensive, independent study on the subject.  “This is by far the most widely distributed report we’ve ever created,” Jay told me.  “It’s been downloaded over 18,000 times.”

ELI painstakingly pulled together information on every form of expenditures or forbearance (e.g., a tax break) that is given to fossil fuels, carbon capture and sequestration, corn ethanol, and what it calls “traditional renewables” like solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal.

The results are in the report linked above: fossil fuels get about $5.50 for every $1 going to renewables.

My main question, of course, is why our government is doing this.  The role of subsidies is to promote things that are in the public interest.  All the $70.2 billion that is going to traditional fossil fuels is accomplishing is creating “a transfer of wealth from the public to the shareholders of oil, coal, and gas companies,” as Jay explained.  Here’s $70 billion that could (should??) be going to promote things that actually are in the public interest: an end to our addiction to oil, to our empowering our enemies, to our poisoning our planet and everything living on it.

Interesting discussion, to be sure.

Now I’m off to the welcome party.  I’ll try to turn down my cynicism and enjoy myself.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

I just had a meeting with Jeff Siegel of GreenChipStocks at the Electric Drive Transportation Association conference.  When we were finished talking business, we compared notes on the event.

While it’s good to see all this happening, my personal belief is that politics, being, as it is, about consensus, tends to make for some really boring presentations. This is sad, because in truth, the migration to EVs (and renewables) is chock full of interesting and important controversy. When one considers the competition for establishing standards, the fights for subsidies and incentives, and so forth, there is actually very little agreement.

All you’re left with is that “EVs are good,” and that “the details will emerge over time.” I’m not sure we need a conference to present that.

I write this from Union Station, waiting for my train to Philadelphia.  Staying at Mom’s; driving to NYC in the AM.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Here’s a slight digression from our normal chat: the pending legislation that would essentially end the use of non-drug remedies as cures for diseases. Referred to by opponents as “criminalizing nature,” the laws will force Europe’s population to obtain a doctor’s prescription and rely on pharmaceuticals instead of using natural methods of healing found in herbal remedies and nutritional supplements. According to insiders, the US isn’t far behind.

This, of course, is just one example of the power of the pharmaceutical industry and its vast lobby. By eliminating natural alternative healing methods, it has, in effect, eliminated it only competition.

As outrageous as it is, I bring it up to point out a larger issue: the enormous power generally granted corporations. Healthcare is only one of dozens of areas in which the profits made by corporations are poured back into affecting our legal system, driving monopolistic positions and even greater profitability. The losers? You and me.

Until we have a constitutional amendment overturning the Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which allows corporations the right of “free speech” (like people have), and the license to spend without limit to influence our elections, we can kiss our democracy goodbye.

I urge you to check out MoveToAmend.org.

　

　

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

This week I’m taking a break from the ideal Southern California weather, and traveling on one of my regular East Coast tours.  Today, I’m in Washington DC for the Electric Drive Transportation Association’s annual conference, where one of the day’s events was a press conference in which a few dozen of the currently- and soon-to-be-available EVs were displayed outside the Department of Energy Building.  Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and a few others spoke to an enthusiastic audience.  I was in the front row. 

Markey is obviously very bright, and has the quick wit one expects of a Congressman who thinks of himself as progressive.  “Many people have a theological belief in our abundance of oil.  The problem is that oil isn’t about THEology; it’s about GEology.  We have less than 2% of the world’s oil, while consuming about 25% of it.”

He also reminded us of the trip that George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice made to Saudi Arabia a few years ago, the purpose of which was to make a request for an increase in oil production, thus a reduction in price on the world markets.  In exchange for the Saudis’ agreement to consider the idea, we agreed to sell them nuclear energy generation equipment (as if they need it, sitting on all that oil, with their own gasoline at 9 cents a gallon). 

“This was one of the low points in US history,” Markey told us, looking at his feet solemnly. “When Kennedy was president, he told Khrushchev, ‘We will use technology to dominate you in the Space Race.’ Why couldn’t Bush have done something like that?  Why can’t we simply commit to innovating and developing technology that will establish US leadership in the field of energy?  So much of this is right here, in our hands right now.  The electric vehicles you see here today are a lethal weapon in our fight to end our oil addiction.”

Something to think about.

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

Just arrived at my hotel at 12th and K.  It’s a bit past 2 AM EDT, and in a few hours it will be time to head out for the breakfast “networking” session prior to the start of the conference.   I’m psyched. Should be a good couple of days. 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

This year’s Electric Drive Transportation Association conference in Washington DC is shaping up to be a good one. Great agenda, lots of sponsors, and tons of high-level exhibitors. I’ll be there for two days, for a host of different reasons – one of which is the sheer joy of seeing all this moving forward.  Steven Chu’s the keynote speaker, and I always enjoy listening to him, as well. 

My hat’s off to the EDTA and its president Brian Wynne (whom I interviewed in Renewable Energy – Facts and Fantasies); they’ve done terrific work in pulling together causes that have disparate agendas, and moving the industry along as a cohesive unit.

I encourage anyone in town wishing to say hello to let me know.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

I’m headed back East on Monday for meetings in Washington DC and NYC this week; I’ll try to write from the road. Among my stops is the Environmental Law Institute, where spokesperson Jay Predergrass has generously agreed to let me interview him for my next book.

From our initial conversations, these people sound extremely sharp and dedicated. I’ll be interested to learn things like how they differ in mission and function from the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), whom I interviewed for Renewable Energy – Facts and Fantasies. Apparently, both use the legal process as their core tool to keep environmental causes moving forward, or, to say it differently, from allowing unbridled industrialization from running roughshod over the environment.

 

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