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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Over the last 12 months or so, I’ve received a fairly steady ration of calls inquiring about some sort of engineering service.  Often, the request concerns help with the design of some terrific new product concept.  Sometimes, however, it’s just a verification of an idea that may be based on a set of drawings or calculations — or something even less developed; it may be a sketch on a cocktail napkin – or merely a notion floating around in someone’s head.  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

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General Motors is partnering with Hawaii’s gas provider to pilot hydrogen stations for fuel cell vehicles. Hawaii has to import over 90% of its gasoline at the moment, and the state wants to reduce its reliance by around 70% through a combination of improved efficiencies, conservation and development of alternative energy solutions such as hydrogen. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Nuclear

A piece written by the president of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service:

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, President Obama released his Fiscal Year 2012 budget and I’m afraid the overriding message is: we’ve got to get to work!

Even while slashing funds for heating assistance for the poor and cleaning up the Great Lakes, the President’s budget–like last year–proposes to triple the loan “guarantee” program for new nuclear reactor construction. That would mean another $36 Billion in loan “guarantees” for nuclear utilities to buy reactors from wealthy foreign companies like Areva and Toshiba, while the poor shiver through the winter.

Tell Congress: NO WAY! (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Nuclear

I’d like to present a piece written by Ace Hoffman:

The most dangerous times for any nuclear power plant are:  Initial start-up or during a restart, and during a shut-down, especially an emergency shut-down.

Three Mile Island Unit II, for instance, had been in commercial operation for less than three months when it partially melted down.  It was only slightly different from, slightly more powerful than, Unit 1, which, today, was relicensed by the same careless Nuclear Regulatory Commission we seek redress from today as well — for another 20 years — until April 19, 2034.  Some of Three Mile Island Unit 1’s parts will be 60 years old when it is finally “retired” — irradiated, thermally heated, pressurized, chemically embrittled, and cycled on and off hundreds or even thousands of times. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Those of us who have seen the film documentary “Crude” — as well as millions of others following the story — were heartened today as a court in Ecuador has ordered the oil giant Chevron to pay $8.6 billion for dumping billions of gallons of toxic oil waste into Ecuador’s rain forest. The judgement is one of the largest ever imposed for environmental contamination in any court.

However, we were not at all surprised to hear that Chevron said it would appeal the ruling.  Hell, ExxonMobil robo-appealed the Valdez judgement, consistently postponing the payment of damages. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

There is definitely a change in the air for electric vehicles. With all the buzz about the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf plus the recent up-tick in oil prices the automotive public is interested in the opportunities that exist in the electric vehicle marketplace. This is evident even on EBay where recently a 2007 Miles ZX40s sold for over $11,000 — an amount that was $2,500 over the $8,500 asking price.

“This shows that there is renewed interest in the alternative vehicle space for folks who want to get in but cannot afford a 35 to 40 thousand dollar vehicle. A year ago that car would not have brought a price of half that,” commented Doug Rosen, former sales executive with MIles who is now focused on distributing electric vehicles in the Caribbean Islands. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Recently many states have chosen to deregulate their energy markets. This means that homeowners and consumers can choose who generates the power that they use. This is done in part to lower utility prices and to let competition drive the more or less monopolized market. At the moment there are 28 states that have deregulated either electricity, natural gas or both. In a few states like Texas where generation and distribution of electricity is deregulated residents have been obliged to make a choice. But in the states where people still deal with their utility company for distribution but have the option to choose the source of their electricity, there seems to be a reluctance to act. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Energy Storage

Researchers at MIT are developing a lithium-ion battery with a positive electrode made of carbon nanotubes that delivers 10 times more power than a conventional battery and can store five times more energy than a conventional ultracapacitor.

The nanotube battery technology is licensed to an undisclosed battery company. It could extend the range of electric vehicles and electronic gadgets.

The high surface area and high conductivity of carbon nanotubes promise improvements in both energy and power density. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

I mentioned that I was on Bill Frank’s “Brainstormin'” radio show a few weeks back.  Here’s a link to the really nice job his people did in writing up our talk on renewables. 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

I’m one of these fanatics about combining reasons to travel. It’s not uncommon for me to have six or seven meetings in a day in Manhattan, starting with an early breakfast, running straight through after-dinner drinks.  Except for super-urgent meetings, I let reasons to be in The City slowly build up until I can tackle all of them at once.

And it looks like another trip is taking form. I have several “friends of friends” who run investment groups whom I’m dying to meet concerning certain hot cleantech business plans.  And just this morning, 2GreenEnergy Financial Services Associate Adrien Corbett invited me to a meeting of the World Harmony Forum on Investment Opportunities in The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (East Timor). Making the presentation will be the head of state, His Excellency Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, Prime Minister.

It goes without saying that I rarely get a chance to meet people whom I need to remember to address as Your Excellency. I’ll be sure to ask about his excellence in renewable energy.

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