It looks like the debate on fuel economy for plug-in hybrids rages on unabated. General Motors just announced that its Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid car will carry a better efficiency rating that the Toyota Prius (long been recognized as the industry leader in the category). The fact that this is like comparing apples with trombones doesn’t seem to be of any major concern to GM, the EPA, or anyone else. (more…)
It’s bad enough that the country I love fails to take the lead in developing alternative energy solutions and declines to play a principal role in establishing a new economy based on clean energy. But, as we saw in Kyoto in the 1997, the presence of the US in the world of dealing with global climate change is often viewed more as a hindrance than a help.
Here’s Renewable Energy World’s coverage of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, in which non-profit Carbonfund urges the US – especially in light of the midterm elections — to stay home so that progress can be made, unobstructed by the overwhelming force of our business interests. That’s sad.
If you are looking for something totally new to get as a gift for Christmas then you need to look no further. As a matter of fact, this is one of those gifts that is for the man or woman who already has everything. What I am speaking of, is an electric bicycle or at least, an electric bike conversion kit. This is the gift that keeps on giving because with the rising cost of gas prices expected across the country, an electric bicycle can save somebody all kinds of money while providing them with the opportunity to get some fresh air and some exercise. (more…)
As I prepare for what I hope to be a huge spate of radio and television interviews on my book, I keep in mind that there is little I can do from my end to control the questioning and thus the theme that ultimately emerges. In fact, the last interview I did was entirely on electric transportation; we talked about lithium-ion battery chemistries and charging strategies for half an hour, without even touching on the notion of the ultimate source of the power.
Having said that, it’s important for me to know where I’d like to take the discussion if I get the chance. Here’s a central theme that summarizes my thinking on renewables at this point:
Renewable energy is the bargain of the century.
Of course, it depends on who’s doing the accounting, and how he’s doing it. (more…)
One last toast to Thanksgiving, if I may.
Here’s a short story by Leo Tolstoy that seems to get at the spirit of the occasion by addressing the question: What are the gifts for which we should be thankful?
Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday, is a time to appreciate our abundant gifts: the love of family and friends, and the opportunity to make the world a better place in which to live.
I want to express my profound gratitude to all of you who have helped build 2GreenEnergy into this meeting ground for people of good will. Thank you.
The global solar world is mourning the October 14th death of Hermann Scheer. Known as the grandfather of solar, Scheer was not only a pioneer but an active advocate of solar and renewable energy as well as a great thinker and man of action. He was instrumental in introducing Renewable Energy Law (including feed-in tariffs) to Germany, and carrying German to a dominant solar position in the world. His initial actions were unheard of – a mass installation of more than 100,000 panels.
Scheer was a member of the German Parliament, President of the European Association for Renewable Energy EUROSOLAR, Chair of the World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and author (including “Energy Autonomy: the economic, social and technological cases for Renewable Energy” and seminal works “A Solar Manifesto” and “The Solar Economy.”) Days before his death, he published “Der energethische Imperativ.” The very applicable words of Mahatma Gandi appear in the introduction: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”
TIME Magazine called him “Hero for the Green Century”, and Scheer was awarded the Alternative Nobel Prize in 1999. He was also the first winner of the ‘World Photovoltaic Prize’ by the World PV Community. He described himself often as a “possibilist”.
There have been many obituaries and tributes written about Hermann, including Craig Shield’s own post on the 2Greenenergy blog. There is nothing more powerful than hearing some of his words from interviews over the years. I have therefore included a selection here, including from one of his last interviews:
“Guardian” (April 16, 2008). Interview with Kate Connelly
On the aesthetics of windmills, an oft-cited cry in certain U.S. communities “not in my backyard” thinking: “… don’t give me the arguments against the aesthetics of windmills. They’re not there to be liked – it’s enough to accept that they’re necessary, because we need 100% emission-free energies. Who, after all, likes power lines? But they’re accepted. Here we’re dealing with an existential problem.”
I’ve been fascinated recently with the subject of the macroeconomics that surrounds renewables, and, in particular, the subsidies that keep fossil fuels in place by holding the price of oil down artificially. In response to this discussion, frequent commentor Dr. Bob Goldschmidt writes:
The biggest subsidy of all is the $500+ billion a year of military costs used to secure the world’s imported oil supply. This does not appear at the pump and is paid for by the American taxpayers. If, because we have not made a timely effort to reduce oil consumption, Iran has enough income to go nuclear, how much will that cost?
I’m about to conduct a series of radio and TV interviews to promote my book, and I intend to make this the overall theme of the tour, i.e., clean energy is the bargain of the century. We don’t have to look too far to see the incredible costs of our current energy policy (or lack thereof).
The optimist in me thinks it’s only a matter of time until enough people see through this, realize the outrageous fiscal and moral costs of our nation’s refusal to take a leadership role in energy, and insist that we change our course here.
Another report from the Los Angeles Auto Show: the car companies continue to impress me with their wisdom. Here’s a minor example: their presence at shows like this is almost exclusively made by young, attractive people.
Who’s talking up the 2011 Buick? A portly 65-year-old Viagra customer (that may typify the actual Buick buyer)? Hell no. It’s an energetic 28-year-old kid with fantastic biceps, an engaging smile, and a $75 haircut. It’s image, my friend, and no one knows more about creating and maintaining that than the carmakers.
I spent a few hours this afternoon at the Los Angeles Auto Show, checking out the displays of the carmakers that are in the process of rolling out EVs. This year, I went on a “public” (vs. “press”) day, to get a sense for the overall market appreciation for EVs: How many people are interested? Who are they?
Here’s an observation:
If you spend time at EVWorld or AutoBlogGreen, you may conclude that the whole world is beating a path to EVs. Of course, the vast majority of this super-skewed audience craves EVs, but they’re not at all representative of the typical car consumer; just a few seconds at today’s show served as a slap-in-the-face type reminder of this obvious fact.
At a certain point, I found myself standing in Nissan’s area — a bright, clean car lot of a half-acre or so in size, with many dozen gas-powered cars and trucks — and one lonely EV: the LEAF. I couldn’t help notice the swarms of people taking pictures of one another smiling in front of the sleek, shiny, GT-R sportscar — and the occasional tree-hugger asking questions of the lady assigned to the LEAF.
So let’s start with what we knew all along: the first EV adopters will be a slim minority with a decided commitment to eco-friendliness. The question then becomes: how quickly will everyone else follow? (more…)
