Each alternative energy source—whether solar power, geothermal energy, or wind energy—has a major role to play, but it is wind power that is on its way to becoming the foundation of the new energy economy. The great energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy is under way. As fossil fuel prices rise, … Continue reading From Fossil Fuels to Renewable Energy
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Saudi Arabia reveals plans to be powered by renewable energy
Saudi Arabia says it wants to use fossil fuels to produce other goods rather than use it for power generation. Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil producer, has plans to become 100% powered by renewable and low-carbon forms of energy, according to an influential member of the royal family. But the process is likely to … Continue reading Saudi Arabia reveals plans to be powered by renewable energy
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Americans Still Behind Clean Energy
Capitalism, as the famous economist Joseph Schumpeter noted, is all about “creative destruction”. Firms come and go. Some survive. Some do not. So it’s unfortunate for America when critics of clean energy seek to politicize what the most ardent believers in free markets believe is a natural, ongoing part of a healthy economy. While it’s … Continue reading Americans Still Behind Clean Energy
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Nuclear decommissioning costs amount to €66 billion in UK alone
The nuclear industry’s ‘Foratom’ blog recently criticised EWEA’s argument in a recent report that “massive subsidies to fossil fuels and nuclear energy…. remain the rule”. Foratom instead claimed that “it is renewable energies, especially wind and solar energy that are the most systematically subsidised forms of energy, not nuclear energy.” Foratom then set out some … Continue reading Nuclear decommissioning costs amount to €66 billion in UK alone
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Full Planet, Empty Plates
More than 150 data sets accompany Lester R. Brown’s latest book, Full Planet, Empty Plates: The New Geopolitics of Food Scarcity. These tables and graphs help to explain the precarious situation in which humanity finds itself, as the world leaves an era of food surpluses and enters one of food scarcity. Here are some highlights … Continue reading Full Planet, Empty Plates
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Wind Energy, Electric Vehicles and the Green Stimulus
There was no shortage of wind energy or electricity at Thursday night’s debate between Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan, the Republican contender for that office. But federal support for wind power and electric cars was one of the early flashpoints between the two. “Was it a good idea to spend taxpayer dollars … Continue reading Wind Energy, Electric Vehicles and the Green Stimulus
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Climate change off the agenda in US Presidential election
While there is no doubt that the US is the number one economy in the world and its international influence — from popular culture to military power — is second to none, trying to understand the nation’s domestic political scene is far from an easy task. Take for example recent stories regarding climate change denial, … Continue reading Climate change off the agenda in US Presidential election
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Arctic Sea Ice in Free Fall
The North Pole is losing its ice cap. Comparing recent melt seasons with historical records spanning more than 1,400 years shows summer Arctic sea ice in free fall. Many scientists believe that the Arctic Ocean will be ice-free in the summertime within the next decade or two, and some say that this could occur as … Continue reading Arctic Sea Ice in Free Fall
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Back green growth or we’ll cut investments, companies warn
This week international firms and energy companies including Mitsubishi Power Systems and Siemens have threatened to slash planned investments in the UK unless George Osborne, the UK Chancellor, shows real commitment to developing a low carbon economy and delivering green growth. The Times reported that if these firms carry out their threats, hundreds of UK … Continue reading Back green growth or we’ll cut investments, companies warn
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Why Electric Vehicles Are Our Future
Bill Destler, president of Rochester Institute of Technology, lists six key reasons why electric cars will eventually be the vehicles we drive. As the president of Rochester Institute of Technology, one of the nation’s largest technical universities, I became interested in electric vehicles a few years ago because one of our major research centers was … Continue reading Why Electric Vehicles Are Our Future
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Heat and Drought Ravage U.S. Crop Prospects
September estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) show 2012 U.S. corn yields at 123 bushels per acre, down by a fourth from the 2009 high of 165 bushels per acre. Yields are the lowest since 1995 and well below the average of the last 30 years. The summer heat and drought also … Continue reading Heat and Drought Ravage U.S. Crop Prospects
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The 21st century can count on wind power’s incredible capacity, say scientists
“Historically, wind turbines are placed on Earth’s surface, but high-altitude winds are usually steadier and faster than near-surface winds, resulting in higher average power densities,” said the study, called Geophysical limits to global wind power. A new US scientific study released in the past few days reveals that wind energy’s vast potential could more than … Continue reading The 21st century can count on wind power’s incredible capacity, say scientists
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Barack Obama swipes at Mitt Romney over climate change
The president Obama he would continue to invest in wind power and solar energy if he wins a second term, because the threat of climate change was real. President Obama, often shy of turning climate change into a marquee campaign issue, last night made a full-throated endorsement of climate action, calling out Governor Romney and … Continue reading Barack Obama swipes at Mitt Romney over climate change
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Food price crisis looms because of extreme weather events
Climate change and extreme weather events caused by rising greenhouse gas emissions will result in rapidly increasing global food prices that will negatively affect millions of people. That’s the central message of a sobering new report — Extreme Weather, Extreme Prices; The costs of feeding a warming world — that was published Wednesday by Oxfam … Continue reading Food price crisis looms because of extreme weather events
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Electric vehicles can reduce dependence of oil
President Dwight Eisenhower warned that if we imported more than 20 percent of the oil we use, we were asking for trouble with national security. We now import about half of our oil! Lee Gasper-Galvin: Electric vehicles can reduce our dependence. I have a doctorate in chemical engineering and have worked as a researcher and … Continue reading Electric vehicles can reduce dependence of oil
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European leaders need to set tougher emissions targets
It’s very gratifying to see the world’s leading financial daily underlining points which European Wind Energy Association and many others have been making for years: the Emissions Trading System (ETS) urgently needs to be fixed. Thankfully the European Commission has proposed an important first step: to delay the auctioning of yet more carbon allowances. This now … Continue reading European leaders need to set tougher emissions targets
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Defending wind power
America’s investment in wind power is paying off for Californians. The state’s wind farm projects have created thousands of new jobs, many of them helping Northern California communities through difficult economic times. In addition to the construction and maintenance jobs created by wind projects in California, at least 15 different facilities around the state are … Continue reading Defending wind power
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Why Conservative Attacks On Wind Energy And Solar Power?
A vitally important tax credit to help build a wind energy industry in this country expires at the end of this year without Congressional action, and the old oil and coal industries — along with certain other countries — want to make sure it does expire. There has been a recent flurry of propaganda attacks … Continue reading Why Conservative Attacks On Wind Energy And Solar Power?
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Rising Temperature Raising Food Prices
Over the last two months, the price of corn has been climbing. On July 19th, it exceeded $8 per bushel for the first time, taking the world into a new food price terrain. With heat and drought still smothering the Corn Belt, we may well see more all-time highs in coming weeks as the extent … Continue reading Rising Temperature Raising Food Prices
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Wind energy: PTC advances in U.S. Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support
Extension of critical tax relief to save 37,000 jobs in wind power and continue growing U.S. manufacturing advanced in the Senate Finance Committee today with strong bipartisan support. By an overwhelming bipartisan margin of 19-5, the Committee passed an extenders package that included an extension of the federal wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC). On … Continue reading Wind energy: PTC advances in U.S. Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support
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