Carbon emissions increased faster than electricity demand in 2007. As much as two-thirds of the greenhouse gas increase was due to increased demand for electricity, much of which was met by coal-fired power plants. Can we hope to make progress against greenhouse gases and continue to exempt ageing coal plants from the Clean Air Act of 1970?

Continue reading "Power Plant Carbon Emissions Outpace Energy Production (AP)" »

My conclusion from reading "America's 50 Green Cities" in the March 2008 Popular Science: There aren't 50 green cities in America. Yet.

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The September-October 2007 issue of Technology Review features the "TR35" -- 35 innovators under 35 -- and their inventions. Here are the innovations related to energy:

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Even though the technique isn't quite out of the lab yet, Hydrogen Power in Seattle is already thinking about how to commercialize a process for producing hydrogen from aluminum powder.

Continue reading "Hydrogen via Aluminum: From Soda Cans to Submarines" »

Florida Power & Light, the state's largest utility, asked for renewable energy credits for its nuclear power. The state said No.

Continue reading "Nuclear Power Not Clean Enough for Florida RPS (Miami Herald)" »

"The Clean Tech Revolution" by Ron Pernick and Clint Wilder will be released tomorrow -- June 12, 2007. Here is my review in a two-sentence nutshell, plus why I like it, and what it does and does not cover.

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"Food or fuel" has been the battle cry of biofuels opponents, but a growing industry hopes to quash that argument once and for all. Instead of corn or soybeans, renewable fuel producers will start distilling rutabagas into biofuels.

Continue reading "Ethanol and Biodiesel Producers Turn to Rutabagas as Feedstock" »

Compete.com looks at the growth in traffic to environmental sites as a whole. They indexed 125 sites, including this one. The aggregate traffic is growing, they say, but not at the rate expected. Growth is also uneven. I wonder, if we were to overlay on their chart the cost of a gallon of gasoline... http://blog.compete.com/2007/03/05/environment-sites-an-inconvenient-truth/

Business 2.0 looked at today's top 9 environmental problems from the perspective of (what else?) where the most money's to be made. Here are their energy-related entrepreneurial hot spots, and links to related items of interest...

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The publishers of the Oxford American Dictionary have selected the word of the year for 2006: "carbon neutral."

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Energy Minute: Stirling engines have been around since the 19th century, but today some small and large applications are bringing them into the limelight. (Podcast)

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More companies are focusing on greenhouse gases and their economic implications, according to a new report based on a survey of 92 companies from various industries. About 75 percent of companies are actively measuring their carbon footprint, and a few are measuring the footprints of their competitors.

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Now that liquids -- and potentially notebook computers and cell phones -- are banned from carry-ons, how will airport security measures affect the future of hydrogen fuel cells for electronics?

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Timberland, Google and Hyperion aren't waiting for government tax incentives to promote cleaner commuting. Here's where to start with your company's fuel-saving initiative.

Continue reading "Helping Employees Into Hybrids (Business 2.0)" »

A fusion reactor could, within 30-40 years, harness the hydrogen power of the stars. An international agreement to build the first such facility has scintillated the scientific community and roused the rage of environmentalists. Successful fusion experiments could lead to a clean, safe, unlimited power source. Not everyone is convinced that it's possible, or a good idea.

Continue reading "ITER is First of a Breed of Fusion Reactors that Could Produce Power without Nuclear's Risks" »

Mario Andretti didn't set any land speed records on his way to the opening of the new hydrogen fueling station in Chino, California today. He was driving a Hundai Tucson hydrogen fuel cell electric test vehicle.

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What are the top five actions that your business can take in 2005 to become a more responsible energy user and take us closer to a clean and sustainable energy future? EP gathered ideas from engineers, entrepreneurs and investors to compile this year's business energy priorities. Here they are, in priority order.

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The authors describe how simple, focused climate policies can improve regional economic competitiveness while encouraging private investment in clean energy and climate solutions.

Continue reading "Developing Regional Climate Solutions (Seattle Times)" »

Continue reading "Fuel Cells in a Nutshell" »

Seattle's order for hybrid buses isn't big environmental news (Seattle has had 200+ diesel-electrics in service for a decade, saving fuel and reducing pollution), but the purchase is the subject of a big ad campaign by the drivetrain manufacturer, GM.

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Every business contributes to unhealthy carbon emissions. A few have gone as far as to plant trees to offset their share. For those with a green thumb (but a guilty conscience), a carbon calculator is available online. The UK site will even plant the trees for you.

Continue reading "Carbon Calculator" »