The Path Towards A Sustainable Energy Future

Energy is open source, meaning there is energy all around us. The only thing that may be missing is our capability and desire to tap this energy. We have grown dependent on foreign oil, only to find ourselves and our country in a situation where we can no longer sustain this old way of thinking. Thus, it is crucial for us to seek out and develop alternative, renewable sources of energy to not only complement but perhaps to eventually replace the traditional fossil-fuel based economy. While this may not be easy, we believe it is something that we, as the human race, are capable of accomplishing if we were to put our minds together and work towards this goal.

Scientists, brilliant men and women, have put humans on the moon, developed nuclear energy, and pioneered amazing medical breakthroughs, among many such discoveries. Now it is time to take the next step - The step towards energy independence.

A Chat With Google’s Green Energy Czar   (01-11-2010)

Google is a search engine, an advertising company and now a cellphone maker. But a green energy company? That too, said Bill Weihl, Google's so-called green energy czar, in an interview with Jeffrey Marlow of The Times on the Green Inc. blog. He said:  more... ..And that is exactly what it will take to create a paradigm shift in renewable energy: A company like Google backing this field. - Floopsy

We have a better alternative to coal-fueled energy   (01-10-2009)

Robert O’Connor, Superintendent of Holcomb School District, opined that Kansas can’t afford NOT to move forward with Sunflower Electric Power Corp’s proposed coal-plant expansion. In his piece, he says: “As a schools superintendent in western Kansas, I know the need to create jobs. The population shift is evident in our schools and our potential work pool. I also know the crucial stage that Kansas finds itself in regarding the drastic drop in tax revenue and economic development.”  more...

Obama's green energy plans build hopes, skepticism   (01-08-2009)

Proponents of alternative energy and energy efficiency were elated on Thursday by President-elect Barack Obama's economic stimulus speech, but some analysts warned his energy agenda could hit turbulence in Congress or from the slow economy.  more...

Energy & Carbon - Review of the Year 2008   (01-06-2009)

From groundbreaking legislation, to the promise of a greener President, to ever more daring protest stunts, the world of climate change and energy had it all in 2008.   more... Lots of news,  little progress

Off-Shore Wind Power Set to Expand   (01-06-2009)

In South Korea, wind power would be a likely resource to help the world's tenth largest energy consumer meet government goals to lower fossil fuel dependency through greater investment in renewable energy. Yet efforts to build wind turbines in South Korea have met fierce opposition, even among environmentalists, due to the lack of open land in the densely populated country. Only about 100 megawatts (MW) of wind power are installed nationwide despite plentiful wind resources and government price controls that keep renewable power competitive with traditional energy sources.   more... This is innovation

Fuel cells could be cheaper than ever   (01-03-2009)

Scientists in Australia have made a significant breakthrough in the design of fuel cells for the latest generation of hybrid cars, by using a cloth material that could make them cheaper and more reliable than ever before. According to a report in the journal Science, the fuel cell is coated in a form of Goretex, which is used for outdoor clothing material. Scientists believe it holds great promise for the motoring industry as it removes the need for platinum, which acts as a catalyst and is currently central to the manufacturing process.  more...

Hop On Board: Fuel Cell Buses Nearing Market Ready   (01-03-2009)

A new report published this month by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory has pulled together data from the six active fuel-cell bus demonstration projects in the United States. The findings: much progress has been made, but challenges still remain before there can be widespread market introductions.  more... But I love the smell of diesel

Platinum-free fuel cell may offer cheaper green power   (01-03-2009)

These cells use alkali membrane and may make it possible to replace the expensive platinum metal with low cost nickel catalyst. In a standard fuel cell, a platinum catalyst at one electrode breaks down hydrogen into protons and electrons.   more... These type of innovations will eventually may fuel cells economically viable

Green cars coming to market    (01-03-2009)

I flew from New York City to the recent Los Angeles Auto Show to see the future. Not only is my little granddaughter there, but so are some of the up-and-coming alternative-fuel green cars. The two that caught my attention were the Mitsubishi plug-in electric mini car and the Honda hydrogen fuel-cell sedan.   more... The Japanese lead the way

Fuel-cell Powered Devices Getting Closer    (01-03-2009)

Laptop, cell phone and iPod owners tired of having their devices run out of charge after a few hours have been patiently waiting for the next portable power source to arrive. Tiny fuel cells, powered by combustible liquids or gasses, have long been touted as the eventual solution. Potentially, they could power a laptop for days between refills.  more... Very promising

Bill Boyne: Geothermal power is a promising energy source    (01-03-2009)

Electric power is being produced from the wind and the sun -- and now a growing number of megawatts are being generated from the ground.  more... All these ideas but the U.S. continues to spend $700 billion for oil

Dept. Of Energy to Fill Oil Reserve   (01-03-2009)

The U.S. Department of Energy will resume filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, with oil acquisitions set for 2009. The Department of Energy announced they will take advantage of low oil prices by purchasing 12 million barrels aiming to replenish what was sold after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. A statutory moratorium was binding the department from purchasing petroleum May 2008 to December 2008. Now that the law has expired the department believes it is vital to replenish the supply.  more... Get a big straw

Obama Calls for Doubling Renewable Energy Production for Green Jobs   (01-03-2009)

In President-Elect Barack Obama’s weekly radio addresses today — the first of 2009 — he called for the U.S. to double renewable energy production as part of a plan to add 3 million new jobs. In the address Obama also restated his earlier promise to add new jobs by making public buildings more energy efficient.  more... It would be good if he had a comprehensive plan

Green energy grants offered   (01-03-2009)

Solar and wind technologies could be coming to a home near you, thanks to a boost from the state. The Ohio Energy Office wants to entice developers to include those efficient energy-generation methods in single- and multifamily homes by offering $3.5 million in grants for solar hot-water systems and wind turbines.  more... There still is money out there

Is Obama making a mistake with alternative energy? Does his plan add up...   (01-03-2009)

The Energy Tribune says Barrack Obama's determination to stick with ethanol is doomed to fail in this peace: Barack Obama promised to deliver “the change we need.”  more... Does anyone really keep campaign promises?

U.S. Energy Corp. Announces Investment in Geothermal Entity   (01-03-2009)

U.S. Energy Corp. (Nasdaq:USEG) today announced that it has invested $3.445 million in Standard Steam Trust LLC ("SST"), a private geothermal exploration and development company based in Denver, Colorado. Current capitalization of SST (with other partners) is $13.8 million (25% USE), which now includes approximately 60,000 acres of BLM, state and fee leases in seven prospect areas in three states. Acreage accumulation is ongoing, with 15,216 acres (included in the figure above) acquired at the December 19, 2008 BLM lease sale in Utah. Such acreage accumulation will continue and substantial additional capital is expected to be raised in 2009.   more...

China Plans World's Largest Solar Power Plant    (01-03-2009)

At 1 gigawatt, the solar power plant in northwest China would be the world's biggest, but the timeline is a bit iffy at the moment. Construction starts next year.  more... Maybe they're realizing that oil is problematic

Charge It: Solar Panels on a Purse    (01-03-2009)

Joe Hynek may be the only student at Iowa State University who carries a handbag for “scientific purposes.” On cloudless days, he wanders his neighborhood to test whether the purse, which is plated in thin solar panels and contains a lightweight battery, is absorbing energy from the sun. After three hours of direct exposure, the purse generates enough electricity to charge an iPod, camera or cellphone. (The bag will also charge — more slowly — if placed next to a window.) Mr. Hynek is currently working on the final touch: a small display screen that will indicate when the purse is best angled for absorbing the day’s light.  more... It's a purse now but personal power is definitely a direction to pursue

Solar-power industry remains hot in California   (01-03-2009)

Despite the turbulent economy, or perhaps because of it, solar energy remains a growth industry in California. The amount of electricity generated in the state by solar energy soared in 2008, and applications for rebates under the state's Million Solar Roofs program reached record levels in the last five months of the year.   more... It's so California can say it leads in something.

Hydrogen, Electric Cars Featured at LA Auto Show   (01-03-2009)

Car makers are making more varieties of alternatively-fueled vehicles, and the public is taking note of their efforts. This piece from Evelyn Kanter of Motor Matters on the Washington (DC) Times site gives a first-person account of impressions of a couple of Japanese alt fuels vehicles that were shown at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show:  more... It's Japanese so the great American retooling must not yet  be ready