Solar, wind and other renewables generating at least 25% of our electrical energy backed up mostly by natural gas fired turbines and maybe a few more nukes is the most likely scenario over the next 25 years. As coal plants retire, a mix of new renewables and gas fired plants will take their place.
For real change to happen on energy policy, we need federally mandated energy portfolio standards, including one for clean coal, with big teeth and no safety valves. It will cost what it needs to cost in order get clean energy and we’ll all adjust to this new reality accordingly. Our newly minted President Obama has arrived in Washington at a time in our history when the country if open to changes, even big changes. Time will tell if the man from Yes-We-Can can turn his mandate into a Yes-You-Will for the energy industry.
Continue reading about Getting Clean Coal Done – Yes You Will
Notwithstanding some movement towards solar in states like California and to a far lesser extent New Jersey and Connecticut (the majority of which is small distributed roof-top projects), the vast majority of U.S. utilities have barely budged towards adopting solar in any meaningful way. Not that they aren’t aware of solar or aren’t sudying it mind you. They just aren’t buying into big megawatts of it. Why is that?
Continue reading about Why Utilities Aren’t Running Towards Solar Power
Anyone with money invested in the stock market already knows the bad news. But let’s review. Over 35% drop in the DOW over only a brief few weeks. Up to 1,000 point daily swings that richochet around world markets at the speed of light. Scant assurance that the floor has been found. Lousy earnings reports. [...]
Continue reading about Alternative Energy Economy – A Silver Lining Turns Green!
Something surprising is happening in California. There is a ballot initiative (Proposition 7) coming up for a vote in November that would mandate that 50% of the State’s electricity come from renewable sources (wind, solar, geothermal etc.) by 2025. That’s not the surprising part. What is surprising is the widespread opposition to Proposition 7 by [...]
Continue reading about California Proposition 7 – A Badly Conceived Green Mandate
