Submitted by New Energy News Blog The exclusive and ambitious group of folks gathered for ConnectivityWeek are designing new R2-D2s and C-3POs to allow consumers to resolve the energy crisis and mitigate global climate change for themselves.Right now, electrical power is coming from The Borg (or maybe the Cylons).To most, electric power is a force coming into the home, the office, the warehouse and the manufacturing plant from …
SOLAR BREAKTHROUGH: HOW PLANTS DO IT
Submitted by New Energy News Blog Efficiently converting sunlight into energy is the dream. Plants do it at nearly 100% efficiency. Humans have figured out how to do it at anywhere from 10% to 40% (or so) efficiency (depending on how much you want to spend).Maybe it’s because plants don’t waste their efforts on American Idol or Britney Spears. No, no …
OFFSHORE WIND – GREAT FOR THE GREAT LAKES?
Submitted by New Energy News Blog Offshore wind installations are a reality in Europe and will sooner or later be a reality in the U.S. The Great Lakes region has really wonderful energy resources and somebody is going to get really rich by taking on the challenges and winning through. The challenges, though, are daunting. Other U.S. offshore projects have been …
ENERGY: THE WATER FACTOR
Submitted by New Energy News Blog Water is a big deal. Even the few climate change deniers left can’t deny droughts are becoming more common. 40% of the daily water used in the U.S. is for energy. It only makes sense to build the kind of energy infrastructure that least impacts water supply. When cities use water to generate power, the …
They Own All the Oil, So What Will the Petro-Princes Buy Next? (Part 1 of 2) How About Potash Firms?
Submitted by EnergyTechStocks.com National oil companies (NOCs) concentrated in the Middle East own more than 80% of the world’s known remaining oil reserves. In short, they’ve cornered the market. And yet, this year alone, they will rake in another $1 trillion from their oil exports, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Even with pressing domestic needs (food, water, electricity) …
SPECULATION, GEOPOLITICS AND THE PRICE OF OIL
Submitted by New Energy News Blog The OPEC nations like to make money. No surprise? OK, then why aren’t they pumping more oil into the system while prices are higher than a 1960s college student? 2 possibilities: (1) They can’t pump any more; Or, strange as it seems, (2) pumping more oil won’t relieve demand. A lot of people insist the …
SOLAR 2008: CATCH THE CLEAN ENERGY WAVE
Submitted by New Energy News Blog The American Solar Energy Society’s SOLAR 2008 (San Diego, May 3-8) is not just another beach party. ASES has been advocating on behalf of solar energy since 1954. This is their 37th annual get together. ASES will no doubt put on an exciting and entertaining event but this organization goes back to solar energy’s early days and …
RX FOR OHIO: RES, WIND AND SUN
Submitted by New Energy News Blog Think of the Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) as a doctor’s prescription. The state is suffering economically from the decay of its manufacturing base and it is heavily dependent on fossil fuels for energy. The RES is the Rx the state needs to get well. It prescribes a little more New Energy every year for the …
Report Card Grades for 6 Big Nuclear Reactor Makers (Part 1 of 2) – GE/Hitachi, Areva & Toshiba/Westinghouse
Submitted by EnergyTechStocks.com It’s time to hand out the first set of report card grades for six of the world’s leading nuclear reactor makers. Serving as “professor” is Bruce Lacy, head of Lacy Consulting Group in Cedar Rapids, IA, a 27-year nuclear industry veteran who closely follows the financial side of commercial nuclear power. Lacy was a tough grader. He handed …
Is There Any Reason Why Investors Should Still Own Airline Shares? (Well, Yes, Actually, There Is)
Submitted by EnergyTechStocks.com Don’t say they didn’t warn you. Back in June 2006, the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) chief economist told an Agence France-Presse reporter, “Oil prices of $100 a barrel or more are a possibility that would seriously threaten airlines.” With oil now well above $100 a barrel, is there any reason why an investor would still want to …