NASA Ocean Wind Power Maps Reveal Energy Sources
Science Daily has a good article about tapping into a decade of NASA data to pinpoint where in the ocean the best sources of ocean wind energy lie which could be used for wind farm placement. According to Liu, new technology has made floating wind farms in the open ocean possible. A number of wind farms are already in operation worldwide. Ocean wind farms have less environmental impact than onshore wind farms, whose noise tends to disturb sensitive wildlife in their immediate area. Also, winds are generally stronger over the ocean than on land because there is less friction over water to slow the winds down – there are no hills or mountains to block the wind’s path.
T Boone Pickens Launches Green Energy "Pickens Plan"
T Boone Pickens, the legendary oil speculator who has made billions on soaring crude prices has a plan (called the Pickens Plan) for weaning ourselves off foreign oil by increasing the use of wind power and natural gas (for car fuel) and has begun a 10 million dollar ad campaign to get the word out. It should be noted that Pickens, who has invested a few billion into his own wind farm and is the man behind Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE), stands to profit greatly should these initiatives gain greater traction. After all he is a businessman. It’s still a noble effort and he should be applauded for taking the initiative while our elected leaders sit on their hands. The time must be now.
Pickens says his plan, which aims to reduce foreign oil imports by a third in the next decade is doable if Congress and the next President act quickly, however he also calls for much of the initiative to funded by the private sector
Tags: clne, pickens plan, t boone pickens, wind powerAlgae Biofuel Vs. Cellulose Ethanol
There’s a good comparison of algae biofuel vs cellulose ethanol at EcoWorld that was just posted today.. Algae isn’t nearly as developed as cellulose ethanol but in my mind holds much greater potential while using a much smaller foot print. Companies looking to meet the challenge of using algae for fuel are Algenol, GreenFuel and Sapphire Energy, all privately held companies.
Tags: algae, algenol, biofuel, cellulose, ethanol, greenfuel, sapphire energyWind Energy Leading Green Gold Rush
According to Forbes, a UN report just revealed that 148 billion was invested in clean energy in 2007 – a 60% rise over 2006 although investments have been tightening a bit in the first half of 2008 as economies begin to falter a bit. Wind Energy was the most popular green energy investment of 2007 attracting nearly 50 billion (more than a 1/3 of 2007 investments) because it’s one of the cheapest forms of renewable energy available. Said head of the UN Environment Program “What is unfolding is nothing less than a fundamental transformation of the world’s energy infrastructure.”
Tags: clean energy, UN, wind energyAlgenol Biofuels Has Big Plans for Algae Ethanol
It seems too good to be true but a private company called Algenol Biofuels hopes to pump out 1 billion (thats billion with a b) gallons of algae ethanol by 2012, harvesting pond scum to meet our energy needs. The company claims to use a much more efficient process that allows the algae to continue living providing an endless source of energy. Is it just hype? That remains to be seen but I’m all for harvesting fuel out of anything other than our crops! Algenol Biofuels already has a deal with BioFields to sell the fuel to the Mexican government. Another promising company to keep on the radar
Tags: algae, algenol biofuels, biofields, ethanolSenate Kills Energy Acts 3044 and 6049
A couple days ago, two energy acts that many feel were important to continuing the momentum of renewable energies were killed by Republicans in the Senate, which feel the acts provide unnecessary, permanent tax hikes in exchange for subsidies. I don’t have all the details on this yet but hope to have an article up on the main site soon detailing what these acts proposed and why they were shot down.
Said Barack Obama:
“Today, Senate Republicans turned a blind eye to the plight of America’s working families and our nation’s worsening dependence on foreign oil. At a time when Americans are struggling with skyrocketing energy prices, including paying over $4.00 a gallon for gasoline, Senate Republicans blocked debate on important legislation that would have provided tax relief for low-income families and spurred on investments in job-creating research and development and alternative energy.
“Senate Republicans also refused to extend critical investments in renewable energy, such as solar, wind, and cellulosic ethanol. I am particularly disappointed that the tax credit for the installation of biofuels pumps at gas stations, a provision I helped enact in 2005, is among the provisions that were blocked.
“These proposals alone would not have solved our serious energy problems, but they would have provided American families with some much-needed relief from record high gas prices. They also would have put America on track to having real alternatives to foreign oil and helped make our economy less vulnerable. We must stand with American families and not with those that are taking advantage of them, and I am committed to working with my colleagues to pass these important measures.”
Tags: barack obama, consumer first energy act, energy act 6049, renewable energyGoogle To Invest in Plug In Hybrids
Earth2Tech recently chatted with Google’s director for climate change and energy initiatives, Dan Reicher. Apparently Google will soon announce investments in green plug in hyrid cars through its RechargeIT program
Tags: dan reicher, google.org, green cars, plug in hybrid, rechargeITBarack Obama’s Environmental Policy
Now that Barack Obama is the presumptive nominee for the Democratic party, there will be much comparison made between his energy policy and John McCains. According to, www.cutyourfootprint.com, Obama, like McCain supports a cap and trade system where companies are required to pay for the carbon they emit, which essentially acts as a tax against pollution in which the proceeds go to developing greener technologies. Obama is a supporter of coal to liquid technology and ethanol production (which I disagree with) in hopes of achieving a drop in oil consumption by 35% within 20 years. He also favors phasing out incandescent light bulbs in favor of LED energy saving bulbs by 2014.
Tags: barack obama, biofuels, cap and trade, Democrats, energy, environmental policy, ethanolElon Musk: Tesla Motors to IPO By End of 08
According to Cnet, Elon Musk, the chairman and major funder of Tesla Motors (and PayPal founder)has indicated at the TieCon conference that Tesla will IPO by the of 2008 and seek to raise 100 million. Musk wants to raise more financing to bring the company to profitablity and begin production on its luxury sedan, codenames White Star by 2010.
Musk has made bold predictions for what will happen 30 years from now – a man on mars, solar the #1 source of energy and the majority of cars will be electric. Perhaps not so bold considering the advancements we’ve seen over the past 30 years.
Tags: electric cars, elon musk, ipo, tesla motors, tieconTandem Bicycles, the Ultimate Clean Transportation!
Want to truly go green with your transportation?.. I mean really green.. no electricity, no gas, no hydrogen, no nothing. ..and get exercise? Consider taking a look at tandem bicycles! Here’s a story of a couple of retirees that began riding their tandem bicycle for small errands and saving big on gasoline. Seems more and more are using their bikes to get around in congested cities.. here’s another story of couple in NH using their bicycles to get around.
