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Top Green Energy Stories For August 2008

September 10, 2008 in accelerating change, business benefits, energy generation, energy storage, opinion, solar electricity by nils | 1 comment

Top Fivewoodleywonderworks

Top Five Stories

August was a great month for energy storage breakthroughs! In addition, a big talking head talks big, and a business-of-green-energy announcement make my list of top stories.

1. Hydrogen from water
2. Fuel cell breakthrough #1: cheap catalyst
3. Fuel cell breakthrough #2: better cathode
4. Al Gore's call to action: The U.S. should "produce all electricity from carbon-free sources by 2018." (Actually from late July, but my blog didn't start until August!)
5. Green energy investment up 60% YoY in 2007, on target for 60% YoY growth in 2008

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Why My Optimism Is Tempered

August 27, 2008 in energy efficiency, opinion, policy, solar electricity by nils | Add your comment

On 140 acres of unused land on Nellis Air Forc...Image via Wikipedia

I wrote on Monday about why I am optimistic that we will come out of this energy mess in excellent shape. But, my optimism is not unalloyed - there are a lot of questions still to answer.

  • Is there truly enough capturable solar energy streaming down on the Earth to power a good lifestyle for all 9 billion of us in 2050? Clearly not, at least at the U.S.'s current per capita energy intensity. What about at 50% of our current energy use? That's a target that many think we can accomplish here in the U.S., so why not around the world?
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Why I Am Optimistic

August 25, 2008 in accelerating change, business benefits, opinion by nils | Add your comment

GDP per capita vs. 'Economic Energy Efficiency...Image via Wikipedia

The signs are pointing to a critical convergence that, to be honest, is coming just in time. The world's will is aligning. Climate change, oil prices, pollution, growth, commuting - these and other factors are forming a message in society's mind that says "things are not good and they must be fixed." Businesses and governments, at the same time, are realizing that the changes needed to achieve sustainability are not going to be a drag on the economy but can actually be profitable while being good for society as a whole. Of course, the high and rising price of oil has something to do with this as well.

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