Category Archives: Alternative Energy

Carbon Tax or Cap and Trade?

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The NYT Green Inc Blog examines arguments for different strategies for reducing carbon—the carbon tax, cap-and-trade systems, and simple regulatory reform. Recent fluctuations in the price of carbon credits in the European markets call into question the ability of cap-and-trade systems to work efficiently during an economic downturn.

Do we really want to create another set of poorly understood financial instruments? A revenue-neutral carbon tax can create low-carbon incentives while revenue can be used to reduce payroll taxes. “Tax what we burn, not what we earn.” – James Handley

Other analysts argue that the decline in price is simply the result of the system working; companies meeting their carbon reduction goals simply don’t need to buy the credits, driving down their market price.

Whatever your ideological stance, most experts agree that the roll-out of emissions-cutting technologies will be slowed by the drop in carbon credit prices.

T. Boone Pickens Explains his Plan

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Not since Ross Perot’s quirky 1992 presidential bid have we been as impressed by an elderly Texan billionaire writing on a whiteboard. This video is worth watching for the illustration of the US wind corridor. (For a different map of potential wind resources click here.)

Picken’s company Mesa Power LLP has put it’s money where his mouth is, making the world’s largest order for wind turbines with GE in 2007, scheduled for delivery in 2010 or 2011.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpQa-ibNOKM

Dreaming of solar panels? Not so fast.

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So you’re caught up in the moment, dreaming about solar panels, a wind turbine on your roof, selling energy back to the power company rather than paying a monthly utility bill. But if we are, as President Obama suggested, to put aside childish things and enter a new era of responsibility, we must do first things first.

That means having taking a whole house approach to our energy conservation efforts. it doesn’t make sense to spend tens of thousands of dollars generating electricity you’re throwing away through inefficiency. In the end, it doesn’t matter if you generate energy or simply consume it, what really matters is your net energy footprint. 

People sometimes fixate on a single facet of a problem with the best intentions. Dieters pack on the pounds while virtuously wolfing down bags of fat-free cookies. How many times have you heard someone order the super-size double whopper value meal with a diet soda, and thought that soda isn’t really the problem?

The free home energy audit is a good starting place for rethinking your energy diet.

You’ve got to learn to walk before you can run.

For T. Boone Pickens, The Answer is Blowin’ in the Wind

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Photo of wind turbine in field

Energy independence or bird killing eyesore?

When the Bush administration ignored T. Boone Pickens ambitious Pickens Plan Oil mogul and corporate raider decided he’d just have build support for the massive undertaking himself.

In the video accompanying the PickensPlan.com Web site, Pickens said that getting 20 percent of the U.S.’ electricity from wind and diverting natural gas to transportation could be done in 10 years “if there is the right leadership.”

“I am calling on the next President and Congress to take immediate action in the first 100 days of the new Administration to do whatever is necessary to make this plan a reality. We are asking the American public to get behind this plan and to help us reduce our dangerous dependency on foreign oil. This has to be the number one priority in the country starting today and that’s what this campaign is all about. I am also calling for a monthly report on the reduction in foreign oil imports and a monthly report on progress in the development of natural gas vehicles in this country.”

Picken’s even has a Facebook page for the plan.

Not everyone is overjoyed at some of the specifics of Boone’s proposals. Environmentalists worry that Pickens “Wind Corridor” could be disruptive to migrating birds, many communities in the US have fought wind turbine proposals, referring to the giant towers as eyesores.

7.2 Megawatts of Energy. We’ll drink to that.

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Scotch drinkers who care for the climate will soon relish their tipple in the knowledge it is providing clean renewable power in the home of whisky.

Helius Energy Plc said on Wednesday it and the Combination of Rothes Distillers Ltd would build the plant, which would use distillery by-products and wood chips to generate 7.2 megawatts of electricity, enough for about 9,000 homes, and heat.

“Not only will it generate renewable heat and power, but it secures additional markets for our distillery co-products,” said Frank Burns, general manager of the Combination of Rothes, which includes the Edrington Group–the producer of The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark–Chivas Brothers, producer of Chivas Regal.

The Green Inaugural Ball

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From our ‘talk the talk, walk the walk’ department, comes this item on the Green Inaugural Ball, held last night at the Smithsonian Institute-located just off the National Mall.

The Green Ball, of course, was billed as carbon neutral. The emissions generated from the electricity used at the event were offset by buying emissions-reduction credits from Native Energy, which supports Native American, farmer-owned, community-based renewable energy projects. It was a lot of electricity, judging from the megawatt sound system. “It’s a bit loud,” said Paula DiPerna, executive vice-president for the Chicago Climate Exchange, who regretted not bringing earplugs.

Possibly the only ball  where the star wasn’t President Obama, it was this guy.

Sony’s Bravia TVs Watch You to Save Power

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Sony has a new line of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) TVs that use less power when they are switched on. And switch themselves off when they sense no-one is watching.

The Bravia V5 line sets, which will go on sale in most major markets worldwide, are equipped with a small sensor underneath the display that keeps watch of the room to ensure someone is there. If all the viewers leave the room it cuts power to the LCD (liquid crystal display), only to switch it back on when someone returns.

All Sony Bravia V5 models exceed the new EnergyStar 3.0 specification.

Winter Driving Tips: Safe and Efficient

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As I write this post, the Midwest and northern states are in the grip of a deep freeze. Temperatures are extremely low, and when wind chill is added in, it’s barely possible to set foot outside.

But if you are like me, you still need to get to work. For most of the country, that means driving—at least a little, if not an hour-plus commute each way. So why not make your vehicle efficient? We’ve been advising you on ways to make the home more energy smart, so let’s talk about your car for a moment.

One of the best ways to be energy smart with your car is also one of the wisest: drive sensibly. Aggressive driving wastes gas. Jackrabbit starts, sudden stops and herky-jerky speeding up and slowing down can lower your mileage as much as 33 percent. If you like paying a third more per gallon, by all means… but it’s safer for you and everyone around you to be a careful, sensible driver. Now you have one more reason!

Second: Observe the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases once you pass 60 mph; if you’re going 100+ on a back road, you’re probably getting as good gas mileage as an Army tank. Every five miles per hour over sixty is like paying a quarter per gallon more for gas (according to fueleconomy.gov). Slowing down in cold weather is also much safer. You don’t want to find yourself crossing black ice at high speeds.

One tip we often give—reduce the weight in your car—is not one I’d recommend during the winter. Having some extra weight in the trunk of your car keeps the rear tires (even now, the ones that most often propel the car) firmly on the road. You might lose a bit in terms of gas mileage (something like two or three percent for every 100 lbs.), but the safety trade off in weather like this can be worth it.

Okay, going completely off the efficiency map for a moment, remember to keep emergency supplies in your car. You should have:

• a jack and a spare tire (always!)

• a blanket (or two)

• road flares

• a gallon or two of water

• a first aid kit

• maybe even a spare coat or two.

A car cell phone charger is also a very good idea, as is extra anti-freeze or even a small bag of rock salt (to de-ice the road near your car). Having these things on hand can mean survival, if your car goes off the road in blizzard conditions. As the Boy Scouts say: Be Prepared.

Drive safe, keep an eye on the weather, and see you back here soon!

Drew Bittner is a former Presidential Management Intern (PMI) and the Web content manager for EERE’s corporate Web pages.