Transport – Aug 5
Salting the Earth (the viability of auto fuels and technologies) / Qantas challenged by soaring fuel costs / US carmakers suffer drop in sales / “Electric Car” director on Daily Show
Renewable Energy
Sun and wind – Aug 2
Northwest land rush to build wind farms / Texas tops in wind energy production /
Hot German July doesn’t faze farmer who reaps the sun
Climate change and electricity from biomass
As we make the transition to biomass for electric power generation, the US can create jobs and wealth, export technology to Asia (China & India), mitigate climate change and take a large step toward avoiding a longer term calamitous future.
A conversation with Vinod Khosla
In my recent essay Vinod Khosla Debunked, I challenged Mr. Khosla to a written debate on his recent ethanol claims. Mr. Khosla e-mailed me shortly after that essay appeared, and offered to discuss the matter by phone. [Khosla is an influential venture capitalist now promoting ethanol.]
Solar Future
There’s been a lot of talk about a nuclear future for Australia. But we already have an enormous nuclear reactor providing us with massive quantities of energy – the sun.
Bakhtiari addresses the Australian Senate Committee
“Dr Bakhtiari dishes it out to the Australian senators in fine style,” writes contributer CS.
Biofuels – July 26
Green energy: ethanol and biodiesel / Redesigning life to make ethanol / Biofuel demand creates chain reaction in crop prices / Ethanol’s rise prompts worries of a corn crunch / Agency seeks to develop military aviation biofuel
Helen Caldicott: Fuel plan beset by fossilised thinking
Australia is perfectly placed to be the real energy superpower: the instigator and global leader in renewable electricity production. A country bathed in sun and ferociously windy in many locations, Australia could, with political will and vision, usher in a safe, carbon-free and nuclear-free future.
Vinod Khosla debunked: ethanol is NOT the answer
When an influential person begins to affect energy policy decisions – decisions that will have a huge impact on all of our lives – we better take a critical look at the claims that person is pushing. You can’t discuss ethanol for long with an ethanol proponent without having them mention the endorsement of Vinod Khosla.
Food shortages – July 24
Grain Drain /
Wheat price soars as world granaries run low /
India grows a grain crisis /
Zimbabwe: ‘Power Cuts Could Reduce Wheat Yield’ /
Lester Brown: The grain needed to fill an SUV’s tank could feed a person for a year /
Food crisis in Lebanon
Other energy – July 21
The dirty secret (coal) /
Biofuels to incite grain demand shift /
Big Oil’s pain
(high production costs)
Solutions: economics – July 21
CanadaChanging: ecological fiscal reform / Julian Darley: A new kind of money (based on sustainable energy) / Reserved For The future /
Cities reward ‘lifestyle’ that conserves water / This trade in carbon emissions won’t combat global warming / Miliband unveils carbon swipe-card plan for UK /
Solution: Carbon tax
