Green Daily

Clean Coal Runs Manipulative Ads During the Olympics

Cat Lincoln — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:05:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Alternative Energy, Climate Change

Coal miner Elmer Lloyd speaks against Mountain Top Removal

Watching the Olympics on Sunday night, I was shocked, amazed and dismayed to see a "clean coal" ad, apparently part of a new campaign to capitalize on recent political gains. Even more outrageous? The star of the ad, a personable young coal worker, made a connection between working in the coal industry and his brother serving overseas.

What does his brother, who is a soldier, have to do with clean coal? Oh, nothing. That was just another dirty emotional blackmail trick to try to make you think it's patriotic to support strip mining, black lung and air pollution.

It's bad enough that they are flat-out lying about clean coal. The technology does not exist, and if they can even figure out how to burn coal without the poisonous emissions, there is still the problem of how destructive it is to get it out of the ground. To drag our troops into it too? That's just disgraceful.
As I have said many times (Gillian Caldwell, the head of 1Sky.org even used my line with President Obama!) clean coal is a Unicorn. A nifty idea but merely a figment of an energy company executive's imagination.

Besides the dirty facts about burning coal -- like greenhouse gases and mercury emissions -- and the sad truth that the number of coal mining related jobs declines each year as the process is mechanized and automated, and that it's still incredibly dangerous for the brave workers who descend into those shafts, there is the environmental devastation that comes from getting it out of the ground.

Mountain top removal is the "cost-effective" method of coal mining where you blow the top off a mountain (literally, with dynamite) to get to the coal seam underneath it. Negative impact includes deforestation, water pollution, and destruction of wildlife habitat. Even coal miners think it's a bad idea!

I know we can't just switch to solar, wind and geothermal power, but if we want to create jobs, protect the environment, reduce our global emissions, and create a sustainable energy system for future generations, it's counter-productive to put any resources into the outdated and flawed coal industry.

And by the way: I have several family members in the service, who have done multiple tours of duty overseas. I support them wholeheartedly. And their service has nothing to do with clean coal! It's offensive that the coal industry -- or some manipulative shill at their ad agency -- is trying ride on the coattails of their sacrifice to trick patriotic Americans into agreeing with a bad idea. During the Olympics! I can't believe anyone was cynical enough to think it was a good idea to include that in the final cut of that ad!

To summarize: Alternative energy: yes. Clean coal: no. Our troops: seriously, don't bring them into this.

Clean Coal Runs Manipulative Ads During the Olympics originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Obama Follows up Clean Energy Talk with Action

Cat Lincoln — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:04:00 EST

Filed under: Polit-eco, Alternative Energy

On Wednesday, President Obama dedicated a significant section of his State of the Union address to a pitch for clean energy, encouraging the Senate to pass a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill.

Today he backed up his words with a pledge to reduce the federal government's greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2020. The move will save the country $8 to 11 billion dollars. That's the way to lead by example!

It's a strong political gesture, for two reasons:

1. it's says the U.S. is serious about creating an industry -- both production and market -- for clean energy, and
2. it demonstrates on a large scale what eco-people know from our day to day lives: going green is smart because it saves money!

Everyone is wondering what other clean energy changes were signaled by Obama's State of the Union speech.

One of the high points (for me) included a jab at climate change deniers (it's petty, but I enjoyed and probably you did, too, if you're reading here!) Obama cleverly acknowledged their doubts, and then shifted the argument into a call for the economy-boosting jobs that clean energy will generate.He even made it a patriotic foot-stamper moment.

On the down side, he did indicate that there will be concessions for more off-shore drilling, and somehow, inexplicably, the myth of clean coal seems to have slipped in there, too.

Note: the is no such thing as clean coal. It's like Unicorns. Pretty but imaginary.

In general, it looks like Obama is doing a some dancing, taking a big step forward (clean energy pledge), a half-step back (drilling for more polluting oil), and maybe a step to side (that's the nuclear power part). But hey, it's good to finally be moving again after so many years of making believe we didn't have a problem at all!

Obama Follows up Clean Energy Talk with Action originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geothermal Power: Use the Earth as Your Furnace

Cat Lincoln — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Home, Alternative Energy

You know those movies where scientists tunnel to the center of the Earth, and they have to use magic technology to survive the heat coming from the molten lava core?

That's not real. But there is some pretty amazing -- yet simple -- technology that allows us to use the naturally consistent temperature of Earth just below the frost line to heat and cool homes. It's also very eco-friendly: you don't burn anything, nothing is emitted, and you don't produce any waste.

Geothermal power is one of the greenest ways to keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Even better? It's also one of the most cost-effective sources of energy!
A geothermal home HVAC unit basically has three parts. There is a pump in your home, probably in the basement like a traditional furnace. But instead of burning some kind of fuel, it's attached to an open or closed-loop system of pipes, which are buried under or near your home, and filled with a fluid that can transfer heat -- usually water or environmentally friendly anti-freeze.

The fluid moves through the heat exchange system of underground pipes, either getting warmed up or cooled down by the Earth. It's then sent back up, above ground, to a distribution system, which is either a system of air ducts, or radiant pipes in the floors.

And cost is another pro in favor of this method of maintaining a comfortable temperature in your living room.

Although it can require a substantial investment, particularly drilling for the pipes, the cost of running and maintaining it are low. Systems start around $4,000, and could wind up costing much more, depending on how much drilling is required. But running the system is so inexpensive that you could save 25-50% of your traditional energy costs!

Plus, you get a tax break for going green and saving some green. If you install a system between January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2016, you can claim up to 30% of the installed cost in tax credits in the year the system is placed into service. And there's no cap!

Add it up, the benefit to the environment and your bank balance make a geothermal residential heating and cooling system sound pretty appealing -- especially during this freezing cold winter that's gripping the nation!

Geothermal Power: Use the Earth as Your Furnace originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's Not Waste, it's Energy!

Cat Lincoln — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Alternative Energy

It's practically a post-holiday tradition: averting your eco-eyes as you drive past piles of non-recyclable, non-compostable, non-reusable trash crowding the curb, waiting for a ride to the Landfill of Non-biodegradeable Limbo.

Don't look away! Things can be different. We can use that trash for good!

Waste to energy plants take solid trash like non-recyclable plastic, and incinerate it, capturing the energy produced by the burn and sending it into the grid to heat homes and supply electric power.
But burning plastic, that's about as Carbon Awful as you can get, right?

Wrong. We're not talking about setting fire to a bunch of 2 liter soda bottles in an oil drum in the backyard -- that is an egregious act of pollution. And probably also deadly for everyone on the block.

Thanks to sophisticated technology, the emissions of your average waste to energy plant are generally lower than coal or gas powered energy plants. Counter-intuitively, the technology of burning trash helps us reduce greenhouse emissions!

This fascinating video about how a solid waste plant works, from Wheelabrator, which owns and operates several waste to energy plants in the U.S., illustrates the process. You can see the methods used to sort and neutralize the various components -- ferous metals, dioxins, particulate matter -- and capture the energy produced.

It's kind of inspiring to see how much can be recovered from "unusable" trash. Especially since landfills around the world are running out space fast. Many locations have less than 10 years of space left!

Added bonus? Communities that use waste to energy power sources tend to do more recycling, more reusing and generally make more conscious choices about consumption and waste disposal, so waste management improves across the board.

It's Not Waste, it's Energy! originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Times Square Ball Goes Green With Pedal-Power

Josh Loposer — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Health, Alternative Energy

30 Rock's Katrina Bowden and Judah Friedlander, Photo: Rob Loud, Getty Images

This New Year's Eve, the world famous dropping ball (I'll do my best not to make puberty jokes) in Times Square will be powered by people who can't afford a gym membership ... as well as a few celebrities who stopped by for a photo-op.

That's because, according to our friends at Holidash, Duracell has set up a fleet of six fancy stationary bikes (dubbed "power rovers") that feed their pedal-powered electricity directly into the giant copper-tops that will illuminate up the iconic 2010 numerals at the stroke of midnight.

Anyone who wants to donate a few extra calories is welcome to drop by the Smart Power Lab, located at 1540 Broadway from now until 3PM on New Year's Eve. Think of it as a free spin class.
According to Duracell's calculations, they'll need about 32,000 Watts to power the numerals for 30 minutes on New Year's Eve. If that sounds like a lot of power, just imagine how much power the energy-hogging New Year's ball gobbled up before it was retrofitted with 32,000 LEDs two years ago.

If it's going to take a bribe to get you on a Power Rover, Duracell has that covered. As a reward for breaking a sweat at the Smart Power Lab, Duracell is providing visitors with the opportunity to sample the latest releases on Xbox, recharge their mobile devices, and take pictures with a life-sized replica of the 2010 numerals.

What happens if New Yorkers fail to meet the challenge and the ball doesn't get enough power? Pandemonium? Rioting in the streets? Will calendars all over the world get stuck on December 2009?

Duracell hasn't exactly been forthcoming with it's backup plan, but hopefully they have a contingency to ensure that the flow of space-time continues interrupted.

Times Square Ball Goes Green With Pedal-Power originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Do 'Small' Wind Turbines Make Good Christmas Gifts?

Josh Loposer — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Alternative Energy

100KW Blue Sky turbine, Photo: Planetturbine.com

Over the last few years, wind and solar proponents have been battling it out to take the top spot in the clean energy discussion. However, when it comes down making a purchase on a smaller scale, solar is king. Solar panels are smaller, more discreet and, most importantly, they're a proven commodity.

Still, that doesn't mean they're always the best option. According to Earth2Tech, the "small" wind turbine market is expected to double by 2013. By the way, I put "small" in quotes because were talking small in terms of output (100KW or less), not size. Look at the 100KW turbine in the picture and you'll see what I'm talking about.

A small wind system might not be as suitable as solar panels for your condo, but it might be better for you condo complex. Likewise, small wind's not ideal for your house in the burbs, but it might out-compete solar at your warehouse, or your farm, or whatever. Says David Link from Pike Research: "Small wind energy is less expensive than solar on a cost per watt basis which is driving more and more businesses and rural consumers to give it a second look."

So, when it comes to answering the question: Should I buy solar panels or a wind turbine for Christmas? You might get more bang for your buck if you go wind ... if you can go wind. There are other factors to consider, size being one of the biggest (pun unintended). You're gonna need a lot of wrapping paper.

There are a few drawbacks to small wind, of course. For example, what if the wind stops blowing while you're trying to watch the Super Bowl? To make small wind systems practical, they're usually used in concert with solar panels or tied into the energy grid. That way, you're not worried about losing power.

Another drawback, as I alluded to before, is finding the right application for a wind turbine. Sure, it's nice to think that your condo board might band together for the planet (and the financial gains) and buy a turbine, but it's not likely. Or, if you own a business, the financial breakdown might look great, but the huge turbine on your property may not.

The upside is, your renewable energy investment would be producing a greater return and in so doing, you're also putting more KW of clean energy back onto the grid -- a win-win. Combine that with the uncapped 30% federal tax credit for renewable energy, and all of the sudden smallish investors can reap larger returns using a small wind system.

While you're out shopping for small scale wind systems, the segment to stay away from is "micro wind." The general rule of thumb (which I just made up) is: If the turbine is smaller than a smart car, it probably won't ever offset the carbon emission used to build it.

Do 'Small' Wind Turbines Make Good Christmas Gifts? originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Al Gore Invites us All to Say it on 'The Wall'

Cat Lincoln — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Alternative Energy, Climate Change

Greenius Al Gore/Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images

Alpha Green Al Gore has invited those of us who want clean energy technology (yes, personally -- get on the mailing list and he'll write to you, too) to participate in a new communication channel called The Wall.

It's a pretty amazing display of the passion behind the grassroots RePower America campaign. People post a comment, photo or even a video to The Wall, explaining why they believe clean energy is the way to save the environment and the economy. And the whole world can see and hear the public consensuse -- this is what we want, and we want it now!

One great thing about this collection of voices is that it uses the internet to amplify the message of people who have deep convictions, but perhaps prefer not to participate in a naked formation of the number 350 on the side of a mountain. Sure, those in-person, occasionally naked, demonstrations are fun and meaningful, but way too cold for some of us!

It seems like people were dying for a chance to get their feelings off their chests and on The Wall. In the first week 15,000 people posted messages on The Wall, and the number keeps growing every day.

Do you have a message for global political leaders? Do you want them to hear your opinion about clean energy before the Copenhagen Climate Conference, which is just around the corner? Then take a click over to The Wall and tell everyone what you think!

Al Gore Invites us All to Say it on 'The Wall' originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Solar Decathlon

Cat Lincoln — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Home, Alternative Energy

University of Kentucky Uses Innovative Recycled Plastic Decking at the Solar Decathlon from Plastics Make it Possible on Vimeo.

Last month students from around the world gathered on the National Mall in Washington D.C. to compete in the Solar Decathlon, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Twenty teams designed, built and operated solar-powered homes, which were then opened to the public, both to get votes, and to educate people about the latest uses of energy-efficient building practices and materials.

The first, and hardest, part of the competition actually happens before they get to D.C., when the teams design their structures, raise money to build them, and supervise contractors to actually raise them. Then they take them apart -- very carefully! -- and transport them to the National Mall, where they are reassembled on site. The final phase includes the judging, where they are evaluated on 10 different areas:

Architecture - 100 points
Market Viability - 100 points
Engineering - 100 points
Lighting Design - 75 points
Communications - 75 points
Comfort Zone - 100 points
Hot Water - 100 points
Appliances - 100 points
Home Entertainment - 100 points
Net Metering - 150 points

The D.O.E. has several goals for the competition, including educating students about alternative energy solutions, raising public awareness, and stimulating R&D of innovative new technologies.

This year the winners included 2007 champions Team Germany (Technische Universität Darmstadt) in first place, with a home that had photovoltaic panels on every available surface.

In second place was the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with a home that combined traditional building techniques with energy efficient technologies.

Third place was awarded to Team California (Santa Clara University, California College of the Arts), with a house that won first place in the Architecture and Communications contests.

All of the entries are pretty inspiring, and offer a great example for anyone considering some home improvements of their own!

The Solar Decathlon originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nuclear Energy, the New Green Hope?

Cat Lincoln — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:07:00 EST

Filed under: News, Alternative Energy, Climate Change

Exelon Byron Nuclear Generating Stations, IL. Photo: JEFF HAYNES, Getty Images

Back in the 70s, I remember nuclear energy being discussed in the same breath as geothermal and solar power. But then the partial core meltdown happened at Three Mile Island in 1979, giving the American public a huge scare about the safety of nuclear reactors.

It didn't help matters when the film "Silkwood", starring Meryl Streep, came out in 1983, showing how workers who were exposed to plutonium had to be literally scrubbed raw -- those decontamination showers are burned into the brains of a generation!

But the climate crisis has created the urgent need for a power source that doesn't produce CO2. There are already several nuclear power-plants online in the U.S. In 31 states there are 104 reactors, which provide about 20% of our energy -- and 70% of our emission-free energy.
As Josh discussed earlier this month, now that the climate bill is making its way through the Senate, thanks to a group of mainly Republican -- but some Democrat -- champions, nuclear power is taking center stage in the debate.

On one side you have the argument that the danger of toxic waste contamination far out-weighs the benefits. There is also the ongoing threat of terrorists targeting a nuclear reactor. The other side of the debate maintains that nuclear is safe, sustainable and abundantly available.

Like the rest of the climate debate, opinions on this topic are strong and convictions are deeply held. What do you think? Should we invest in expanding our nuclear capabilities, or put those resources toward growing alternative energy sources like wind and solar power?

Nuclear Energy, the New Green Hope? originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Green Challenge: Car Racing Gone Green in Australia

Cat Lincoln — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Alternative Energy

If you're into cars that run on alternative fuels, then this is your lucky week. The Global Green Challenge is a 3,000 kilometer race through the center of Australia that starts in Darwin in the north, finishes in Adelaide in the south, and takes the participants through desert, rainforest and coastal plains.

The race, which began as the World Solar Challenge in 1987, is held every two years. Teams come from around the world to race their kooky looking solar-powered cars that resemble space ships. Most of the teams are made up of engineering students, and the competition is quite earnest.

This year, in addition to the solar concept car competition, there will be a second race called The Eco Challenge, which will include alternative fuel cars that are actually in production around the world.

The 17 entries include electric, hydrogen, ethanol, diesel and hybrids from major car makers like Ford, Toyota, and BMW. The Tesla will also be there, and we all know it's going to win, because it's fast, pretty and is representing for NorCal!

You can track the progress of the race this week on the Real Time Map on the Global Green Challenge site, which includes live updates on the weather. As you can imagine, the status of sun vs. rain is of huge interest when you have a bunch of solar powered cars racing each other across a continent!

Global Green Challenge: Car Racing Gone Green in Australia originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will Nuclear Power Thaw the Icy Climate Bill Deadlock?

Josh Loposer — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Alternative Energy

Photo by Alex Wong, Getty Images

Will the inclusion of nuclear energy in the climate bill score it enough votes to actually pass?

In the debate over the current "cap and trade" legislation (or 'Cap'n Trade' as Jon Stewart calls it) that's currently getting kicked around in the Senate chambers, one particular compromise just keeps rearing its controversial little head: Nuclear Energy.

In fact, reports are coming in that Republicans like Lindsay Graham are angling to add language to the climate bill that puts nuclear energy on par with wind or solar power. So, the question now becomes: Are lobbyists, lawmakers and their constituents really ready to play "Let's Make a Deal?"

Up until this point in the debate, it's been easy to avoid that critical nuclear gut check. Now, environmentally aware readers, is the time to decide whether Cap and Trade legislation is worth the compromises it might require to pass.

According to the bill's primary sponsor, John Kerry, all ideas are still on the table. Says Kerry:

"We're going to work in a bona fide way with everybody to see how to bridge a gap here. We've got to get a 60-vote margin. That means you've got to legislate, which means you have to compromise."

We're pretty much all aware of the downsides associated with nuclear energy: contamination, risk of accidents, waste disposal ... need I go on? Aside from the obvious reasons for opposing nuclear energy (Chernobyl), one of the strongest cases against it is logistics. Nuclear power plants are mucho expensive and the don't exactly pop up overnight.

Still, there are some potential benefits that could make the issue a little more palatable for weekend eco-warriors. First off, we already have it. Nuclear energy makes up about 20% of our current energy production. Second, nuclear energy creates substantially lower greenhouse emissions per KWh.

Third, there's a conservationist angle a here as well in the form of a concept known as "energy sprawl." If you've ever driven by a wind farm, you've probably had the same reaction that I did the first time I saw one: 'Whoa, that's freakin' big.'

According to a study by the Nature Conservancy, the areas affected by biofuel and renewable energy production (especially wind) in 2030 could make up a landmass larger than the state of Nebraska. So, that's not exactly ideal either.

How comfortable are you with the idea of a nuclear-powered future? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below.

Will Nuclear Power Thaw the Icy Climate Bill Deadlock? originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kid Rock Unveils Biodiesel-Powered Badass Beer

Josh Loposer — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Food, Alternative Energy

(Photo by Geoff Burke, Getty Images)

There's a new eco-friendly beer on tap in The Great Lakes State, and the brewmeister is none other than terminally shirtless rap/rock/country crooner Kid Rock. Apparently, Mr. Rock has been carefully perfecting this beer's flavor for the past year and now it's ready for mass consumption. Here's how Kid Rock describes the beer to the Detroit Free Press:

""American-style lager ... easy to drink without an aftertaste... I'm American, that's what I like to drink, and from looking around the parking lot before my shows, I know that's what my fans drink,"

Thoughtfully dubbed "American Badass Beer," the brew was unveiled at two of Kid Rock's concerts in Detroit last week and is now available statewide in Michigan. American Badass Beer (I'm already getting really annoyed with that title) will be available nationwide over the next year.

If you were getting excited about the prospect that Kid Rock might hang up the microphone and work full time at the brewery, sorry, no such luck. The Michigan Brewing Company is undertaking the production duties, which is also the reason it qualifies as a green beer. The Michigan Brewing Company, like a few other major green breweries, produces its own power from biodiesel generators.

In fact, nearby MSU students are unwittingly aiding Kid Rock's efforts to market his poorly-named green brew. Fryer grease from their cafeterias is powering the aforementioned generators. If the food at Michigan State's cafeterias is anything like the ones at my school, there should be grease aplenty. There was probably enough grease pumping out of our cafeterias to power the entire campus.

I'd warn other green brewers like New Belgium and Sierra Nevada to watch out, but I don't think American Badass Beer is really targeting their demographic. Something about the name and the beer's celebrity spokesman leads me to think that ABB will not be a favorite among the Prius-driving public.

Kid Rock Unveils Biodiesel-Powered Badass Beer originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texas Legislators Hope to Initiate Solar Bonanza

Josh Loposer — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Polit-eco, Alternative Energy

If you've ever spent time in the Lone Star State, it quickly becomes obvious -- sometimes painfully so -- that Texas enjoys an abundance of burning, scorching sunshine. While not everyone views these rays as a resource yet, lobbyists, policymakers and politicians (the three most dreaded groups in the state) are working on an incentive package to make Texas a leader in solar energy.

Thus far, 69 renewable energy bills have been introduce in this Texas legislative session, and 50 of them focus on boosting the state's solar resources. Some representatives have even taken to calling this the "solar session." According to representative Mark Strama:

"There are senators and representatives that are talking about solar that have never mentioned the word probably in their lives. We've actually heard the term 'global warming,' and two years ago that was called 'the G word' - you didn't talk about it."

Considering the state's success with promoting wind energy, it's easy to imagine that much of the momentum will start to spill over into becoming the preeminent force solar energy as well. Austin Energy just gave the green light to the largest solar farm in the nation, so that's a start.

[via Earth2Tech]

Texas Legislators Hope to Initiate Solar Bonanza originally appeared on Green Daily on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turbine Collapse Causes Town to Scrap Wind Project

Josh Loposer — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Local, News, Alternative Energy

Like any other piece of machinery, every so often, a wind turbine will fail and pieces will break off. The problem: the pieces are freakin big ... and that's freakin scary. Earlier this month, a wind turbine mysteriously collapsed in the northern New York community of Altona and the shock waves are still being felt.

A 13 turbine windfarm in neighboring Beekmantown fell prey to safety concerns this week, as it was killed by the city council by a vote of 3-2. Unsurprisingly, the March 17th town hall meeting to discuss the Beekmantown wind farm was dominated by talk about the collapse at Altona -- and council members were among those leading the charge. Says councilman Samuel Dyer: "Excuse my language, but that thing in Altona scared the s-- out of me."

Unfortunately, this is a pretty clear example of how costly mishaps like this one can be for an emerging energy technology. With the collapse in Altona, and the mysterious falling blade in England, there's got to be some concern that turbines could earn the stigma of being unsafe -- a tough thing to get over.

[via CleanTechnica]

Turbine Collapse Causes Town to Scrap Wind Project originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California HOA vs. Cheap Blue Panels - Solar Snobbery

Josh Loposer — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:30:00 EST

Filed under: Home, Local, Alternative Energy

Sure, homeowner's associations can be a good vehicle for enforcing neatness and keeping property values up -- in theory anyway. You won't find me paying a group of amateur lawn police a monthly fee to tell me what color solar panels I can put up on my own house. No thanks.

That's what happened to three homeowners in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, when the HOA's illustrious Art Jury (no joke) denied their plans to put up photovoltaic solar panels based on their appearance. The US-made panels cost 30% less than the dark black panels preferred by the HOA, but they have a dreadful blue tint. Oh no! How will they possible match the neighborhood's uniform appearance?

Fighting back against the HOA, residents went to City Hall, to see if any of its occupants had a lick of common sense. Surprisingly enough, they did. Citing California's 1978 Solar Rights Act, the City of Palos Verdes declared a city override of the Art Jury's ruling. Oddly enough, it was the same Solar Rights Act that allowed one neighbor to force another to chop down his 10 year old redwoods because they were blocking his rays.

[via Treehugger]

California HOA vs. Cheap Blue Panels - Solar Snobbery originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Jellyfish Plug and Play Wind Turbine

Josh Loposer — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Home, Alternative Energy

There are so many good things going on with small-scale wind turbines -- they're a beacon of good intentions, affordable, and now super easy to install -- it's a shame that in practice, micro wind's benefits are infamously dubious. Potential counter-productiveness aside, the Jellyfish Wind Appliance is bar none the coolest and weirdest-looking micro turbine to draw major league attention -- and that's saying something.

The Jellyfish's odd design and plug-and-play installation has taken it all the way to the semi finals in Google's Project 10 to the 100th contest. What's so special about this thing? Well, it's mostly two things: it's only going to cost $400 and it plugs directly into a standard wall outlet -- dumping power back onto the grid.

If the prospect of hooking up a vertical axis wind turbine for $400 ($199 with tax rebates) has you salivating, you might want to consider the bigger picture. The Jellyfish will net you all of 40kWh a month -- supposedly enough to power the lights in a home with energy efficient LED lighting. At that rate, you would break even in 7 years.

Would the turbine ever offset its own carbon footprint? I hope so, but I'm a little bit skeptical. You could see the Jellyfish in stores in as soon as 12 months.

[via Treehugger]

The Jellyfish Plug and Play Wind Turbine originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Solar Power Gets Brighter in 2008

Eugene Sandhu — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Alternative Energy

2008 may have been the year that solar power started popping up in more places than your calculator.

The Solar Energy Industries Association announced in a report today that solar energy capacity increased by 17 percent last year. Government stimulus programs have helped get that growth rate and this year's stimulus package has a bunch of provisions for getting solar power closer to the main stream.

And the not-so-good news? While the survey said that 2008 was a great year, 2009 may be a different story. The global meltdown hit the industry pretty hard in the first quarter. The financial crisis has dried up a lot of financing for an industry that requires a lot of cash (getting power from photovoltaic panels costs three times as much as wind-generated energy).

So, what's going to boost the solar industry? The solar folks are looking for federal policies that would mandate a percentage of US energy come from renewable power. They also want a "solar carve-out" policy that would ensure a certain percentage of renewable energy come from sun power. Similar requirements have already been implemented in a dozen individual states but the industry is looking for federal policies to really get solar going.

Solar Power Gets Brighter in 2008 originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Requests for Nuclear Permits are up, Way up

Josh Loposer — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Polit-eco, Alternative Energy, Climate Change

Will the green glow of America's carbon-conscious energy future be tinted with a radioactive overtones? The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission is currently sitting on requests to build 26 new reactors, and they expects to receive applications for seven more by the year's end. With public sentiment for nuclear energy in relatively positive territory, you and a nuclear reactor could soon be neighbors.

According to a recent survey, 73% of Americans say that it would be "acceptable to build a new reactor within 100 miles of their home." Of course, build it closer, and support erodes rather quickly. Still, with a pro-nuke Energy Secretary, and a growing realization that renewable energy is going to struggle in today's energy market. "Aspirations for lower-carbon, or zero-carbon electricity, are unattainable without nuclear in the mix," says global generation expert Daniel Kruger. Right now, there are 104 nuclear power plants in the US, which pump out about 20% of the nation's electricity. Obviously, adding another 33 could make huge gains in terms of greenhouse emissions, but are we really ready to confront the disposal of radioactive waste?

Requests for Nuclear Permits are up, Way up originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Cheap Gas Killing the Hybrid Market?

Josh Loposer — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Alternative Energy, Green by the Numbers

If you're in the market for a new car, you've probably noticed that the number of hybrids parked on dealer lots higher than ever -- even as the market for cars in general has collapsed. Much of the reason for this is the intense tongue-lashing the auto industry has received for focusing on SUVs and not the smaller, fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow. The trouble is, now that a glut of hybrids are being pumped into the market, the demand for hybrids seems to be vanishing like a mirage.

This month, Toyota celebrated the sale of its 1,000,000th hybrid -- and while execs were reveling in their hybrid domination, they were also digesting the news that Prius sales were down 33% since last February. Hybrid sales across the board are down almost 2/3rds since last April. "When gas prices came down, the priority of buying a hybrid fell off quite quickly," says Wes Brown of LA-based Iceology. In some places, car buyers are trending back towards SUVs and trucks. Still, the slate for most automakers, especially the ones who took bailout money (ahem, GM and Chrysler), is loaded to the brim with hybrids and fuel-sippers. Has the demand for hybrids really collapsed, or is it just the ailing economy? Is our fuel consciousness truly only engaged when energy prices rise?

[via AutoblogGreen]

Is Cheap Gas Killing the Hybrid Market? originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shell Making Zero Wind or Solar Investments in 2009

Josh Loposer — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: News, Alternative Energy

Big Oil haters, you're not going to like this news. At a press conference Tuesday, the head of Royal Dutch Shell's gas and power unit announced that they will be making a grand total of zero major investments into renewable energy in the forseable future. According to Shell's Linda Cook,

"We do not expect material amounts of investment in those areas going forward... They continue to struggle to compete with the other investment opportunities we have in our portfolio."

Wow, how quickly things can change. Last year, Big Oil was busy describing their mind-blowing plans for a clean energy future, and this year ... nothing? Well, technically it's not nothing -- Shell plans to pursue some involvement with biofuels, many of which have been called out as 'worse than gasoline.' Sure, I expected some of the enthusiasm over solar and wind to die down as oil prices plummeted $100 per barrel, but I can't say I expected a total 180. Sheesh. To be fair, Shell never did go into full greenwashing mode, but they do own 550MW of wind capacity. Guess it just can't compete with $47/barrel oil.

Shell Making Zero Wind or Solar Investments in 2009 originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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