Articles by David Roberts

Popular Science solves the whole energy thing

Everyone and their cousin has already linked to this, but in case you missed it, Popular Science is running a series of stories called The Future of Energy. It's good.

And when I say "good," I mean "more or less reflects my own priorities." I was particularly pleased that nuclear didn't show up on the list and that grid improvements were way up at No. 2. I would have moved "negawatts" -- i.e., efficiency and conservation -- up higher on the list, and moved hydrogen lower, but those are quibbles. Overall, nice work.

(The editors explain their methodology here.)

GM’s plug-in hybrid: rumor or … OK, it’s a rumor

Via Groovy Green, we hear that GM may be making a plug-in hybrid, possibly to debut at an auto show as early as January.

I'll believe it when I see it, but damn I'd sure like to see it.

Waste gas to clean gas

This looks pretty nifty: A company called Prometheus Energy Co. will be setting up a facility that takes waste gas from landfills (ew) and refines it into liquid natural gas, which can fuel vehicles (at least vehicles that have undergone a fairly expensive conversion). Allegedly the resultant gas will be cheaper than diesel, and Prometheus will also set up a fueling station.

The LNG can also be created from "excess gases at coal mines, dairy farms or abandoned natural gas wells."

These waste-to-fuel projects are the kind of no-downside strategy I hope we see a lot more of.

Happy Happy Day!

Are you happy yet?

A psychologist says he can prove that Friday 23 June, today, will be the happiest day of the year.