energy
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Kunstler’s tips to prepare for a post-oil society
This post by James Kunstler, “10 Ways to Prepare for a Post-Oil Society,” is a little old, but still timely, as the economy is in the midst of its first major convulsion caused by a radical swing in energy prices. The first point is especially applicable: The religious belief in the ability to substitute any […]
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Solar’s bright ideas for the green stimulus package
Carrying on one of the most annoying campaign memes (and boy is that bar high) into current policy discussions, the New York Times published an article that begins with the line: Move over Joe the Plumber. Spencer the Solar Installer is here. Every group under the sun has ideas for how their issue could be […]
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EPA says ignore CO2 when issuing permits for coal plants
Coal-fired power plants’ greenhouse-gas emissions shouldn’t be taken into consideration when determining whether to approve their construction, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson ruled this week. The ruling could clear the way for at least a handful of new coal plants to be approved in the final days of the Bush administration. “The current concerns over global […]
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Power from stationary bikes to light up Times Square New Year’s sign
As part of the effort to green New Year’s festivities in Times Square, battery maker Duracell has set up a “power lodge” nearby where volunteers can take a turn on stationary bikes that will power the “2009” sign marking arrival of the new year after the infamous illuminated ball drops. So far, only about 95 […]
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An elasticity literature review
I’ve done a lot of useful work on elasticity over the years. The following word file [doc] gathers the literature reviews I’ve put together, for your convenience.
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Of ice and biomass
As one of thousands still without power after the Northeast’s ice storm last Thursday, I’m feeling more thankful than usual for my woodstove (it’s also great that my place of employment dodged the storm, so I can at least escape the darkness at the Orion office). I’ve got three cords of wood stacked up to […]
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Falling commodity prices unlikely to reduce power costs
I find this E&E story on the costs of building power plants troubling ($ub. req’d). The lead is accurate, but dangerously and deeply misleading: The cost of building power plants and transmission lines have begun falling after years of steep increases, promising to temper electricity rate spikes for consumers, according to a new report. Are […]
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The ‘invisible hand’ is blind to climate externalities and the value of natural resources
When Nicholas Stern, former chief economist at the World Bank, released his ground-breaking study in late 2006 on the future costs of climate change, he talked about a massive market failure. He was referring to the failure of the market to incorporate the climate change costs of burning fossil fuels. The costs, he said, would […]
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New fact sheet greenwashes Bushes record on energy and climate
OK, my headline may have selectively edited the White House’s newly released energy/climate legacy talking points. But I didn’t do anything more than the White House itself did in its unintentionally humorous fact sheet that asserts, “President Bush Has Strengthened America’s Energy Security And Taken Constructive Steps To Confront Climate Change.” I suppose the “fact […]
