Energy efficiency is key!

A very important way to reduce reliance on imported oil: Read the article.

Clean Energy Trends: 2010

Clean Edge issues its annual Clean Energy Trends report to track key developments in clean-energy markets. Past reports have been downloaded by tens of thousands of individuals in government, finance, industry, and the media. Clean Energy Trends 2010 is made possible by the support of its sponsors, including premier sponsors Cascadia Capital, Deloitte, and Hobbs & Towne. Major sponsors include Akin Gump, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Blue Practice, E2, and Mintz Levin. Clean Energy Trends 2010 can be downloaded free of charge.

Solar grows over 70% per year (CAGR)

According to GTM Research (performed for the report: "Emerging Trends in the U.S. Solar Market), solar has had a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 71%:

Oreogn and Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicle advocates have been laying the groundwork for what they hope will be a breakthrough year for bringing the environmentally friendly vehicles to Oregon.

CleanEdge Publishes two new reports

CleanEdge publishes reports on Cleantech financing and job trends:
=> Five Emerging U.S. Public Finance Models: Powering Clean-Tech Economic Growth and Job Creation
=> Clean Tech Job Trends 2009

Smart Grid Roadmap Development

Join Portland State University and other community leaders at an interactive conference focused on building a sustainable Smart Grid Community Roadmap.

Portland State will facilitate discussion around the recent outcomes and findings from their class, “Designing the Smart Grid for Sustainable Communities”. Participants will collaborate to create essential Roadmap elements and outcomes for a smarter grid that will help the Pacific Northwest support a more sustainable energy plan for our diverse communities.

Who: Leaders in Business, IT and Communications, Regulators, Government, Utilities, Smart Grid Technology Vendors, Planners, Engineers, Architects, Home and Building Owners

When: June 18, 9:00-5:00pm with lunch

Where: Portland State University, University Place, 310 SW Lincoln St., Portland OR

More information: www.extended.pdx.edu/nwsmartgrid

Seminar on Smart Grid Systems: in Portland

The smart grid has become a rapidly growing movement to design and implement the concept of an intelligent energy system that is more efficient, robust, flexible and sustainable. Join a distinguished panel to gain a basic understanding of how the systems we use for electric energy generation, distribution and consumption are evolving to better meet the needs of society and entrepreneurial opportunities available.

May 5th: 6 - 8 pm
Perkins Coie offices
1120 N.W. Couch Street, Tenth Floor
Portland , OR -97209

Vehicles that reduce the need for foreign oil

The "Top 10" low-carbon footprint cars can be found, here.

Five Major areas to watch

The following five areas will make a significant difference in our ability to become energy-independent: An intense focus on producing (and storing) low/no carbon electricity, using it more efficiently and distributing it more wisely is needed - especially when electric vehicles will likely be the way the United States gets off of foreign oil.

NXergy is focusing on these areas. Links to important organizations and information is provided, below:

Energy Efficiency
IEA, Energy Trust of Oregon, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and PECI.

High-density Energy Storage
Energy Storage Council

Smart-grid
Department of Energy (SmartGrid Info), Duke University's efforts

Distributed generation
International organization, in the United States

Low / no-carbon energy production
World-watch Institute: Low Carbon Roadmap

Contrarian view about climate actions and jobs

"Saving the planet and creating jobs may be incompatible."

A recent paper from the Peterson Institute of International Economics and the World Resources Institute notes that investment in green-tech may just redirect capital from one use to another, indicating that the number of jobs created might not be so great as being touted.

This needs to be addressed analytically, to determine the true value that green-tech (development & deployment) - to ensure as we move to a sustainable future, we "manage by fact".

Green-energy investments decline significantly in 2009

Information from New Energy Finance indicates that investments into clean energy declined 53% from Q1 2008 to Q1 2009. Read the press release. (Thanks to Michael Rex for this one!)

Clean Tech Open Launching 2009 Pacific Northwest Business Competition

The Clean Tech Open Pacific Northwest Competition is off and running! The official launch event will take place on April 15th in Seattle. Teams with innovative clean tech ideas can enter the business competition now through May 30, 2009. Semi-finalist teams selected in June will be assigned mentors, attend Business Clinics and the three-day Clean Tech Open Accelerator in preparation for the final judging. Three regional winners will each receive $50,000 in cash and services and will then compete in the Clean Tech Open National for $250,000 in cash and services.

Energy Planet offers news on alternative energy

Alternative Energy News is published by Energy Planet: Access to some great information.

The Role of State Policy in Renewable Energy Development

The U.S. Department of Energy's State Energy Program (SEP) publishes Conservation Update bimonthly to summarize renewable energy and energy efficiency projects of state energy offices.

=> Jan / Feb updates
=> State Publications

Energy sector suffers from a lengthy, unpredictable, & needlessly complex regulatory maze

Karen Harbert, President and CEO of the Institute for 21st Century Energy, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce writes in "Want Green Jobs? Cut the Green Tape" that we need to think beyond just dollars. We need to ensure that we work together and are able to cut through the stumbling blocks in front of job creation, renewable energy implementation and moving forward to a more energy-independent country.

GE Says Smart Grid Equal to 41GW of Power Plants

"We can probably improve the efficiency of the grid by 5 percent," said Steve Fludder, vice president of Ecomagination at GE, during an interview at the Cleantech Forum taking place this week in San Francisco. Five percent doesn't sound like much, but it translates to 41,000 megawatts of generating capacity, or 41 gigawatts."

Oregon's Executive Order 09-06 align with NXergy's mission

Governor Ted Kulongoski issued Executive Order 09-06 creating a new public-private advisory council to use Oregon's green advantage to maximize potential grants from the federal economic recovery package to create jobs immediately and for the long term. Six key criteria include:

[1] Immediate job creation for Oregonians;
[2] Use of Oregon companies & sourcing of local materials to keep stimulus funds in Oregon:
[3] Green jobs training that accompany projects;
[4] Promotion of Oregon's sustainability, renewable energy, carbon reduction, energy efficiency and green development goals;
[5] Innovative approaches in technology, partnership, process and life cycle optimization; and
[6] Potential to attract additional additional federal money through block grants and other sources.

Reviewing NXergy's focus reveals the alignment.

Smart Garage: Great information

Information on RMI's* "Project Get Ready" and the Smart Garage Charrette Report.

* Rocky Mountain Institute.

States defer to Obama on energy

A recent report (starting on page 20) outlines the current situation and states' perception of what is to be done in energy.

The Grid: European / U.S. thinking

I attended a recent webinar (ocean grids around Europe) which discussed an approach to develop a "super-grid" offshore of Europe. Grand in its thinking, the impetus for this session was very pedestrian: how to get quality, uninterrupted power to Europeans in the future? The presentation can be downloaded and viewed, here.

A different perspective on the current state of the U.S. grid can be found in this article: "How Poor is the U.S. Grid?" and this one: "The U. S. electric grid: will it be our undoing?" (by Gail E. Tverberg)

Saudis invest in green-tech

Even the Saudi Government is investing in green-technology.

New report defines huge growth opportunities

The report "Transforming Innovation into Market Growth" provides a compelling look at the state of the clean-tech industry... in spite of the recession.

Effects of tight credit on alternative energy

The economic situation (tight credit, competitive pricing, and subsidies) affect the health of th alternative energy sector: Dirk Lammers, AP Energy Writer reports. (Also from the article: "The cleantech renewable energy sector will be the first to emerge when the market stabilizes.")

Exponential Times

It struck me that during the Great Depression, it took about 5 years before the Government started considering injecting significant currency into the markets. In January of 2008, we were worried about inflation. It's taken less than 12 months for the US Government to start pumping liquidity into the market. Another interesting fact: It took about ten years after the Great Depression for the US Government to issue bonds that carried a negative interest rate. This time, it took less than 6 months, after the stock market nose-dived.

I believe with the "speed of information travel" being SO fast (and getting faster), that we are in "exponential times".

If we think that societies' "speed" will not create a significant energy demand surge, then we're kidding ourselves. The recession may last a few years, but soon - the economy will roar back. The investments we make (in renewable energy & energy-efficient technologies) now will pay significant dividends, later. However (=opinion alert=), if we do not invest now, the U.S. will become a third-world nation.

Obama drops windfall profits tax

Although controversial, Obama has dropped his plans to tax windfall profits. As explained in The 21st Century Energy Initiative, this is a good thing. However, investments in alternative solutions should be encouraged.

Carbon future prices? $50 a ton

According to Greg Burns of the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Climate Futures Exchange launched a new set of carbon-credit contracts. The price for 2013 carbon this week? $50 a ton.

Politics at its finest

First, I must apologize for getting off-topic. However, I just had to post a couple gems that you might also find interesting:

[1] Obama's donors asked to help pay Clinton's debts.
[2] President Clinton earns $85 million since leaving office (> $10 million per year, average).
[3] Obama's campaign has $30 million remaining.

I post. You decide.

Now... back to energy independence...

Great blog on green. Autos.

Check out this blogsite! All things: Auto. Green.

Helping the Economy... helps renewable energy

With energy prices dropping significantly, the perceived "pressure" to solve our energy problems reduce, too. When we come out of the recession (or worse), Peak Oil (supply) and China/India growth (demand) will make things much much worse - and may cause an even greater energy-price economic crunch than we're seeing today.

Therefore, due to the difficult economy we face, I have decided to do my part - and give away copies of my latest book: "How to Attract Significantly More Customers... in good times and bad."

I believe businesses will pull us out of this deepening recession: With the economy the way it is, I hope to help thousands of business owners make both strategic decisions and strategic changes, to grow their way out of our difficult economic malaise. In doing so, they hill hire more people and reduce joblessness. Thereby creating an environment where - once again - renewable energy solutions will overtake the economy as the #1 issue.

If you know any business owners who could benefit from new insights, please forward the following URL to them: http://www.attractmorecustomers.net/free. Thank you.

Alternative energy stocks advance.

Alternative energy stocks advance.

The Cost of Cap & Trade

According to the Congressional Budget Office, Cap & Trade Act (S. 2191 America's Climate Security Act of 2007) would cost over $1.4 trillion over the next 10 years (assuming the 2018 "run rate" for 2019). Although the first three years cost "only" $15 billion, beginning in 2012, the cost is $150 billion per year and over $300 billion / year by 2018.

Just thought this information is important to share.

Blog worth checking out! (Greenbang.com)

Greenbang tracks the explosion of the environmental industry, reporting on news of green innovation and clever business people.W e blog on this rather than the environmental problems of the world because we are interested in the answers - if there are any.

Greenbang is a clean-tech and green business news website that provides daily updates to more than 80,000 investors, C-level executives, entrepreneurs, and corporate intranets. The website began as a blog, but now also acts as a global news resource with journalists reporting from four continents. The daily posts are published on CNBC’s website. Greenbang is based in London, UK. It is a privately owned limited company and part of the Tolléjo Media Group.

Why the Energy Crisis Will Oulast the Credit Crisis

By the year 2030, about 97% of the world's new carbon emissions will come from outside the United States and Europe, largely from China, India and the Middle East, who will consume about half the world's energy. Before global habits begin to change permanently, greenhouse gas output will keep rising, probably at least until 2020. By which time the financial crisis of 2008 might seem like ancient history.

International Energy Agency analysts predict that governments will need to spend about $4.1 trillion on alternative energy development over the next two decades.

What is the true cost of energy?

Robert Rapier discusses the "Energy Return on Energy Invested" (or Energy Out vs. Energy In) on his blog - relative to oil from Tar Sands. For anyone wanting to go forward based on facts (instead of politics) this would be a good read.

Great interivew about the future of energy

Charlie Rose interviewed Charlie Maxwell and Daniel Yergin about the future of energy. If you are seriously interested in this topic, it is worth the time to watch!

Now is not the time to let our guard down.

The International Energy Agency (IEA), in its World Energy Outlook for 2008, says prices could increase to as much as $200 a barrel by 2030. "The immediate risk to supply is not one of a lack of global resources but a lack of investment where it is needed."

The 2008 Greentech Market Taxonomy

For a very interesting taxonomy of green energy,. check out this interactive map.

EIA Predicts $100 oil

The Energy Information Agency predicts that oil till get back to $100/barrel soon and soar to $200/ barrel by 2030. With [1] peak oil, [2] demand from China & India, and [3] significant efforts to cut carbon emissions, I suspect $200 / barrel will be reached far sooner and we will see even $500/barrel. If for no other reason, due to the $1 trillion in bailouts this country has spent / will spend in the next few months. Why? This will drive down the value of the dollar (even though it is firming in today's economic climate), which will drive up the price of gas. This of course, will be good for renewable energy and renewable energy technologies.

Repeat of 1970s!

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." *

Here we go again: Delays in renewable / alternative energy initiatives are beginning.

* George Santayana

No matter who wins the election Energy will be more expensive

"The future, say the experts, is clear no matter who wins: We'll pay more for existing energy and we'll pay to find alternatives.

"Energy is the only commodity in America where consumers will not ... absorb fluctuation, because the way we live demands that we have to buy gas and electricity," Borenstein said. "There have been plenty of politicians who have spoken the hard truth and you never even hear of them because that's not the way to get to Congress or to the presidency."

Bail out for everyone

Perhaps Congress has gotten too used to mega-bills, which require so much "negotiation" (*meaning horse-trading) that everyone wins... at the expense of the budget. (Example: the current mortgage / financial "rescue" package including green aspects.) Green-tech legislation should stand on its own and be supported by good science.

Investors Bullish on 2009 Greentech Deals

A KPMG survey finds that venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and others expect more funding for energy storage, wind and clean coal. Most venture capitalists and entrepreneurs expect greentech investments to increase next year, according to a survey released by KPMG on Tuesday.

About half of the survey respondents said they expect greentech investments to jump by 20 percent or more in 2009, while 34 percent of respondents see an increase between 10 percent and 19 percent from 2008 to 2009, the survey showed.

Continuing problem? Energy

"While many of the world's best business brains are exercising themselves over the current global banking and equities crisis, there is another issue which has the potential to dominate our lives far more in the longer term -- energy." From a CNN report.

Unbelievable!

It is absolutely unbelievable that our elected officials - those who are entrusted with our (read *your*) taxes have failed in their fiduciary responsibility to protect Americans. To "spend" a minimum of $785 billion* will do nothing but ignite hyper-inflation. This puts significant upward pressure on oil prices, which puts a downward spiral on the U.S. dollar.

The result? As inflation revs up, fewer real dollars are available to solve our energy problems. This will mean more oil addiction... and the spiral continues.

How to Solve Our Energy Problems: The 21st Century Energy Initiative points to how the lack of financial leadership (in Government) has led, and will lead us down a ruinous path. (Book excerpt on this topic, here.) Soon, the only way will be to vote the bastards out... and only vote in those who tell the truth, and make the hard (politically incorrect) decisions to get this nation moving in the right direction. Again.

* $700 to "bail out Wall Street" and $85 billion to bail out AIG.

How to Fix Our Economy and the Energy Crisis

With the economic meltdown in our economy, there is plenty of blame to go around. While we’ll soon be focusing on mortgage loan companies using risky methods, consumers biting off more than they can chew, Congress wanting to add more regulations (that hamper investments), and both presidential candidates blaming the other party, we might want to look a bit longer term. Both in the past and the future.

Perhaps we should ask ourselves how we got in this mess. Why aren’t we the economic powerhouse of the 1950s / 1960s anymore? To answer these and many more questions, you may want to read these:

=> How did we get in this mess? What decisions were made, by whom? And how can we learn from the past? Find out. And what about now?

=> And you think it’s bad, now? How developing nations will make the problem much worse, and why we need to make different decisions, now. A book excerpt on this train wreck can be found here. And details of the analysis can be found here.

=> Whoever addresses our energy problem – through real technology innovation and business model innovation – will win this election. You can compare the presidential candidates’ approaches, here. (With the detail, here.) Please check your congressional candidates’ views, too.

=> We need to innovate our way out: Create industries and technologies – to become a net-exporter of renewable energy technologies.

You Think It's Bad Now?

The just-released chapter* "You Think It's Bad Now?" - explores in more detail the unsustainable growth in automobiles in China and India, and why significant, comprehensive, bi-partisan actions need to be taken now to address the growing "energy shift" that will hit us very hard: Twelve times as much oil will be needed in 2024 to meet the demand for (just) two countries - to get to the same "standard of living" as the United States - as measured by the number of cars per 1000 people.

* From the new book "How to Solve Our Energy Problems: The 21st Century Energy Initiative".

Seven Myths of Energy Independence

"Despite supposedly bold initiatives such as last year's Energy Independence and Security Act, America is no freer from foreign oil: Since 2006, imports have remained steady at about 13 million barrels every day, while the price for each of those barrels has jumped by $30. Our heavily subsidized ethanol refiners now use so much corn that prices for all grains have soared, sparking (food) inflation."

The 7 Myths (According to the article):
Myth #1: Energy Independence Is Good
Myth #2: Ethanol Will Set Us Free
Myth #3: Conservation Is a "Personal Virtue"
Myth #4: We Can Go It Alone
Myth #5: Some Geek in Silicon Valley Will Fix the Problem
Myth #6: Cut Demand and the Rest Will Follow
Myth #7: Once Bush Is Gone, Change Will Come

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US Launches a CleanTech Fund... for China!(?)

Here's $30 billion that will be spent to help China & India to clean up their energy act. Interesting... Wouldn't it make sense to spend those US dollars at home, for US energy industry? In other news, it took from January until August to find someone to lead this.

OIl on the Brain

Check out Lisa Margonelli's website - and her book "Oil on the Brain." Lisa is an Irvine Fellow at the New America Foundation.

Check out the American Energy Independence website

Ron Bengtson provides excellent insights into our energy situation - and what to do about it. Check out his website!

Stagflation Growing

As identified in this blog 2 years ago*, Stagflation is something to be concerned about. Now, The Economist is reporting on it - and for good reason: "This suggests that the economic malaise will stretch well into next year, and maybe into 2010. ... If there was one lesson that policymakers learned in the 1970s, it is that there is no easy cure for stagflation. After the nice years, a hard slog lies ahead."

Point? The decisions we make now need to be fact-based, long-term oriented, instead of driven by election cycle politics - what seems (almost) "fanciful", now.

* And in a research report, in 2005 (page 8), item #2 "Make a Decision".

Tradeoffs required to "Go Green"

Evan Thomas of Newsweek makes some excellent points about the complex issues to be dealt - in order to move toward a renewable future.

Excellent Information at Green Car Congress

Mike Millikin at Green Car Congress has put together an excellent website, chock full of great information and resources. They are covering many different perspectives, from vehicles to fuels, energy, emissions and policy. Well worth checking out!

Loren Steffy's blog worth checking out!

Loren Steffy has a very insightful and thoughtful blog. Many topics are covered, including his view on energy solutions.

Replay of the 1970s? Oil price increases = electric bill increases

Interesting correlation: In the 1970s, oil-fired power plants rightfully had to increase their prices. The OPEC-led oil embargo caused our home heating bill to rise. It seems the EXACT SAME things are happening today:

=> Republican President
=> Unpopular (unjustified?) war
=> Oil price spike
=> Electric bills increasing

I wonder... if (when) oil prices drop (for a little while), will we all just go back to sleep... and forget that we need to solve our energy problems, once and for all?

"Low-Carbon consolidation" begins.

Électricité de France is close to buying the British Energy Group, the country’s largest producer of nuclear power, for as much as £12 billion ($24 billion) to get control of its eight nuclear plants and the land where more could be built, a person with knowledge of the takeover plan said Friday.

"Learning From the Oil Shock"

Excellent Newsweek article (by Robert Samuelson) about learning from the oil shock. Balanced and insightful.

"Green Gold Rush"

[1] A UN Environment Program (UNEP) study said more than 148 billion dollars of new funds were invested into the quest for cleaner energy last year. The massive demand for solar, wind and bio-fuel energy was being powered by prevailing climate change worries, growing support from world governments and rising crude oil prices, the UN agency said. Article, here.

[2] In other news.

[3] Stay up to speed, at Yahoo.

Consider donating what you can!

This site is funded by readers like you. Please donate whatever you can to keep the truth about energy independence coming to you. Thank you.

Consider donating what you can!

This site is funded by readers like you. Please donate whatever you can to keep the truth about energy independence coming to you. Thank you.