Energy

While most environmentally concerned people are aware of the Keystone XL pipeline most have not heard of Cochin Reversal pipeline project that was quietly approved by the Obama administration just prior to Thanksgiving. The 1,900-mile pipeline project will carry gas condensate (ultra-light oil) from an Illinois terminal northwest to Alberta, where it will be used to thin tar-sands oil so it can travel through pipelines. The Canadian government's efforts to expand Alberta's tar sands have created a growing market for US producers of natural gas liquids, particularly those mined by fracking operations. The $260 million project is an expansion of...

The province of Alberta and the oil industry are fighting to expand the tarsands and build the controversial Keystone XL pipeline and the Northern Gateway pipeline. The Canadian and Alberta government's are working hard to defend the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline which would ferry tar sands oil from Alberta to the Gulf of Mexico. Another controversial project, the Northern Gateway pipeline, would ferry oil from Alberta to the West Coast of British Columbia. Government largely ignores the problem of pipeline ruptures which is endemic to the oil industry. Without the Keystone XL and the Northern Gateway there are already over...

Ford Motor Company is using SunPower Corp.’s panels for its solar electric vehicle charging system. The charging stations will fuel Ford's new EVs (Focus Electric and C-Max Energi). The system employs rooftop solar panels which feeds power to an electric vehicle charger. Under Ford’s “Drive Green for Life” program customers can get the 2.5-kilowatt solar-powered charging station for under $10,000. The price includes federal tax credits but not state or local rebates. Loans and leases to offset the cost of the solar roof are also available. The solar roof comes with a residential monitoring device that tracks the performance of the array...

In the wake of the explosion of the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, Germany shut down 7 nuclear power plants. Coal-fired power plants will fill the gaps left by phasing out nuclear power. Germany is moving away from nuclear power even though there is very little similarity between the threats confronted by the German and Japanese reactors. The Fukushima reactors were not destroyed by the earthquake they were destroyed by a tsunami that crippled the plant's cooling system. That is why it does not make sense for Germany, a largely landlocked nation, to fear a Fukishima-style meltdown. This decision is...

Multiple explosions at the Fukushima nuclear reactors in Japan are leading many to question the value of nuclear power in America. The latest reports suggest at least 10,000 have been killed by the earthquake and resultant tsunami. With the meltdown of nuclear facilities in Japan, it may get much worse. Nuclear reactors are located adjacent to sources of water for cooling. Many of the world's 442 nuclear power reactors are located by the sea, but these power plants are prone to tsunamis. As reported by ENN, the safe operation of these plants are likely to be aggravated by climate change....

Big Oil is increasingly under scrutiny as the world is seeking cleaner sources of energy. The Obama administration is working on several fronts to reduce emissions and provide much needed oversight and regulation. Important financial and chemical reforms are being sought by US lawmakers and the EPA has put forward new mileage guidelines. Although President Obama has denied any direct link, the SEC's fraud charges against Goldman Sachs are part of a new political climate and this is a reflection of the strength of the President's convictions. In the context of this environment, social media based efforts are also underway...

The world’s oil supply is finite and many credible sources are counting down to the moment when demand exceeds supply. As indicated in the CNA report “Powering America’s Defense,” there is a strong relationship between climate change, energy dependence, and national security. The report clearly states that continued reliance on fossil fuels creates “an unacceptably high threat level from a series of converging risks.” These threats include conflicts over fuel resources, destabilization driven by ongoing climate change, and threats to critical infrastructure. According to the report, dependence on foreign oil weakens international leverage, jeopardizes the military, and entangles the US government with...