Natural Gas to the Rescue

Natural gas -- who'd uv thunk it......

Gas could be the cavalry in global warming fight

The Winds of Nicaragua

For some energy-starved countries, wind is becoming an increasingly important source of power.

Nicaragua adds wind power to energy mix

Adapting the Texas Energy Grid to Wind

Managing the power grids for variability in wind power generation continues to be an area of opportunity for the new energy economy. Texas is leading the way in adjusting to that variability because of its dominance in the industry. The article linked below discusses some of the things being done to handle the variability.

Texas Adjusts Its Grid for Wind

Achieving Energy Independence Overestimated

In the Houston Chronicle is a great article about energy independence titled "Energy `independence' is easier said than done" (click on the link to view it.) It discusses the global nature of the oil business and how energy flows around the planet. It also points out some issues regarding energy security that are relevant to the discussion. I highly recommend the article.

Until we truly have alternative energy sources that can replace oil, we will not be energy independent. We must look beyond fuels like ethanol and biodiesel to radically new technologies. We need to be thinking "science-fiction-like" technology, not a re-hash of the same old thing. The future will belong to the engineers and scientists who develop the new "power pack" that will power the future.

The Cost of Greening California

Someone else is finally seeing the big picture of renewables. California is "broke" already. Now, they will ask their taxpayers to make the "Green Moguls" wealthier.

California study shows high cost of renewable power

Better Air and Consistent Growth Through Partnership

Texas often gets a bad rap from other parts of the nation due to the stereotypical image of oil-guzzling rednecks that is often associated with the state. In reality, Texas is leading the nation in development of alternative energy technology and in reducing pollutants in our atmosphere. The free-enterprise, private-initiative attitude of the state in which private industry and government entities can partner to achieve common goals is a model that should be emulated by the rest of the nation. Cooperative efforts, rather than burdensome regulation, are key to the successes.

As North Texas grows, air becomes cleaner

Release date: 10/28/2008
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

(Dallas, Texas – October 28, 2008) As the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s economy has grown to one of the nation’s most vibrant, its citizens have also enjoyed improvements in air quality. This summer saw the lowest levels of ozone in three decades, thanks to a campaign to reduce air pollution led by the...(complete news release here).

Highe Cost Infrastructure Impacts Wind Generation

As we gain new information with the passage of time, we often learn that our best laid plans are more costly than anticipated. Such seems to be the case in Texas according to a new study of the costs of building high-capacity wind generation infrastructure within the state.

Texas study cites high cost of harnessing wind

New Jersey: Garbage to Fuel Source

Good for New Jersey. All of the large metropolitan areas need to be utilizing their decomposing garbage for fuel.

Green Garbage: Trash Becoming Key Power Source in New Jersey

Wind Development Continues to Challenge Power Grid

As I traveled across Texas this week I was amazed at the dramatic increase in the number of wind generators. The stretch from north of Snyder, Texas, to Abilene, Texas, is becoming one continuous wind power generating field. The grid still is not able to fully utilize all of that power -- and there is more being built -- especially futher north into the Texas Panhandle and on up through the High Plains of Kansas and Nebraska. The article linked below discusses some of the grid issues.

Wind development seen biggest challenge for power grid

Biofuel Waste to Riches

Potential new bi-products from biofuel waste may revolutionize the biofuel industry.

Adding Value to Biofuel Waste

What do you get when you cross E. coli with biofuel waste products? A new process that may revolutionize the economic development of the growing biofuel industry.

Biofuels represent the best sustainable, secure, and renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Unfortunately, biofuel production is beset by the same problem as traditional petroleum refining – excess waste. In traditional refining, only about...(complete article here).

Ethanol Subsidy Market Distortions

Iowa State takes a different look at the impact of ethanol.

Ethanol: A Welfare-Increasing Market Distortion?

Xiaodong Du, Dermot J. Hayes, Mindy L. BakerOctober 2008 [08-WP 480]

This study estimates the welfare changes for consumers and producers resulting from ethanol production and related support polices in 2007. The results suggest a positive welfare gain from the support policies; this is possible because ethanol subsidies effectively replaced a market distortion that had a larger deadweight loss. Previous farm subsidies created overproduction, which then depressed market prices and increased the cost of maintaining target-price supports. Ethanol polices resulted in additional ethanol production, but because this additional ethanol was sold in price elastic energy markets, the price depressing impact of the government supports was less than before. This resulted in lower government spending and a net welfare gain of $2.65 billion for given market parameters. The results are...(complete news release and link to study here).

Offshore Texas Wind Power Delayed

Wind power development in the Gulf of Mexico is facing a different set of challenges than onshore developments in Texas. To its advantage, it would have much fewer miles for transmitting the power to population centers. On the downside, it is much more expensive to develop and infrastructure to transmit it is more expensive. There is also the threat of hurricanes.

A Few Snags, But Hopes Are Still High for Offshore Wind in Texas

The word on the street is that the Lehman failure has put a halt to T. Boone Pickens wind development plans as well. It's just a rumor -- don't quote me on it.

Wind Power on the Reservation

I think it's wonderful that the Indian tribes want to get in on the wind power boom. The biggest problem they face is that most reservation lands are far from population centers where the power is needed. Infrastructure to transport that power into the grids where it can be utilized will be an issue.

Along with their bid for wind power, they might consider trying to attract industry that can utilize that power. New industry would provide badly needed jobs for the reservations. Instead of "take the power to industry" they might look at "bring industry to the power."

Indian Tribes See Profit in Harnessing the Wind for Power

National Biofuels Action Plan Released

You need a plan if you expect to accomplish anything -- even if what you are trying to accomplish isn't the right thing.

USDA & DOE Release National Biofuels Action Plan

WASHINGTON – Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Ed Schafer and Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman today released the National Biofuels Action Plan (NBAP), an interagency plan detailing the collaborative efforts of Federal agencies to accelerate the development of a sustainable biofuels industry.

“Federal leadership can...(complete news release here).

Ethanol Secrets of the Bovine

This one is common sense. Cattle have been utilizing roughage since they were created.

Secret for efficient ethanol in cows' stomachs?
Professor: Enzyme that helps digestion could be the key
(complete article here)

More Wind Dollars to West Texas

Yet another story on the wind farms in West Texas.

Wind power dollars pour into west Texas economy

By Eileen O'Grady
BLACKWELL, Texas (Reuters) - Millions of dollars in new tax revenue generated from the wind power boom sweeping rural west Texas have helped fund a rash of school building projects, the first signs of an expected economic revival.

"It's the greatest thing that...(complete story here).

More Texas Wind Farms

The wind farms continue to grow throughout the West Texas landscape.

On Texas prairie, wind power is resurgent

By Eileen O'Grady
ROSCOE, Texas (Reuters) - Fewer people curse the ever-present breeze that sweeps the treeless West Texas landscape these days, where the flat horizon has been overtaken by hundreds of wind turbines that produce electricity for distant city dwellers and new income for rural residents.

"Now we love the wind," said Max Watt as she...(complete article here).

Jobs in "Green" Industries

New industries created around emerging energy technologies as well as waste and water management will be a source of many new jobs in the coming years.

Landmark New Report Says Emerging Green Economy

New York (ILO News),24 Septembre 2008-A new, landmark study on the impact of an emerging global "green economy" on the world of work says efforts to tackle climate change could result in the creation of millions of new "green jobs" in the coming decades.

The new report entitled Green Jobs: Towards Decent work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World, says...(complete news release here).

Infrastructure Issues in New York and Pickens "Plan"

The article mentions T. Boone Pickens being "ahead" of other wind development companies in his efforts to "piggyback" a power transmission line on his water right-of-way (which by the way is likely in trouble). In spite of his $56 million PR campaign which involves robbing the Texas Panhandle of its precious water resources in order to invoke eminent domain takings of private property so that he can build his electric power lines, the state of Texas is far ahead of him with its $5.4 billion CREZ efforts to tie the ERCOT grid into the wind power generated in the Panhandle. Pickens is spending the money on the PR (the linked article below being some of the fruits of that campaign) so he can make 100's of millions off of the people of Texas by using legal loopholes against them.

Wind Energy Bumps Into Power Grid’s Limits

When the builders of the Maple Ridge Wind farm spent $320 million to put nearly 200 wind turbines in upstate New York, the idea was to get paid for producing electricity. But at times, regional electric lines have been so congested that...(complete article here).

Nitrogen-fixing, Hydrogen-producing Bacteria

This is interesting. With the high cost of nitrogen for fertilizer due to the high cost of fuel, maybe this technology can lower both costs simultaneously!

Hydrogen-Producing Bacteria Provide Clean Energy

By Rosalie Marion Bliss
August 25, 2008

A new "green" technology developed cooperatively by scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and North Carolina State University (NC State) could lead to production of hydrogen from nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Renewable sources of energy...(complete news release here).