Vestas CEO Ditlev Engel conveys to EU leaders meeting in Brussels, “With the right policies, business and industry will make the investments, take the risks, and create the green growth, competitiveness and energy security that Europe needs. But the EU must act fast to create greater regulatory certainty.” If the EU hopes to reach its … Continue reading Engel encourages EU leaders to adopt 2030 climate and energy targets
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French and German ministers call for 2030 renewable energy targets
Writing in France’s prestigious centre-left daily newspaper Le Monde, Peter Altmaier, the German environment minister, and Delphine Batho, his French counterpart, underlined the need for a 2030 renewable energy target and highlighed the importance of renewables in transforming the European economy, improving energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “We want to make the energy … Continue reading French and German ministers call for 2030 renewable energy targets
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Plastics
In 2012, 280 million metric tons of plastic were produced worldwide. These scientists project that a total of 33 billion metric tons will have been produced by 2050. Scientists calculated that the new classification would reduce the 33 billion metric tons of additional plastic produced by 2050 to 4 billion. In the March online issue … Continue reading Plastics
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Tell a G8 leader to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy
The global temperature is rising. Freak weather events are multiplying. Climate change is happening. And yet governments are giving $6 to polluting fossil fuels for every $1 dollar that goes to clean renewables. World leaders must move now to renewable, clean energy sources like wind energy.
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Consumer Support for Wind Power and Solar Energy, Though Still High, Fell in 2012
Despite some well-publicized company failures, the solar and wind energy industries continued to expand in the United States during 2012, and consumers still tend to view the two renewable energy concepts favorably. However, according to a recent survey by Navigant Research, consumer support for solar and wind energy, though still high, has fallen steadily over … Continue reading Consumer Support for Wind Power and Solar Energy, Though Still High, Fell in 2012
Continue readingThe reason fossil fuel firms are not trying to reduce their carbon emissions could be due to uncertainty on climate and energy policy, suggests the Economist in a recent editorial. The paper cites cuts in renewable energy support schemes as one of the elements influencing investors.
Continue readingIEA Chief Economist: governments
By subsidising fossil fuels, governments are “stealing money from the pockets of the poor, who would get money otherwise for schools and hospitals”. So says Fatih Birol, Chief Economist of the International Energy Agency, in the latest issue of Wind Directions. Fossil fuels get over half a trillion US dollars – six times more than … Continue reading IEA Chief Economist: governments
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America now has more solar energy workers than coal miners
Some might dismiss the solar energy industry because it’s still very small compared to the oil & gas industry. But to paraphrase a famous Canadian hockey player, we need to skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been. Indeed, solar is still in its infancy, but it’s growing quickly … Continue reading America now has more solar energy workers than coal miners
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Bike-Sharing Programs Hit the Streets in Over 500 Cities Worldwide
Politicians, lobbyists, and tourists alike can ride bicycles along a specially marked lane between the White House and the U.S. Capitol, part of the 115 miles of bicycle lanes and paths that now crisscross Washington, DC. In Copenhagen, commuters can ride to work following a
Continue readingEREC report Hat-trick 2030
Football fans know the value of a hat-trick
Continue readingRenewable Energy and the Future of Energy
The development of renewable energy sources is crucial for the future of the global energy market, both in emerging and developed countries, says Enel Green Power CEO Francesco Starace. ‘We are seeing a constant reduction of costs in renewable energy thanks to technology, which is improving the performance of equipment and production costs,’ said Enel … Continue reading Renewable Energy and the Future of Energy
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Japan Puts Nuclear Energy on Hold, Embraces Solar Power
Two years after the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in 2011, Japan has scaled back it’s nuclear power and is seeking to diversify it’s energy mix, with solar power showing the strongest growth. Supporters of Japan’s nuclear industry claim it would be unwise to give up the advantages of nuclear power because of a single accident. However, … Continue reading Japan Puts Nuclear Energy on Hold, Embraces Solar Power
Continue readingFossil fuel power sources cost more than renewables in Germany
If all the costs of fossil fuel power generation were detailed in German power bills they would exceed the costs of renewable energy “by a wide margin”, a study by Greenpeace Energy Germany and the German Wind Energy Association (BWE) says. Currently German power bills clearly outline the cost of the EEG – the support … Continue reading Fossil fuel power sources cost more than renewables in Germany
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Fracking: The Solution? Or the Problem?
Fracking advocates proclaim a natural gas revolution, but are they simply perpetuating our catastrophic fossil fuel dependence? Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has been touted as a way to increase fossil fuel extraction efficiency and help sustain our current energy consumption rates, however, it has has been widely criticized for its environmentally damaging effects. The growing fracking … Continue reading Fracking: The Solution? Or the Problem?
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Falling Gasoline Use Means United States Can Just Say No to New Pipelines and Food-to-Fuel
Freeing America from its dependence on oil from unstable parts of the world is an admirable goal, but many of the proposed solutions—including the push for more home-grown biofuels and for the construction of the new Keystone XL pipeline to transport Canadian tar sands oil to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast—are harmful and simply … Continue reading Falling Gasoline Use Means United States Can Just Say No to New Pipelines and Food-to-Fuel
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Debunking Howard Rich’s errors on wind energy
A recent column by Howard Rich on Forbes.com simply repackaged many previously refuted myths about wind power. Recent posts on this blog have already debunked a study on wind resource potential and explained that wind energy has been a success story for reducing fossil fuel use and emissions in Germany and other European countries. … Continue reading Debunking Howard Rich’s errors on wind energy
Continue readingChina to build unified low-carbon certification system
China will build a unified certification system for low-carbon products as part of its efforts to boost the consumption of green goods, according to the country’s top economic planner. An independent third-party agency will assess the carbon footprint of products and services and grant low-carbon certificates to those that have met certain requirements, according to … Continue reading China to build unified low-carbon certification system
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Where Has All the Ice Gone?
As the earth warms, glaciers and ice sheets are melting and seas are rising. Over the last century, the global average sea level rose by 17 centimeters (7 inches). This century, as waters warm and ice continues to melt, seas are projected to rise nearly 2 meters (6 feet), inundating coastal cities worldwide, such as … Continue reading Where Has All the Ice Gone?
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China’s power capacity to hit 1.23 bln kw by year’s end
China’s installed power capacity will top 1.23 billion kilowatts (kw) by the end of 2013, a report from the China Electricity Council said on Thursday. Thermal power will still account for the bulk of the capacity, topping 860 GW, followed by 280 GW from hydropower, 14.78 GW from nuclear power, 75 GW from on-grid wind … Continue reading China’s power capacity to hit 1.23 bln kw by year’s end
Continue readingFossil Fuel Subsidies Topped $620 Billion in 2011
The energy game is rigged in favor of fossil fuels because we omit the environmental and health costs of burning coal, oil, and natural gas from their prices. Subsidies manipulate the game even further. According to conservative estimates from the Global Subsidies Initiative and the International Energy Agency (IEA), governments around the world spent more … Continue reading Fossil Fuel Subsidies Topped $620 Billion in 2011
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