Fuel Free Energy

It still amazes me with all the proof about the vast opportunity that “fuel free” (renewable energy) offers, that we are still having to fight for the obvious. Lobbyists are working overtime to convince policy makers that fossil fuels still need 10 x more subsidies that renewable energy. Here are three articles providing some facts. Now the trick is transforming proof to belief.
  1. Why Fossil Fuel Companies Hate Solar So Much – CleanTechnica

    2 days ago … We’ve covered these points below (including the specific case study discussed) numerous times before, but this is an…
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  2. About Wind Energy / Why Wind Energy – CleanTechnica

    Installed Wind Power Capacity (total and new in 2010; for the world as a … http:// www.wind-works.org/index.html … http://cleantechn…
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  3. 7 Arguments Against Nuclear Power (Why It Should Be a NoGo …

    2 days ago … 7 Arguments Against Nuclear Power (Why It Should Be a No-Go) … It certainly summarizes my own 7 reasons for being agai…

Nissan Goes Electric

I found it interesting to read this morning that Nissan Motors has announced their first all-electric vehicle, the Nissan Leaf.  Scheduled to be available next year, the company says the car has a range of 100 miles/160 km, while producing zero emissions.  The company chose to skip past producing hybrid vehicles, focusing instead on what they hope will be the first affordable mass market electric car available in US, Europe and Japan starting next year.

What will the cost of the car be? Nissan hasn’t said, but Wired Magazine predicts 25,000 to 30,000 $. Of course those who pay close attention to government policy will already be factoring in relevant alternative energy tax credits that could lower the cost for consumers.  As far as charging time, the report in the LA Times claims: Recharging will take less than a half-hour (to 80% charge) using a high-capacity charger, Nissan says, and about 8 hours using a home charger running at 200 Volts.


Funfact: Nissan just moved its global headquarters back to Yokohama, where it was originally founded in 1933. Yokohama, of course, also the location for TBLI CONFERENCE™ ASIA 2009 and 2010.

Carbon Trading in Australia

The federal government of Australia has proposed a law that 20% of the nation’s power supply must come from renewable energy, by 2020.  Some estimates from the alternative energy industry say this will require $60 billion in new investments.

And they’re not alone, as Pacific Hydro CEO Rob Grant explained on a recent edition of ABC Radio National’s Background Briefing:

Europe has endorsed a 20% target, many of the States in the USA have significant renewable energy targets in the order of 20%, and countries in South America where we are also operating have 15% to 20% renewable energy targets, and China has a 20% renewable energy target. So they’re generating a significant amount of demand for new capacity and the capital that’s required to invest in that will indeed be significant.

Australia is the largest, per capita, carbon emitter on the planet.  Which brings us to the role of Carbon Trading, Emissions Trading, Cap and Trade, Carbon Abatement, etc., in the federal governments goal of reducing emissions while pushing for more alternative energy.  The debate over whether 20% by 2020 is a big enough push, and whether or not the government’s carbon trading plan will be effective.

These are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what is discussed in this program. Highly recommended listening.