Dubbed the world’s most advanced wind turbine drive-train testing facility and a grid-scale distributed power generation simulator, the SCE&G Energy Innovation Center dedicated yesterday at Clemson University is state of the art. The facility will vet technology needed to upgrade the aging US power grid. “Central to updating and improving the efficiency and reliability of the aging… Keep reading →
This week on Energy.gov, we’re revisiting the storied rivalry between two of history’s most important energy-related inventors and engineers: Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla. Check back each day to learn more about their lives, their inventions and how their contributions are still impacting the way we use energy today. Support your favorite with the hashtags #teamedison and #teamtesla… Keep reading →
From insomnia to an off-grid power system; Hurricane Sandy relief; modern art; doctoral degrees and community clean energy projects; these engineers are tackling some of today’s pressing energy challenges. Rob van Haaren and his friend Garrett Fitzgerald, Columbia University engineering students, became unexpected heroes in post-Sandy Far Rockaway, Queens, NY when they brought solar-generated electricity… Keep reading →
Argentina is estimated to hold the world’s 3rd largest shale gas reserves and during a recent visit there, Pope Francis was photographed holding anti-fracking T-shirts. The Pope is reportedly working on an encyclical letter to all Catholic Bishops that will address environmental issues, and perhaps controversial shale gas development technology. The short piece in Grist… Keep reading →
Luxury electric car manufacturer and Wall Street darling Tesla announced 3rd quarter earnings yesterday that contained mixed results. The company reported a record 5,500 Model S deliveries, which beat its own expectations, but the financials were mixed. “The company’s earnings, excluding special charges, came in at $16 million, or 12 cents a share, just ahead… Keep reading →
Imitation the highest form of flattery Being big, as everyone knows, does not necessarily equate to being profitable or valuable. Yet, the valuation that investors place on companies, as measured in market capitalization – number of outstanding shares times price per share – is sometimes short of stunning, especially for start-up companies few have even… Keep reading →
Coal and oil and gas producer Consol has agreed to sell its Consolidation Coal Company subsidiary, which holds five West Virginia coal mines, to Murray Energy for $3.5 billion. Consol aims to whittle its assets down to growth markets – natural gas production and coal for export – as the future of US power generation veers more… Keep reading →
Video of a Tesla luxury electric car burning after an apparent battery problem went crazy time all over the internet and major news organizations across the US yesterday. But while a battery malfunction at the darling of the electric car industry would be news worthy, what if it was a hoax designed to profit from… Keep reading →
The White House may be looking for a new nominee for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chairman to replace Ron Binz, who has been the object of fierce criticism, mostly from Republicans, but also from West Virginia (coal state) Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. [The Hill] The Guardian has helpfully laid out Ed Milliband’s proposal for UK… Keep reading →
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Last year’s election season brought us an amazing series of zingers and gaffes from national politicians — including a number on Solyndra and the clean energy stimulus. Since 2013 isn’t an election year (well, sort of), cleantech hasn’t been in the national spotlight in the same way. That means most of the key… Keep reading →
