Coal consumption has been increasing in past months as natural gas prices pushed upwards and coal stocks dipped lower. With natural gas the peak-load fuel of choice for many utilities, base load summer cooling could be powered by lots of comparatively cheaper coal – with gas peaker plants firing up when demand surges and thus… Keep reading →
Last week The Pew Charitable Trusts released their “Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race?: 2013 Edition“. This report examined the investments made globally in the renewable energy sector, as well as the breakdown of new renewable power generation capacity added. These are important and interesting trends to follow as the renewable energy sector continues to… Keep reading →
Each year, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory uses data from the Energy Information Administration to illustrate the way Americans are consuming energy. This year’s energy trends aren’t drastically different than 12 months prior. But the data provides broad snapshots of where we get our energy, which energy sources are growing or shrinking in adoption, and what sectors consume the most.… Keep reading →
Most consumers have pre-conceived notions about hybrid cars. They think they’re expensive go-carts driven by smug vegans on their way to Whole Foods. However, hybrid cars are starting to evolve. They’re becoming faster, cheaper, and more stylish. Let’s debunk a few myths in hopes of improving their reputation. Myth #1: Hybrid Cars Don’t Have the… Keep reading →
Originally Posted on TheEnergyCollective.com Along with other forms of so called “renewable energy,” I have come to hold a jaundiced view of biofuels, largely because of their inevitable competition with food supplies, as well as some concern about land use and the pressure placed on natural habitats, and finally, maybe most importantly, the long term sustainability… Keep reading →
Another indicator of solar going mainstream SolarCity is offering another $70.2 million in asset-backed notes. Late last year, SolarCity executed on a solar financing milestone and offered a private placement of $54.4 million of an “aggregate principal amount of Solar Asset Backed Notes, Series 2013-1.” That was one of the first times securitization was employed… Keep reading →
For the past six weeks, students in Tennessee have been in front of computers modeling 3D designs and in workshops building robots. Their goal? To win the FIRST Robotics competition and along the way, show the world what’s possible with the next generation of manufacturing. The FIRST robotics competition challenges high school students to design,… Keep reading →
No you can’t deposit your money in a bank powered solely by wind and solar – well, maybe you can – but that’s not what the New York Green Bank (NY Green Bank) is about. This bank manages a pool of state money designated to help finance private sector renewable energy, energy efficiency and other… Keep reading →
As economies and populations grow, standards of living improve for billions of people, and with it the need for energy continues to rise. Or as World Bank Group President Dr. Jim Yong Kim put it “energy is a critical part of boosting prosperity and eradicating poverty.” The world’s center of gravity is shifting more and… Keep reading →
Green History Without fanfare or an exact date, a collective automotive epiphany took place a decade ago. Nearly every major carmaker was in on it, except for Toyota. The Japanese manufacturer had its own environmental awakening 17 years ago when it introduced its first hybrid car. Toyota unveiled its gas-electric engine in Japan in 1997,… Keep reading →
