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There’s no denying it — there are tons of poor farmers around the world. It’s a wonder that those growing one of the essentials of life are often unable to make a decent living. So, naturally, any story about using solar power (one of the coolest… or hottest… things on the planet) to help low-income farmers is one that makes my heart warm. Throw in crowdfunding and it’s a grand slam, or hat trick, or … Read More
As solar and wind power grow, rich but out of date industries such as the coal and nuclear industries are beginning to quiver. Naturally, with buildings full of money, they’re also fighting back and paying others to fight back. They’re struggling to survive. One way they are doing so is by attacking every incentive for clean, renewable energy that they can. State renewable energy policies have been a particular focus of attack as of late. … Read More
Tesla Motors announced late in the day yesterday that it has now completely paid back its Department of Energy loan. It also noted that it is the only American car company (of any kind) to have fully repaid the US government. It’s been somewhat sad and somewhat hilarious watching anti-EV (i.e. pro-oil) media companies, politicians, and their followers try to bash and belittle the electric car revolution and its prime pioneer, Tesla. As Tesla succeeds … Read More
This article first appeared on RenewEconomy. The electricity supply industry has resumed and intensified its efforts to change the tariff system for rooftop solar households, in a bid to protect revenues that are falling and their business models that are eroding because more customers are producing their own electricity. A new discussion paper was released this weekend, “exclusively” to News Ltd newspapers which enthusiastically took up the chance to demonise the cost of renewables once again. … Read More
Power generation solutions provider Siemens has analysed the electrical power producing systems located across Europe and found “considerable potential for optimisation, especially in connection with plans to expand power generation from renewable energy sources.” The primary manner in which this “optimisation” could come about is by changing the location of renewable power plants. According to Siemens, if power plants were built in locations that offered the highest possible power yields an approximate EUR 45 billion … Read More
We’ve reached that point where even my editor will throw Nest stories at me, assuming that I will want to cover them. He’s right, of course, but I’m not sure what I think about the stereotyping. So when Nest announced that they were now stocking their Nest Learning Thermostat in Home Depot stores, I was all over it like gravy on mashed potato (I’m told people like it). Nest already had a partnership with Home … Read More
The Energy Supply Association of Australia, or ESAA, is a group whose membership appears to include just about every company that is involved in the generation or distribution of electricity in Australia. They have just released a very interesting discussion paper called, “Who pays for solar energy?” I think it’s very nice of them to put out a report like this and try to educate people, but oddly enough for a group that’s intimately involved … Read More
Who doesn’t love a “largest wind farm” or “largest solar farm” story? Here’s the latest I’m aware of, via CleanTechnica sister site Green Building Elements. Congrats to Siemens. (Note: if the article doesn’t load fully, simply refresh this page or click on through to Green Building Elements.) Largest Federal Wind Farm to Be Built by Siemens (via Green Building Elements) The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has awarded a contract to Siemens Government Technologies, Inc. … Read More
This article was originally published on RenewEconomy. China, the world’s biggest polluter, is proposing to set a cap on greenhouse gas emissions as early as 2016 in a move that is being hailed as a potentially transformative step in the fight against climate change. According to news reports from China, the powerful National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has proposed setting absolute caps that would divorce the growth on emissions from growth in the economy, … Read More
