The story of people the world over who live without electricity is heartbreaking. But in the day and age of renewable energy, more good stories are beginning to emerge. Here is one of them: a young entrepreneur in Mali is building a business to turn lights on for the approximately 99 percent of his countrymen who have no power.
The British Climate Change Minister Greg Barker named the South West of England as home for the UK’s first Marine Energy Park on a visit to Bristol today. The South West Marine Energy Park will stretch from Bristol through to Cornwall and as far as the Isles of Scilly, which, … [continued]
If we want wind to continue growing, more turbines will need to be placed in our communities and close to our backyards. And that will inevitably cause more social friction.
Wind supporters cannot discount concerns from local residents about noise and visual impact. With proper communication between developers and communities, many of the potential conflicts can be mitigated or avoided. […]
At a time when unemployment is reaching record levels in the UK, people could be forgiven for asking why the government insists on cutting the feed-in tariff rates for solar power in such a drastic manner, when they have been driving growth in the sector, creating much-needed jobs, and generating tax revenue. The main issue behind the government’s actions is that the feed-in tariff scheme is in danger of exceeding its budget, but the decision to cut the rate before the consultation period had finished simply didn’t make sense, which is why the High Court deemed it to be illegal. […]
Climate Solutions, a Northwest-based nonprofit focused on creating a clean energy economy, has created several videos of companies’, organizations’, and communities’ inspiring stories of energy efficiency. They are also spearheading the Solutions Stories project, which aims to communicate clean energy economy successes in the Northwest. “These stories demonstrate the reality … [continued]
Decades ago, plug-in cars were common in Minnesota.
For cars poorly suited for the upper Midwest’s frigid winters, a block heater plugged in overnight could keep the engine warm enough to start the next morning. Cars and trucks with electrical cords protruding from their grills were a frequent sight.
New technologies such as fuel injection, direct ignition, superior motor oils and better batteries have largely relegated that custom to history in all but the most frigid regions of the world. But with more than a dozen electric and plug-in car models due on the U.S. market in 2012, some Minnesotans will find themselves reviving the practice. […]
In Bihar, one of the poorest states in India, 85 percent of people are not connected to the electricity grid. Households use kerosene lamps when they can afford it, and businesses use expensive and dirty diesel generators.
Some view this “energy poverty” as a development problem. Others view it as an environmental problem. The founders of Bihar-based Husk Power Systems view it as an opportunity to build a social enterprise. […]
UK manufacturer of wind turbine towers Mabey Bridge is set to supply 35 towers measuring in at between 65 and 70 metres in length to wind farms in Wales and Scotland. Production of the turbines will begin in mid-February as part of Mabey Bridge’s new 24-hours-per-day work time at its … [continued]
Work on the largest Hawai’ian solar project has now been launched by KIUC and REC Solar. The 12-megawatt solar project is to bbe located on Hawai’ian Homelands in Anahola on the northeast side of Kauai. Originally formed in August of 2011, the partnership between the Homestead Community Development Corporation (HCDC) … [continued]
Researchers from Georgia Tech University are working along two parallel tracks to develop energy-efficient robots based on the teamwork of ants and the movement of snakes. Envisioned for use in developing search-and-rescue robots, the technology could also be adapted to swell the ranks of robots with green jobs, for example … [continued]
