Archive for May, 2009
The 2 I’s that keep America chugging along
May 28th, 2009 | 
Author: 
The best professor I had in business school was the wisest. He once commented that only two things fuel the American economy: immigration and innovation. I was reminded of that last summer when I went to the InterSolar Conference in San Francisco—most of the vendors there were either German or Chinese . . . with Indian, Canadian, and Japanese companies having a strong presence as well. (more...)
Posted in International, energy, politics | 
Tags: automobile industry, clean energy, energy efficiency, energy independence, immigration, innovation, organized labor, President Obama, solar | 
No Comments »
Ontario thumbs its nose at Ottawa and Washington
The cap-and-trade debate is getting more fired up . . . or offset . . . or making others green with dollar signs or exasperation . . .
Posted in International, air - land - quality of life, energy, politics |
Tags: Canada, cap and trade, Ontario |
No Comments »
Forget Green – What about White?
It's a headline too cool to pass up!
Posted in air - land - quality of life, energy, politics |
Tags: air conditioning, climate change, global warming, Steven Chu |
No Comments »
How can we become energy independent?
There is not one straight path to energy independence and efficiency. While some sources such as biofuels and hydrogen are “sexy” and “exotic,” they are not a complete solution to the fix we find ourselves in.
Posted in energy, politics |
Tags: algae, cellulosic, clean energy, clean technology, energy independence, green technology, nuclear energy, solar, sustainability, wind power |
No Comments »
Cap-n-Trade . . . or Cap’n Crunch?
There’s been much discussion in the US and abroad about moving to a cap-and-trade system. How can I put this term in layman’s terms? Okay, I’m a dog owner, so let’s give you a real life scenario (if there’s such a thing in LA): Roh Moo-hyun, 1946-2009
Former President Roh ended his life on May 23, tormented by allegations of corruptions against him and his family. (more...)
Posted in International, air - land - quality of life, politics |
Tags: International, Korea, Kyoto, Roh Moo-hyun |
No Comments »
Making the Sea Green
We always hear so much about hybrid cars, solar panels, and now when we think about farms, wind comes to mind.
Posted in air - land - quality of life, energy |
Tags: clean energy, clean technology, green technology, international trade, lng, lpg, maersk, ports, shipping fuel |
No Comments »
DME: another potential renewable fuel?
Biofuels. Solar. Wind. Tidal. Algae. Switchgrass. In the alternative energy debate, there are many sources of energy that are exotic, even “sexy.”
There’s one source, however, that has much potential but falls under the radar: dimethyl ether, or DME. (more...)
Posted in air - land - quality of life, energy |
Tags: black liquor, clean energy, dimethyl ether, DME, fleet, green technology, Sweden, transportation fuel, Volvo |
No Comments »
How does my garden grow? Or not get eaten?
I've been asked a few questions about how to keep those bugs out my garden without using chemicals:
Posted in air - land - quality of life, food and consumer products |
Tags: gardening, natural pest control, organic |
No Comments »
Powered by Arsenic!
Okay, so I admit I’m old enough to remember (vaguely, I’m not that old!) when Jimmy Carter put solar panels on the White House! Solar power is coming into its own. We have dreams about the Mojave becoming the new Saudi Arabia of solar, and LA, especially Pasadena, is becoming the solar hub. Last year, I went to InterSolar, a huge solar industry trade show that was in the US for the first time. (more...)
Posted in air - land - quality of life, energy, politics |
Tags: clean technology, Gallium Arsenide, green technology, Jimmy Carter, silicon, solar |
No Comments »
Obama’s Ambitious Plan
Today President Obama announced that folks from various and industry groups are backing him up on his plan to reduce greenhouse gases and improve automobile fuel efficiency. (more...)
Posted in air - land - quality of life, energy, transportation |
Tags: clean energy, climate change, fuel efficiency, hybrid, hybrid technology, plug-in, President Obama |
No Comments »
Could Korea become the little green giant?
Sooner or later I had to write about Korea—I lived there in the mid-1990s and every time I return, I’m amazed at all the changes. (more...)
Posted in International, air - land - quality of life, energy, transportation |
Tags: clean energy, electric cars, hybrid, hybrid technology, KAIST, Korea |
No Comments »
Maybe the energy firms will come around . . .
Constellation Energy’s CEO Mayo Shattuck just sent out a statement that the Baltimore-based corporation, which operates about 35 power plants in 11 states, is supporting the House’s climate change bill. (more...)
Posted in business, energy, politics |
Tags: clean energy, Constellation Energy, fossil fuels, fuel efficiency, green technology, smart grid, solar, utilities, wind power |
No Comments »
Pollution, Climate Change, and Henry Waxman
Every day I check the green tech news feeds and the biggest boldest headline today was titled, “US Lawmakers Formally Unveil Climate Change Bill.” I haven’t read it yet—I’ve been following the debate, and I’m fearful of what the bill will say. Overall, I tend to side with the Democrats on the environmental issues, but I find that the biggest hypocrites on such matters are in the Democratic caucus. (more...)
Posted in air - land - quality of life, politics, transportation |
Tags: air pollution, Henry Waxman, LA Metro, public transportation, Red Line |
No Comments »
Are we finally over the hemp?
Rep. Ron Paul of Texas recently introduced another bill in Congress (with Barney Frank, of all folks!) to allow farmers to cultivate legally industrial hemp. It’s about time! Decades ago, Congress banned the production of hemp in its incremental war on drugs—one of the more ill-thought changes in public policy this country has weathered. (more...)