Poll

What do you think has most influenced the increasingly favorable market for renewable energy technologies?

Rising energy prices

57% (569 votes)

Advancing technologies

7% (67 votes)

The growing movement to place a price on carbon in many parts of the world

12% (125 votes)

National and state policies and programs to promote renewable energy

17% (169 votes)

Other (leave comment)

7% (75 votes)

Total votes: 1005

Comments

Renewable hogwash

Submitted by Wind Power It Blows a novella on March 30, 2008 - 10:23pm.

In short, most of out efforts are ill-conceived and basically hairbrained, at best. Sadly, politicians are just too silly to see that what helps their little area is bad for this nation, and this is evidenced by the ethanol for cash schema being perpetrated on the world corn supply. Once wind energy bursts in little bits like it did 25 years ago, people will start to realize we need to do something effective, reasonable, grounded in common sense. Until then, billions of dollars will be wasted on get rich quick schemes and useless nonsense (like solar power in the Midwest, for one) will dominate. Details of my 'new' book are listed here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615180191 OR http://www.lulu.com/content/1431821 ISBN 9780615180199 and check out my paper http://www.pr.com/press-release/70559

Poll on market for RET's

Submitted by reprvster@gmail.com on March 29, 2008 - 10:23pm.

Pablo Varela P. Other two very different reasons are: 1.- Rising concerns about increasing magnitude and frequency of natural disasters, greenhouse effect, etc. 2.- Increasing importance and diversity of companies dealing with environmental problems, some of them very strong in marketing and economics. 3.- Growing understanding about that renewable energies can be a real issue for very different needs and users, as also an increasingly good business.

Confluence of poor planning, expectations and demand

Submitted by rogercwise on March 29, 2008 - 7:03pm.

Unfortunately the entrance of India, China and organic growth in western countries, including Russia, appears to be creating new demands on an old and neglected global infrastructure. The US is leading the parade with a debt structure that contributes significant pressure on the global economy. The neglected global infrastructure begins with energy, its dependency, consumption and pricing structure due to demand and the inability to refine the product in balance with the distribution. The convergence of innovation/technology also is fueling the economic imbalance of the neglected global infrastructure and the reluctance to invest in a future which is confusing and uncertain. It is becoming more apparent that a global planning conference must be convened regarding energy (but that will never happen). Conservation, conservative principles, and cooperation are sorely needed.

myths

Submitted by John Thee on March 28, 2008 - 10:33am.

carbon dioxide seeks the lowest level due to its density (good for respiring plants)and methane just the opposite-the physics does not support carbon dioxide as a gas in the upper atmosphere like methane.

The old siren call

Submitted by tomitch on March 27, 2008 - 10:54pm.

What is motivating support for alternative energy support? What normally motivates us? Greed, blind, stupid, opportunistic greed. At least with the big money and the later small money. Have you ever heard of anything so daft as "clean coal" and "carbon trading" both of which are pathetic excuses for doing bugger all, business as usual under a new name. Sigh. If folks wish to make money then how about encouraging moving cities and towns to higher land, build them efficiently. Think of all the money that could be made from major resettlement NOW rather than panic later.

The Old Wake Up Call

Submitted by goldsteinm on March 27, 2008 - 1:04pm.

I realize that there are multiple factors that contribute to a change in perceived need for sustainable energy, however, I think the general public got on board when they realized, as a result of the discussion about oil prices, that our supply of oil was not sustainable and that it was controlled by events other than supply. I hope we do not miss this window of opportunity. We should all press our potential candidates to present bold plans for shifting energy sources. That means not committing ourselves to quick fixes that cause more destruction to the environment and economy, such as corn-based ethanol. M. Goldstein Mt Pleasant SC

Some comments...

Submitted by MaisCream on March 28, 2008 - 5:20pm.

Actually, there are already alternatives for energy sources (which is way better, but less efficient, than conventional energy). Wind or Solar Energy is a nice idea and enough for a small population, but since the growth of humanity is increasing faster than they put more "windmills" on the beaches, it won't be enough for all of us. At least these things are not bad for environment as far as I know (but it's kinda ugly and ruins the vies of landscape). And yes, people began panicking after they saw the news and so take small steps to be better for the environment (in their perspective). There was a debate on Dutch television about this matter also. They talked about pro's and con's of alternative ways of creating energy, but also large MNC's and/or small companies here (in Holland), like car manufacturers or shopping chain selling "house hold machinery like Tv's, washing machines, etc, who are "helping" the environment by planting tree's for every car they sell (or some other dubious plan). The thing is: a lot of companies try to ease the minds of people, but when they sell their things, they plant trees that already exist (so basically, they don't do single thing, other than "lying and pretending". Interesting was: there was 1 guy (a professor I think from a renowned Uni) which stated: Planting tree won't help a single thing. Global warming is a natural thing. Earth has been warmed up and cooled off multiple times already in far far back in history). Of course, most people on show disagreed. *please don't mind my grammar mistakes*

Multiple factors key to low-carbon future

Submitted by tresenglish on March 26, 2008 - 12:50pm.

In my experience, price alone is not sufficient to promote the ultra-high efficiency and renewable energy sources we need in order to achieve a low-carbon future. Poor and middle-class people already have all the price signals they need to WANT to change. They just don't have the capital required to do it. Also, a real mobilization will require far more trained people to do the work than we have available. If we want a massive mobilization, we will need higher prices, low-cost capital and matching grants to provide liquidity, and a massive retaining program for 2-3 million construction workers. There will also have to be the creation (not re-tooling) of the production capacity needed to retrofit approximately 100 million in-efficient US homes and to remodel our cities to create a network of overlapping urban villages to reduce the average trip length and make mass transit more effective. A single approach will not be sufficient.

What do you think has most influenced the increasingly favorable

Submitted by MaisCream on March 23, 2008 - 5:52pm.

In my opinion, I think it's the rising concern of the environment, but also the depleting energy is a big issue. I don't think the policies of governments help much, as most of the time: it is just talk and not much action (for what I have seen). All the promotions about green energy doesn't help much. All the people here stick with their current "gray energy" because they think it's cheaper and they don't want to change their easy lives. But yes, there are more and more commercials or "promotions" that tries to wake-up people (or rather confuse them). Rising energy prices, well yes, that is indeed one of the factors, as people are using more and more black gold. Black Gold is depleting, and the demand is growing, so of course it is rising steadily, while supply is becoming lesser with the second (they pump black gold day and night, non-stop....right?). Side-note: I really thought the idea of using bio-energy was great at the very beginning. But now, after so much news about starving people, rising grain prices, destruction of woods and other dilemma's.....It's not worth it. That's it.... ^_^

Poll

What do you think has most influenced the increasingly favorable market for renewable energy technologies?

Comments

Comment viewing options