Alternative Energy News Archives
Friday 27th of January, 2006
Clinton Aims to Boost Alternative Fuels ★★
AP, appx. 248 words[United States Senator] Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday that a new federal research office should be created to spur development of alternative fuels and lessen dependence on foreign oil
The foundation of her proposed Advanced Research Projects Energy Act would be the vehicle for this effort.
The announcement was made at Seattle Biodiesel, which generates about 5 million gallons of alternative diesel a year, compared to the roughly 67 billion gallons that the United States consumes in diesel annually.
Wind turbines propel Iowa to top ★
DesMoinesRegister.com, appx. 590 wordsIowa installed 201.65 megawatts of new wind energy last year which placed it third in the United States behind California and Texas.
The federal 1.5 cent- per-kilowatt-hour tax credit expires at the end of 2007, and Randall Swisher, executive director of the American Wind Energy Association, stated that We expect close to 3,000 megawatts to be built this year
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Getting Serious About Biofuels ★★★★
Science, appx. 674 wordsSteven E. Koonin, chief scientist for BP, London, UK, writes in this editorial for the journal Science, that biofuels are a secure energy source, they are environmentally friendly and that they can provide a boost to agriculture.
He also points out that: biofuels could supply some 30% of global demand in an environmentally responsible manner without affecting food production. To realize that goal, so-called advanced biofuels must be developed from dedicated energy crops, separately and distinctly from food...
and further discusses technological and economical barriers that must be dealt with.
Alternative energy only real long-term solution skyrocketing heating bills ★
Bozeman Daily Chronicle, appx. 702 wordsAnother call-to-action type of article pushing alternative energy. It ends thusly:
Although the subject of energy is not sexy -- it's complicated and full of numbers and measurements that have no real meaning for most consumers -- we have to get smarter about our consumption. And we have to start pushing our politicians to help make alternative, renewable energy more affordable and reliable.
Phila.'s unlikely energy source ★★
Philadelphia Inquirer, appx. 837 wordsThe politics of energy are at play again, only this time it's not in Europe but between the United States and Venezuela, as Citgo, the Houston arm of Petroleos de Venezuela will ship five million gallons of heating oil at a steep discount in order to help up to 25,000 low-income families in the Philadelphia region who have used their assitance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Presidents Bush (US) and Hugo Chavez (Venezuela) are not the best of friends, and one person had this to say: It's ironic that a South American country is coming to the rescue of poor people in Philadelphia, but the issue is whether you freeze to death in winter
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Solar Roof Project to Light Up Power Grid ★★
Carmanah.com, appx. 754 wordsTimely news given the Local Energy letter to the editor that we reported earlier, where it was written that In Berlin, 80 percent of new buildings generate their own energy.
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A Victoria, British Columbia company will be installing the largest solar panel installation in Canada atop the Horse Palace on the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. When finished it should generate power for 15 homes per year.
Local energy ★★
News & Observer, appx. 286 wordsA letter to The News & Observer (North Carolina) points out some interesting facts as the author laments the USD $3 billion price tag for a nuclear facility in the area.
The writer suggests that thinking small
may be a good thing to consider. Small from the standpoint of smaller more efficient local energy networks that develop their own sources of energy. He sites examples in Holland, Denmark and Germany, and writes In Berlin, 80 percent of new buildings generate their own energy. London plans to be self-sufficient in energy within 10 years.
