Tag Archives: climate change
Bloom Energy Raises Another $130M
Fuel cell “startup” Bloom Energy just raised $130 million more in venture capital, according to a scoop from Fortune. That takes the VC funding to beyond $1.1 billion for this firm and makes it one of the all-time leaders in VC funding. Along with Fisker and Solyndra — not exactly great company. According to [...]
The Solar Rooftop Boom in NYC
Things move fast in the city that never sleeps and solar’s been keeping pace. By the end of 2012, the amount of rooftop solar photovoltaic installations in New York City had boomed to 14 megawatts from 5.5 megawatts at the end of 2011—an increase of 8.5 megawatts in a year. That’s according to recent data [...]
Foxconn Goes Solar
Infamous Foxconn, best known for the deplorable working conditions for Chinese workers that make Apple’s iPod and other products, is intent on developing a strong presence in the solar industry. The company first announced this decision in 2011 at the height of overcapacity in the industry. The last thing that was needed was a big new player that would bring [...]
WTF? NASA Claims Nuclear Power Saves Lives
Have the dangers of nuclear power been overhyped? If former NASA scientist and climate activist James Hansen is to be believed, the use of nuclear power over the past few decades has actually saved lives. A recently-published paper by two researchers at NASA‘s Goddard Institute of Space Studies has run the numbers and found that, despite [...]
3-D Printing and Energy Efficiency
3-D printing, also known by its technical name of “additive manufacturing,” is a concept that makes tech-heads and entrepreneurs bubble with excitement. President Obama even gave 3-D printing a shout-out in his recent State of the Union address, talking about a government-sponsored lab in Ohio for testing and scaling new technologies: “There’s no reason this [...]
Can Floating Islands Help Farmers Cut Pollution?
A report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) zeroes in on the disastrous impacts industrial farming is having – destroying the web of life - and there’s a move by US farmers to address that. “Our Nutrient World” details how industrial farming saturates ecosystems with nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients, massively altering the natural balance and causing a “web of [...]
In Focus: Obama’s SOTU Climate Change Remarks
Those who haven’t seen my writing elsewhere may be surprised to learn that I’m a self-described proud, Liberal progressive Democrat who enthusiastically supports President Obama. Last night’s speech had a lot in it that I liked–and I’m well aware that many of my readers will disagree. But like I say, it takes all kinds… He [...]
Snowstorm Nemo and Climate Change
Those living in the Northeast of the United States are well aware that Snowstorm Nemo (What’s with all these silly names?!) is looming and after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, everyone is scrambling to make sure they are prepared for the worst. Extreme weather always opens the door for a candid conversation on whether our weather [...]
John Kerry Endorsed by U.S Senate for Secretary of State
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), a champion of action on climate change, was approved by the Senate to be Secretary of State. If his nomination is accepted by the House of Representatives, Kerry will replace outgoing Hilary Clinton. At his Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 24, Kerry pulled no punches and took a strong position on [...]