Tag Archives: . politics
The Official Obama vs. Romney Energy Policy Breakdown
240 local chapters of the US Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to the Obama and Romney campaigns yesterday asking them to “support and advance clean energy as a truly non-partisan effort, and to make clean energy growth a top priority in supporting American business and innovation.” A simple first step would be to recognize [...]
In Focus: The Climate Voters Project
A new project, called Climate Voters, could be operated within the League of Conservation Voters, or could be part of a collaborative effort in which many environmental organizations participate. This is the project’s slogan: We care about climate change and we vote. Climate change is happening now. We need public policy to address this [...]
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Apps for Energy Challenge
The Obama administration threw a its third datathon (my word) this week dubbed the “Energy Datapalooza.” It featured about 150 entrepreneurs, policymakers and software developers, among others, and aspired to offer ways to learn new ways to save energy and lower bills from what is supposed to be free and secure data. Government and private [...]
90% of U.S Voters Want More Solar
On the eve of the Presidential Debate, the polls are in and America has spoken in an overwhelming and unified voice — they want more solar in the U.S. and they support government policies that will encourage development and expansion of solar energy in the United States. A national poll released today from SEIA by [...]
Can Japan Become Nuclear Free by the 2030s?
Japan is backpedeling on its historic commitment to phase out all nuclear plants by the 2030s, made just a week earlier – it’s new target is 2040 … maybe. Last week, the cabinet approved the new energy policy, but the 2030s target was missing. The change is the result of industry lobbying, which expressed fears of damage [...]
Broken Promise? Solar Panels Still Not on White House Roof
It’s the season of campaigns and campaign promises, but for the solar industry, an unfulfilled presidential promise from nearly three years ago is still rankling. In 2011, President Obama announced that he was bringing back solar panels to the White House. Over twenty years before, in 1979, President Jimmy Carter installed a solar hot water [...]
China/EU Battle Carbon Emissions
One of the world’s largest economic powerhouses has reportedly struck a deal with the European Union to cut greenhouses gases. According to Reuters, the European Commission has announced that China will partner with the EU to develop initiatives like Chinese emissions trading schemes. China is the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. The EU and [...]
Germany’s Renewable Energy Goal
At the end of last month the Economist published an article on Germany’s energy transition to renewables labeling it a “lunatic gamble”. This could not be further from the truth and in this blog we’ll explain why… The article claimed that German plans to switch to renewable energy are risky, and yet the transition roadmap [...]
RIP: Florida Solar Subsidies (but that’s okay)
What was once true has become a myth. In years past, it didn’t make much sense to install solar panels (solar electric/photovoltaic modules) from a financial standpoint without generous subsidies, rebates, and incentives. The payback period was too long for most investors (see my article on the folly of the payback metric here). Except for [...]