All posts in Energy and Economy


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Nuke prospects dim as Gas glows

September 2, 2010 by David Lewis
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One way to look at the prospects for US new nukes is to consider this analysis of the potential effect of shale gas. According to the EIA, in the US, natural gas power plants (excluding gas-fired peaking plants) and coal fired power plants have roughtly the same total capacity to generate power.  (31%, and 33%, respectively).... [read more]

Turkey in $10 billion reactor deal with South Korea

September 1, 2010 by Dan Yurman
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It is the second major nuclear energy contract in that country in the past yearTurkey may have another major nuclear reactor deal in the works. According to English language press reports from Ankara, South Korea is positioned to sign contracts by November to build a $10 billion project.At that price, the site at Sinop on the Black Sea... [read more]

Germany's Nuclear Bridge

August 31, 2010 by Geoffrey Styles
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Since I've been taking potshots at German energy policy recently, I was pleased to see that it appears the country's government is nearing a reasonable compromise concerning nuclear power, which accounts for 22% of the electricity generated in Germany. The Financial Times reported yesterday that the CDU/FDP coalition is likely to propose... [read more]

Tracking a Rising Tiger: China

August 31, 2010 by Breakthrough Inst...
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Earlier this month, China surpassed Japan as the world's second largest economy and since, has snared a flurry of clean tech headlines that collectively tell a very clear story: China is rapidly and effectively securing its position as a global clean technology leader as the U.S. watches in stagnated wonder. Below we've aggregated some... [read more]

E85 Case Study: Iowa

August 30, 2010 by Robert Rapier
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The Saudi Arabia of Ethanol Iowa is to corn ethanol what Saudi Arabia is to oil. At present Iowa has the capacity to produce 3.5 billion gallons of ethanol per year, which is 26% of the nation’s total (Source). This is of course due to the large amount of corn production in Iowa, enabled by ample rainfall and rich topsoil. But Iowa... [read more]
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Bill Gates: too dangerous to hear?

August 29, 2010 by David Lewis
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Bill Gates is in the news right now, because of an interview he granted to MIT’s Technology Review.In his TED speech this year, and in this latest interview, Gates calls for increased federal government energy R&D spending.  Everyone seems to get that.  People tend to miss everything else he says though.  Richard Rosen... [read more]

US energy use down, efficiency too? UPDATE

August 27, 2010 by Eric Smalley
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The numbers are out on how much energy the country used in 2009: less than we did in 2008. This isn’t surprising given the economic situation. We’re also using more renewable energy, particularly wind power. This isn’t surprising either, given the growth in the wind energy sector in recent years and the stimulus funding. The numbers,... [read more]

Why Conservatives Are Bad on Energy: It's All About the Costs

August 27, 2010 by Tom Rooney
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Conservatives,  let's talk about energy. And why so many conservatives are so wrong -- so liberal, even -- on wind and solar energy.Let's start with a recent editorial from the home of 'free markets and free people," the Wall Street Journal. Photovoltaic solar energy, quoth the mavens, is a "speculative and immature technology that... [read more]

Solar eBay: California floats utility auction for green energy

August 27, 2010 by Todd Woody
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It’s been a big week for Big Solar. On Wednesday, the California Energy Commission approved a license for the nation’s first new large-scale solar thermal power plant in two decades. Over the next month, the energy commission is expected to green-light three more big solar farms to be built in the Mojave Desert. The projects would... [read more]

Taxes and liability issues tie nukes in knots in Germany and India

August 26, 2010 by Dan Yurman
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If these two countries want nuclear energy, they have a strange way of showing itThe political leaders of two countries that really need their nuclear reactors are pursuing the goal with all the grace and style of an oversized truck stuck in reverse.In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is not backing down from her pursuit of a 50% tax on... [read more]

Gates: Invest in Innovation to Make Clean Energy Cheap

August 25, 2010 by Jesse Jenkins
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In a new interview with Technology Review, Bill Gates nails the global energy and climate challenge and discusses the need for dramatic increases in energy R&D funding to make clean energy cheap. Bill Gates has been speaking out publicly over the last few months--first in a blog post on his website, then in a talk at the TED... [read more]

White House Report: Stimulus Driving Clean Energy Innovation, Manufacturing, Markets – But What Comes Next?

August 25, 2010 by Jesse Jenkins
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With global competition mounting and Recovery Act momentum poised to fade, can the Obama Administration secure a lasting clean energy legacy?The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has funded breakthrough innovation and new growth industries that are driving down the cost of clean energy and building the foundation for competitive... [read more]