wind energy

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – CleanTechnica reports that Spain got nearly 70% of its electricity from plants that did not generate carbon dioxide in March. The two biggest non-carbon energy sources were nuclear and wind. In recent years, the conservative government of Mariano Rajoy cut some government subsidies and other help to the […]

Climate Change

Scotland: Outer Hebrides Island co-op buys Wind Turbine, sells Energy

contributors

Triodos Bank, UK | — “As the southernmost inhabited islands of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland Barra and Vatersay bear the brunt of whatever weather the Atlantic throws at them. Not that the locals mind with a community owned turbine harnessing the gales to generate electricity; the income generated from the sale of the electricity […]

Climate Change

Cleanest Country in the World? Costa Rica goes 100% Renewable Energy

contributors

ITN | – (On Demand News) “Costa Rica manages to achieve a clean energy milestone by using only renewable energy for the first 75 days of the year – a record for any country. Report by Claire Lomas.” ODN: “Costa Rica goes 75 days powering itself using only renewable energy ”

Featured

Dear Sweden: HR Dispute with Saudis makes this a good time to adopt Electric Cars

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) First, the new left wing government in Sweden cancelled an arms sale to Saudi Arabia, even though Prime Minister Stefan Lofven favored it. (He had been a union rep friendly to the Swedish arms industry). Foreign Minister Margot Wallström put her foot down, however, and won the argument. She […]

Climate Change

The “Hindenburg Trap”: Dump Oil, Coal & Gas Stocks if you Want to Retire

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – What is the actual value of the oil, gas and coal fields owned by big energy corporations, which gives them their stock price and allows them to be counted as assets for borrowing purposes? The real value of those hydrocarbon resources is zero. Or actually it is much […]

Climate Change

Renewable Energy skyrocketing, From Solar Mosques to Wave-Powered Naval Bases

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – Here are some of the green energy good news stories of the past few weeks: 1. China put in a massive 21 gigawatts of new wind power in 2014, half of all the wind power installed in the entire world that year and four times as much as […]

Climate Change

Abandoning Diesel: Battery-powered train brings low-carbon commuting to UK

contributors

Reuters | — “The first battery-powered passenger train to run on Britain’s tracks in over 50 years completes a five-week trial in a bid to prove the viability of more eco-friendly alternatives to diesel-powered locomotives. Mia Reakes went aboard.” Reuters: Battery-powered train brings low-carbon commuting to UK

Energy

In 10 Years, No One In Helsinki Will Even Want to Own a Car: 3 Simple Ideas That Are Making Cities Sustainable

contributors

By Shannan Stoll | (YES! Magazine | “Cities are Now”) An app that combines the affordability of ride sharing with the reliability of taxis. Playgrounds built as sponges for reusable greywater. From Finland to California, the cities of the future are here. 1. A bus that will pick you up anywhere in the city with […]

Climate Change

Amazing Green Cars at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — I caught the Detroit Auto Show on Saturday afternoon. As always, it was great to see the concept cars of the future. But if you know me, you know I was there for news about electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids. This is mostly just window shopping — […]