Energy

By Kyla Tienhaara | – “Coal is dead.” These are not the words of a Greenpeace activist or left-wing politician, but of Jim Barry, the global head of the infrastructure investment group at Blackrock — the world’s largest asset manager. Barry made this statement in 2017, but the writing has been on the wall for […]

Solar Energy

What can I do about Global Heating?

Daniel E. Moerman

Generally, it seems, we are not supposed to do anything about the climate emergency producing global heating. It’s a Chinese plot. It doesn’t exist. It’s “libtard nonsense.” Well, I don’t agree. I think it’s really serious. So, what can I DO about it? Well, there is one thing, for homeowners and building owners: This is […]

Featured

California shows the Way with Solar Home Mandate, as Gov’ts at Climate Summit Falter

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – As the Climate Summit in Poland comes to a desultory end, there is nevertheless good news on the front of fighting the climate emergency and global heating. California has has mandated that starting a little over one year from now, in 2020, all newly built homes must have solar panels. […]

Climate Change

“Rogue Nations” of Saudi, US and Russia Angrily Derail Climate Summit Report

AFP

Katowice, Poland | AFP | – The refusal of the United States and Saudi Arabia to embrace a landmark environmental report has unsettled UN talks to breathe life back into the Paris climate pact, negotiators and observers said Monday. It may also signal more direct involvement of Donald Trump’s White House, they said, in the […]

Petroleum

Qatar, under Saudi Blockade, Quits a Declining OPEC

David Harding

By David HARDING | – Doha (AFP) – Qatar will leave OPEC next month in order to focus on gas production, the Gulf state’s new Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi announced Monday, denying the surprise move was a result of Doha’s bitter feud with oil-rich Saudi Arabia. Qatar has been a member of OPEC since 1961 […]

Featured

Scotland was first Industrialized Country to Run wholly on Wind in October

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Scotland generated enough wind power from onshore wind turbines in October to fuel electricity for five million homes, that is, virtually the entire country. By the end of 2017, renewable energy generated nearly 70% of Scotland’s electricity. That percentage continued to grow this year, led by wind projects. The next […]

Featured

Will its Renewables Revolution Give China an Edge over the US?

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The Financial Times buries its lead, focusing on an expected rise of offshore wind in the Asia-Pacific, but noting at the end of the article that the Asia-Pacific is expected to add 355 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity over the next five years. Edward White in Taipai slights this […]

wind energy

It’s the economics: Red states embracing wind energy don’t do it for the climate

The Conversation

By Sarah Mills | – The federal government has never played a leading role in restricting the carbon footprint of the nation’s power plants. But now that the Trump administration is trying to dismantle many energy regulations, that national role is even smaller. Many states have been trying to fill this vacuum for years with […]

Featured

Tokyo’s Net Carbon Zero Olympics, as Japan surges toward 65 GW Solar

Juan Cole

I love Japan, but I have to say its government has dragged its feet on renewable energy. But there are signs of a big turnaround on the issue in the world’s third largest economy, which would be huge. Despite worries about the impact of planned phasing out of solar subsidies, there are lots of good […]