Energy Source Comparison Energy Source Pros Cons Solar Energy Non-polluting Most abundant energy source available Systems last 15-30 years High initial investment Dependent on sunny weather Supplemental energy may be needed in low sunlight areas Requires large physical space for PV cell panels Limited availability of polysilicon for panels Wind Energy No emissions Affordable Little Read More
Tag Archives: renewable energy
Use It or Lose It!
The goal of a post-carbon energy system, at least as we’re currently (ahem!) pursuing it, can’t happen without storage. Batteries where power can be kept until needed are woefully inadequate now, but incremental progress is being made. Whether it will mature quickly enough remains to be seen. Read about it here.
Who Knew What When?
Another major oil & gas company knew nearly two decades ago that climate change was an issue that needed to be addressed, and the sooner the better. What it did next may not surprise you. Read about it here
Hydrogen Powered Train
The coolest train in town, well, in a German town, may be a harbinger of a cleaner energy future. Hydrogen power has arrived. See it here
Energy Systems Writ Large
If we want to talk seriously about mitigating climate change, there are going to be a lot of oxen gored. The energy producers, of course, will be up in arms. The utilities, too. Everyone of them wants to do it their way, which doesn’t benefit from distributed generation. That we would expect. Some related industries Read More
Red Governors and Blue Governors are Green Governors
A group of the nation’s governors from both major political parties sent a clear message to the Trump Administration about the value of renewable energy — not only as a means of mitigating climate change but also as a profound economic driver in rural America. Listen up, policy makers, and read about it here
Energy Industry Stumped by Trump
The energy industry shares the uncertainty our new Administration has brought to our lives and livelihoods, as policy is yet to be formulated and campaign sloganeering gets sorted out. Read more here
Energy Industry Jobs
“The American solar workforce grew at a historic pace in 2016, a year when one out of every fifty new U.S. jobs was in the solar industry, according to the new National Solar Jobs Census 2016, the seventh annual report on solar employment issued by The Solar Foundation. The National Solar Jobs Census 2016 found that solar industry Read More
One View of Energy Costs Nationwide
Some interesting information about the costs of different energy sources by region, here:
Converting from Coal to Natural Gas
Not everyone supports the concept of a bridge fuel. Read more about the perspective of the Sierra Club here