Contributors
September 25, 2008 - Inside Renewable Energy - Smarter Grids, Smarter Cities and Common-Sense Planning
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008Many solutions to the world’s problems take nothing more than a common-sense approach. No one pretends that the environmental and social challenges ahead will be easy to solve, but sometimes the solutions simply require a different way of thinking. This week, we’ve got more interviews from the Cleantech Forum in Washington, DC on some of those common-sense solutions.
We’ll look at the evolution of electricity demand response with EnerNOC CEO Timothy Healy. There are certainly many technological hurdles in front of the development of a smart grid, but the concept of better electricity management is an easy one for utilities and their customers to understand. Healy will describe how the U.S. smart-grid market may grow and EnerNoc’s role in that growth.
We’ll talk about the aggressive carbon reduction goals of Stockholm, Sweden with the city’s CEO Irene Svenonius. She’ll describe the role of government and individuals in making common-sense choices to create an environmentally-friendly, economically-vibrant community.
Then we’ll explore the future role of cities in creating a more sustainable world with Chris Luebkeman, Director of Global Foresight and Innovation at the engineering firm Arup. He’ll talk about the importance of looking at sustainability through more than just an economic lens.
Inside Renewable Energy offers the latest in renewable energy news and information.
September 18, 2008 - Inside Renewable Energy - Cleantech Forum: An Insider’s Look at Cleantech Investing
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008This week, we’re podcasting to you from the Cleantech Forum in Washington, DC. This forum is a gathering place for early-stage investors who are pouring capital into renewable energy, smart-grid technologies and advanced materials. We’ll talk with some analysts and investors who will give us an inside look at the evolution and current status of the market.
Brian Fan, Senior Director of Research at the Cleantech Network, talks about what makes a sustainable cleantech company and lays out where most investments have taking place so far in 2008.
Scott MacDonald, a Partner with Emerald Technology Ventures, tells us about the history of the sector and about how venture capitalists strategically space their investments in this very capital-intensive industry.
Scott Faris, CEO of Planar Energy Devices, describes his company’s new solid-state lithium-ion battery and talks about how he’s using his experience in the venture capital space to grow his company during its early stages.
Finally, Ted Howes, leader of the Business and Sustainability Program at IDEO, gives us the broader perspective on what all the growth in the cleantech space means for corporations and their customers.
Inside Renewable Energy offers the latest in renewable energy news and information.
September 11, 2008 - Inside Renewable Energy - Energy Equity: Diversifying the Market with New Incentives
Thursday, September 11th, 2008The U.S. renewable energy market is growing at an impressive rate. But as more wind, solar and biofuel facilities get developed, there are fewer people or organizations that own those facilities. That is primarily due to the exclusive nature of the federal tax credits. Because of the shrinking diversity in the marketplace, a growing number of people are calling for changes to U.S. renewable energy incentives. In this podcast, we explore the issues with the federal tax credits as they relate to ownership of renewable energy systems.
John Farrell of the Institute for Local Self Reliance talks about the problems with “diseconomies of scale” in the U.S. wind and solar markets; Wind Expert Paul Gipe describes the ideal incentive framework to diversify energy equity; Dan Juhl, CEO of Juhl Wind, gives us an idea of how small-wind developers navigate the tax credit environment; and Lisa Daniels, Founder of the educational organization Windustry, talks about Minnesota’s commitment to community wind.
Inside Renewable Energy offers the latest in renewable energy news and information.
September 4, 2008 - Inside Renewable Energy - Crunch Time for Renewable Energy Tax Credits
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008Congress comes back to Washington next week and in the tradition of election-year politics, there’s a good chance that much won’t get done before November. That means there are very few chances left to extend the Production and Investment Tax credits before they expire at the end of the year. This week, our Washington Analyst Scott Sklar updates us on the tax credit situation and gives us his take on the presidential candidates.
Then, we’ll finish up our California ballot initiative series by looking at the arguments in support of Proposition 10. There’s a growing debate about whether or not the measure will favor natural gas vehicles over other battery-based options. Proposition 10 supporter Patrick Dorinson tells us why the initiative will benefit all forms of transportation in the state.
Finally, we’ll have a look at what the city of Greensburg, Kansas is doing to rebuild in a sustainable way. Greensburg was devastated in May of 2007 when a Tornado ripped through the city, demolishing 95% of the buildings. Contributor Mark Braly talks with Tim Schmidt, CEO of Xtreme Homes, a company working to bring green modular homes and a sustainable employment base to Greensburg.
Inside Renewable Energy offers the latest in renewable energy news and information.
August 28, 2008 - Inside Renewable Energy - Questioning America’s Most Ambitious Renewable Energy Law
Thursday, August 28th, 2008This November, Californians will be voting on a ballot initiative that could require the state’s utilities to generate half their power from renewables by 2025. Sounds good, right? Not according to some of nation’s most influential renewable energy companies, associations and advocacy groups. This group of opponents says the legal language of the proposed law is so flawed, it could severely hurt the state’s renewable energy market.
Proponents say the legal language is tight and that opponents are being controlled by the state’s utilities, which don’t want to meet the targets. As the voting day approaches, the debate over the language in the initiative is heating up and both sides are pushing their messages aggressively. We’ll have a feature report on the different interpretations of the proposed law and its potential impact on the industry.
Also, we’ll explore the reasons for China’s emergence as one of the top renewable energy markets for investors. Jonathan Johns, head of renewable energy at the advisory firm Ernst and Young, joins us to discuss the promise of China and the difficulties for renewables in the UK.
Inside Renewable Energy offers the latest in renewable energy news and information.
August 21, 2008 - Inside Renewable Energy - Pickens’ Plan and California’s Proposition 10; Auctioning Environmental Commodities
Thursday, August 21st, 2008T. Boone Pickens has a plan — but is it the correct plan for the nation? This November, Californians will have the opportunity to vote on an initiative that could be the first step down Pickens’ path toward greater reliance on natural gas for transportation fuel. But this week’s guest says that the initiative, known as Proposition 10, is flawed and could negatively impact renewable energy in California.
We’ll speak with Tony Rubenstein, a Los Angeles-based consultant on clean technologies and corporate social responsibility, about why Proposition 10 is not good for the state’s budget or its burgeoning renewable energy market.
Then we’ll talk to Phil Adams, CEO of World Energy, about the role of online auctioning of allowances in greenhouse gas emissions reduction programs. He’ll tell us why he believes the auctioning platform allows for more efficient and transparent transactions over bid-ask exchanges and broker-based models.
Finally, correspondent Mark Braly has some interviews on the promotion of mustard-seed biodiesel for city and regional vehicle fleets in California.
Inside Renewable Energy offers the latest in renewable energy news and information.
August 14, 2008 - Inside Renewable Energy - Keeping the Industry in Check
Thursday, August 14th, 2008With all the money from investors, attention from the mainstream media and interest from consumers pouring into clean technologies, the situation is looking good for renewable energy. But as the financial opportunities grow, so too does the potential to oversell the benefits of some technologies. In this podcast, we’ll explore some problems that over-exuberance and lack of quality information can create for the industry.
Sue Kateley of the California Solar Energy Industries Association, tells us about some sketchy solar companies in the Golden State.
Small-Wind Expert Mick Sagrillo talks about the sham companies that have emerged over the years in the residential wind market.
Brad Smith of Renewzle.com explains the need for online intermediary companies in the solar space to give consumers a simplified and trustworthy experience.
Dr. Barry Butler of Butler Sun Solutions warns about the potential for overstating the abilities of Dish/Stirling Systems, potentially creating negative perceptions about the promising technology.
Finally, independent environmental reporter Peter Fairley gives us his take on the role of journalism in this increasingly popular-yet-complex energy landscape.
Inside Renewable Energy offers the latest in renewable energy news and information.
An Inside Look at an Emergency Survival Kit
Sunday, August 10th, 2008
Peak Moment 122: If an emergency forced you to evacuate your home, would you be prepared? Matthew Stein, author of When Technology Fails, shows what to pack in your 72-hour emergency survival kit — and why. Check out the first aid kits, sleeping bag and space blanket, LED flashlight, hand-crank disaster radio, portable stove and cook set, freeze-dried food, multi-tool, compass, water holder, and essential water treatment items; plus sewing, repair, and health items. The packing list is on his website, http://www.whentechfails.com
Author: peakmoment
Keywords: emergency preparedness survival
Added: August 10, 2008
Storytelling Seminar
Saturday, August 9th, 2008
Participants at Let’s Talk Coffee 2008 will have a special one day seminar from storyteller consultant Joel Ben Izzy, from the SF Bay Area, on how to create stories of impact about Relationship Coffees.
Author: SustainableHarvest
Keywords: storytelling marketing sustainable harvest coffee Joel Ben Izzy Let’s Talk Coffee
Added: August 9, 2008
Vegan Coconut Soup at Cafe Gratitude with the Hippy Gourmet
Friday, August 8th, 2008
http://www.HippyGourmet.com
http://www.CafeGratitude.com
In this segment from Organic Living TV with the Hippy Gourmet, we meet up with Vinicio Penata who shows us the “I am thankful” raw, vegan Coconut Soup recipe! Cafe Gratitude is a wonderful concept restaurant chain that combines delicious, healthy dishes with messages of pure abundance all around us!
Author: hippygourmet
Keywords: vegan coconut soup raw Hippy Gourmet TV PBS Cafe Gratitude food recipe love yummy
Added: August 8, 2008
TGM #97: Bigger highways in Banff National Park (August 8, 2008)
Friday, August 8th, 2008This week:
Conservation specialist Nigel Douglas speaks with host Jordan Poppenk about a planned highway expansion in Banff National Park and the competing priorities that are bringing wildlife preservation and economic development into conflict.
Following up on last week’s episode about problems with municipal sewer overflow into rivers waterways, Riversides spokesperson JP Warren speaks with Jordan about [...]