News & Articles on Renewable Energy

My specialty is wind energy, but I have worked with all forms of renewable energy. Over the years I’ve written about a number of renewable technologies, including solar and geothermal energy. In recent years I’ve focused on comprehensive renewable energy policies that develop a mix of renewable resources. I’ve also written about our use of fossil fuels and nuclear power.

Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant, Middletown, Pennsylvania.circa 1976.

Why fans of nuclear are a problem today

By

Jérôme Guillet

If nuclear made sense, Microsoft or Amazon or Rio Tinto would finance the construction of a few plants to feed their ever growing appetite for reliable carbon-free energy… In reality, despite all the high-powered attention, ridiculously few new nuclear plants are being built compared to new renewables, even in China. Nuclear is at best irrelevant and at worst a distraction…

V47 Woodstock Minnesota 1998 08

US Election 2024: Democratic Climate Platform Is Okay For 2020, But It’s 2024

By

Michael Barnard

My hope for increased and wiser US climate action rests on the shoulders of Harris and Walz, both of whom have excellent records on file and excellent platforms before this one. They aren’t hobbled by this relatively weak sauce, backward looking, Biden-centric document, and so they have room to do much better.

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China building two-thirds of world’s wind and solar projects

By

External Source

The amount of wind and solar power under construction in China is now nearly twice as much as the rest of the world combined, a report has found. Research published on Thursday by Global Energy Monitor (GEM), an NGO, found that China has 180 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar power under construction and 159GW of wind power. That brings the total of wind and solar power under construction to 339GW, well ahead of the 40GW under construction in the US.

Transpower By Flemming Hagensen Dtu Via Arne Jaeger

Breakthrough Energy Ventures Has Bad Investment Theses Therefore Bad Investments

By

Michael Barnard

If BEV weren’t moving money and turning policy makers’ heads, I likely wouldn’t care. But billionaire adulation isn’t going to solve the climate crisis. Gates and the other founders are creating as many problems and causing secondary organizations and even governments to waste time and money we can ill afford. That’s not because they don’t care, but because they aren’t starting from reality. Investment theses require a very strong basis in reality and climate investments require strong technical due diligence. BEV’s theses in several parts of their portfolio are off base, and their technical due diligence approaches non-existent.

Bonus Oddesund Denmark 1998 12

Americans’ views on local wind and solar power development

By

External Source

The Pew Research Center survey explores how Americans would feel about a wind or solar power development in their own community. On balance, more think wind or solar development would help rather than hurt their local economy. But large shares think it would make no difference or are not sure. Respondents were asked to consider the prospect of wind and solar developments separately, but views on these two types of renewable energy development are very similar.

Kortright Centre0039 1200x800

Ontario’s New Overnight Power Price Is ‘Rocket Fuel’ for Rooftop Solar

By

Glen Estill

A new electricity pricing program introduced by the Ontario government will be a boon for rooftop solar, even though it was originally designed for electric vehicle owners. The new electricity rate, known as Ultra Low Overnight (ULO) pricing, is meant to shift electricity demand from peak to off-peak hours.