Cap-and-trade DOA?

Alternative energy tax credits instead

According to CNBC's White House correspondent John Harwood, President Obama is ready to give up on his cap-and-trade program in order to protect his plans for health care. Instead of cap-and-trade, Harwood claimed Obama would focus more on tax incentives for promoting alternative energy. Likewise, I'd assume that if Congress increases CAFE standards based on the EPA's new "health danger" designation regarding CO2 emissions, much of what cap-and-trade would have accomplished for the auto industry can still be achieved.

Can batteries store solar and wind power?

Same technology as car batteries?

Read an interesting story this morning on wind turbines and using batteries to store excess power, as well as some other technologies. One company, A123Systems, is considering making batteries for wind turbines directly for this purpose.

Currently, A123Systems makes lithium batteries for plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric cars, and I cannot help but wonder if A123, and others, are contemplating lithium for this purpose.

If so, could it help cause a shortage of lithium quicker than expected?

Obama's Ag Sec. shows ethanol's importance to new administration

The king of corn?

Energy security has been an important part of President-Elect Obama's agenda. As a Senator in Illinois, Obama was a strong ethanol supporter, despite the many negative environmental criticisms of corn-based ethanol. Thus, his pick of Tom Vilsack, a huge corn-based ethanol supporter, seems to indicate that ethanol will continue to play a critical role in Obama's energy policy.

I've been pretty enthused by Obama's Elect days and many of his cabinet picks, but I do find Obama's support of corn-based ethanol alarming. A tempered approach to corn-based ethanol is supportable as a path to cellulosic ethanol, but I doubt Vilsack will support anything but an increase in the production and use of corn-based ethanol.

OPEC conspiring to kill alternative energy?

Killing alternative energy

Today on the Lightning Round of Jim Cramer's Mad Money, a caller questioned Cramer about solar plays under Obama. Cramer essentially responded that cheap gas is killing solar power and stated that OPEC had helped push oil prices lower to help offset interest in alternative energy.

Obviously, there are many out there espousing similar beliefs, but not many with the pulpit and Street cred of Cramer. While some consider Cramer a crackpot, it's still a pretty interesting statement.

Black liquor biofuels - Is it really green?

It's not saving any trees

Chemrec, a company specializing in black liquor gasification, has completed $20 million in funding to turn pulp and paper mills into "biorefineries".

According to the company, the waste of pulp and paper mills, aka black liquor, could be turned into enough biofuel to replace 2 percent of global fuel demand.

Of course, how does this fuel get into the pipeline? How much gas will it take to get this bio-gas to gas stations?

Converting waste into energy is always a good practice, but how green is this investment?

Green: Sixth Technology Revolution

Solar has a bright future

"Energy concerns will not disappear despite the falling price of oil, so investors can expect significant long-term opportunities in the cleantech space, according to a new thematic report published by Steven Milunovich, Merrill Lynch cleantech strategist."

Particularly in focus are energy efficiency-increasing technologies, electric cars, solar and wind power, distributed energy and microgrids, as well as biofuels and geothermal power.

Today, many alternative energy stocks have been hammered. However, strong alternative energy companies should rebound if green technology is the future. In fact, green investments might be the only growth story heading into the future, and with stock prices so low, there might never be a better buying opportunity.

Windspire: Low cost and attractive wind power

Neighborhood friendly wind power?

Traditional wind turbines are an eye sore in most neighborhoods. Yet, at 30 feet high, but only 2 feet in radius, the Windspire by Mariah Power offers an attractive low cost, plug-n-produce product that requires only a few minutes of maintenance per year. And, if you live in area with the right wind conditions, a Windspire wind appliance can recoup your investment in less than 10 years.

WSJ - Obama's alt energy plans face problems

Can the government foot the whole bill?

"Forging a new energy future by creating vast amounts of wind, solar and, possibly, nuclear energy is one of Mr. Obama's highest priorities," reports the Wall Street Journal. "But enacting that policy depends to a large degree on the ability of energy companies and utilities to finance the massive new investments that would be needed. With many of those companies cutting spending, a lot of those investments are being pared back or eliminated."

Ironically, in the last few days, I've heard a number of pundits on Wall Street claiming that the only way that the US can avoid depression was massive spending. What better than a massive spending program on alternative technologies?

Gore's new alternative energy plan

Al Gore releases new 5 step program. From CNET:

• Incentives for construction of concentrating solar-thermal power plants in the southwest, wind farms in the Midwest, and plants in geothermal "hot spots."
• A $400 billion investment over 10 years to build a "national smart grid" to distribute renewable energy, which he said would quickly offset the annual $120 billion loss from power grid failures. The power grid can be outfitted so that consumers have better tools and information for conserving energy.
• Aid to automakers to convert to the production of plug-in hybrids. Smart-grid technology that enables the cars to be charged during off-peak hours.
• A nationwide effort to retrofit buildings, which account for 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, to be more energy-efficient.
• Climate regulations to cap carbon dioxide emissions.

What do you think?

Let's say it costs a trillion dollars more than expected. Some of that investment will be immediately recouped through job creation. Gains in efficiency will eventually recover the rest of those costs, although it might take some time - even many decades. Yet, if a 30 year mortgage is one of the smartest decisions the average American can make, can't a 30 year mortgage to fix America's energy paradigm also be a good idea?

Still, none of that really matters. In the end, innovation will make this program worth the effort. Such a program will result in vast, marketable technological innovations. It's time to embrace technology, not just short term profits for huge corporations that result in trillion dollar wars.

5 million green jobs? Well, probably not

Will a $150 billion investment over 10 years lead to 5 million green jobs?

The answer to that question depends on whom you ask, but, truthfully, probably not. Still, even as the conservative WSJ states, "The numbers are debated by the Obama advisers themselves, and are likely to spark debate when Congress considers a stimulus package including green jobs. But a big government push, focused on jobs, may represent the best chance in years for renewable energy and energy efficiency to take root in the U.S., a voracious energy consumer."

Even if far less jobs are created, the gains in clean and green energy, in and of themselves, make the effort worthwhile.

A natural gas-driven automaker bailout?

Honda Civic natural gas vehicle next to a home refueling station

Today, Jim Cramer opened MadMoney with his vision for how Obama should solve most of America's major problems in the first 100 days. Regarding energy independence, Cramer called for an immediate automaker bailout, with a catch. To qualify for a bailout, automakers would have to make a serious commitment to natural gas vehicles.

Finish: A natural gas-driven automaker bailout?

Catch the Wind makes wind powermore efficient

Laser system could blow new power into wind

CatchtheWind has developed a new fiber optic laser system that can increase turbine output by 10 percent, and it can also reduce maintenance costs by 10 percent according to MIT's Technology Review.

"Catch the Wind claims that its laser system can boost turbine power output by 10 percent by improving orientation accuracy. The pitch of the blades can also be adjusted in advance of the wind to reduce wear and tear on turbine gearbox components and blades, lowering repair and maintenance costs by up to 10 percent and extending the operating life of a wind farm, the company says."

Clean technology spending declining

Clean energy projects down 25 percent in third quarter

Cheaper energy prices and the recession are having an effect on alternative energy. Some reports put the decline in spending worldwide down 25 percent in the third quarter, and ready to decline much more in the next quarter.

VeraSun filed for bankruptcy. Utilities have canceled alternative energy projects. Some buyers of wind power have delayed their orders. But there is some hope according to The Economist.

Can plasma turn garbage into a positive?

Superheated gas incineration

While CO2 emissions from autos seem to get all the glory in the war on global warming, methane is even bigger problem. To solve this issue, many are looking to plasma as a new way to incinerate garbage, which converts organic garbage into pressured gas that can power a turbine. Additionally, the process also creates steam, which can also be used to further power turbines.

Compared to conventional incineration, SCIAM states that plasma results in far less emissions. More important, it reduces methane emissions from landfills.

Of course, methane can be captured at landfills, and some claim that that is better than any emission-spewing incineration.

Is plasma a legitimate alternative energy, or just the lesser evil? Does it matter?

Can Obama "bankrupt" the coal industry?

Leadership or naivete?

If elected, Barack Obama plans to put in place a cap and trade system that will "bankrupt" the coal industry according to The Record.

Considering the massive amount of coal that the US uses to generate electricity, such a system, it seems, could have a significant effect on utility rates for many consumers, as the replacements to this coal would be very expensive, especially in the short term.

Of course, if the US could get off coal and foreign oil, the technologies developed along the way would probably cover the short term costs in the long haul. Still, can anyone sell such a plan to the American people, especially in a recession?

I doubt it, but I'd love to see someone try. Hopefully, he'll throw in a gas tax as well.

Steam building for Enhanced Geothermal Systems

A worthy alternative energy?

Perhaps according to Popsci, which claims that Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) could be 200 times cheaper and much more cost-effective than clean coal. Likewise, it is constant power, unlike solar power which requires sun shine and wind power which requires wind. And, thanks to Google and the Department of Energy, a number of EGS pilot projects are now under way, so we should soon know if geothermal is a legitimate alternative energy.

Great Lakes wind could power 1/3 of America

Will we ever get serious about alternative energy

According to some research being reported by MSNBC 100,000 wind turbines in the Great Lakes area could provide enough electricity to power 1/3 of America.

Add the 20 percent that could be produced in the wind belt, and it's obvious that wind power can cost-effectively provide clean and green electricity for more than 50 percent of America within just the next decade. Add in solar power and alternative energy can provide the majority of America's electricity needs.

So, what are we waiting for?

If the next President has vision, America can completely change its energy paradigm in a way that develops jobs, cleans the environment and makes America stronger. Will our next leader be strong enough?

Alternative energy recession

Great potential, but can it survive the economic downturn?

When oil prices surged over $100.00 per barrel, investment in alternative technologies started to skyrocket. Solar and wind stocks, for instance, saw huge gains. The financial crisis, however, has brought those stocks down to reality.

So, will the recession stymie alternative energy?

Today, on CNBC, the feelings are mixed. Some, such as Jim Cramer, believe that with cheap oil, alternative energy can't compete without serious government intervention. Unfortunately, with the government bailing out banks, insurance companies, Fannie Freddie, the auto industry, etc., Cramer believes that military and alternative energy spending is going to decline.

Others, however, claim that many contracts have already been inked. Thus, solar and wind can survive another year without much new investment. Of course, if this recession hits deeper and harder than most seem to be expecting, then alternative energy could gravely suffer.

Can green E Coal replace real coal?

Smokeless coal

I caught a piece on E Coal, a product produced by newearth. This coal substitute is derived via biomass and when burned it releases no smoke according to the company. Moreover, E Coal can replace coal without any upgrades to current coal plants worldwide.

According to one report, E Coal could completely replace coal, which makes me wonder, is there really enough biomass in the world to do all the things its supporters claim? While I do believe that biomass could lead to greater green energy production, and that biomass might be much better for electricity production rather than transportation fuel, can it really live up to the hype?

Cramer keeps pumping Pickens Plan

Still on the Picken's bandwagon

Watched Jim Cramer interview Boone Pickens on Mad Money today. Cramer has become a huge supporter of the Picken's Plan, and both men seem to truly believe that the Pickens Plan wouldn't just end foreign oil dependency, but create a lot of new jobs here in the US.

Building up the wind corridor from Texas to North Dakota wouldn't just create enough electricity to account for 20 percent of total US electricity consumption, it would also create a lot of jobs.

Likewise, the solar corridor, from Texas to California would also create electricity and jobs, while pumping the kind of investment into solar that can truly make it cost effective. Once that happens solar power could offer far more potential than the government verified potential of wind power.

Clean coal? Pickens and Cramer called clean coal an oxymoron.

Nuclear? It will take too long according to Pickens.

The Pickens Plan. What do you think?

Water just as important as energy

Holy scary water

I've known for some time that water was quickly becoming the new oil, the new gold, the new most important commodity. Still, I didn't realize just how crazy the situation was until I read SCIAM's Energy versus water: Solving both crises together.

For instance, San Diego needs water resources, but the amount of energy to power a desalinization plant isn't available and it would be terribly expensive. Or, how about the fact that Hoover Dam might soon not be deep enough to power massive amounts of Las Vegas. Or, how close drought was to shutting down numerous nuclear power plants in the SouthEast this summer.

Yet, have you heard either John McCain or Barack Obama talk much about water?

We might talk about the dangers of foreign oil dependency, but how often do we mention the water crisis? It isn't even on the radar of the average American. Or, maybe we talk about global warming and rising sea levels. Instead, maybe we should be discussing how increased temperatures might leave much of the South without drinking water and without power.

Yet, here we sit. Our energy and water resources and infrastructures dwindling and collapsing as America heads into a nasty recession, and all we're hoping for is cheaper gas.