Gridpoint's V2G technology continues to develop business

The leader of V2G technology

One of the keys to the potential success of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles will be vehicle to grid technology, otherwise known as V2G technology.

Currently, there are a number of utilities across the country that have converted hybrid cars into plug-in hybrid cars to fully test the feasibility of these vehicles upon the electric grid. In many of these tests, technology developed by V2Green, now owned by Gridpoint, is being utilized.

Makes me wonder whether V2G will be an especially smart green investment if Barack and Democrats take over the White House and Congress?

Can Democrats clean and green the US auto industry?

America's freedom fighter?

On the NYSE floor, an Obama win has already been priced into stocks, and there is a belief that an Obama win, coupled with a filibuster-proof Democratic majority in Congress, will lead to 'new deal' style projects and bailouts, such as the one needed for the US auto industry.

Finish: Can Democrats clean and green the US auto industry?

An angry take on an automaker bailout

Does Congress really care about the people?

I was just watching some coverage on CNBC about how a number of Wall Street firms are using taxpayer bailout money to fund executive bonuses. Thus, our taxpayer money is funding the bonuses of executives whom lost 100's of billions of our wealth because, according to one expert on the panel, Congress left loopholes in the bailout bill, as usual.

Finish: Automaker bailout - Why I'm losing faith

Help make Congress renew solar credits

Why is the Senate holding up solar credits?

Perhaps if Republicans were in control of Congress, it wouldn't be much of a surprise that solar credits were being stalled in the US Senate, but it's green-talking Democrats that are in control. Anyway, if you want to lobby your representatives check out SEIA.org or call the Congressional switchboard and tell them to pass HR6049 NOW!

Senate fails to renew the solar tax credit

No tax credits for solar power?

I'm just catching headlines so, hopefully, I'll update with a story link later, but the US Senate has failed to renew the solar tax credit. Now, I'm sure it can be ressurrected in some way, but this appears beyond rational comprehension. Hello, oil closed, after falling a bit, at about $135.00 today. What? Solar credits aren't worth as much PR as windfall profit taxes or gas tax holidays?

World food stocks dwindling

A reason against biofuels?

"In an "unforeseen and unprecedented" shift, the world food supply is dwindling rapidly and food prices are soaring to historic levels, the top food and agriculture official of the United Nations warned Monday," according to the International Herald Tribune.

And, surprise, surprise America's hell bent path towards ethanol is a major player.

"A more complicated issue is the use of crops to make biofuels, which are often heavily subsidized. A major factor in rising corn prices globally is that many farmers in the United States are now selling their corn to make subsidized ethanol.

Mann said the European Union had intentionally set low targets for biofuel use - 10 per cent by 2020 - to limit food price rises and that it plans to import some biofuel. "We don't want all our farmers switching from food to biofuel," he said."

I guess Europeans are smarting than Americans, especially when it comes to politicians.

Liars: CAFE to save Americans $700 per year?

Democrats in Congress are liars

"Democrats said the fuel economy requirements eventually -- when the fleet of gas-miser vehicles are widely on the road -- will save motorists $700 to $1,000 a year in fuel costs. They maintain the overall bill, including more ethanol use and various efficiency requirements and incentives, will reduce U.S. oil demand by 4 million barrels a day by 2030, more than twice the daily imports from the volatile Persian Gulf." (CNN)

Nonsense.

First, how is someone in an SUV going to save $700 per year if their vehicle is going to cost $7,000 more to buy? Americans might be able to buy more fuel efficient vehicles that will save fuel, but they are going to pay more for those vehicles. Does Congress not even understand economics 101? Read more....

Weather: An ethanol nightmare

Milk prices up 90 cents per gallon

Thanks to ethanol, food prices have jumped 5 percent because the costs of all grains continue to increase as more land is dedicated to fuel-based grains. Some products, such as milk, have gone up far higher thanks to ethanol.

However, according to an analyst on CNBC, the problems could get far worse and shortages are just one bad storm or drought away. So, considering the dry weather the US has seen increasing the last few years, why is America considering significantly increasing the use of corn-based ethanol?

There are just too many potential downsides to corn-based ethanol, and some of those downsides are potentially catastrophic. So, why is Congress so out of touch?

Speaking of corny ethanol

Time to get real about ethanol

Just as I was making a post about CAFE and its ethanol loophole, an executive from Heinz was on CNBC discussing how corn-to-ethanol is going to keep pushing the price of food higher.

No surprise there, but as I was watching this CNBC segment I was also scrolling through the GreenCarCongress website and read an article that claims corn stover biomass - a key ingredient for many cellulosic ethanol plans - is misunderstood. It turns out that corn stover is not waste - as the industry has claimed - in fact it helps add nutrients to soil, prevents run-off, and helps control water.

Thus, even the holy grail of ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, will lead to wasted water, lost soil, greater chemical fertilizers and pesticides, etc. AWESOME!!!

Yes, there are other forms of biomass, but still, isn't it time for Congress to get its head out of its cornhole already? What a bunch of dipshits. Perhaps the term pork barrel legislation needs to be changed to corn barrel legislation.

Time for the government to get serious about solar power?

Wiring, grounding and racking integrated solar panels

Isn't it time for Congress to get serious about solar power?

Congress gives billions to oil companies, to farmers and ethanol producers, why not for solar power?

Is solar power perfect?

Of course not, but its ability to distribute energy alone is worth the cost of investment in this age of terrorism, fires, and electric grid instability. More important, however, solar energy could revolutionize home energy, even if it takes 20 years. (Finish: Congress and solar power)

CAFE: Congress and Detroit - Two peas in a pod?

If the Volt is 'technologically feasible' by 2010, then how can 35 mpg not be?

Congress and Detroit. Two peas in a pod? If there was ever a common element between politicians and automakers, it has to be vision. Or, more precisely, a lack thereof.

O.K., the House of Reps. is going to delay any action regarding fuel economy until Fall - something that will make automakers breathe a little easier the next few months. While automakers show off fancy cars, possibly able to achieve 100 mpg by 2012, they also continue to argue that 35 mpg is not 'technologically feasible' by 2020 - a claim I disputed on Tuesday.

Yet, not only is 35 mpg easily 'technologically feasible' by 2020, it is even more economically feasible than not achieving this higher level of CAFE, according to a new study cited by Edmunds.

"Detroit's automakers would collectively earn $14.4 billion by 2017, the study says, under the toughest standards being considered by Congress: a combined car and truck average of 35 mpg by 2018. The U of M auto brain trust calculates that indexing mileage targets to vehicle size wouldn't penalize Detroit with its truck-heavy lineups the way the existing car and truck standards do. Instead, the domestic automakers would be allowed to aim for a lower target — around 33 mpg — while Japanese rivals that are top-heavy with passenger cars might need to average 38 mpg. "

Why doesn't Congress get off its ass and do something meaningful? Forcing, while helping, Detroit to build as many hybrid cars today, while developing tomorrow's plug-in hybrids, seems to be the best thing Congress could do for Detroit - and America.

So, show some vision already!

Congress and energy: Forget about it?

Wouldn't a gas tax be better than dead soldiers?

"The dance that is going on between automakers, Dingell and other members of Congress is disheartening to anyone looking for a meaningful energy policy that will make the U.S. less dependent on foreign energy sources and for the the U.S. to finally act like a world leader when it comes to energy consumption and pollution generation."

Great quote from an interesting article on the BusinessWeek Autobeat.

Here's another, "Without a sustained communications commitment, most Americans just won’t get the fact that we are already paying huge gas taxes to protect the source of Middle East oil. It’s being sucked out of our taxes already to pay for the War in Iraq and other foreign interventions. That is adding to the deficit, and costing thousands of American lives."

How can a gas tax to fund things like hybrid cars and biofuels be bad when were spending 100's of billions in Iraq and sacrificing 1000's of American lives for what - cheap oil to soothe our gas-guzzling egos?