July 17th, 2014
A great new report from the smart folks at CleanEdge looks in depth at which states are leading the clean energy charge in the United States. And, given the many ways to look at, the list of clean energy superstars is long. Here are eight slices from their analysis. Read More
June 5th, 2014
The EPA’s new power plant carbon standards are a potential climate game changer for a whole lot of reasons, given how much fossil-fueled power plants contribute to global warming. And in her speech unveiling the proposed standards on Monday, in talking about what global warming means for the power sector, rather than the other way around, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy nailed it. Read More
May 7th, 2014
With yesterday’s release of the latest National Climate Assessment fresh in our minds, we see offshore wind readying itself for the what-we-can-do-about-it piece. Two announcements today touch on important aspects of the path forward for offshore wind: funding and wildlife impacts.
April 22nd, 2014
Spring has finally sprung in these parts: blossoms bedizening the trees, smiles bedizening people’s winter-worn faces; birds migrating north, gloves and scarves migrating toward long-term storage. For my family, spring is also our preferred time for “treasure hunting” in celebration of Earth Day. It’s an easy (and free) way to get the kids engaged in sprucing up the neighborhood, to create some teachable moments about earth stewardship, and to maybe burn off some of the energy they’ve accumulated over months of being trapped indoors. Here are the how and why. Read More
April 16th, 2014
Yesterday we talked about 10 ways to celebrate Earth Day with your family, save money, and cut your carbon emissions. Here’s a deeper dive into two of them: how to find and get rid of phantom loads or energy vampires, in ways that engage the kids.
You can pitch your Earth Day adventure to the kids as an updated version of the classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (easy-listening video version here). Fun for the whole family. But without the mud, the river, or the long swishy-swashy grass.
March 20th, 2014
This Saturday is World Water Day, and this year the focus is on the link between water and energy, a topic dear to my heart. Last year I offered some suggestions on how to celebrate World Water Day by focusing on saving energy. But we need the power sector to do its part, too. And, in some notable ways, it is. Here are four. Read More
March 17th, 2014
A new bill from two Senate leaders looks to bring some semblance of rationality to federal energy-water work. Here are three reasons why the Nexus of Energy and Water for Sustainability Act of 2014 is welcome news. Read More
March 14th, 2014
A federal court has rejected the latest legal bid to stop what will very likely be the nation’s first offshore wind farm, Cape Wind. That’s good news for the project, and for all of us who are counting on having offshore wind as a powerful new tool in our clean energy belt. Read More
March 7th, 2014
In anticipation of International Women’s Day this weekend, I caught up with Kristen Graf, the executive director of Women of Wind Energy (and an esteemed former colleague). Below are notes from our conversation, with bonus links and added emphases. Read More
March 6th, 2014
The latest solar numbers have just come in, and the celebration continues. The latest industry report shows another 4,751 megawatts (MW) went in during 2013, with great progress for both photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP). Solar in the U.S. now generates enough to power over 2 million average households. Read More
