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POPSWhat's a carbon offset? This brief explanation of carbon offsets should help anyone who has heard the term used but isn't sure exactly what it means. Click the link to the source for additional insight and examples.
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POPSToyota working on solar powered car I've always said that my daughters (currently 4 and 1) will never drive a car powered by gasoline - but instead will drive cars that are powered by the sun. This is encouraging news!!
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POPSWhen will Congress act to promote alternative energy? They talk a good game, but the tax credits needed to boost the industry in a massive way are being held up. If and when Congress gets serious about removing our dependence on foreign oil we'll know it...they'll extend the tax credits that are set to expire this year. This would not only be a major shot in the arm for the industry, but for our entire economy as well!!!
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POPSThe key to oil independence is a new electrical grid It seems that with alternative sources of energy, such as wind and solar, the United States has the potential means to substantially reduce our dependence on oil - especially once plug-in cars are on the market. But until we substantially upgrade our nation's electrical grid with modern technology that will enable the energy created by these sources to be transmitted intelligently around the county, their impact will be limited. It's going to take a greater commitment from Congress to jump start this. Making it happen will provide a huge boost to our economy, environment and political leverage with the Middle East, Russia, Venezuela and more.
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POPSGreen technology creating 'green collar' jobs I stand strongly behind my belief that if this country committed ourselves to becoming energy independent with the same determination that we committed to putting a man on the moon, that we could do it and we could create millions of new jobs in the process. It would be an enormous driver of economic growth and strengthen our leverage in the Middle East because we would no longer be reliant on their oil.
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POPSMayor Bloomberg advocating alternative energy for NYC This is an example of the forward thinking, innovative leadership that Mayor Bloomberg has provided to New York City. I'm certainly a fan of term limits, but this is one person i sure hate to see move on...although i would love to see him be a major player in the next president's cabinet. I imagine that if Obama wins, that is a very real possibility.
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POPSAlternative energy needs help from Congress It's crazy to me to see the Bush administration and many members of Congress focusing on drilling for oil with such passion, yet you hear next to nothing from them about investing whatever resources are necessary to jump start a brand new industry that could significantly lessen our dependence on oil. Seeing what Russia is doing in Georgia should make the U.S. government's desire to aid the development of alternative sources such as solar and wind even that much greater.
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POPSA compromise? Drilling for alternative energy tax credits Seems like an interesting possibility here. Give the Republicans what they want (more drilling) in exchange for what the Democrats want (extension of tax credits for wind, solar, etc.). You would think that this combination would show that the U.S. government is truly committed to doing whatever it takes to bring down our reliance on foreign oil.
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POPSThe Energy Technology Revolution Tom Friedman is so right (shocker) about this. I find it to be insane that this is not THE ISSUE of the presidential election. T. Boone Pickens gets it. Tom Friedman gets it. Europe and Asia seem to get it. When will Washington get it???
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POPSThe market for plug-in cars is fast approaching Very exciting stuff. This is no longer the talk of what's ifs and hypotheticals...it's reality and it's coming soon. In my opinion, the introduction of plug-in cars will be a major catalyst for the development of additional sources of energy - including more wind and solar generated. It will also be the tipping point for allocating the massive resources needed to upgrade our nation's power grid.
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POPSMajor solar initiative in California This is a huge deal - highlighting the opportunity for utilities to embrace alternative sources of energy (such as solar and wind) to meet their customer's energy needs. “By harnessing the clean, renewable energy of the sun that is abundant in California, these innovative solar projects are helping to meet our long-term energy and climate change goals,” Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said. “These projects are evidence that California’s ingenuity is spurring a clean tech boom that will bring companies and investment dollars to California while reducing the state's carbon footprint.” Why in the world don't words like that come from our President??? All he wants to talk about is drilling for more oil!
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POPSThe Pickens Plan Could this man single-handedly lift the United States out its dependence on oil and inspire the type of commitment and innovation needed to make it happen? I know that sounds crazy, but this type of high profile exposure is absolutely invaluable to the birth of a new industry. Like going to the moon in the 60s, it's time to devote whatever resources are needed to enter the alternative energy era.
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POPSGeneral Motors builds massive rooftop solar array This is the type of high profile event that could represent a tipping point. Someday, i imagine that all rooftops will be solar powered - and many cars too for that matter - and this type of announcement could be looked at as a catalyst for many more companies to get in the game. Unfortunately, the U.S. government isn't being nearly as supportive of wind and solar as European and Asian governments - but again, that's something that will hopefully change after the upcoming election.
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POPSSolar powered Prius!! Now this is exciting news! This type of innovation is exactly what the world needs to help us lose our dependency on oil. It is also the type of progress that i believe will spur the economy out of its very nasty funk.
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POPSBiofuels cause spike in food prices - duh! I currently think the U.S. is doing it all wrong. The Bush administration is very supportive of biofuels and drilling for oil, but they're not giving nearly enough support to wind and solar. Hopefully with a new President in a few months will come a much more effective energy policy.
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POPSWhy we need high oil prices I know this sounds crazy, but i honestly believe that high oil prices in the short term (1-5 years) is a very good thing if it forces us to find alternatives. I am definitely concerned that if oil prices drop temporarily, the momentum behind alternatives such as wind and solar will die off - leaving us exactly where we are today - way too dependent on oil and way to harmful to our environment.
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POPSFilling up your car with ELECTRICITY!! When we can fill up our cars with electricity instead of gasoline - and generate electricity through wind and solar power - and transmit more electricity over the grid - we will have truly changed global dynamics. The amazing thing is that it may not be more than a few years away! Any additional help we can get from Washington will make a huge difference. I hope to see this be a central issue in the upcoming election.
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POPSSolar iPhone Just another step in the evolution to a new power industry. The power industry is in the very early stages of change that's similar to the change in telecommunications that has occurred over the past 20 years. I'm extremely excited to be following it (and clipping it).
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POPSBillions being raised for clean energy In many parts of the world, new sources of energy hold the promise of bringing power to people who desperately need it. I expect solar and wind to play a major role in this.
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POPSSenate votes to extend tax credits for renewable energy So the Senate and House have now decided to extend the tax credits. The big difference is that the House want to subsidize them by increasing taxes on oil companies, whereas the Senate just wants to eat the cost. Let's hope that Congress and the President can agree on a solution, because this would be great for the country and the world for many reasons!
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POPSSilicon Valley? How about Solar Valley! Just another indication of how fast the momentum behind alternative energy is picking up steam. If the government extends tax credits for wind and solar, i think this industry is in for a very long bull market.
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POPSBlow my stimulus check in the wind Honestly, i think that instead of the government sending us each $1,000 checks, they should put every dime of the stimulus plan towards the growth of the renewable energy sector. That will do 100x more good economically and politically and the effects will last decades. Jobs will be created, investments will be made, the environment will be better off and we will become less dependent on fossil fuels from abroad. That's real stimulus - if only George Bush wouldn't block it.
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POPSEnormous potential of wind power in the U.K. By the time my 3 year old daughter turns 20 years old, i hope the migration to power that's generated by wind, solar and other renewable sources of energy is analogous to the migration from land based phones to iPhones that we've experienced over the past 15 or so years.
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POPSU.S. waits for others to save us from oil dependence As long as this remains the case i will remain skeptical that the U.S. government truly wants to end our dependence on oil. That reality basically means that the needs of lobbyists (Big Oil) are considerably more important than the needs of the people. That depresses me a lot!
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POPSWhy can't the U.S. be more like Varese? If this town in Italy can be 100% dependent on renewable power, why can't towns/cities in the U.S. do the same? It really makes me angry to live in a country that holds itself out as a world leader, yet we need to look at small towns in Italy to see examples of the Power Revolution. It frightens me that Big Oil stands in the way of the U.S. leading the Revolution.
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POPSGoogle solar panel project Awesome to see how much energy google is producing using solar panels. you can even see the energy output just like you would a stock price in google finance. There's been quite a few developments in the past year which should help up the output on future installations like this if they come to market. It'd be great to see google get their net energy use down near 0.