Tax credits for solar really do create economic growth

Because of federal and state incentives, the booming solar industry in California is adding exponentially more to the economy, according to this story.

Two years into the California Solar Initiative, the taxpayers’ investment of $775 million in solar rebates has yielded $5 billion in private investment in solar projects and rapidly expanded the state’s renewable energy industry, according to the report. That’s helped create strong solar companies like solar cell maker SunPower (SPWRA) and markets for thin-film solar companies such as First Solar (FSLR). The decade-long program is on track to achieve its target of 3,000 megawatts of rooftop solar and in the first two years of the program more solar has been installed in California than in the previous 25 years.

Check out the report from the California Public Utilities Commission. According to a CPUC press release, "On average, for every $1 in incentive committed by the California Solar Initiative, an additional $6 in private funds is invested in solar technology in California."

More states need to introduce aggressive tax credits for solar, wind and other alternative energy production. And if the federal government went even higher than the 30% tax credit, we'd see huge investment by business.

As I've written before, the key to reducing our trade imbalance is curbing our energy imports. And if we curb our energy imports by creating a domestic economy based on green energy production, we will create an export boom.

Remember the huge boom to our economy from the Silicon Valley days? We can do it again, but this time the effects would truly be sustainable.

Top 10 green jobs for the next decade

Fastcompany.com has a story about the top 10 green jobs for the next decade.

And they are (drumroll, please):

Farmer
Forester
Solar Power Installer
Energy Efficiency Builder
Wind turbine fabricator
Conservation Biologist
Green MBA and Entrepreneur
Recycler
Sustainability Systems Developer
Urban Planner

The article lists schools and companies that are involved in these fields. If you want to position your career for growth, take some time to learn what industries are poised to benefit from changes in how we look at the environment and food, and how we produce and consume energy.

WWGSD?

What would George Soros do?

Soros has made tons and tons of money over the years by timing the market correctly.

Here's a fascinating column he wrote for Financial Times. As much as I enjoyed the column, I paid attention to the sidebar where he writes about what went right and wrong for his fund for 2008.

As for the welfare of the United States and capitalism in general, Soros thinks we need to keep capitalizing the banks, and that we also need to overhaul the mortgage system.

He also thinks that America will be better off by developing alternative energy sources. But to make that economically feasible, he calls for an end to cheap oil, proposing a floor price of $70 a barrel - about double today's value.

I'm glad to see the era's great economic thinkers putting their heads into this, but you have to realize that they're looking out for their own bottom lines too. His prescription calls for a lot of market meddling.

While I don't want to see my 401K continue to falter, at some point we have to ask ourselves: Is this capitalism? What ever happened to simple supply and demand?

Availability of credit surely is a great economic generator. But only when extended to people and companies that can pay it back. In the long haul that's what got us in trouble, and now all that anyone can do is scream about there not being enough credit in the system.

Living large, USA-style, eco-style

With the option of power-assist, this velomobile from Goblin Aero offers protection from the elements and can travel faster than a bicycle.

With a 35 c.c. Honda motor for power-assist, the standard gearing allows the Aero to go 30 mph on flat roadways. Optional lower gearing allows easier travel up extreme grades, but limits speed to 20 mph. The gas tank holds .28 gallons and is good for 30-40 miles.

As equipped above, the Goblin Aero runs $6,445, or nearly 50% more than the Yugo cost when it came out.

Looking at this human-powered psuedo-bike, I had to chuckle at the made-for-the-U.S.A. marketing message that appeared in this story.

Popular in Europe for years, this is the first time that such vehicles have been designed and manufactured to accommodate larger American citizens.

Hooray for fat America!

General Pessimism, meet Private Optimism

According to this BBC news article, the reason for so many stocks tanking and companies laying off workers is an overriding sense of global pessimism.

Wow, that's some reporting.

Personally, I think this is a great time to be unemployed. All the workers are worried about losing their jobs. Management fears the loss of bonuses.

Me, I've got the soft glow of the Internet and a warm cup of chicken noodle soup.

Not to mention the hope that this economic malaise will result in a new wave of job generation, ones that are focused on energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and a host of things that are positive for the world.

As with all times of great disruption and change, there exists plentiful opportunity. Identify who you want to be, and how you want to live, and make it so.

"An optimist is someone who looks for the opportunity in every difficulty. A pessimist is someone who looks for the difficulty in every opportunity." - Anonymous.

Cool wind turbine animation

This is a pretty instructive animation of a low-impact wind turbine in action. About 3/4 through the video, it begins to show how wind speed affects electricity output.

This really shows that wind turbines are most effective when you have sustained, forceful winds. In low-wind areas, these probably aren't worth the time or investment.

A perpetual motion car? Show me.

From California comes a new car design that relies solely on alternative energy.

The car would go 155 mph, do zero to 60 in four seconds and cost about $170,000.

Solar cells on its skin would charge the battery in 1.5 hours and after reaching speed-here's where I become skeptical-a set of strategically placed mini wind turbines would recharge the battery, enabling the car to go 200 miles, or about an hour if you're gunning it around a racetrack.

The car, dubbed the Formula AE, is being designed by Rory Handel and Maxx Bricklinas from Beverly Hills, California. Read how the car will use alternative energy here.

Here's a link to RorMaxx's sponsors and affiliates. One of the affiliates is the X Prize Foundation, which seeks "revolution through competition."

Typically, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I'm from Missouri, so RorMaxx will have to show me.

Citigroup to give up lavish jet

Finally, someone is talking some sense into Citigroup.

I blogged the other day about Citigroup's plans to go ahead with buying a $50 million corporate jet.

The banking giant has taken so much heat that now it appears to be backing off, according to this ABCNews.com story.

Apparently, the Obama Administration told Citigroup to "fix it."

That's change I can agree with.

Renewable energy sources account for biggest chunk of new U.S. energy sources in 2007

Renewable energy sources are gaining enough traction to account for the biggest piece of the pie when it comes to gains in U.S. electrical output.

General electrical capacity increased by 2.3% in 2007, according to Electrical Power Annual 2007. Total 2007 electrical capacity was boosted to 4,157 million megawatt-hours, up from 4,065 MWh in 2006.

Net summer capacity increased by 8,673 MW, with wind power accounting for 5,186 MW.

Renewable energy remains but a drop in the bucket, however. Renewables generate 105 million MWh annually, just 2.5 % of total electrical capacity.

The Obama administration needs to put more money into this sector. Reducing energy costs - and doing it more cleanly - will be a bellweather issue this century. We need to get a head start on the world so we can export the technology.

Seattle inventor puts forth rooftop wind turbine. Target price tag? $500

The high cost of most alternative energy ideas is a major hurdle to adoption by the masses.

A Seattle-area inventor has a wind turbine that he thinks could be produced and sold for less than $500, according to this story.

His prototype cost only $100 to build.

The turbine would not create a lot of electricity, but perhaps as much as 40 kilowatt hours a month. That's enough to offset the amount of high-efficiency bulbs used in some households.

"It's not going to power the whole house," inventor Chad Maglaque told the Seattle Times. "But it's about doing every little bit."

According to the article, he's entered his wind-turbine idea in Google's "Project 10 to the 100th" contest, which, to celebrate the company's 10th birthday, will award $10 million to five innovative ideas that seek, in simple terms, to change the world.

Bailout beneficiary Citigroup buys $50 million luxury corporate jet

As ordinary Americans hunker down and forgo new car purchases, new home purchases and even steak at the restaurant, the executives at Citibank see no need to scale back on planned purchases.

Of course, Citibank has received $45 billion in bailout money so far, so why worry.

Citibank recently went ahead with the purchase of a $50 million Dassault Falcon 7X luxury jet, according to this story.

The plane seats up to 12 in a plush interior with leather seats, sofas and a customizable entertainment center.

Granted, Citigroup had placed the order two years ago, well before the current meltdown, but sometimes it makes more sense to give up the deposit and do the right thing.

After all, Citigroup already has two 10-year-old Dassaults, which it is now trying to unload for $27 million each.

What gets me are some of the apologistic comments on the story, which seem to have been placed by trolls (no attempt made to correct faulty grammar):

Poster bsmbdt wrote: Im sorry, but doesnt spending $50M on a jet put that very $50M into the economy? I mean the Jet maker , pays their employees and taxes, and hires employees and vendors, etc. CITI also pays taxes, and then hires pilots , mechanics, and staff, not to menton the maintenance folks, etc. Now each of those folks went and bought food, gas, clothing, heat for their houses/apartments, some bought houses, others condos, and cars, etc. etc. etc. Im sorry but have we become so clueless that we cant think through what buying a $50M aircraft does for plain old people like you and me? Are we that dense now that all we can do is knee jerk react?

I can think of better ways for Citigroup to spend OUR bailout money. Make loans available to small businesses and regular folk.

slcraigre wrote: You've got to be kidding? Has the Post now dranl the Kool-Aide too? That Jet was ordered years ago. It took 1000s of hours of manpower and hundreds of companies making parts to produce it. You want all those employess and companies to give back that money?
What has happened to your journalistic integrity?
If CITI had a contract with you for ad space would you let them just cancel on a whim?

Actually, newspaper ad contracts get broken all the time. And the newspaper rarely does anything about it because it wants the advertiser to return when there actually is money to spend. At the very worst, an advertiser that pulls back might have to eat a deposit, but in 99% of cases print advertising is not paid for until it publishes.

Clairesolt wrote: All this scandal mongering about airplanes and carpetsa just tells me that out journalissts can't understand multi billion business. If I have a credit card balance or mortgagr or car loan, that does not mean that the bank can follow me around the grocery store and comment on what I buy. Oh look! She is buying filet, Shouldn't we write in her contract that she can onlly have hot dogs?

No, the bank can't follow you around. But if you can't pay back your credit card balance or you are late with a payment, it can dramatically increase the interest rate, effectively putting you in the hotdog-eating crowd. It can impose a credit limit. How do you think Citigroup makes its money? By being a nice lender?

What it boils down to is this: Citigroup has accepted help from we, the taxpayers. In fact, in its $45 billion bailout, it has claimed approximately $150 for every man, woman or child in the United States. And since the government doesn't actually have the bailout money, but is instead printing more money or borrowing it, we are paying for this through increased interest on government debt, or decreased personal purchasing power because of dillution of dollar value.

I'd rather that Citigroup not have taken delivery of the new jet, and also sold their old jets. If they have somewhere to fly, get in line with the rest of us at Southwest.

Here's what Citigroup got. Fast-forward to about 2 minutes to see pictures of the lush interior.

States to get right to set own automobile fuel efficiency and emissions standards

California and 13 other states that have sought to set fuel efficiency standards and limit emissions on new cars sold will get that right.

President Obama is set to issue a federal order Monday to make this possible, according to a New York Times article.

It's clear that people want to hold carmakers to a higher standard. This might make the cars more expensive, but the success of pricier hybrids has shown that people are willing to pay for cars that satisfy their conscience.

The more states that pass such standards on fuel efficiency and emissions, the more that automakers will make all cars more fuel efficient. Really, this is a long time coming. My wife's old 1998 Honda Civic would get 38 mpg on a good day. Now, a decade later, things haven't improved much, and that's not acceptable.

California's big energy gamble

California has been a world leader in design, style, entertainment and technology. If Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger gets his way, the state will also be a world leader in reducing energy use and carbon emissions.

A recent episode of Nova on PBS focused on the Governator's initiative, called AB-32. Here's a link to the PBS Web site on this particular program, "California's Big Energy Gamble." You can get additional information and watch streaming video of the program.

The initiative hopes to slash predicted emissions by 30% by 2020. By 2050 it aims to reduce California's emissions to levels not seen since the early 20th century.

Critics say the initiative will destroy the state's economy by increasing energy costs to the point where jobs and capital leave the state.

The program compares TV stars and neighbors Ed Begley, Jr., and Bill Nye (The Science Guy). Begley has six KW of solar panels on his roof, Nye has four KW. Begley also is ahead of Nye by having dimmable flourescent lights. Watching the friendly competition and back and forth between the two is fun and illustrative of how people can put green initiatives into their homes.

But these improvements come at great cost. A single wind turbine on Begley's house cost $3,000.

Yet most ordinary Californian's can't afford such improvements. The show looks at Richmond, Calif., which is a low-income area between San Francisco and Sacramento. A local activist describes how leaky window frames cost an extra 30-40% in wasted energy, but that people can't afford to buy new windows with the already high costs of energy in their homes. It's a Catch-22.

This is where government tax credits for energy efficient windows fall short. My wife and I upgraded windows a couple years ago, and the tax deduction saved us only several hundred dollars - on nearly $13,000 in windows. It will take us a long, long time to recoup the costs through energy savings.

With 12 million low income people in California, there is no chance people can upgrade windows without true tax credits, instead of simple deductions.

Yet getting Americans to upgrade windows and other household elements to reduce energy costs should be a key strategy to wean us off foreign energy sources, and thus make us more secure from foreign threats like energy dictatorships, which harbor terrorists.

But there is hope in the big picture, because the power of the state is large. California now gets 10% of its electricity from renewable energy. Schwarzenegger plans to double that in just two years, and to have the state attain 33% of its electricity from renewables by 2020.

Of course there are numerous challenges to AB-32. But there are also some solutions within the private sector. I'll explore these in future posts.

The episode of Nova is thought-provoking, and definitely worth a watch.

A new twist on the free press: France to offer every teen a complimentary newspaper subscription

U.S. newspapers are facing declining readership and advertising, and much of that is due to the emergence of new media and the fact that kids don't tend to read physical newspapers.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has offered to give every French teen a free sub to a newspaper of their choice, according to this story.

Sarkozy announced a number of initiatives to bolster the press, according to the article.

"The habit of reading the press takes hold at a very young age," Sarkozy said.

The president said the newspapers themselves would provide free copies for 18-year-olds, while the state would cover the cost of delivering them to many thousands of homes.

In addition to the free paper scheme, Sarkozy announced plans to double the government's budget for buying advertising in the press, a freeze on the cost of postal distribution and a reduction in payroll taxes for newsagents.

I'm not in favor of massive U.S. subsidies for teen newspaper readership. However, I do think it would be smart for U.S. metropolitan dailies to offer a free subscription to teens in order to boost their ranks of future readers. It's called a loss-leader, and it might not be a bad idea if newspapers want to keep from losing.

Bailout money goes toward bank bonuses

As further proof of the foolhardiness of these bank bailouts, it appears that Merrill Lynch execs were paid nearly $4 billion in bonuses just days before new Lynch owner Bank of America got another $20 billion in TARP funds. See a story here.

And, these bonuses were paid out a month ahead of schedule. Does anyone smell rotten fish?

Global warming is dead, long live global warming!

It was a beautiful sunny day yesterday, and today it's turning bitterly cold and windy. So, today, I'm all for global warming.

But with the state of the economy and other issues taking precedence, Americans are less and less concerned about global warming, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Jan. 7-11 among 1,503 adults.



What's telling about the results of this survey is the fact that Americans are thinking more about domestic issues these days. There is less of a global mindset. Take a look at the following chart, which was available on the same Pew survey page.



Americans haven't been so focused on their own country's issues since the mid 1990s, which is ironic since things seemed to have been going pretty well at the time, at least compared to now.

Getting back to how we view changes in weather patterns, the term we probably should be using is climate change. On average, many areas are indeed getting warmer. But they're also getting colder in the winter. Maybe the Earth's axis is changing, or other developments may be causing overall climate change.

The media needs to get over the misleading term "global warming." Not every area is going to get warmer. Some scientists predict the coming of a "little ice age."

We may be experiencing man-induced climate change, and that is something we can address by reducing carbon emissions and other air pollutants.

Regardless of your thoughts on global warming, climate change, et. al., it does behoove us all to reduce our reliance on carbon-based fuels. Doing so will reduce pollution (thus reducing allergies, thus reducing health care costs) and it will reduce our reliance on foreign energy sources (thus reducing our need to assert ourselves in far-flung conflicts, thus reducing our military expenditures and loss of life).

As a tool to get the public's attention, the mantra of global warming has had its time. Now it should die, and we should focus on the other benefits of alternative energy sources.

Facing declining oil production, Mexico installs one of the world's largest wind farms

With a price tag of $550 million, a new wind farm in Mexico is not cheap.

But with oil production falling 9% last year, Mexico realized it needed to take a step toward the future, according to this USA Today article.

Situated on the isthmus between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, the 6,180-acre farm will boast 167 turbines capable of generating 250 megawatts of electricity. The area has wind gusts of 16-22 mph.

The wind farm is being built and operated by Spanish energy company Acciona Energia, which says it should produce enough electricity for a half million homes, and reduce carbon emissions by 600,000 metric tons annually.

Accounting for other wind projects, Mexico aims to generate 2,500 megawatts of electricity by 2012.

One thing I like about this project is the fact that Mexican cement giant Cemex is putting forward 25% of the development costs, in return for the rights to some electricity. Cemex wants to reduce its energy costs.

Under President Obama's plan to revitalize our economy with green initiatives, he should offer tax incentives that encourage U.S. manufacturers to invest in public wind and solar projects.

Seth Godin's five pillars of success

At his blog, Seth Godin points to what he calls the five pillars of success.

They are:

1. See (really see) what's possible
2. Know specifically what you want to achieve
3. Make good decisions
4. Understand the tactics to get things done and to change minds
5. Earn the trust and respect of the people around you

He points out that most people spend too much time focused on point No. 4. I think he's right.

Numbers 2, 3 and 5 are just as important, if not more. Still, not understanding the tactics to get things done is a sure way to fail.

I like these five pillars. They are so deceptively simple, yet have been proven effective time and again.

The politicization of bank bailouts

Of course we know that some of the bank bailouts have been made possible by having friends in very high places.

So far, most of those have come at the discretion of appointed leaders within the Treasury. As such, it's a little harder to nail down the exact way in which strings are being pulled.

Now, a Wall Street Journal story indicates that Democratic Representative Barney Frank appears to have influenced legislation to benefit OneUnited Bank in his home state of Massachusetts.

As head of the House Financial Services Committee, Frank is in a position to do such things. Unfortunately, he's not alone, according to the story:

Several Ohio banks received funds after Ohio's congressional delegation complained bitterly about the treatment of Cleveland-based National City Corp., which regulators forced into a merger rather than provide with cash. And in Alabama, the state's top banking official says a windfall there -- five banks are slated to receive funds -- is testament to the influence of two powerful Alabama lawmakers who sit on key congressional committees.

If we want to keep political favoritism out of the private sector, which is one of the things President Obama campaigned for, then we need to simply let these banks fail. Sell the assets to the highest bidder. If no one buys the debts, well I guess the debts are forgiven.

How much further down the road to corporate welfare must we go?

Another low-speed electric vehicle

The problem with some of the electric vehicle concepts out there is that they are designed for low speeds. In order to be efficient, they have to be small and light. In accomplishing that, their roadworthiness and speed for the highway is compromised.

Here's another one, called the EcoV Electric Car. It would be great for use at factories or for short commutes in a limited area, but it's good that other manufacturers are focusing their efforts on the open road, where the majority of people actually want to drive.



Here's some more information that was attached to the video:

EnVironmental Transportation solutions, LLC, manufacturers the EcoV-1. A battery electric vehicle (BEV), or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), the EcoV-1 offers a low carbon, high mpg, low speed alternative to moving people and packages outdoors or indoors.

One chassis, several skins:
passenger van - utility truck - stake bed - pick-up postal/delivery - recreational vehicle for golf - handicap & wheelchair access.

For more information and investor opportunities visit www.EcoVElectric.com

Wind turbine design from Down Under

From Australia comes a wind turbine electrical generator that is cheap and easy to install.

Designed to be placed at a home's roof peak, where wind speed is greatest, it supposedly could be sold for as little as 700 Australian dollars, or about $450 U.S.

The disadvantage to this kind of wind turbine is it has to be situated in the direction of the wind to gain maximum efficiency. For many East/West facing houses (at least in the Midwest) that is not a problem, because of prevailing wind patterns. If my house was facing South, it would generate less power.

Here's the video:

Wind power, old and new

In this striking juxtaposition of wind power icons, old meets new.

Here's the caption from the photo, which is featured at the Boston Globe's photo feature, "Sailing around the world."

A figure from Antony Gormley's "Another Place" welcomes one of the Tall Ships to Merseyside as it sails past the Burbo Bank windfarm on the approach to the Port of Liverpool on July 18, 2008, Liverpool, England. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

New leader, new Web site

At the same time as President Obama was being sworn in, the official Web site of the executive branch changed its look.

Whitehouse.gov has a daily blog, a place for proclamations and contact information. The first proclamation was to declare today a day of "renewal and reconciliation."

My wife turned me on to the new Web site, via Facebook. She said, "... I like that the site will now publish all non-emergency legislation for five days -- allowing the public to review and comment before the President signs it."

I agree. I think that's a cool feature. It's nice to have an administration that is so tech-savvy. Reaching out to the younger generation is key to fixing our country's problems.

Welcome Mr. President, here's what the journalists think you need to do

As Obama takes office, many newspaper and magazine columnists are writing their predictions, or their thoughts on what Obama's term may be like.

Here are some links.

Obama's moment arrives, by Barton Gellman, Washington Post.

The politics of cohesion, by David Brooks, New York Times.

Start the fire, by Roger Cohen, New York Times (words set to the Billy Joel tune "We didn't start the fire.")

Obama, the unifier, by Howard Fineman, Newsweek.

The next war president, by William Kristol, New York Times.

Welcome to town, President Obama, by Cal Thomas, Jewish World Review.

Time for (self) shock therapy, by Thomas Friedman, New York Times.

The Obama portfolio, by Jim Cramer, New York Magazine.

Inauguration photos from everyday folk

Here is a very cool interactive feature from the New York Times. It's a montage of photos submitted by readers. Check it out.

Here are some choice images:

This land was made for you and me

One of the first songs I learned in grade school music class was "This land is your land."

Originally written as a defiant, subversive song, Woody Guthrie's tune has been used for patriotic purposes much more often than not. That's the beauty of art, which truly is in the eye - or ear - of the beholder.

As Obama gets ready to take his oath of office, we are reminded of the power of democracy. I do hope the new government takes on the ethos of the song, because the U.S. of A. needs some work. While we can't rely on government to fix the country, we can expect it to provide some tools. We should expect it to not stand in the way, for this land really was made for you and me.

Here's a video of ancient folk singer Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen and someone else I don't recognize, singing the song at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Even the oil-rich Arabs see the future in green cities

If you haven't seen any of the magazine articles about Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, you might find it interesting to know that the world's first city designed to be green from the ground up will be in the middle of a desert, in one of the most oil-rich areas on the globe.

This city - which has a goal of producing net zero waste - will be home to 50,000 people. People will get to work via automated smart cars. Eighty percent of water will be recycled, reducing overall water use by 75% compared to other cities. It will have a 55-acre, 10 megawatt solar electricity generating plant that is being designed by Enviromena Power Systems.

Here's an article on Greenbiz.com that has some basics. For a more in-depth look, go to the Masdar City Web site.

Here's a video promoting the city.



The end goal of Masdar City is much more than having a green city. It is about perfecting the technology to build such cities. See, when the oil is gone, Abu Dhabi will need other ways to make money. And Abu Dhabi, which sits on 9% of the world's proven oil reserves, still sees a future in exporting energy. Just a different kind of future.

Here's what the Masdar Web site has to say about the project:

The Masdar Initiative is Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted investment in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies in renewable, alternative and sustainable energies as well as sustainable design. Masdar is driven by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC), a wholly owned company of the government of Abu Dhabi through the Mubadala Development Company. In January 2008, Abu Dhabi announced it will invest $15 billion in Masdar, the largest single government investment of its kind.

That's the kind of thinking we need here in the United States. Hopefully President Obama's green initiatives can provide some spark and capital. I would much prefer to see taxpayer money going toward the future than to bailing out banks. What's lost is lost. We need to find our way forward.

Seriously, if we could do something like this for $15 billion, that's chump change compared to what our government has already handed over to the banks.

More on toxic debts, bad banks

Talkingpointsmemo.com has a good post on the idea of an aggregator bank taking up the toxic debt.

Here's a snippet of the post, with a good analogy on what the banks are trying to pull over our heads.

It's like a scene out of some bizarro, Wall Streetified Antique Road Show. The bankers come in with their old china and cabinets from the attic that they're sure are worth $20,000. Sadly, the appraiser informs them they're only worth about $850. Only of course they're not from the attic. They bought them only last year convinced $20,000 was a steal back at the height of the antique crap craze. And now they're condemned to roam the byways of America looking for an appraiser or antique buyer who will finally recognize the true value of their crap and pay them $20,000 to help them get their money back. Unless of course we agree to pay them $20,000 for it now and let them get back to their lives and stop all the craziness.

If the government wants to waste money, send it to those who really know how to waste it - American consumers.

Flying car to use bio-fuel on London to Timbuktu flight

The other day, I lamented the lack of an electric flying car.

Now, I learn that some Brits have come up with a flying car that will run on biofuel. Not only that, they plan to fly it from London to Timbouctou (using the King's English spelling).

The Skycar, an all-terrain, road-legal buggy that doubles as a parasailer, is the vehicle. The Skycar actually goes faster on land (120 mph) than it can fly (70 mph). But, oh to fly.



Can't wait for the production version of this car? The Parajet Volution comes with the motor, wing and helmet, for the price of a slick 6,000 British pounds. Order here.

"Good" banks theirs, "bad" bank ours

Can you leave office soon enough Hank Paulson?

Paulson's idea for an aggregator bank - basically one bank that would combine all the bad debt and other illiquid assets - gained momentum January 16 in the financial community.

With $350 billion in TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) funds already spent, Paulson thinks its a good idea to shuffle all the troubled debt into one "bad" bank, thus leaving Americans with the bill.

Listen, I'm not happy about the economic situation and I don't particularly know what the answer is, but I do know when to call "shenanigans!"

I don't want to own the "bad" bank, while the tycoons make off with giant salaries, giant bonuses and all the "good" banks.

Late update: Now I see that Obama may adopt this plan. As I said, I don't like to see taxpayers holding all the bad debt. Let the big banks fail under their own weight, and capitalize and create new banks to do the actual lending ... that might be an option that actually gets the credit flowing again. It's like if were a loan shark and none of my debtors (or their families) are able to repay me, then I go bust. These banks played with toxic assets and it's sent the economy into spirals, ruining 401Ks and putting tons of people out of work. I don't see what good it does to save the bankers if they will be unwilling to loan to consumers.

Hybrid Coca Cola delivery trucks

Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Enterprises is doubling the number of hybrid delivery trucks in its fleet, according to GreenBiz.com.

The bottler already had 142 hybrid 12-bay box trucks with a 33,000 gross vehicle weight.

The 185 new jumbo hybrid trucks, with a gross combination vehicle weight of 55,000, are more in-line with the company's standard bulk delivery trucks. But the new hybrids consume 30% less fuel and belch out 30% fewer emissions than standard tractors.

It's great to see mainstream companies committing to eco-friendly delivery options. Not only are they easier on the environment, but they make business sense over the long haul - and the short haul.

Hybrid-electric bicycle - what's the point?

Here's something I don't get - a rechargeable electric bicycle marketed as a green item.

A battery provides power assist while you pedal, helping you get up to speed faster. New from Schwinn, the Tailwind weighs just 58 pounds and costs a mere $3,200. Stop me before I pull out my checkbook - just kidding.

At the risk of sounding incredibly American, to me a bicycle is more an instrument for exercise than it is for transportation. If I have three grand to put toward transportation, I'd buy a motorcycle - maybe even a rechargeable electric one.

A heavy, clunky battery-powered bike just seems oxymoronic.

Trouble in the wind

Along with some of the titans of American industry, now the nation's largest wind turbine manufacturer is laying off 20% of its workforce at three plants.

D.M.I. Industries is powering back at plants in Tulsa, Okla., Fargo, N.D., and Stevensville, Ontario, according to this post at Green Inc., a New York Times blog.

It's not looking good for other manufacturers either, according to the blog:

L.M. Glasfiber, a Danish turbine company, also announced 150 layoffs last week at a blade-making plant in Arkansas. And Gamesa, a Spanish turbine maker, said it was initiating layoffs at an Eastern Pennsylvania factory — though it was expanding a factory in the western part of the state, which can make larger blades.

The troubles of turbine manufacturers are mirrored in the solar industry, which has also suffered manufacturing layoffs recently.

This is troubling for the small towns that had seen these factories as a beacon of hope for the future. Like many other manufacturing woes, this has its genesis in the banking fiasco.

The wind business, which requires an enormous amount of capital investment, has been hit especially hard by troubles in the banking sector. Experts say that the number of big banks willing to invest in projects through the production tax credit has fallen sharply. Many wind-farm developers, from NextEra (formerly F.P.L. Energy) to the Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens, are cutting back on plans to expand their farms.

The wind industry hopes that the incoming administration and Congress will change the tax structure to make the production tax credit refundable, which would allow more companies to invest in it.

Thanks to Alexis Madrigal of Wired.com for passing along the news in his tweet.

What kind of capitalism is this?

With another $20 billion infusion into Bank of America, the U.S. government now becomes that bank's largest shareholder.

A number of years ago, I thought about writing a book about a new type of serfdom, wherein Americans - up to or over their eyeballs in debt - basically became serfs to the economic system. Because you owed your house mortgage, your car payment, your food bill, etc., to the credit givers, you basically were at their service. You toiled your whole life just to get by, and in the end you never really owned anything but a pile of mortgage receipts.

Now, if I were to write the book, the credit giver would essentially be the U.S. government. Think about it, the more banks that go under, the more that the government holds our debts. Sort of gives a new meaning to the term debtor's prison.

Aussie PhD makes low-tech solar cells

A 23-year-old Australian PhD student has patented a way to make solar cells using an inkjet printer, nail varnish-like material and a pizza oven. See the article here.

Maybe soon we'll see Papa Murphy's take n bake solar cells.

Green going green: U.S. Army to lease electric vehicles

The U.S. Army will save millions in fuel costs by leasing electric vehicles for some on-base and relatively local usage.

As with everything military, these vehicles have an acronym - NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle). Here is the Army's official press release.

The vehicles will be used for security patrol, passenger transport, maintenance and deliveries. NEVs can travel 30 miles at 25 miles an hour, with an eight hour charge. The Army will lease up to 4,000 NEVs, which are made by Global Electric Motorcars, a division of Chrysler. Here is what a civilian utility version of these looks like.

By using these electric vehicles, the Army aims to reduce fossil fuel consumption by 11.5 million gallons over six years.

These vehicles are not intended to be used in war zones. However, according to the release, "as part of its Future Combat Systems (FCS) ground force modernization program, the Army is developing a suite of eight new hybrid-electric powered Manned Ground Vehicles (MGVs) for its armored forces. These more fuel-efficient vehicles will reduce the Army's dependence on fossil fuels and reduce the number of refueling convoys exposed in combat."

Well, I hope to NEVer see a NEV in my neighborhood, but I'm glad the military is thinking progressively.

Obama send-up

Okay, we're just days away from a historic inauguration of the nation's first black president.

As much as people are focusing on the cost of the inauguration (more than $120 million and counting), what I'm looking forward to are his first 100 days in office. I want to see what he'll do with regards to the economy, the environment, Russia, the Middle East. There are so many problems he will face, and I wish him well.

To keep things more lighthearted, here are some funny and strange Obama-related Youtube videos.

Water. Good, clean, pure water. What's really in it

Water is about the best thing you can drink. But it's rarely as simple as pure H2O.

This article details the findings of a water report of 28 million American households.

The study found 11 compounds in the water, albeit at low levels. Atrazine was the one that stood out most to me, mostly because I've heard of it before. Here is a smattering of the other 11 compounds:

• Carbamazepine, a mood-stabilising drug used to treat bipolar disorder, amongst other things

• Estrone, an oestrogen hormone secreted by the ovaries and blamed for causing gender-bending changes in fish

• Meprobamate, a tranquiliser widely used in psychiatric treatment

• Naproxen, a painkiller and anti-inflammatory linked to increases in asthma incidence

• Phenytoin, an anticonvulsant that has been used to treat epilepsy

Plus, there were a number of antibiotics.

If you're concerned about what comes out of your tap, you should consider adding a water purification system. My house came equipped with one under the kitchen sink, for drinking water only. It's an Amway brand and it seemingly does a good job, though I must say I've never done a chemical comparison test. I can taste the difference, however.

I replace the filter once a year, at a cost of about $65 a year. A little over a dollar a week for filtered water beats the cost of using bottled water, and it has a much smaller environmental impact.

Do you use a filter for your water? If so, what kind? Have you had your water tested? What chemical surprised you most?

Electric, hybrid, alternative power commercial trucks to be unveiled at Work Truck Show in March

Commercial truck manufacturers are set to unleash a dozen or so electric, hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles March 4-6 at the Work Truck Show in Chicago's McCormick Center.

It's great to see so many U.S. manufacturers joining in. Making these vehicles available for businesses is a huge benefit. Instead of loud diesel-belching delivery trucks clogging the roadways, you might be seeing quiet, efficient electric delivery trucks bringing produce to local restaurants, delivering parcels and whatnot.

Here's a list of the manufacturers and truck types that will participate in the green pavillion at the show:

Ford to announce electric cargo van for U.S. market

Responding to my earlier post, Detroit Auto Show buzz? Electrifying, reader Stan Wellaway left a comment about Ford partnering with UK-based Smith Electric Vehicles to introduce an electric cargo van to the U.S. market.

This is great news. Vehicles that make limited routes within a metropolitan area are prime candidates to go electric. Ford is set to make an announcement March 4-6 at the Work Truck Show in Chicago. This follows an announcement in April to partner in making electric F-series commercial trucks for the U.S. market.

Smith Electric Vehicles offers a number of variations. A small cargo van can go up to 60 miles an hour and has a 100-mile range per charge.

Finally, flying cars! But can you get an electric one?

After all these years, the predictions of decades-old sci-fi rags are coming true - the flying car!

It can fly 500 miles on a tank of gas. The wings fold out in 15 seconds. It has a 100 horsepower engine that runs on unleaded gasoline. All for a price tag of $200,000.

Oh, and the only place in America where it's legal to take off and land from a public road is Alaska.

Well, I'm glad this day is finally here. But darn it, why isn't this flying car electric?

General Motors to make Volt batteries in Michigan

The fact that Michigan will get a factory to produce batteries for electric cars is a very positive development.

For the greentech/cleantech movement to have true meaning for the U.S. economy, the manufacturing base needs to be here. That ensures exports. That means jobs for factory workers who are being displaced as we speak.

The benefits don't come without a cost to the public. According to the NY Times:

G.M.’s announcement comes three weeks after Michigan’s legislature approved tax incentives worth up to $335 million aimed at attracting advanced-battery manufacturers to the state. The credits will be apportioned depending on production volume and other factors. Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm is expected to sign the legislation.

Detroit auto show buzz? Electrifying

Automakers are starting to see the light, and consumers should see electric cars in showrooms within two years. And I'm not just talking about the long-awaited but still nowhere-to-be-seen Chevy Volt.

Ford realized it needed to pick up the pace, and set out to make an electric car prototype within just six months, a very short developmental time by Detroit standards. Here's a link to a video featuring a test drive of the car.

And it's not just Ford jumping into the game, according to this New York Times article, "Toyota, which has so far focused its efforts on hybrid models, will display a battery-powered concept car at the Detroit show. Nissan’s chief executive, Carlos Ghosn, has promised to sell an electric car in the United States and Japan as early as next year.

Two Japanese automakers, Mitsubishi and Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru, are also testing electric cars. And Chrysler, the most troubled of Detroit’s three auto companies, has vowed to produce its first electric car by 2010."

So it appears consumers won't be limited to just the Chevy Volt. Choice is a good thing, and hopefully automakers serve up an array of vehicle types. If they're all subcompact, four-person cars, that will leave a void in the marketplace.

We need electric vehicles that help people do work. Electric trucks. Electric vans.

To really give a boost to the U.S. economy from this trend, manufacturing investment needs to be made here. That means building the batteries on U.S. soil. So far, Chevy has promised to build a battery factory in Michigan. But there needs to be more, a point that the NY Times article makes.

American auto executives have warned that without homegrown suppliers, the country could potentially become as dependent on Asian-made batteries as it is on oil from the Middle East and elsewhere.

“Automakers cannot afford the batteries until they are produced in a certain volume,” said Brett Smith, an industry analyst at the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich. “But they can’t be produced in volume until companies make a big manufacturing investment.”

Ford says its car should get 100 miles on a six-hour charge. The Chevy Volt will go 40 miles on its charge, but will have a gas engine to recharge itself.

Inspiring hope, zero steps at a time

Now and again you come across a story so humbling that you can't help but be inspired.

Such is the case with Nick Vujicic, who was born 99% without limbs.

Watch and be amazed. And may his singular story of hope give you hope when you're feeling down.

The 11 best foods you aren't eating

Following up on an older post - Eat healthfully, eat cheaply, be patriotic - I wanted to point you in the direction of this article about 11 healthful foods that most people don't eat.

There is some crossover between the articles including beets, sardines and pumpkin seeds.

The good thing is most of these foods are relatively inexpensive, and they're good for you.

Obama's infrastructure spending must go beyond roads and bridges

This article at the New Republic's Web site is one that I agree with.

The basic premise is that we need more than road and bridge infrastructure improvements to pull us out of economic malaise. We need to take a leap forward in how we view transportation. This includes possibly retooling auto plants to make high-speed trains.

I would take it a step further, and say that auto and other manufacturing plants need to be put at work producing wind turbines, solar panels and the like. We should produce more (energy efficient) goods so we can consume less energy.

Reducing our reliance on despotic oil regimes will make us free from war and the tyranny of Jihad-style terrorism.

Why should I pay extra to recycle when my neighbors just throw everything away?

That used to be my philosophy, and I avoided paying the extra charge for a recycling bin in Overland Park for several years.

This morning, coming back from the gym, I noticed the mounds of trash at my neighbor's street front. It was way more trash than a five-person family needs to generate, and it's a decent amount every week.

"If only they would recycle, half of that stuff wouldn't go to landfills," my wife said.

The problem is in Overland Park, Kan., the city's trash contract makes you pay extra for the privilege of doing the right thing for the community and the planet as a whole. Recycling costs $3 a month, on top of $16 for trash disposal.

As one of the largest cities in the state, and certainly one of the most progressive, it seems recycling should simply be figured into the trash service. About 44% of Overland Park households recycle, according to the Kansas City Star. That figure would surely be much higher if it were not for the surcharge.

Nearby Lenexa has a mandatory recycling fee, and nearly 70% of households participate.

Overland Park's city council approved such a recycling fee in October 2008. Consumer backlash was so severe that the council quickly rescinded the measure by a 9-2 vote. The council may take up the matter again, and if they do, here's one way it could be done: trash pickup fees go up for everyone, and now the fee just so happens to include recycling too. Do that for $17.50 a month and I'm sold.

I'm normally not a fan of backdoor regulations, but it really does irk me that, by recycling, I pay a financial penalty for doing the right thing.

Will clean tech continue to bring in venture capital?

Despite the fact that fourth quarter 2008 venture capital for clean tech industries was just $1.7 billion, down from $2.6 billion in the third quarter, forecasters are bullish on the future of clean tech.

This article at inc.com explains that clean tech executives and their investors think the spigots will keep flowing.

To wit, one California firm got $30 million in financing "just days after bankruptcies and fire-sale deals mauled Wall Street in September," according to the article.

The article has some reasons why the future is bright for clean tech, despite lower energy prices.

"Congress recently approved an eight-year extension of the investment tax credit for utility-scale solar projects. President-Elect Barack Obama has pledged a new green economy along with support for alternative energy sources. And a cooperative of 10 Northeastern state governments have agreed to cap carbon emissions beginning this month."

And, even if investors may be looking askance at some clean tech firms for now, clearly the future lies in being more energy efficient on all fronts. Eventually the oil will run out, and so-called clean coal turns out to be not so clean if you live downstream from a coal waste repository, or if you live downwind from coal plants.

Toyota needs to make an everyday workman's hybrid ... take a cue from the Farm Jeep

After World War II, tons of surplus Jeeps were sold to the public.

But Willy's, maker of the Jeep, wanted to create a domestic market for new Jeeps. So, one of the bold ideas was to market it as a farm vehicle, one that could haul wagons, pull a plow, run belt-driven machines and even have a power-take-off to run mechanized tow-behinds, such as mowers. Learn more at Farmjeep.com.

The marketing pitch was something like ... drive the Jeep to church on Sunday, plow a field Monday morning, haul goods to market on Tuesday. It was really a great idea to get maximum utility out of a vehicle. See a full size version of the above ad here.

That got me thinking about my recent post on using the Prius in lieu of a home generator. With its powerful, long-lasting 200-volt battery, the Prius can run appliances with the gas engine kicking in only occasionally to recharge the battery.

The only problem with doing this is a typical 12-volt DC-AC inverter will only power about 300 watts, or enough to run some lights, a small TV and the like. To run larger appliances like a furnace, refrigerator, etc., you need to tap directly into the 273-volt battery, and this sort of inverter runs up to $1,000. Not only that, but you might void your warranty doing this trick.

So, wouldn't it be great if Toyota offered a Prius with the option of an AC plug-in, as it does with its Tacoma TRD truck? That truck offers 400 watts at 115 volts, with a convenient plug in the truck's bed. Surely Toyota could get some decent watts out of a 273-volt battery.

And that got me thinking more. Why not take the guts of a Prius but make the body more like a small delivery truck? Using an even more powerful engine and battery, this kind of vehicle could function as a mobile workshop. You could run an arc welder. You could run any number of power tools.

Or, the vehicle could be made into a mini refrigerated truck, perfect for deliveries to small restaurants.

There are a number of ways Toyota could go with this, and it's not limited to the Prius body. Put a hybrid system into a truck or van and you've got something that a contractor could use.

The point is, hybrid technology should be extended out to those who can use it in their businesses. Seems like a practical notion to me.

And, by the way, these sorts of practical hybrids shouldn't be limited to Toyota. Bring it on, Detroit!

As a treat, here is a video of an antique farm Jeep in action.



Here's a modern Jeep pulling a plow (I couldn't find video of an old one doing this).



And here's one being used to run an ice-cream maker. Hey, who said it was all about work?

Silicon chip manufacturers slowly switching to solar cell production

Adaptability is the key to longevity in business.

Looks like some Silicon Valley chip makers are seeing that they can segue their business into solar cell production, according to earth2tech.com.

Seems like a natural transition.

Apartment building wind turbines to provide half of light in common areas

This story from NYTimes tells of a Bronx apartment building that will use 10 one-kilowatt wind turbines on its roof to allay power for lighting in common areas like the lobby, hallway, elevator, etc.

According to the article, "The turbines, which collectively cost $100,000, could halve the annual utility bill for the common spaces, to $9,000 from $18,000."

That's a noble idea, but the arrangement of the turbines leaves something to be desired. They are all pointing in the same direction. If the wind is not blowing in that direction, their utility is reduced.

Anyone considering adding this kind of wind-powered feature to their business or residence should consider an omnidirectional turbine.

Pfister Energy offers one.

So does Helix Wind.

Omnidirectional turbines turn no matter which direction the wind is coming from, and they require less breeze than giant propeller based versions.

Additionally, wildlife typically recognize omnidirectional turbines as solid objects, and they're less likely to get tangled up in them.

Techie/web predictions for the year

John Battelle has his list of predictions for 2009.

I like this one, although it's not an entirely original thought.

9. Major brands will continue to struggle with the best way to interact with "social media." They will take budget reserved for media spending (IE buying banners and building out branding campaigns) and start to become publishers in their own right. This is not a new tactic (many marketers, in particular technology companies, have published magazines, for example, and many consumer brands create or co-create television series), but given the plastic and social nature of online media, many marketers will see these efforts fail, in particular when the efforts are executed in partnership with major media companies. The reason has to do with putting the cart before the horse: in order to truly succeed in conversational media, the company must itself be fluent in that conversation. A partner with tons of traffic, but who is not fluent, will not be the "translator" major brands need.

I say it's fairly obvious that most social marketing will fail because it's plain to any user of social media when they're being marketed to. Most people don't like to be marketed to. That's why the remote control ceased to be a channel surfing device after the introduction of the DVR. Now, it's a time transporter.

If you check out Battelle's other predictions, most of them play it pretty safe. After all, with the economy floundering, who's to say what will happen. When everything is swirling around us, it's pretty hard to follow a straight line.

Feed the grid in Missouri? Not today

In 2007, a law was signed enabling Missourians who generate electricity at home to sell the excess back into the electrical grid, a practice known as net metering.

Now, those who have made the investment to do this are saying, "Show me."

As The Kansas City Star reports, "Two problems have popped up with a new Missouri law that was supposed to make it easy for homeowners to put in their own wind turbines or solar panels and send any excess power back to utilities:

•The Missouri Public Service Commission, which oversees utilities, is requiring homeowners to buy insurance before they can begin feeding electricity to the grid.

•It appears no insurance companies in Missouri sell that insurance."

Some leaving comments on the article believe the Missouri Public Service Commission added the insurance provision at the behest of utilities.

In the article, the commission's chairman offers this excuse for requiring insurance for net metering, which he said, “poses a physical threat to those linemen who are out there working on it ... It poses a physical threat to your neighbors’ property, who are also connected to you on those same power lines, where the power could back up onto you and your neighbors’ house and destroy property.”

Indiana is the only other state to require liability insurance for net metering. A number of cities do this. Most states don't even consider the need for the insurance.

The Missouri situation is an unfortunate Catch-22. If the state insists on requiring the insurance, it should work with insurance providers to see that this is offered.

Turn your digital camera into a document scanner

I've tried using my digital camera to take pictures of documents, so they could be e-mailed or preserved digitally. The images typically turn out kind of fuzzy, and it's hard to get the angle right.

Makeuseof.com has an entry about a service called snapter. This article gives a user review of the service, which seems to have some good automated functionality, such as taking the curvature out of pages, adjusting for angle of the photo and cleaning up fuzzy text.

Snapter offers a 14-day free trial, then any additional images uploaded will have a watermark and tagline embedded. Buying the service costs $20-49.

This seems like a really cool service, but most people (myself included) will be scared away by the charge for the service. You wouldn't pay much more for a quality flatbed scanner. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before google comes up with something competitive - and free.

Eat healthfully, eat cheaply, be patriotic

Can we be patriotic by changing how we eat? Absolutely.

As Americans try to pay down debts and focus on quality of life, eating right is one of the best things we can do for ourselves - and society. Eat right, exercise ... and you'll feel better. And you'll have fewer trips to the doctor. Cumulatively, considering the net effects on the health insurance infrastructure, this is another way for Americans to dig ourselves out of the hole we're in.

Here is a good list of 20 healthful foods typically had for under a dollar apiece, thanks to divinecaroline.com.

Some of my favorites from the list of 20: eggs, spinach, bananas, oats, potatoes, broccoli and beets.

Yes, it's disappointing that BBQ meat doesn't make the list, but that's something I can splurge on with the money saved from otherwise eating healthfully, and eating cheap.

NY Times Op-ed: Four technologies that may save Detroit

Sebastian Thrun, a professor of computer science at Stanford, and Anthony Levandowski, a product manager at Google, submitted an op-ed column to the New York Times on four ideas that they think may save Detroit.

Their ideas center around making cars - and driving habits - more efficient. The authors note that these are projects they are working on, so take them with a grain of salt.

1. Use dedicated short-range communication, or Wifi, to enable cars to communicate with traffic lights and other roadway infrastructure. This would allow for more efficient acceleration, braking and improved traffic flow.

2. Solar-electric hybrids. The only problem I see with this is that most cars spend a lot of time parked in the shade or in a garage.

3. Robotic cars that drive in tight formation. This would help decrease drag and would free up drivers for tasks like e-mail. And maybe safely talking on your cell phone while driving? Or shaving.

4. Cars that go online. Sensors at parking meters would tell you where the open spots are. Make dinner reservations. Order takeout. I don't know, there's so much you can do with a smart phone these days. Why bother putting technology in cars that will be obsolete in a matter of a few years?

EcoGeek's top 7 trends from 2008 that will make a difference in 2009

EcoGeek's Hank Green presents his roundup of 2008 ideas/trends that will make a difference in 2009.

Light antennas/Nano antennas
Tiny antennas that can capture and emit light, and both passively heat and cool a space. The prospect of mass production is not far off. "The first large array of these nano-antennas was produced this year, and the possibilities for them are endless," Green writes. Personally, I'm in love with the idea of individuals taking control over their own power production/consumption. Individually, we can't really get utilities to change, but we can do a lot in our own backyards, rooftops, windows ... whereever.

President Barack Obama
Promises, promises. Let's see how he's able to balance his promises with the economic and political mayhem that he's inheriting.

EEStor emerges as competition to lithium ion batteries
Power storage company EEstor has patented a technology to store electrical energy in ceramic powder encased in plastic and has a contract with Lockheed Martin to put this to use in military and homeland security appliations. Compared to lithiom ion batteries, this technology would be significantly lighter, hold ten times more power, and be half the cost. As Green writes, "We're still not 100% sure (EEStor) isn't full of crap." Maybe so, but a lot of people thought Edison would never get light from electricity. See the original article here.

Cheap gas
Gas is so cheap we can party like it's 1999. This will surely have a short-term effect on new product innovation, but as Green notes, "Better hybrid systems, more efficient engines, massive investments in biofuels, the re-emergence of diesel in America were all direct implications of skyrocketing gas prices." I don't think anyone expects fuel to remain this cheap for long.

Solar reaches parity with coal-electric grid?

There may be some fuzzy math involved here, but Green wrote Dec. 22 that Nevada solar power producer First Solar, at least according to one analyst's view, is able to produce electricity from solar at a cost of 7.5 cents per kilowatt/hour versus 9 cents for coal. Green notes that this math does not include the cost of developing the plant, just the cost of delivering the electricity. The jury is still out on the costs involved, but the ecological impact of solar compared to coal is not in question.

Project Better Place
Better Place has signed deals with California, Hawaii, Australia and Denmark to put in place electric car networks. Utilizing one type of battery for various automotive platforms, Better Place - based in Israel - is putting in battery swapping stations and customers will pay for the service much as they do for cell phones. Consumers will lease the batteries for their vehicles. Some other company could come along and make this solution obsolete, but no one else is actually putting in place projects this aggressively.

Pickens counterbalances Gore
Green writes, "We've tired of Al Gore. The love affair was great while it lasted, but he's been attacked from too many angles to really latch onto his message anymore. But what about an ultra-conservative, Texas oil man?" Well, with the price of oil in the dumper, T. Boone Pickens' big ideas for alternative energy are now on the impractically expensive side. I'm all for Pickens' plan (see the youtube video), but I don't see this 80-year-old tycoon actually making a go of it. Prove me wrong, Pickens.

U.S. Geothermal makes WSJ columnist's list of 10 stocks to watch in 2009

While many pundits are bagging on green-oriented businesses because of low oil prices, at least one columnist is pegging US Geothermal as a stock to watch in 2009.

Wall Street Journal columnist Brett Arends likes U.S. Geothermal, pegging it at No. 7 on his top 10 list. Here's what he had to say in his Dec. 31 column:

"A high-risk, speculative stock. HTM (U.S. Geothermal) is a leveraged alternative-energy play. It's an interesting situation. It's building and operating geothermal power plants out west, and has plenty of cash. The shares have collapsed from $4 to just 70 cents, valuing the company at about $47 million."

Seventy cents is pretty low, but then so is my 401K. Still, if geothermal is a sector that pans out under the Obama administration's stated dedication to the green movement, this stock may turn out to be a bargain. A 1,000-share investment would have cost $700 Dec. 31. The stock is up to 96 cents as of Jan. 2. If it ever gets up to $10 a share, that would be a pretty good turn-around at either price.

Of course, picking stocks these days is mostly a fool's errand. One person left a comment on Arend's column about HTM:

"Did not Barron's recommend HTM as a buy back when it was $3 only to dive to 30 cents. I love it when someone puts on the wizard hat and tells me what the future will look like.. enjoy the 2009 ride everybody :)"

Where does one get a smiley face these days?