News from March 2006

Energy companies jumping into alternative fuels; two going public

In today’s energy news, a new biodiesel fuel company launches in Houston and two ethanol producers, VeraSun Energy and Aventine Renewable Energy, have initial public offerings in the works. According to a news article on MarketWatch.com today, Brookings, S.D.-based VeraSun Energy has filed to raise $250 million in its initial public offering. VeraSun recently reached [...]

Los Alamos experts to debate future of energy

Nuclear power, says Ben Luce, policy director of the New Mexico Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy, has drawbacks that make renewable energy the better choice for feeding an electricity-hungry world. But many of those drawbacks are exaggerated and would nearly disappear with a new generation of nuclear power plants, says Donald Petersen, a retired scientist [...]

Hit the road, Jack, but it will cost you $7,800

That’s the average cost for tires, gas, insurance and everything else that goes into owning and driving your car. AAA has studied driving costs every year since the 1950s, and it almost always finds it gets more expensive every year. If you want to add it up for yourself, AAA has copies of its driving [...]

Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept: World’s First Fossil-free Hybrid Vehicle

The innovative Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept, making its world premiere at the Stockholm Motor Show (March 30 – April 9, 2006), delivers zero fossil CO2 emissions, enhanced performance and a range of energy-saving features by combining the use of pure bioethanol fuel and electric power generation for the first time. As the world’s first fossil-free [...]

Young Amendment Could Be Resolved Today

A Cape Wind newsletter says that the Young Amendment could be resolved today. This is the Amendment that would kill the offshore Cape Wind project, the only proposed U.S. offshore wind farm, because of very sketchy grounds. For those who don’t know, the Young Amendment (proposed by Rep. Don Young of Alaska) was snuck into [...]

Market for wind power picks up speed

It’s just half a percent of total energy consumption in the U.S., but wind power is the fastest growing renewable energy source out there — in terms of usage and capacity. Demand is so brisk that GE has sold out 100 percent of 2006 production and 80 percent of 2007. In fact, there’s a building [...]

Toyota Plans Gasoline-Electric Hybrids for All Vehicle Classes by 2012

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GM in race to make clean-car investment

General Motors needs to give a green light to heavy investment to develop a mass-market hydrogen-powered car within the next 18 months to ensure the US carmaker fuelcellsworks

Peak Sugar – Entropy Will Not Be Mocked

…Looming peak oil spreading to other resources as we scramble to maintain our addiction… A quick summary of my diary is thus: – demand is skyrocketing, because of our need for energy, and oil-substitutes. An indirect sign of peak oil, if that was ever needed. And it’s happening really, really quickly… – production is already [...]

Iran’s plan to weaken the dollar will fail

Tehran lacks the freedom and transparency needed for a successful oil exchange. JERSEY CITY, N.J. Tehran’s plan of attack has the virtue of economic logic at least. Iran’s planners recognize that the heavy use of the dollar in international trade sustains its foreign exchange value by forcing people to hold greater dollar balances than they [...]