MORE NEWS, 6-11 (NEW ENERGY – THE BEST CHOICE; BRITANNIA CONQUERING THE SEAS; A DILEMMA FOR GM IS A DILEMMA FOR THE U.S.)

NEW ENERGY – THE BEST CHOICE
Clean energy is the best option for U.S.
Carl Pope, June 7, 2009 (SF Chronicle)

"Global warming and unsustainable energy dependence are the foremost environmental issues of our time; they are also the signature economic issues of our day…America's energy future must create millions of new jobs; reduce our dependence on oil; shift American energy production toward cleaner, cheaper sources like wind and solar; reduce global warming pollution; and protect the planet for our children and grandchildren.

"In many places, a shift to wind energy is well under way…The American Solar Energy Society reports that in 2007, renewable energy and energy efficiency provided more than 9 million jobs and $1.045 billion in revenue in the United States - and that as many as 37 million jobs can be generated by the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries in the country by 2030…Americans want clean energy - and they want clean cars, too…"

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"A clean-energy economy will also revitalize the now-languishing U.S. manufacturing sector, and it will create the industries of tomorrow…The opportunities abound not just for clean-energy jobs but also for consumer savings…But right now, we are walking a precipitous line. As the clean-energy bill is being debated now in the House of Representatives, we are watching the usual suspects try to weaken it…Big Oil, Big Coal and dirty-power companies are extracting a steep price at the expense of renewable energy, energy efficiency and other provisions…[W]e should be shifting U.S. energy production toward clean energy sources much more quickly than business as usual…

"Polluters must pay for their global warming pollution - and those funds should spur investments in clean energy; protect consumers, wildlife and vulnerable communities; and promote job creation rather than rewarding the polluters."

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"America's clean-energy future should not only benefit the biggest companies, but it should offer opportunities to people from all communities…Now is the time to work together on a clean-energy economy. President Obama is already building coalitions with groups that have not always seen eye-to-eye... Securing a clean-energy economy means all of us sitting down at the table together…

"I believe in America's ability to innovate and solve big problems. We've proved time and time again we can rise to the occasion … just look at the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and laws to reduce acid rain…America should be a leader…We have the ingenuity to solve these problems. We must all act now…"


BRITANNIA CONQUERING THE SEAS
Britain leads in marine energy race, lags in wind
Nao Nakanishi (w/Daniel Fineren and Anthony Barker), June 4, 2009 (Reuters via UK Guardian)

"Britain is determined to harness its huge marine energy potential and export it around the world after blowing the opportunity to be a global wind power leader…The British Isles have some of the world's strongest tides, waves and winds but the country has trailed others including Spain and Germany in wind energy growth. Britain does have an early lead in the emerging marine energy technology and is testing the world's first full scale ocean energy converters -- the "sea snake" wave power generator developed by Pelamis Wave Power Ltd and and Marine Current Turbines' SeaGen tidal turbines.

"…Although Britain is home to most of the world's 80-100 marine energy companies, only a handful have installed devices at sea, while others are testing in tanks or on computers…[The] 2009 budget [will]it would provide 405 million pounds ($600 million) to emerging low-carbon technology, such as marine energy…"

The UK government is determined to reap the benefit of this rich asset. (click to enlarge)

"The push follows Britain's failure to create a domestic wind turbine manufacturing base and slow progress in developing onshore wind farms which has left it trailing behind several European neighbours, China, India and the United States…[Britain] hopes to build the world's largest forest of offshore wind turbines over the next decade but will have to import all the equipment to do it…

"In an ambitious move, the Crown Estate last year opened bids for the world's first large scale commercial tide and wave projects in Pentland Firth in northern Scotland…[It] hopes Pentland Firth will have at least 700 megawatts of wave or tidal power capacity installed by 2020…[The] Strategic Environmental Assessment in England and Wales, [due by late 2011, will] identify potential sites and estimate the marine energy potential…

"…[T]he Carbon Trust has calculated marine energy could eventually supply up to 20 percent of Britain's power…The BWEA estimates that marine energy could provide a similar share of the world's electricity and British firms are keen to cash in on the potentially huge export market…The industry could help replace jobs that may be lost over coming decades in other sectors, such as the offshore oil and gas industry…The endless, predictable tides of the oceans could reduce the need for coal or gas-fired power generators to be built as backup for wind farms…"

They intend to determine which technology is best. (click to enlarge)

"But marine technology is in its infancy…It is still unclear which [technologies] will become a commercial success…The Pelamis sea snake is a series of cylindrical sections linked by joints…Current models are 180 metres long…Marine Current Turbines' technology works like submerged wind turbines placed on the seabed…where tides are particularly strong.

"Oceans are hostile environments…Both Pelamis and Marine Current Turbines have had to remove their devices from the water several times…[In 5 years] nobody has been able to make use of the government's Marine Renewable Development Fund…as it requires three months of full operation…"


A DILEMMA FOR GM IS A DILEMMA FOR THE U.S.
Car Quandary; Political and economic contradictions of the 'new GM'
Editorial, June 9, 2009 (Washington Post)

"… Bob Lutz...of General Motors loves "muscle cars" like the Camaro. He knows that, unless fuel prices go much higher and stay there, the American market for big cars is likely to exceed the market for small cars. Yet he has to build a little four-seat plug-in electric hybrid called the Chevrolet Volt, roll it out next year and try to sell it for $40,000 (not counting a likely $7,500 federal tax rebate). It doesn't make much sense economically, and the few thousand Volts that GM plans to produce at first won't dent U.S. carbon emissions much either. But, as Mr. Lutz…feels pressure from Washington to do something spectacular on the electric car front…"

Could this be the answer? (click to enlarge)

"When GM was still a privately owned company, this latest episode of Detroit agonistes would be no one's problem but GM's and its stockholders'. But soon, if they become owners of 60 percent of the company, taxpayers could be on the hook for the Volt. And Mr. Lutz's quandary epitomizes the political and economic contradictions…The taxpayers' interest is to get GM out of the red and back in private hands as soon as possible, consistent with environmental and fuel-efficiency standards. By that logic, the automaker's only goal would be to make what people want to buy…[But] Congress's demand for a U.S.-made answer to the Toyota Prius…[is] stronger than ever now…So GM will build the Volt, even if it loses money, taxpayer money."

Only if it sells. (click to enlarge)

"And members of Congress will delve into other aspects of the car companies' business…GM and Chrysler dealers, thousands of whom are set to close in order to streamline the companies' sales efforts, have flocked to Capitol Hill demanding relief…House members of both parties have introduced a bill that would block the closure of GM and Chrysler dealerships…America can have nationalized auto companies with a chance, however slim, of someday turning a profit. Or it can have nationalized firms subject to constant political tinkering. It can't have both."