The constant fall in solar panel prices claims a prominent victim: Diesel powered generators.
Electricity produced by solar panels is now about half the price compared to electricity produced by a Diesel generator. Consider noise and
pollution reduction and you can easily see why a new and potentially huge market for solar panels is emerging in India. A quarter of a billion Indians don’t have access to the grid, which delivers electricity for about half the price of a solar panel – if it delivers at all. Given the frequent power cuts, solar power may soon even become a better option for people on the grid.
Brightnews! The advantages of solar panels are obvious and if announced further price cuts for solar panels materialise, they will all but replace diesel generators in a short matter of time and soon even starting to replace the unreliable coal powered grid. This is bright news for consumers having access to a reliable and cheap energy source, solar panel manufacturers and countries investing in the solar industry and of course for the environment reducing pollution and CO2 levels in the atmosphere.
Source: New Scientist
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In an surprisingly bright move, US President Obama set ambitious emission targets (1,000lbs of carbon dioxide for each megawatt hour) for new power plants, which will basically prevent the construction of new coal power plants. The only fossil energy source that may be able (depending on how gas leaks are factored in) to comply with the new regulation is natural gas, which is booming thanks to the fracking technology.
Brightnews! Mr. Obama is basically heading into the right direction, acting against greenhouse gas emissions without favouring a particular energy source. Still, this approach has a few shortcomings.
First: natural gas production receives a preferential treatment and it will be very hard to limit the use of fracking technology. While some may welcome the arrival of US energy independence, there are many reasons to doubt the environmental and economic sustainability of fracking. The technology firms still hold back information on used chemicals and there are numerous reports of poisoned freshwater sources in fracking areas.
Second: CO2-emissions are regulated but still lack a proper price tag. Natural gas may be better but it still contributes to Climate Change and the regulation does not help the development of the green industry. It would have been preferable to make utilities (and car owners by the way) pay for CO2 emissions. The effect for coal based power plants would have been the same, but renewables would have been given the edge over natural gas and energy consumers would have invested in efficiency measures, creating millions of jobs in the green economy. Moreover, billions of Dollars raised could have been given back to consumers or used to tackle the federal deficit.
Conclusion. One, but half-hearted step towards a low-carbon economy. Others have to follow.
Source: The Guardian
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US President Obama prevents uranium mining in the Gran Canyon. Withstanding pressure from the
industry and Republicans, he barred 1 million square acres in the natural treasure from mining operations.
Brightnews! It sounds like a no-brainer. The Grand Canyon is one of the most beautiful and famous sites in the United States and still will be in thousands of years. The uranium that could be mined there could only fuel the US nuclear power plants for a couple of years and its operation and its waste pollutes the environment over a very long period of time. I argue that such risks should never be acceptable but particularly not in order to sustain an outdated, dangerous and (without public credits and societal risk burdening) uncompetitive industry. Really, I can hardly think of a more shortsighted and just plain silly reason to endanger a natural heritage such as the Grand Canyon. Therefore, well done Mr. Obama and don’t forget there are plenty of other industries to confront in order to protect the US natural heritage and global climate.
Source: The Guardian
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They are the symbol for the huge inequalities in most Latin American countries. Millions of young women, members of poor, rural social classes work in rich households. Always for very little money, many times in miserable conditions, and too often subject to emotional neglect and sexual harassment. Therefore, it is positive that this pattern seems…
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In 2010 for the first time, at least since industrialisation, more money has been invested in renewables than in fossil energy generation on a global level. Despite the economic crisis, 187b US$ have been invested in clean energy production. Clearly, nobody can talk of a negligible industry anymore. It is also obvious that investors realise…
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Mafia activity is still very significant in Italy, particularly in the South, where most businesses are forced to pay racket. Now in a combined effort, all the little shops and businesses of the town of Ercolano have decided to stand up to organised crime and stop paying the common “protecting fee” to the local Mafia….
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