I felt like an academic when I read this week’s book, “The Powers That Be Global Energy For The Twenty-First Century And Beyond,” although author Scott L. Montgomery wanted the book to be “fun.” I sported my black geek glasses and curled up in a chair at a local coffee shop and attempted to give off the personae that I’m …
Sobering Cost of Oil Addiction
A CNN Money report this week offered some sobering statistics on the true cost of our addiction to oil. According to the report, about 3,000 of the Army casualties reported in Iraq between 2003 and 2007 were protecting fuel convoys. That is one out of eight killed or wounded during that time period. The report notes, “Among the many incentives …
Book Review – Energy, Convenient Solutions
I read an unusual book this week. “Energy, Convenient Solutions,” by Howard Johnson. The book was part Energy 101, part manifesto, part conspiracy theory. It began with a look at various forms of energy ranging from fossil-fuels to biofuels – to nuclear energy. From there, Johnson laid out his manifesto, per se, or his ideas on energy, our current state …
Oil Independence for a Stronger America Act Introduced
Today U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tom Carper (D-DE), Tom Udall (D-NM) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the Oil Independence for a Stronger America Act today in an effort to eliminate dependence on foreign oil by 2030 and create a National Council on Energy Security that would be charged with providing recommendations to the President and Congress to ensure America’s …
Book Review – Life Without Oil
Woe is a country who can’t break its dependence on foreign oil. But how do you make such a bold move when our entire society is built upon its wares? And even more so, how do you break the chains when there are no other alternatives? This are some of the topics discussed in this week’s book, “Life Without Oil: …
Book Review – The H Factor
Reading books about the renewable energy industry shouldn’t be all about education. That’s why this week I took a “mini” vacation and read the novel “The H Factor,” by L.E. Indianer. This fast pace story closely follows the triumph of two college students attending Georgia Tech University who using hydrogen, create the energy silver bullet. But basking in their invention …
KiOR Breaks Ground, Signs FedEx
KiOR has had a busy week. They recently announced a ground fuel supply agreement with FedEx. Under the agreement, KiOR will supply renewable diesel blendstocks for purchase by affiliates of FedEx Corporate Services. This is the company’s first end-user agreement. The oil will be produced at the company’s first commercial production facility in Columbus, Mississippi that is scheduled to go …
Time to End Oil Subsidies and Taxes?
As gas prices go “up, up and away” once again oil companies are on the hot seat as they announced massive profits. And while the renewable energy industry continues to be attacked for its subsidies and incentives, no one mentions the billions of dollars of subsidies the oil companies receive each year and have been for over a hundred years. …
Sticker Shock at the Pump on Summer Travel Agenda
According to AAA’s fuel-gauge report, this week the national average for one gallon of regular unleaded is $3.79 up from $2.86 last year, a 33 percent price hike. While it is higher in some areas and lower in others, price jumps at the pump are far from over. As the summer driving season nears, a new study estimates that pump …
FAO Urged to See Oil and Food Price Correlation
The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is calling on delegates to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) meeting in Rome to focus on the price of oil as the real driver behind rising food costs. Last week while addressing the South American renewable fuels industry in Buenos Aires, GRFA spokesperson Bliss Baker presented data showing the direct link …