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Being an EcoGeek is becoming ever more fashionable. And, increasingly, there are events where EcoGeek’s can gather in style.  The Solar Decathlon is a bi-annual ever cool event, pitting colleges and universities across the nation in ten contests that “center on the ways we use energy in our daily lives.”

The Solar Decathlon joins 20 college and university teams in a competition to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house.

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Well, from time-to-time, Thomas Friedman just gets something right and he can turn a good phrase on occasion.  When it comes to the automakers, Friedman is noting that they are followin empty-barrel politics, conniving to have

Michigan lawmakers year after year shielding Detroit from pressure to innovate on higher mileage standards, even though Detroit’s failure to sell more energy-efficient vehicles has clearly contributed to its brush with bankruptcy, its loss of market share to Toyota and Honda — whose fleets beat all U.S. automakers in fuel economy in 2007 — and its loss of jobs.  

And well, as noted in Astroturfing to fight mileage standards, the auto firms are working hard to give these politicians coverage.  [Read more →]

I plan to write more about this but just to put out there.  From 12-20 Oct 2007, there will be a serious “solar village” on the Mall in Washington, DC, in a competition of 20 universities and colleges as to the best solar-powered home.  

The Solar Decathlon is a seriously Energy COOL event. 

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Since diving into the deep end when it comes to energy issues, almost every day sees new fascinating concepts, approaches, and technologies.  Fascinating … exciting … even hope inspiring at times.  And, as well, as the passion builds, so many of these are truly Energy COOL.  

A critical challenge for some renewable power systems is providing backup power or power storage.  Better power storage will foster adoption of intermittent renewable power sources (and to help shift base load to peak load requirements). One of the best, ‘all renewable’ options has been pumped hydro storage.  which enables reliable power supplies using intermittent power sources (like wind).  But, hydro storage has been mainly limited to places with existing (or easily created) hydroelectric power systems (dams).  

Several options are emerging that could be game changing in hydro storage and open up new vistas for renewable power integration into power grids.

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Power storage is a critical challenge for adoption of intermittent renewable power sources and, well, for being able to help shift base load to peak load requirements.  There are many approaches being pursued for this.  The Energy Island, conceived for off the coast of the Netherlands, is an extremely innovative concept.

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From my perspective, the heavily funded NIMBY effort delaying the Cape Wind project in Massachusetts has been having an impact contributing stalling offshore wind projects around the United States.  News item after news item, whether from Texas or New York or …, has promised the first offshore wind project.  Even though so many of these are not panning out or keep moving to the right like Cape Wind, my heart still races with hope when optimistic news emerges. Today, it is Delaware that is looking like it might slip into first place for a commercial offshore wind farm for the US electrical grid.

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Peak Oil. Gas Prices. Global Warming.

There are real problems and real threats with terrifying implications that merit response.  

Yet, threat and crisis creates opportunity.

We have, before us/US, an opportunity for transformation.

For responding to threat and handling crisis to create something better, to turn to a better path.

And, well, the question becomes how to frame and describe that opportunity.  

How about this?

Objective 2050:  A Propserous and Climate-Friendly Society

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While my passion goes with Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) (hopefully with serial, not parallel, engines), there are tremendous benefits available with diesels.  And, well, that particulate spewing, choking, health-risking cloud of ‘old’ diesels is transforming to something different. And, well, in this domain, the Old World is leading the way.

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