As a follow-up to a previous story on methane hydrates and the potential impact on environmental protection, perhaps we are on the verge of an energy revolution that will so dramatically change the economy that the market for carbon-based fuel will never again make financial sense...one can only hope that we get our priorities straight.
Think methane hydrates are the next big thing? Think again
"At the same time, we have numerous forecasts projecting that renewables like wind and solar will be competitive with fossil-fueled grid power in most of the developed world by 2020, including much of Asia. For example, a recent report by Citigroup, and another by researchers at Stanford University, among many others. A 2011 report by WWF and Ecofys projects that by 2018, solar PV will be the cheapest way to generate power in much of Asia. If these forecasts — based on more than a decade of real-world cost data for large-scale solar and wind — are correct, then there is no reason to believe that gas from Japan’s methane hydrate experiment will be able to compete with renewable grid power, which would constitute the largest market for that gas (unless Japan rapidly deploys natural gas vehicles in the interim, which it currently has no economic reason to do)."
A major component of making this economic shift is to make the current energy market completely transparent and assign all the costs of carbon-based fuels directly to the energy cost. We pay for all of these costs - e.g. increased healthcare, environmental remediation, decreased property values - but we never see that when we buy the energy. When companies blatantly try to keep information on their business practices that cause harm to human health and local ecosystems, we must push back and get the information we need to make the best decision for our families and our communities.
Exxon conceals results of 2013 Pegasus pipeline inspection
"Arkansans deserve answers from ExxonMobil. Families have been out of their homes for more than a month. Mayflower's land and waterways are fouled, children and others have become sick from exposure, and hundreds of animals and birds have been killed or sickened after coming in contact with the spilled crude. Our health, safety, and environment are at risk in Mayflower and beyond."
At the same time, we must hold our local and state officials' feet to the fire and make sure that the regulations that we have put in place to protect our health and that of our family and neighbors do not go unenforced, or get weakened to the point of being irrelevant. To live in a state where lawmakers have violated the contract with labor for decades, and now wants labor to accept a change in that contract is embarrassing enough, but when the state allows companies that blatantly ignore the health protections of the citizens of the state, that is downright sickening. A petty thief who uses pot goes to jail for 25 years after their 3rd strike, but a serial violator of environmental protections keeps getting the opportunity to make money. Our priorities are all screwed up.
Illinois ranks as worst rogue coal state: Strip mine permit to serial violator stuns residents
"With state coal production soaring against national trends, Illinois cemented its reputation as the worst rogue state for coal operations last Friday, when the rubber-stamping operations of the state's EPA issued a pollutant discharge permit to a company already cited by the state for over 600 toxic discharge violations at its central Illinois non-union strip mine."
When given the chance, the voice, and the power, people whose lives are directly impacted by the dangers of pollution-based fuels will make the determination as to whether the benefit outweighs the costs. Those of us who live in lives of comfort thanks to the sacrifices of those who mine, drill, transport, etc., and the combined sacrifice of the families of those who work in these areas, have no place telling someone they have to accept a fracking field, coal mine, nuclear plant, etc. If more and more of these communities stand up and ask to stop the madness, then we all will have to make changes to our lifestyles. I would hope that we could all make the choice before it comes to that point, but if we do not, the choice will eventually be thrust upon us.
Cities in New York just got a big stick in the fracking fight
"For the past six weeks, a New York appellate court has been hashing this out in the case of Norse Energy Corp. v. Town of Dryden. In 2011, the little town of Dryden, N.Y., banned gas drilling and was promptly sued by a multibillion dollar energy company. A year ago, Dryden won its first battle in a New York Supreme Court ruling. Just yesterday, it won the second. Indeed, the people of Dryden didn’t beat the industry—they pummeled it. The Appellate Court just handed New York towns and cities a very heavy stick in the jurisdictional street brawl over fracking. Norse can appeal (and my sources say they are planning on it), but because this was a unanimous decision they’ll have to first get the court’s permission, and that may be challenging."
Not surprisingly, as living life efficiently has become a sign of intelligence and prestige, more of those on the high-usage end of the spectrum have made the choice to go with cutting edge ideas such as zero energy living. As the strategies become more common place, we will see them move into codes and standards, and eventually the marketplace will not have to decide IF we should have buildings that require no external energy source, but simply WHAT strategies are best to accomplish it on each property, in each city, at each time.
Green goes mainstream for new homes
"Extreme energy efficiency is moving mainstream, becoming standard practice for large home builders, such as California-based KB Home and Nexus Energy Homes, the company that built the Gurzicks' house last year.
The 'green' residential construction market has grown steadily in recent years—even throughout the recession. Green housing projects accounted for 20% of all newly built homes last year and had an overall value of $25 billion, according to industry-research firm McGraw Hill Construction. As the housing market continues to recover, the researchers predict, this share will grow to between 29% and 38% of new U.S. homes by 2016."
Happy Friday!
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