Even Texas is starting to take energy efficiency seriously

Texas may be America’s largest producer of oil and natural gas but, as shown by David Holt on the FuelFix website, energy efficiency is also making important inroads.   For Texas, Energy Efficiency Presents an Opportunity Energy efficiency might not be the first thing to come to mind when using the words “energy” and “Texas” … Continue reading Even Texas is starting to take energy efficiency seriously

The Road to Paris: focus on Canada

Canada has a very complicated attitude towards addressing climate change. Once a strong proponent of a global approach through the Kyoto Protocol, it changed completely and has confused the global community about what its true priorities are. In Europe, it is now better known for promoting the export of its oil from its tar sands … Continue reading The Road to Paris: focus on Canada

Some utility customers in California are paying for electricity they do not use

William Pentland writes on the Forbes website about the penalty affecting combined heat and power.   Reverse Net-Metering? California Penalizes Certain Types Of Energy Efficiency Can you imagine paying your local utility for electricity you did not consume? This seems absurd. We don’t pay taxes for income we never earn. In most places and most … Continue reading Some utility customers in California are paying for electricity they do not use

Re-thinking energy efficiency in California

Cynthia Mitchell writes a good article on the Greentech website on why California needs a new approach to address improving energy efficiency. What are needed are better markets, not programmes and a strong rate design, not more rebates.   Why California Needs to Think Differently About How It Supports Energy Efficiency The imperative to change … Continue reading Re-thinking energy efficiency in California

The State of New York the latest to ban fracking

Jesse McKinley writes a good article in the New York Times about the decision by the Governor of New York to ban fracking in the state. It should be added that the state has had a de facto ban on the procedure for more than five years, predating Governor Cuomo’s first term.   Cuomo to … Continue reading The State of New York the latest to ban fracking

Florida shifts away from renewable energy and energy efficiency

Jim Turner from the News Service of Florida, writes on the FlaglerLive website about recent developments in Florida that have to raise concern for those who are promoting a sustainable energy future.   Bowing to Utilities, Florida Regulators Cut Energy-Efficiency Goals and Sunset Solar Incentives State utility regulators agreed Tuesday to sunset a program that … Continue reading Florida shifts away from renewable energy and energy efficiency

Does this mean the end for renewable energy community projects in Britain?

There is never a dull moment in UK energy policy. Now, as explained by Adam Vaughan in the Guardian, the government regulator is accused of undermining official policy by refusing new applications for community projects.   Green energy co-ops blocked by government regulator The future of community-owned green energy projects that ministers say are crucial … Continue reading Does this mean the end for renewable energy community projects in Britain?

Sustainable energy developments in California

Californians believe they are entering the new energy frontier, as shown in an article by Gary Brodeur in the Victorville Daily Press. While California is often in the news, these are interesting new developments. Victorville is a small city of 115,000 on the edge of the Mojave Desert.  It is encouraging to see such quality … Continue reading Sustainable energy developments in California

‘Mobility on demand’ coming to Helsinki

Adam Greenfield writes in The Guardian about the plans in Helsinki to integrate all forms of shared and public transport in a single payment network could essentially render private cars obsolete. Helsinki's ambitious plan to make car ownership pointless in 10 years The Finnish capital has announced plans to transform its existing public transport network … Continue reading ‘Mobility on demand’ coming to Helsinki