Bits and Pieces on EB last month: A. “Most analysts continue to maintain that the 19 percent increase in oil prices during the past month is not supported by fundamentals and is largely driven by speculators fleeing the sagging equities markets…. B. . . . . crude is now selling for $40 a barrel or [...]

Climate Change and the Media Last month CBS aired a ‘special’ on global warming. The program featured Dr. James Hanson, Director of the Goddard Space institute and a leading climate scientist. If you’ve been reading this column you will recognize the name – we refer to him frequently. The problem was, CBS published an interview [...]

The Volt is the unit of electric potential difference or electromotive force, named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta (1745–1827), inventor of the first modern chemical battery. It’s fitting that the Chevrolet Volt should invoke his name, because this vehicle is a breakthrough design that will redefine the concept of electric transportation. The [...]

The disastrous state subsidies for agrofuels piled on top of the federal ones.  Here’s a must-read story on Another pair of studies showing that ethanol–both corn AND switchgrass flavors–is WORSE for climate change than petroleum. In other words, Big Ag has persuaded us to pour gas on the climate fire. Spending millions to prop up [...]

Coal The hard energy news of the moment: The price of coal threatens to reach $300 a ton this week. That’s a sudden tripling in the price of the stuff (see EB 2/4) . For those depending on cheap coal to solve future energy problems, put that in your stack and smoke it. Oil Financier [...]

The Tesla Roadster: it’s ready! For the curious, here’s a pleasantly readable plethora of information about the managed battery system in the Tesla Roadster. And more news, the Tesla Whitestar, due in 2009, will have two options, totally battery-powered or as a gas-electric hybrid configuration known as REV for Range Extended Vehicle. Beyond Super Tuesday: [...]

The Energy Crisis The CEO of General Motors announced at this year’s auto show that he foresees the end of the internal combustion engine, and rather soon at that. He looks for GM to maintain a leading position in the manufacture and distribution of personal vehicles powered by batteries, that to happen as soon as [...]

Out With The Old, In With The New The end of one year and the beginning of another. Traditionally a time to take stock of what recently happened and what we expect of the future. Be advised: Not all is well with the world. But good news lurks toward the end of this report. You [...]

I feel odd wishing people a “Happy New Year,” because it seems like such a trivial wish — like visiting soldiers about to be sent to the front and wishing them a pleasant train ride. We have stirred up some serious stuff with our obstinate refusal to accept and live within ecological limits, but — [...]

Is here. Here’s a piece that helps explain why this is necessary — Papua New Guinea is planning to clearcut 60,000 hectares (150,000 acres) …. of an 80,000 hectare (200,000 acre) island! … to grow palm oil for biodiesel. All over the world, the agrofuels industry is racing ahead of awareness of what it means [...]