Energy Policies To Maximize Energy Security And Economic Development
Hosted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Date/Time: January 9, 2009
8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Detailed Conference Agenda
Location: Buntrock Commons, St. Olaf College - Northfield, MN
Hear from the experts on Renewable Energy Payments (a.k.a. feed-in tariffs):
* Paul Gipe, the North American expert [more info] gives his excellent tutorial
* National policy expert, Wilson Rickerson [more info] llustrates the spreading wave of feed-in tariff legislation
* German energy expert, Willi Voigt, shares his experience with implementing feed-in tariffs in Germany and their stunning success
Earlier today I received an email from the office of Pittsburgh city councilman Bill Peduto announcing an ambitious plan that will reduce Pittsburgh's carbon footprint while saving the city millions in electricity costs. Peduto, who has been the only city legislator to propose green legislation of any sort over the last few years, wants the city to convert all 40,000 of its street lamps to energy efficient LED lighting. The cost of the program will be around $24 million and will be paid using a combination of the annual costs savings and funding from the state's Guaranteed Energy Savings Agreement. Pittsburgh would join cities such as Austin, Raleigh (home LED manufacturer CREE), and Toronto as major cities who have adopted LED lighting on a large scale. According to Peduto, Pittsburgh would be the largest city in the US to roll out a complete conversion to LED lighting. This would be great news for Pittsburgh's green agenda, especially in light of today's Pittsburgh Penguin's press conference, where they announced the 21 year naming rights deal for their new arena, which will be known as the Clean Coal Center.
Renewable Energy World has an article on a plan to greatly expand the use of passive solar thermal energy in Europe - Action Plan for 50%: How Solar Thermal Can Supply Europe's Energy.
The research efforts and infrastructure needed to supply 50% of the energy for space and water heating and cooling across Europe using solar thermal energy has been set out under the aegis of the European Solar Thermal Technology Platform (ESTTP). Published in late December 2008, more than 100 experts developed the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA), which includes a deployment roadmap showing the non-technological framework conditions that will enable this ambitious goal to be reached by 2050.
A strategy for achieving a vision of widespread low-temperature solar thermal installations was first explored by ESTTP in 2006, but since then the SRA has identified key areas for rapid growth. These focus points include the development of active solar buildings, active solar renovation, solar heat for industrial processes and solar heat for district heating and cooling. Meanwhile, amongst the main research challenges is the development of compact long-term efficient heat storage technology. Once available, they would make it possible to store heat from the summer for use in winter in a cost-effective way.
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu today announced selection of 53 new wind energy projects for up to $8.5 million in total DOE funding. These projects will help begin to address market and deployment challenges identified in DOE's 2008 report: "20% Wind Energy by 2030." Increasing wind energy generation will be a critical factor in achieving the Obama Administration's goals for clean energy, while also supporting new green jobs. Secretary Chu made the announcement by video at the WindPower 2009 Conference in Chicago this week.
"Wind energy is one of our most promising renewable energy sources," said Secretary Chu. That's why I'm pleased to make this announcement today. By continuing to make investments in renewable energy we can cut our dependence on foreign oil and invest in a clean energy agenda that creates jobs and puts money back into the pockets of consumers."
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the release of two Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) for up to $84 million to support the development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). Geothermal energy technologies use energy from the earth to heat buildings and generate electricity. Enhanced Geothermal Systems offer the potential to extend geothermal resources to larger areas of the western United States, as well as into new geographic areas of the entire country. These projects will help support the Administration's efforts to invest in clean energy technologies, create millions of new jobs, end our addiction to foreign oil, and address climate change.
"President Obama has laid out an ambitious agenda to put millions of people to work by investing in clean energy technology like geothermal energy," said Secretary Chu. "The Administration is committed to funding important research like this to transform the way we use and produce energy and reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil."
Taken from the list of the top 20 most influential new media figures under the age of 30 this year, CBR has compiled the top 10 who are directly involved with technology. After a survey of Birmingham University students, it was revealed that the founder of Snapchat, Evan Spiegel, came out on top.
Societal and commercial shake ups from the Internet, big data and social media will continue. Technology companies pride themselves on their ability to "disrupt" industries. The buzzword is one that every geek in Silicon Valley aspires to - and not without reason, given the amount of money to be made.
Internet of Things, broadband, renewable energy - the government is embracing technology and realising its economic potential. Between the jokes tailored to evoke the maximum jeering from backbenchers, Chancellor George Osborne delivered the 2015 Budget.
Give this list to your kids, partners, parents or whoever and get what you want on Alan Turing via Peter Thiel with a dash of Anonymous and Eric Schmidt, As you wind down from another busy year in the IT industry, the festive season is an ideal time to reflect on what has happened, as well as prepare for the future.
What tech workers need to know about George Osborne's speech to parliament. Today's Autumn Statement by George Osborne, the British chancellor of the exchequer, is certain to stir controversy in all business sectors. But what do the policies outlined in the speech foreshadow for the tech sector? CBR asked the experts.
CBR lists 7 reasons why you should care about net neutrality. Net neutrality is the principle that ISP's and governments should treat all data on the internet as equal. This means that there should be no discrimination or charging of separate rates to different users, content, sites, platforms or applications.