A Bleak Look Into Our Climate's Future

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Schemes seem to be futile
Source: Petr Kratochvil / www.publicdomainpictures.net

Browsing the IEA website regarding the projections of coal use and carbon dioxide emissions, will give you an update of the worsening climate conditions that will soon follow. The projections through 2035 states that coal use as well as carbon dioxide emissions will continue to increase. What is alarming about these projections is that they were probably made while taking into consideration many factors such as international policies and advances in technology.

The recently held UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol along with their claimed future legally binding agreements lack the teeth to enforce the terms that will be agreed upon. India and China are still contending that their economic development should not be hampered by greenhouse gas reduction schemes unless other developed countries also abide by them. The United States, on the other hand, refuses to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and lately, Canada withdrew from it.

What all of this will boil down to is that unless we can develop a clean alternative drop-in fuel that is cheaper than coal and oil, we may well be on our way past the 2°C ceiling on global warming. At present, fossil fuels are still the primary fuel for electricity production and transportation around the world. Finding a suitable substitute for it seems to be bleak. Anyone got an idea? You’re most welcome.

Alternative Fuels: If We Cannot Compete With Price, Go For Value

Gas Prices Continue to Increase
Source: Peter Griffin / www.publicdomainpictures.net

As advances in technology, particularly in fracking, make it easier for us to extract oil and natural gas, alongside discoveries of more and more oil and coal deposits, the lure to lavishly use fossil fuels is ever more present. Had it not been for the high prices of fuels at the pump, the issues regarding climate change might have been set aside long ago.

Carbon emissions harm the environment and will bring about catastrophic weather conditions. Unless new technologies are developed to combat these harmful effects the need to improve and develop alternative energy sources is huge. With lesser incentives for alternative energy usage and development being pushed, the sector must work harder to be more competent with fossil fuels.

If we could not yet find a cheaper alternative to fossil fuels, we should at least try to develop a more valuable replacement.

Tempe, Arizona – Silicon Valley Bank

In Tempe, Arizona – Silicon Valley Bank, a financial holding company that provides assistance to entrepreneurs particularly in the innovation sector, is opening a new IT and operations facility. An addition to their lending office that has been in operation in the area since 1997, the company expects to hire more than 200 employees in the next 2 years.

For more information, you may visit www.svb.com.

Promoting Alternative Energy Use By Directly Affecting People

Power Meters
Source: public-domain-image.com

The use of alternative energy to be successful will require people from the root level to also use it. Campaigns about climate change and the harmful effects of carbon dioxide emissions is not doing much to convince everybody to use alternative energy. To better foster a transition, the benefits of using alternative energy have to be more direct.

Redding, California - Transfer Flow, Inc.

In Redding, California - Transfer Flow, Inc., a California based fuel systems manufacturer, is conducting a three day alternative fuel training class. The training will tackle the benefits of using alternative energy particularly propane autogas. It will be held from January 17 – 19, 2012 at the Smart Business Resource Center. Another class will be held in Sacramento, California from February 6 – 8, 2012.

For more information, visit www.transferflow.com.

Phoenix, Arizona – Magna International Inc.

In Phoenix, Arizona – Magna International Inc., the largest manufacturer of car parts in North America, is opening a new plant in Phoenix, Arizona. Cosma Power Systems, the name of the plant, will produce structures and components for solar energy systems. The new facility will be ready by December 2011 and is expected to hire 50 – 60 employees.

For more information, visit www.magna.com.

Indian River County, Florida - INEOS New Planet BioEnergy LLC

In Indian River County, Florida - INEOS New Planet BioEnergy LLC, a joint venture of UK based INEOS Bio and California based New Planet Energy, is opening a new facility. The new plant will be engaged in waste management, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, producing bioethanol and renewable power. They are planning to begin operations by the second half of 2012 and are expecting to hire 53 employees.

For more information, visit their website at www.inpbioenergy.net.

Upper Macungie Township, Pennsylvania – SunOpta Inc.

In Upper Macungie Township, Pennsylvania – SunOpta Inc., a Canadian food company engaged in producing health foods and energy bars, is opening a new production facility. With its headquarters located in Ontario, Canada, the new plant will be their first in the East Coast. They are planning to begin operating by August 2012 and will be initially hiring 50 people. Recruitment will start in January.

For more information, visit www.sunopta.com.

Should the US Military Use Biofuels Despite the High Price

Navy Ship
Photo Credit: Bobby Mikul / www.publicdomainpictures.net

The US Military will acquire 450,000 gallons of biofuel from Solazyme and Dynamic Fuels LLC to power their aircrafts and ships in next year’s RIMPAC or Rim of the Pacific Exercise, the largest international maritime exercise in the world. Solazyme will supply an algae based biofuel while Dynamic Fuels LLC will supply a biofuel based from used cooking oil and animal fats. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said that a 50-50 blend of biofuel and petroleum based diesel will be used in the exercise off Hawaii next summer. The purchase costs $12 million or roughly $26 a gallon.

The Renewable Energy Agenda Holds Water, Politics Aside

Used Oil
Source: Peter Griffin / www.publicdomainpictures.net

The recent survey that most Americans still favor further development of alternative energy shows that the renewable energy agenda should continue. This is not to say that pushing for it must be based from the decision of the majority alone but I think it is a wise move. The public, the economy and the environment as well must not be subjected to the ill-effects brought about by using fossil fuels.