Below are a few letters received at EnergyBiz Insider on topics that appeared in the past few weeks. They capture the essence of how many readers say they feel.

________________________________________

May 05, 2010

Electrical network design is a complex, continuously evolving process. Energy Central's Sierra Energy Group says that as many as 150,000 people are working on this arcane pursuit.

Many of these people have engineering degrees that enable them to deal with the complex mathematical and scientific calculations necessary to deal with America's complex and constantly growing electrical grids. Whenever a new generation source comes online, engineers have to design the system that will take the power from the station, get it to the correct voltages for the transmission system, specify all the proper equipment and supervise the construction. At the other end of the grid, when a new subdivision -- or even one house -- is added, similar steps are taken at lower voltages.

May 03, 2010

The news is rippling all along the Atlantic shoreline: The Obama administration has given what may be the final blessing to the offshore Cape Wind project to be built in Nantucket Sound.

While the administration never tipped its hand until last week's announcement, it was a foregone conclusion that it would approve the offshore facility given that the foundation of its economic, energy and environmental program has centered on growing green generation. As with its offshore oil and gas policies, the U.S. Department of the Interior said it would strike a balance between energy production and the environment, which in this case has meant cutting the number of wind mills from 170 to 130.

April 30, 2010

Germany has established itself as a beacon for green energy development. Other countries have been advised to try and emulate its strategies. While national policies can and should be idiosyncratic, Germany is directly financing its renewable sector as well as providing subsidies for operational costs, or feed-in tariffs.

Government backing is critical to the expansion of renewable energy around the globe. It provides the appropriate incentives and mandates that give developers the certainty they need to take risks. In the case of Germany, such a plan has propelled the nation to the forefront of international wind and solar development. As such, it is now projected to invest annually $37 billion into the green economy there by 2020, all to produce 27-30 percent of its electricity from such sources by then.

April 28, 2010

Long opaque, hedge funds are now in the spotlight. The focus: curbing the number of natural gas and oil contracts they can hold so as to prevent market abuses.

At the heart of the matter is the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which until recently has also been inconspicuous. Now, though, that's changed with all the attention given to unregulated financial instruments called derivatives and swaps as well as all the hoopla over limiting market speculation.