June 21, 2010

They sound like something from outer space. Well, actually they are. Geomagnetic disturbances can destroy satellites and power grids.

Scientists have the tools to provide some notice when the geomagnetic storms are ready to hit Earth. But the utility industry thinks it can do a better job of preparing for solar weather. To do so, though, requires collaboration between public and private entities -- a process that establishes a risk management paradigm and a cost allocation technique. While the odds of those storms hitting are small, they could cost billions to fix.

June 18, 2010

BP's oil spill cuts two ways in terms of nuclear energy. On the one hand, it would tend to bode well for the growth of the non-fossil-fired energy. On the hand, it begs for a greater dialogue about nuclear safety.

With images playing out every day on TV of thick, dark oil splattered all over the Gulf of Mexico, the nation is now looking inward and asking from which energy sources it should depend. The most consistent drum beat is coming from those who advocate sustainable fuels, but those who have long pushed for relatively pollution-free nuclear energy are not far behind. Before it can assume a leadership role in this debate, the industry must reassure a skeptical public.

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

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June 16, 2010

Electric vehicles are on course to make their debut this fall. But they got an unexpected boost in the wake of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has just sponsored legislation to advance the cause.

This country's voracious appetite for oil is adding to pollution rates as well as aiding countries unfriendly to its interest. By encouraging the use of electric cars, policymakers are attempting to address the issues of oil addiction and air emissions, although it is unclear just how successful they will be at either one.

June 14, 2010

Google is searching for answers. This time it is using its weight to find energy-related solutions and specifically in the renewable realm. To this end, it has invested nearly $39 million in two wind farms that will generate 170 megawatts of electricity in North Dakota that are owned by NextEra Energy, Inc.

Google is not just a do-gooder. It's a ravenous consumer of electricity and it must find a way to become more efficient and cleaner. By placing its bets on green energy, it is attempting to understand how it works and to help create economies of scale so that it can be cost-effectively generated. The mere fact that the money is coming from its for-profit arm and not its philanthropic division indicates that it is serious.