May 19, 2008

One does not often feel present at the launch of something civilization changing. Electricity was in the air at the recent Washington International Renewable Energy Conference, which attracted a swarm of more than 8,600 energy entrepreneurs, government officials and academics from around the world. The first such gathering was a German government-sponsored meeting in Bonn four years ago that attracted 1,200. In late 2005, the Chinese government held an event that drew 800 people.

Washington's taxi drivers sensed something big was up. One asked me what I knew about wind turbines, since his brother in Kenya wants to sell them. Another cabby wanted to know if plug-in hybrid vehicles were on display at WIREC -- they were -- because he was tired of being mugged at the gas pump.

May 16, 2008

Alliant Energy's business strategy is shifting. With coal-fired generation becoming cumbersome, the utility is committing itself to use more natural gas.

Alliant's thinking is turning trendy again, at least for the time being. It is increasingly difficult in many states to get coal plants sited, resulting in a dramatic decline in the number of planned units. States such as Florida, Kansas and Oklahoma have recently rebuffed efforts by companies to build such facilities and have instead forced them to consider plants that use alternative fuels.

May 12, 2008

Impediments proliferate. But natural gas will keep flowing. Interestingly, it will come mostly from coal-bed methane and shale -- sources that are now the growth segment within the industry.

Accessing natural gas supplies are difficult because of environmental laws. And getting to unconventional sources is not any easier. But the difference is that the conventional fields are becoming depleted while output from coal-bed methane and shale are expanding. Today, such fuel sources that can be transformed into natural gas represent a trend in energy production.

May 7, 2008

Green cars come in many varieties. Natural gas is one of them, considered to be a much cleaner and cheaper alternative than conventional oil. In fact, Honda's Civic GX, a natural gas car that cost about $25,000 and is sold only in New York and California, is the "greenest" of them all.

The primary market is large fleets. Such vehicles drive substantial distances and are therefore able to recoup their higher initial costs through reduced fuel charges. They also have access to centrally located fueling and repair stations.

May 5, 2008

The nation's energy options will require new energy efficiency tools along with a host of fuels that are all supported by a substantial investment in generation and transmission. That's the view from an industry-sponsored report.

The demand for energy is expected to grow by 30 percent a year by 2030 and the United States will need to build 151 gigawatts of new generation by that time, according to the Brattle Group that performed a study for the Edison Electric Institute. Toward that end, energy conservation is critical -- as is the need for more controversial fuel sources. None of the ideas comes free of charge and energy conservation is no different. It necessitates new technologies and perhaps some government incentives.