May 21, 2008

California's dream is to host a carbon-free power plant. By 2011, the 50-megawatt facility would use natural gas or synthetic gas made from coal and subsequently re-inject all heat trapping emissions more than one mile underground.

It's all part of a new public-private initiative set forth by the Bush administration to reinvigorate its clean coal push -- especially in the wake of the demise of FutureGen, which was to be the world's first zero-emissions power plant that could bury carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy has just said it will invest at least $1.3 billion in various carbon sequestration technologies.

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.