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 15, 2008

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

May 14, 2008

Detractors of ethanol are trying to decelerate its take off. Ethanol production is ramping up to meet federal mandates, which critics say has created global food shortages and potentially more greenhouse gas emissions.

Federal policies have favored ethanol production as a way to lessen the dependence on foreign oil and as an innovative to way to clean the air. But critics say that this country's strategy is not working, pointing out that ethanol is made mostly from corn. That has diverted about a quarter of the nation's corn crop away from food production and into ethanol use -- an amount that will grow to 30-35 percent this year.

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 9, 2008

Solar energy's presence is now felt. If its influence is to expand, however, researchers must innovate and develop tools to store the power.

That's the view from researchers at the Massachusetts's Institute of Technology who have received a substantial grant to make it all happen. Their overall goal is to improve today's mechanics, or to bring in disruptive technologies, that would greatly increase efficiencies and add value. As advances are made, prices will drop and give solar energy a chance to compete with conventional fuel sources.