Taking The Plunge Into Wave Power  

Inhabitat has a post on ocean energy company Finavera and their recent agreement to sell 2 MW of power to californian utility company PG&E starting in 2010, the first sale of wave power in the US - "California's PG&E Takes the Plunge into Wave Power".

Reuters reports that the US is going to offer oil exploration rights off north West Alaska, adding further pressure on dwindling polar bear numbers.

WorldChanging has a roundup of their best energy articles for 2007.

The Salt Lake Tribune has an article on people who want to remain "green to the end" - by being buried in biodegradable coffins.

AFP reports that Japan has taken the leadership of the G8 this year and plans to focus on climate change.

Green Chips Stocks is arguing that plugin hybrids are the most efficient solution to $100 Oil and suggests that Argyrodite may have potential for PEV batteries.

Bloomberg reports that trade in $200 Options for oil has risen 10-Fold . There is an interesting collection of video clips in the side bar as well. Matt Simmons reckon $100 a barrel is "remarkably cheap - only 14.9 cents per cup".

The Oil Drum has been profiled by "US News and World Report" - The Oil Drum: $100 a Barrel Quickens the Beat.

The Oil Drum itself has an article on the risks of further reliance on biofuels (or at least ones that convert food to fuel) - Fermenting the Food Supply.

The Guardian is also negative about biofuels - Burning biofuels may be worse than coal and oil, say experts.

In a study of 26 biofuels the Swiss method showed that 21 fuels reduced greenhouse-gas emissions by more than 30% compared with gasoline when burned. But almost half of the biofuels, a total of 12, had greater total environmental impacts than fossil fuels. These included economically-significant fuels such as US corn ethanol, Brazilian sugar cane ethanol and soy diesel, and Malaysian palm-oil diesel. Biofuels that fared best were those produced from waste products such as recycled cooking oil, as well as ethanol from grass or wood.

Scharlemann and Laurance also pointed to "perverse" government initiatives that had resulted in unintended environmental impacts. In the US, for example, farmers have been offered incentives to shift from growing soy to growing corn for biofuels. "This is helping to drive up global soy prices, which in turn amplifies economic incentives to destroy Amazonian forests and Brazilian tropical savannas for soy production."

They added: "The findings highlight the enormous differences in costs and benefits among different biofuels. There is a clear need to consider more than just energy and greenhouse gas emissions when evaluating different biofuels and to pursue new biofuel crops and technologies."

Andy Tait, campaign manager at Greenpeace, said: "We're already bought into mandatory targets for the use of biofuels with very little thought of what the environmental impacts will be. This study further confirms that there are serious risks associated with first generation biofuels, particularly from corn, soya and palm oil."

He said that the biofuel technology had been oversold by industry and politicians. "It's clear that what government and industry are trying to do is find a neat, drop-in solution that allows people to continue business as usual.

"If you're looking at the emissions from the transport sector, the first thing you need to look at is fuel efficiency and massively increasing it. That needs to come before you even get to the point of discussing which biofuels might be good or bad."

TreeHugger reports that the first conventional light aircraft powered by electricity has flown over France.

The Age reports that China is having to rethink some dam construction due to environmental damage - Rare win for Chinese greens as Beijing sinks dam plans

Technology Review has an article on the CES consumer electronics show talking about green trends in gizmos - OLED displays, green power supplies, components designed for disassembly and casing made of bioplastic (which seems like a gimick).

The Independent reports the UK government seems to be worried about possible gas shortfalls in future, and is hedging its bets over future power generation, pushing for more nuclear plants (as well as their well publicised push for more wind power) - "Nuclear power to get green light despite legal challenge".

Technology Review has a new article on Super-Charging Lithium Batteries with nanowires - "Stanford University materials scientists unveiled a nanowire electrode that could more than triple lithium batteries' energy storage capacity and improve their safety".

The SMH reports that OPEC isn't concerned by $100 oil and will leave their production quotas as is.

Reports that Gazprom is looking to develop Nigeria's natural gas reserves have prompted disquiet in the UK press about the "Russian gas grab" (time for some more "new cold war" headlines). Jerome a Paris thinks there isn't a problem and that the FT is just mongering fear.

Cleantech.com reports that Seattle biodiesel producer Imperium Renewables has put its IPO on hold and replaced CEO Martin Tobias. I've corresponded with Martin once or twice and I'm sorry to see him go - seemed like a nice guy.

The Guardian has compiled a list of 50 people who could save the planet. There are some weird entries - Bjorn Lomborg in particular, and I'm not convinced Peter Garrett or Cormac McCarthy (much as I like both of them) really belong here either.

Technology Review has an article on Turning Carbon Dioxide into Fuel - harnessing solar energy to convert carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, which can be used to make fuels.

Reuters reports that Indonesia is looking to rapidly expand its use of geothermal power.

Tom Whipple has some new columns out - one on the peak oil induced diesel crisis, and a look back at 2007.

Social Innovation Conversations has an interview with William McDonough on Cradle to Cradle Design.

Grist reports that Moscow is planning to build the world's largest building (known as Crystal Island), based on a greenish design by Norman Foster.



One more from Grist - according to the Climate Trust, David Beckham has the world's largest carbon footprint.

The New York Times has an interesting article on one of the lesser known experiments by Professor Milgram in the 1970's, testing what happens if you ask people for their seat on the subway - "Excuse Me. May I Have Your Seat?".