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green econometrics

Information and analysis on the economics of solar and alternative energies

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Entries Tagged as 'Wind Energy'

Solar Energy – Closer to Grid Parity?

March 31st, 2009 · 3 Comments

Last month First Solar (FSLR) achieved a milestone in the solar industry with its announcement of $1 per Watt reducing its production cost for solar modules to 98 cents per watt, thereby braking the $1 per watt price barrier.. While the achievement is great news for the solar industry some studies suggest [...]

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Tags: Alternative Energy · Carbon Economics · Carbon Footprint · Coal Energy · Energy Costs · Energy Economics · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Oil Energy · Solar Efficiency · Solar Energy · Solar Energy Economics · Solar Stocks · Wind Energy

Obama, Energy Efficiency and Lighting Retrofit

January 19th, 2009 · 3 Comments

As President Obama takes office, energy efficiency takes center stage. One of he fastest roads to energy efficiency is to reduce consumption and the simplest approach to energy conservation is to change a light bulb.
Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL) recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) offer substantial savings to homeowners. [...]

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Tags: Alternative Energy · CO2 Emissions · Carbon Economics · Carbon Emissions · Carbon Footprint · Carbon and Climate · Coal Energy · Energy Costs · Energy Density · Energy Economics · Solar Energy · Wind Energy

”DRILL BABY DRILL” – NO INVEST INTO ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

September 13th, 2008 · 6 Comments

Using the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) , oil production remains significantly below historical levels achieved in ‘70’s and ‘80’s. The peak production in 1970 has not been replicated despite significant expansion of drilling activity during the 1980’s.
Oil Drilling and Production
Figure 1 Oil Drilling and Production
Figure 1 [...]

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Tags: Alternative Energy · Energy Costs · Energy Economics · Energy Independence · Energy Security · Historic Energy · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Oil Energy · Peak Oil · Solar Energy · Solar Energy Economics · Tar Sands · Wind Energy

Energy Storage – the Key to Alternative Energies

August 7th, 2008 · 2 Comments

Energy storage enables the electric generated though solar photovoltaic devices or wind turbines to be used when it’s dark, cloudy, or calm. As Nathan Lewis, Professor of Chemistry, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Lewis Group at California Institute of Technology, framed it, energy storage is integral in facilitating the development of [...]

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Tags: Alternative Energy · Battery Power · Energy Costs · Energy Economics · Energy Security · Energy Storage · Fuel Cells · Home Energy Economics · Oil Energy · Oil Independence · Solar Energy · Transportation Energy Economics · Wind Energy

Energy Crisis- Can we drill our way out?

July 19th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Rising energy prices and our diminishing supply of oil threaten our national security. Without access to energy our economy and national defense are vulnerable to collapse. As a solution to our energy needs, we hear political rhetoric to expand oil drilling, but our energy strategy requires a long term solution that means embracing alternative/renewable [...]

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Tags: Alternative Energy · Carbon Economics · Carbon and Climate · Corn Ethanol · Energy Costs · Energy Economics · Energy Expenditures · Energy Independence · Energy Security · Fuel Costs · Historic Energy · Oil Energy · Peak Oil · Solar Energy · Wind Energy

Energy Crisis - What Can We Do

June 14th, 2008 · No Comments

As energy and food prices set new world records, what can we do at home to avert the crisis? Food prices are rising because corn is diverted from food production to producing ethanol for use as fuel in motor vehicles and is exacerbated by the recent flooding in the Mid West. Oil [...]

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Tags: Alternative Energy · CO2 Emissions · Carbon Emissions · Carbon Footprint · Carbon and Climate · Corn Ethanol · Energy Costs · Energy Economics · Energy Independence · Energy Security · Ethanol Energy · Fuel Costs · Global Warming · Home Energy Economics · Home Heating Costs · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Oil Energy · Peak Oil · Solar Efficiency · Solar Energy · Solar Energy Economics · Wind Energy

Blame high food and energy prices on the White House

March 15th, 2008 · 1 Comment

With the infinite wisdom of the White House and U.S. Congress, food prices are now directly tied to the price oil. The price of corn-based ethanol is now determined by the price of gasoline that it substitutes in motor vehicles and that price is established by supply and demand for oil. The price [...]

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Tags: Alternative Energy · Carbon and Climate · Corn Ethanol · Energy Costs · Energy Independence · Energy Security · Ethanol Energy · Fuel Costs · Global Warming · Hydrogen Energy · Oil Energy · Peak Oil · Solar Energy · Wind Energy

Hydrogen Fuel Cells – energy conversion and storage

February 9th, 2008 · No Comments

World oil demand continues to rise despite efforts to limit demand. Renewable energies such as solar and wind have the potential to limit our dependence on hydrocarbon fuels, but one issue remains prominent - storing energy. While the sun provides radiation for solar and generates wind, when its cloudy or dark we are [...]

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Tags: Alternative Energy · CO2 Emissions · Carbon Emissions · Carbon Footprint · Energy Costs · Energy Economics · Energy Independence · Energy Security · Fuel Cells · Fuel Efficiency · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Hydrogen Economics · Hydrogen Energy · Oil Energy · Solar Energy · Solar Energy Economics · Wind Energy

The Economics of Energy – why wind, hydrogen fuel cells, and solar are an imperative

January 30th, 2008 · No Comments

From the Industrial Revolution we learned that economic growth is inextricably linked to energy and as a result, our future is dependent upon equitable access to energy. When the Stourbridge Lion made entry as the first American steam locomotive in 1829 it was used to transport Anthracite coal mined in nearby Carbondale, PA to [...]

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Tags: Alternative Energy · Automobile Fuel Efficiency · CO2 Emissions · Carbon Economics · Carbon Emissions · Carbon Footprint · Carbon and Climate · Coal Energy · Energy Costs · Energy Economics · Energy Expenditures · Energy Independence · Energy Security · Fuel Cells · Fuel Costs · Fuel Efficiency · Global Warming · Historic Energy · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Hydrogen Energy · Oil Energy · Solar Energy · Wind Energy · Wood Energy

Ethanol offers short-term solutions, but corn-based ethanol is not the answer

January 6th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Ethanol may emit less CO2 and help reduce the demand for foreign oil in the short term, but ethanol and in particular, corn-based ethanol raises food prices, is less efficient than gasoline, diesel, and biodiesel, and is not a substitute for oil.
According to research compiled by National Geographic Magazine , the energy balance of [...]

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Tags: Alternative Energy · Automobile Fuel Efficiency · CO2 Emissions · Carbon Economics · Carbon Emissions · Carbon Footprint · Corn Ethanol · Energy Costs · Energy Density · Energy Economics · Energy Expenditures · Energy Independence · Energy Security · Ethanol Energy · Fuel Cells · Fuel Costs · Fuel Efficiency · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Hydrogen Energy · Oil Energy · Solar Energy · Solar Energy Economics · Specific Energy · Switchgrass Ethanol · Transportation Energy Economics · Wind Energy

Energy Shocks: Peak Oil Question

December 24th, 2007 · No Comments

Peak oil has been a discussion for several decades after the theory developed by Dr. M. King Hubbert was put forth to alert the world of the impending decline in oil production. Recent data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) oil production from the twelve members of OPEC has declined [...]

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Tags: Alternative Energy · Carbon and Climate · Energy Costs · Energy Economics · Energy Independence · Energy Security · Fuel Cells · Global Warming · Hydrogen Economics · Hydrogen Energy · Oil Energy · Solar Energy · Wind Energy

The Importance of Energy to Economic Growth

December 5th, 2007 · No Comments

A brief review of history and in particular the industrial Revolution, it’s quite apparent that economic growth is inextricably linked to energy. As energy is tied to our economy, our future is dependent upon equitable access to energy. This in turn sets the framework of our dependence on oil and hence, why our [...]

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Tags: Alternative Energy · Coal Energy · Energy Costs · Energy Expenditures · Energy Independence · Energy Security · Fuel Costs · Oil Energy · Solar Energy · Wind Energy

Energy Shocks: Vulnerability Update

November 2nd, 2007 · No Comments

Rising oil prices have driven exploration and drilling activity, yet oil production remains anemic in comparison. Could the latest data suggest oil production is nearing a peak? With global demand expected to rise over 30% by 2030 according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Handicapping the Environmental Gold Rush [...]

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Tags: Alternative Energy · Energy Costs · Energy Economics · Energy Security · Fuel Costs · Historic Energy · Home Energy Economics · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Hydrogen Energy · Oil Energy · Solar Energy · Transportation Energy Economics · Wind Energy

A small investment produces huge savings on your electric bill

October 9th, 2007 · No Comments

My September electric bill arrived the other day and I was interested in comparing my energy savings after swapping 60 and 100-watt light bulbs for Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL), as recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Our progress in migrating to solar and wind energy is moving slower than expected. [...]

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Tags: CO2 Emissions · Carbon Economics · Carbon Emissions · Carbon Footprint · Carbon and Climate · Coal Energy · Energy Costs · Energy Economics · Fuel Costs · Home Energy Economics · Solar Energy · Wind Energy

With choices like Biodiesel and Ethanol, what’s the best fuel for your vehicle?

October 3rd, 2007 · 1 Comment

With the rapid growth in vehicle use around the world, it would be nice to know what are the most efficiency, economic, and least carbon emitting fuels. The number of motor vehicles on the road is increasing rapidly. The number of cars and trucks in China is up over 3,600 percent in the [...]

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Tags: Alternative Energy · Automobile Fuel Efficiency · Biodiesel Energy · CO2 Emissions · Carbon Economics · Carbon Emissions · Carbon Footprint · Carbon and Climate · Energy Density · Energy Economics · Energy Independence · Energy Security · Ethanol Energy · Fuel Cells · Fuel Efficiency · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Hydrogen Energy · Natural Gas Energy · Oil Energy · Propane Energy · Solar Energy · Specific Energy · Transportation Energy Economics · Wind Energy

How vulnerable are we to energy shocks?

September 4th, 2007 · 1 Comment

The second category 5 hurricane to hit Caribbean in two weeks leaves uncertainty in the energy market as oil prices head higher. While it is hard to draw the direct correlation between global warming and hurricanes strength, the fact is the oil production in the Gulf of Mexico accounts for 32% of our total [...]

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Tags: Alternative Energy · CO2 Emissions · Carbon Economics · Carbon Emissions · Carbon Footprint · Carbon and Climate · Energy Costs · Energy Economics · Fuel Costs · Global Warming · Oil Energy · Solar Energy · Wind Energy

Coal: Fueling the American Industrial Revolution to Today’s Electric

August 6th, 2007 · 1 Comment

Why the economics of coal helps us better understand the benefits of wind and solar energy
On August 8, 1829, the Stourbridge Lion made entry as the first American steam locomotive in Honesdale, PA initiating the American Railroad. The steam locomotive railroad was the first developed to transport Anthracite coal mined in nearby Carbondale, PA [...]

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Tags: Coal Energy · Energy Economics · Historic Energy · Solar Energy · Wind Energy