Nat-n-Bio

Second of a three-part series of excerpts from Energy Freedom by Marita Noon Originally published in the Washington Examiner Part 1, “Big Green Wants To Repeal the Industrial Revolution,” is available here. So who are all these evil-appearing “environmentalists?” Should all Birkenstock wearers be suspect? What about the lady at the grocery store with the canvas sack for her purchases? There is a difference between those of us who care for the earth, want to use it wisely, and believe in recycling—and those who are in decision-making positions, setting policy and/or funding the programs.[...] 

First of a three-part series of excerpts from Energy Freedom by Marita Noon Originally published in the Washington Examiner Environmentalists would have everyone believe that oil, gas, and coal—all fossil fuels—are at the base of much of the world’s ills. Nuclear is no better. They even oppose hydropower, wind energy, and commercial solar. Yet, they claim the high ground and position themselves as the moral authority. What would the world look like if they were setting truly setting energy policy rather than merely influencing it? An in-depth study of environmental groups’ energy-related[...] 

by Paul Driessen     “… gleaming white wind turbines generating carbon-free electricity carpet chaparral-covered ridges and march down into valleys of Joshua trees.” This is “the future” of American energy – not “the oil rigs planted helter-skelter in [nearby] citrus groves,” nor the “smoggy San Joaquin Valley” a few miles away.The Forbes article’s poetic paean to Aeolian energy nevertheless voiced consternation that a 300-megawatt “green” turbine project might kill some of the magnificent California condors that are just coming back from the edge of extinction –[...] 

There are oceans of room to grow kombu that can be turned into ethanol with help from genetically engineered bacteria by Dennis Avery Researchers may have broken the biofuel barrier. A new biotech discovery enables ethanol to be made from a common variety of brown seaweed. This would by-pass the biggest problem with corn ethanol and biodiesel—the world’s shortage of cropland. The new ethanol process uses the familiar E. coli bacterium working on kombu, a variety of edible brown kelp, which is common in the world’s seas and oceans. It has been grown and harvested commercially by such countries[...] 

Bill Gates puso en marcha el plan “Reinventando el inodoro” a fin de que ocho universidades del planeta desarrollen una taza de baño que convierta las heces en energía, agua limpia o nutrientes. Además de fácil instalación deberá ser barato en su mantenimiento, debido que va dirigido a países en condiciones de pobreza. El fundador de Microsoft invertirá 42 millones en este proyecto, que es parte de un proyecto para prevenir la mortalidad infantil. Según las exigencias, esta solución se debe valer por sí misma, sin necesidad de tuberías, alcantarillado o conexiones eléctricas,[...] 

Fire in the sky! This is an image sequence containing 70 lightning shots, taken at Ikaria island during a severe thunderstorm. Canon EOS 550D, 16/6/2011 1:17 – 2:40, Shutter Speed 20 sec x 70 shots, Aperture Value 7.1, ISO 400, Lens Canon EF50mm f/1.8 II, Focal Length 50.0 mm

by Brian McGraw on June 8, 2011     Today The New York Times ran two dueling opinion pieces featuring Robert Bryce, author of a number of books, and Tom Friedman, who chose this column to unleash his inner Paul Ehrlich. The latter column will make regular NYT readers anxious and depressed, the former will make them angry. Bryce argues that though wind and solar farms do not produce emissions, they require a whole lot of land, significant natural resource inputs, and new transmission lines. He believes that these shortfalls are under appreciated by renewable energy proponents, and[...] 

By Diana Furchtgott-Roth WASHINGTON–America doesn’t usually have shortages. Consumers as a rule can find what they want to buy at stores or online. But in 212 days, on January 1, 2012, Americans won’t be able to buy 100-watt incandescent light bulbs, the kind Thomas Edison invented and the only kind many of us know-and prefer. That’s because incandescent light bulbs are being phased out by wattage over a two-year period, starting January 2012. The 100-watt bulb will be the first to be outlawed, by act of Congress, followed by 75-watt bulbs in January 2013, and 60-[...]