Aww, is it "too cold" to ride your bike in the winter? No matter where you are, it ain't as cold as St. Petersburg, Russia, where Adams Carroll rides his Ukrainian beast — made from surplus military tank parts — through the snow. Check Carroll's notes on winter cycling at the Fader. On a one-way path to wind energy dominance, China is steady flouting world......read more
Wind power may be clean, green, and renewable, but it doesn't come without its problems. It's noisy as hell for people living nearby, and it poses serious risks to flying wildlife and sensitive shoreline habitats. A group of mechanical engineers from Cornell have responded with a solution that may represent the future of wind energy tech. The working prototype, dubbed Vibro-Wind,......read more
Who'd have thunk it: The entire world could be running on 100% renewable energy by 2030, says a new study published in the journal Energy Policy. All that's needed is 4 million 5-megawatt wind turbines, 1.7 billion 3-kilowatt rooftop solar power systems, and about 90,000 300-megawatt solar power plants — and a shitload of political will. No problem? (via MNN) Va-va-voom: Do you like......read more
To the surprise of many (or us, at least), clean energy was a primary focus of President Obama's State of the Union Address on Tuesday. The President spent the first third of the speech on the issue, and laid out an ambitious goal by saying that 80 percent of electricity should come from clean energy sources by 2035. "[T]he nation that leads the clean energy economy will lead the global......read more
Pursuant to the U.S. President's stated goal of generating 80% of all electricity from renewable sources, the Obama administration announced this week a game plan for wind energy development off the Eastern seaboard. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar paired up Monday to announce federal funding for offshore wind farms to the tune of $50.5 million over......read more
If we were asked to name the top two strongholds of eco-consciousness in America, we'd probably say Brooklyn on the east coast and Berkeley on the west. Hell, we even gave Brooklyn it's own web series. But not everyone in these liberal bastions is down for the greater environmental good. When it comes to green development, self interest runs rampant. In Park Slope, Brooklyn, a new bike lane......read more
Nothing ever works out as planned. Just ask President Obama, who came into office equipped with an ambitious energy plan that addressed climate change and American dependence on foreign (read: Mideast) oil. Within two short years, a massive financial meltdown, an unprecedented offshore oil spill, and a GOP-controlled Congress has demolished that strategy, sending the administration back to the......read more
For the Birds: The American Bird Conservancy posted a video showing a vulture getting taken out by a wind turbine, part of a campaign calling for "bird smart" design of wind power projects. Hmmm. (via Dot Earth) Phew! In a 50-50 vote, the Senate rejected the GOP's attempt to permanently block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. Recycled Rug: The recycled ANY rug from the Piadao Group is......read more
Aaaannnd we're off! Ten years after the proposal was first submitted, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement has approved plans for the first American offshore wind farm. In a landmark affirmation for renewable energy, the Feds pushed forward plans to build the 468 megawatt Cape Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts. In addition to providing renewable......read more
Who says wind turbines are industrial eyesores? Shot with the camera of Japanese photographer Yozo Takada, wind farms take on a beautifully muted look that sharply contrasts the brawn and power of the structures. Loving the gauzy vibe of the photos. Very nice. (via Colossal)...read more