Interesting Research on Energy Alternatives

I've been following the research of a Stanford professor named Mark Jacobson, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He published an article in the Journal of Energy and Environmental Science that ranks energy options according to an extensive list of criteria. As Professor Jacobson puts it...

This review evaluates and ranks 12 combinations of electric power and fuel sources from among 9 electric power sources, 2 liquid fuel sources, and 3 vehicle technologies, with respect to their ability to address climate, air pollution, and energy problems simultaneously. The review also evaluates the impacts of each on water supply, land use, wildlife, resource availability, thermal pollution, water chemical pollution, nuclear proliferation, and undernutrition.

What technology comes in first? Wind energy comes in first place, and Ethanol come in last. Carbon sequestered coal and nuclear tie for "next to last" place. I'm not sure where biodiesel would come into play here. I'd guess better than CCS Coal. I'm also not sure where non-carbon-sequestered coal would come in, but I'd guess it would show up dead last. The article is not without its critics, and you can check out some interesting counterpunches in the comments at TreeHugger.com.

Here's another article by Jacobson (and Masters) that appears in the journal Science. It is a little older, but a bit easier to understand, and can be summed up in this opening quote:

the cost of wind energy is now less than that of coal.

I'm going to get this information spread around as best I can. Would love feedback, too.

Long Speech by David Korten About Economic Crisis

Here's a full version of the speech given by David Korten about the economic crisis, bailouts, and a holistic approach to solving it from the bottom up. His ideas are powerful and resonate with me. The entire piece is worth watching-- all 1.5 hours!

David Korten Takes the Bear by the Horns

I recently came across this interview of David Korten on the PBS program "NOW." Korten takes an insightful look into the creation of a new economy that ACTUALLY solves the economic crisis and environmental crisis that we face today. You have to un-ravel and re-articulate the stories of our collective past before you can really, fully embrace these ideas, but I believe that it is a necessary step and indeed the only way to truly solve the problems that we face today. Check out the video and the text below...



Be sure to check out Korten's version of an inaugural address in the text at this location: http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/505/new-economy.html

And his brand new book summarizes it all: Agenda for a New Economy.