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ext"> The news media love headlines, especially those which mention that no nuclear reactor has come online in more than a decade. How would journalists (and environmentalists) react if they discovered U.S. nuclear utilities have added the ‘nuclear power’ equivalent to four large reactors? A fifth or more could be on the way. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) website, “With projected increases in electricity demand, construction of new nuclear power plants or the re-activation of shutdown reactors is drawing public and media attention. Both of these options, however, would take place in the future-if at all. A third option that is already taking place has...

There are uranium sources all over the United States and the world. It is estimated, by some, that these uranium mines could last for up to 700 years. Other experts believe the sources will last up to 5 billion years. Each of these cases leans toward a far different answer to whether or not nuclear energy is renewable. The Official Definition of Renewable Says - No Renewable energy sources are those that will always be there. These sources do not require fossil fuels or mining to continue energy production. Now, taking into account that the 5 billion years mark is true, there is still a finite amount of uranium in the Earth's soil and thus the energy is not renewable. Stretching the definition a bit...

After WWI, President Woodrow Wilson said, "the highest and best form of efficiency is the spontaneous cooperation of a free people." Where is the evidence of spontaneous cooperation in our world today? Historically, it seems that the cause of war -- Pearl Harbor, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and September 11th -- will catalyze a society and nations to cooperate. Must we have our backs to the wall, or is it possible for a compelling vision to create spontaneous cooperation? The Critical Question In 1969, Dr. R Buckminster Fuller (most well known for geodesic domes and Buckyballs) developed a World Game simulation to explore global resources and trends. It posed the critical question, "how do we make...

Sitting on my couch one day, patiently trying to get the little one to sleep, I just happened to look out my window and was scared to death. I see a huge man trying to hop over my gate with a special ladder designed for hopping fences! If the limitless thriller movies have taught me anything it is not to go investigate on my own. So what do I do? I go outside to investigate, with the baby in tow. It’s funny; the thought of calling the cops or at least taking mace never entered my mind. Thankfully the man was not there to kidnap or kill me; he was doing his job for CenterPoint, installing a smart meter. Apparently he had been hopping over every fence and installing these meters all around my...

deregulation began within the state of Texas at the turn of the millennium, Texans have learned as much or more about how electricity works than people in any other place in the world. Some of the lessons learned were great for the foundation of understanding how the market would affect customers in principle. Some of the lessons learned could be considered more symptomatic of the times than as part of the bedrock of how the market will always function. One of the lessons that we’ve all learned and been taught to expect is that electricity rates will always go up, sometimes way up, during the summer heat season. The notion of the rate increasing and the bills increasing seems almost intuitive...

If you are looking for cheap sources of electricity, electricity from windmill might be the right answer for you. You can even install a windmill at your home. This is quite simple job and you can start generating your own electricity from this renewable source of energy and that too free. The conventional non-renewable sources of energy such as gas, coal, nuclear are much more costly and the main disadvantage of these sources is that you cannot generate electricity from these in your own house. For generating electricity from windmill, you need to install a kit at your home. The kit is readily available in the market and once you install it, it will start generating electricity. The electricity...

According to professor Mark Z. Jacobson, who teaches civil and environmental engineering at Stanford, solar technology is one of the best ways for America to improve energy security, mitigate climate change and reduce the amount of air pollution linked to disease and death. Interestingly, Jacobson's study received no funding from any government agency, energy company or public/private interest group. This paradigm of unbiased reporting on alternative energy technologies leads us to conclude that Jacobson's study is perhaps the only one to come down the pike in a decade that reflects the energy situation in America as it truly is. This quantitative, scientific study, which appraises proposed...

With a home wind turbine, you can use green, renewable energy instead of the more traditional energy sources. It's important to remember that if you live in a residential area, you will only be able to substitute a part of your energy with this system. More and more families seeking ways to use green energy are turning to the relatively new option of having a home wind turbine. While it's not uncommon to find solar panels on homes in sunny regions, the technology used for these type of systems hasn't been around long. They are now available covering a range of wind energy options and prices, with basic installation costs starting at $500 and rising to $22,000 for the more high-powered models. You...

America--a somewhat tarnished image in many corners of the world. A resolution of the Iraqi situation hopefully sooner-rather-than-later will help restore our image Bush--very low approval ratings limit his ability to get desired legislation passed. The President has his work cut out for him over the next 20 months to build a positive legacy. The good news? Tax cuts. The bad news? Iraq Consumer Confidence--has remained reasonably high this year, despite the economic "headwinds" of prior Fed tightening and high energy costs. Confidence remains somewhat fragile, however, given anxiety about terrorism...especially on American soil...and soft home prices in mostly coastal markets Dollar (the...

A big energy gap in Britain means a programme of new nuclear build must replace an aging fleet of old Magnox nuclear reactors. And as old coal plants are closed down in order to comply with the Large Combustion Plant Directive from the European Union, there is a need to maintain a steady baseload supply of electricity. In all about 16 GWe of capacity can be expected from a new generation of new nuclear plants, and given that nuclear power makes up about 20% and falling of the electricity mix, completion of this major infrastructure commitment is essential. As well as ensuring the energy gap is closed, there are also other considerations to bear in mind from a strategic energy perspective, namely...

CONTENTS: - GM will show that car, the Chevrolet Volt, at the Detroit show as a concept vehicle that would use a small, 1-liter gasoline engine to generate power for the electric drive system. (MORE...) - An engine using 100-percent ethanol might be factored into the mix. (MORE...) - The Chevrolet Volt is designed to run on E85, a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. (MORE...) - The enhancements could extend the five-seat sedan's all-electric range and boost overall fuel economy to as much as 90 miles per gallon. (MORE...) - The Volt can carry up to five passengers and is adept at climbing hills or running a cooling system, GM said. (MORE...) - 'If you lived within 50 km from...

  If you are looking for cheap sources of electricity, electricity from windmill might be the right answer for you. You can even build a windmill at your home. This is quite simple job and you can start generating your own electricity from this renewable source of energy and that too free. The conventional non-renewable sources of energy such as gas, coal, nuclear are much more costly and the main disadvantage of these sources is that you cannot generate electricity from these in your own house. For generating electricity from windmill, you need to install a kit at your home. The kit is readily available in the market and once you install it, it will start generating electricity. The electricity...

The oil and gas industry, including exploration and production, consists of about 7,000 companies who pull in a combined, estimated revenue of around £450 billion. However, the production and associated revenue are fragmented; around 10% of companies generate approximately 60% of this figure. Demand for oil and gas is caused by economic activity, population growth and the need for energy for residential, industrial and transportation uses. The growth of an individual company is determined by the success rate of new finds, as well as the ability to continue to produce from existing sites. Larger companies have the upper hand, having greater access to capital and the capacity to buy smaller...

The auto industry has been investing heavily on the development of alternative fuel vehicles as the demand for these vehicles increases. The increasing prices of gasoline and global warming awareness have led car manufacturers to dedicate efforts in exploring the different technologies which can be used on cars of the future. These technologies are aimed at reducing petroleum fuel consumption and thus reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. One of the car manufacturers aiming to build a zero-emission vehicle is the Detroit-based car manufacturing giant General Motors. In the company’s drive towards the development of the cars of the future, they have introduced a propulsion system for the...

Believe it or not, using natural energies is nothing new, in fact, we've been doing it for centuries. Using wind to power our boats, using the sun to solar power certain objects, but for some reason we haven't been using it. We've been using power plants and based our entire existence around those, but things can change. There are do it yourself guides out there that will teach you how to build your own solar powered or wind generator using everyday items you can find in the street. The change starts with you! Our energy needs have absolutely increased dramatically, exploded! So what's the solution, besides the obvious melting of icebergs, killing of forests, overall global warming - we are also...

Within this time of economic instability the utilities industry is being hit alongside all other sectors. But how much of an effect is the credit crunch really having on the sector and the people who work within it? Unfortunately dramatic effects on the utilities market are going to seen much more clearly than perhaps in other sectors. This is because utilities are a part of everyday life for everyone in the UK. At present, household utility bills are soaring across the board particularly utilities services such gas, electric and transport and arguably utilities services such as telecommunications (i.e. mobile and landline phones) will be hit too. On average it is believed that a household now pays...

Renewable energy is a very important topic today. Using a renewable source of energy not only benefits you by saving a lot of money, but also helps in making this earth a better place to live in. Hence, it is vital for us to consider the importance of renewable energy for kids and try to better educate them on this topic. A Brief Note On The Sources Of Renewable Energy For Kids First of all, try and teach your kids what renewable energy means. Renewable energy is that form of energy that doesn’t exhaust the non-renewable natural resources of the Earth. This means using renewable sources of energy, we do not use up fuels that cannot be recreated or made available again after they have been used...

Capping of gas and electricity prices is a mechanism through which customers are invited to pay a fix amount for a fixed period with fixed units of gas and electricity. Thus the energy prices will remain the same for you up to a specified date decided between you and your supplier. With non-capped prices we have to pay what is asked for. Once such option is taken, it allows an individual to relax forgetting about the prices’ fluctuations that may happen at any time. Even though these capped tariffs are around 10% to 15% higher than the cheapest non-capped tariffs available in the market, the fact remains that prices of gas and electricity always end up increasing. They never seem to go down. Thus...

Most people who want to become environmentalists don't do it for the money, but do it to protect the environment. Environmentalists help people make better decisions about using limited natural resources frugally. They help research on how to improve the environment, write articles on the environment and the air, give press releases and campaign. There are various types of environmentalists in many different positions. Necessary Education Whatever type of environmentalist you want to be, you should have a background in science. It's not only necessary but also helpful. It helps in researching for scientific purposes, engineering, technical consultation, hazardous waste recycling and other...

One of the consistent problems with solar platforms has been the inefficient conversion of sunlight to electricity. New technology and strategies are dealing with this issue. Concentrate, Concentrate Traditional power generating plants work by using a fuel, often fossil, to heat a liquid until it expands or turns into a gas. The pressure or gas than rotates a turbine, which cranks up a generator and produces the massive amounts of electricity we all take for granted. This is a time tested method and is used in coal, nuclear, hydropower and most major power sources. The concept is now being transferred to solar platforms in an effort to get more bang for the buck out of these clean energy platforms...

Despite all of the recent negative publicity surrounding fossil fuels, crude oil and natural gas has been beneficial for the growth of our modern world. It has helped the population have life after dark, transport goods all over the world, and allowed technology to advance. However, the use of fossil fuels has also resulted in many negative consequences: it has created severe pollution, political conflict, economic control and total dependence of countries that lack this natural resource. The supply of fossil fuels is limited, and it is only located in certain areas of the world. The demand for fossil fuels creates conflicts which threaten peace. Countries that have adequate fossil fuel supplies...

Gas prices getting you down? Got a vehicle that eats your money every time you fill it up? Well here are some of the alternative fuel vehicles currently available to you. I will tell you what alternative fuel is, why it is used, and where it comes from. I will also tell you about a few of the cars you may have an interest in. These cars are some of the cars currently available; Saturn Vue Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid. There are several more as well though. First let's start off by understand what alternative fuel vehicles are and what the fuel comes from. They come from sources other than petroleum, some from renewable resources, and some manmade. They certainly cause less...

When we talk with futurists, especially those that are serious environmentalists they want to shock us about what is going to happen in the future. Take Al Gore's famous docudrama about global warming, and you begin to see what I'm talking about. It is true that we need to pay attention to our environment and the ecology issues of our time. After all, we have to drink the water and breathe the air. The oceans also grow our food, and they are ultra-important for human life. If the air becomes too polluted we cannot breathe it without having health issues. And these are all things we must consider. If you are a "far left environmentalist" I can tell you of a great book to read that you will love. If...

The Competitive Electricity Market In the past one company provided all parts of your electricity service (generation, transmission and distribution, and retail sales). With competition, these parts are separated into different companies. Retail Electric Providers (REPs)/Electric Companies With electric competition, retail electric providers (also known as "REPs") sell electricity to you and routinely handle customer service and billing. REPs compete for your business by offering a variety of different pricing options, renewable energy options, added customer service benefits or other incentives. Note: Not all areas of the state are open to competition. The PUC has delayed retail competition for...

The oil and gas industry, including exploration and production, consists of about 7,000 companies who pull in a combined, estimated revenue of around �450 billon. However, the production and associated revenue are fragmented; around 10% of companies generate approximately 60% of this figure. Demand for oil and gas is caused by economic activity, population growth and the need for energy for residential, industrial and transportation uses. The growth of an individual company is determined by the success rate of new finds, as well as the ability to continue to produce from existing sites. Larger companies have the upper hand, having greater access to capital and the capacity to buy smaller...

Reduce your electric bill and help save the earth by building a windmill for your home. In the story, Man of La Mancha, Don Quixote went chasing after windmills looking for impossible dreams. You don't need to do that because it's not an impossible dream to construct your own wind turbine, and it's very affordable. Wind mills are also called wind turbines. Wind turbines are very popular in the United States and all over the world. Many private homes already have them. In rural areas, they are actually necessary to bring electric to homes that are not tied into the power company's grid. Extra electricity that isn't used can be sold back to the power company, so you will receive money from the...

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (also called PHEV) is a car that has batteries that can be recharged through a conventional outlet. PHEVs have both traditional internal combustion engines and batteries that can fully power the car by themselves. The advantage of PHEVs is that when they run on their electric charge only it is estimated they cost about 20-30% of what they would running on gas. Not only does this benefit the consumer, it is also great news for the environment, as these cars reduce air pollution and the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. The future is bright for plug in hybrids. The first PHEVs by large commercial carmakers will be produced in 2009, with even...

Natural Gas Powers Texas According to the US Department of Energy, Texas produces and consumes more electricity than any other state. Over half of Texas' energy comes from natural gas-powered generation plants. Texas produces 25% of the nation's natural gas and is the largest producer; storing and supplying via pipeline for all regions of the country. Yet while Texas has large reserves of low grade coal, most of what is burned in its coal-fired plants is brought in via train from Wyoming and Montana. So, it makes sense for Texas electric power generators to rely more on the supply of natural gas in our back yard rather than waiting for the next 10,000 tons of coal to roll in from Wyoming. It burns...

The outlook for natural gas remains negative as the supply of the fuel outstrips demand. This situation will remain in place throughout the 2009-2010 heating season, unless the U.S. experiences an extremely cold winter. The earliest this situation will change will be during the 2010 - 2011 heating season, when available supply might be lower. Until then investors should tread carefully when considering the natural gas market. Natural Gas Demand According to the Energy Information Agency (EIA) the natural gas outlook predicts decline in total natural gas consumption to decline by 1.3 percent in 2009 followed by an increase by 0.6 percent in 2010 (Total U.S. Natural Gas Consumption Growth). Growth...

When homeowners are going green, they not only help the environment but also save money in the process. However, they do not know the true impact of their decisions. Here we will look at how you can save money and the environment at the same time. Purchase Energy Efficient Appliances Most homeowners want to save money on their utility bills and thus purchase energy efficient appliances. The cost of operating a more efficient device, in most cases, will pay for itself in the energy that they save over time, thus making it cheaper to purchase energy efficient versions of common household products. How does that help the environment? Let's consider the amount of electricity that is saved. Anytime...