Welcome!

Welcome to PainlessPump - a collection of blog articles about the most important topics in US and world 'green' energy, economy, technology, and policy issues delivered by others in the community to you!
Texas Renewable Energy Assessment is out PDF Print E-mail
Policy - Policy
Wednesday, 14 January 2009 10:05
The new State Energy Conservation Office report regarding the Renewable Energy Potential of Texas is now available online at:

http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/publications/renewenergy/

This report is an update from the original 1995 report. As another major reference

Myself and Dr. Michael Webber are co-authors on the chapter regarding energy from water resources in Texas. This water chapter is not that exciting for Texas, but we do describe some of the latest concepts in the chapter. You can also see how much (really how little) electric generation comes from hydropower while you recall the large impact that the Colorado River hydropower facilities on the quality of life for those in the Hill Country. Thank LBJ for lobbying ... or whatever he did to "get things done" ... for those back in his early days.

For further general reference, also see the State Comptroller"s Texas Energy Report on overall energy resources and usage in Texas.

Visit my Blog...

 

Time Scales and Quality of Life: How they define our Future

Since before Roe vs. Wade (1973) … the United States populace has been divided on how to treat the current/potential “quality of life” of the unborn who are not capable of expressing will of their own. For the past 20... Read more

Policy | | Thursday, 22 November 2007

The net energy cliff

News image

Charles Hall, the father of the energy return on investment (EROI) concept, once told me that our current society would probably not be able to function if the EROI for the entire society slipped below five.What does that mean? First,... Read more

Policy | | Sunday, 14 September 2008

Some elements of a proper energy policy

A proper Energy Policy in the United States would promote (1) clarity of purpose, (2) diversification of use of energy resources, and (3) more transparent and accurate pricing of energy such that the market (consumers and energy companies) can properly... Read more

Policy | John | Thursday, 22 November 2007

Alternative fuels taxes may be scrapped

AustralianFriday 18/7/2008 Page: 4NEW taxes on alternative fuels including LPG could be delayed or scrapped by the Rudd Government under a compensation deal to balance the inflationary impact of its carbon trading scheme. In a separate measure, Treasurer Wayne Swan... Read more

Policy | | Augustonday, 11 August 2008

Deregulated vs. Regulated Energy Prices

In Texas in 1999, Senate Bill 7 created a deregulated electricity market within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). Some areas opted not to join into the fun of a deregulated market, where consumers could choose their retail electricity... Read more

Policy | | TUSEDAY, 4 December 2007

Steve Rayner: Dear Mr. President, Deal with Climate Change

Steve Rayner, climate policy expert and lead author of The Wrong Trousers: Radically Rethinking Climate Policy (PDF), is featured in this month"s Wired Magazine. He"s on the "2008 Smart List: 15 People the Next President Should Listen To" (no matter... Read more

Policy | | Wednesday, 1 October 2008

New Energy Bill

The US Congress passed an energy bill yesterday and Bush signed it into law. It is both a step backward and forward for energy policy. See this CS Monitor article for a synopsis.Creating a higher CAFE standard to get to... Read more

Policy | | Thursday, 20 December 2007

Offshoring Energy and Emissions - Coming back from Developing to Developed Countries

A recent study in the journal in Environmental Science and Technology discusses the "embodied carbon" in global trade. The concept of embodied effects in global trade has been noted by scientists and engineers by estimating such aspects as the energy... Read more

Policy | | Friday, 1 February 2008

Review: Lester Brown's Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization

News image

You may want to read this book by starting with Part II. Either that or make sure all the knives are locked away so you won't slit your wrists during Part I.Lester Brown has his facts straight and uses them liberally,... Read more

Policy | John | Sunday, 31 August 2008

Eiffel Tower Goes Dark to Prove a Point

News image

Twenty thousand light bulbs were added to the Eiffel Tower to mark the new millennium, and because people like things that sparkle, the tower is lit every night for 10 minutes. However, Paris officials have decided to cut back and... Read more

Policy | | Wednesday, 3 September 2008

China sets its own powerful agenda

WHILE many bemoan the fact China has not signed the Kyoto Protocol, the country has its own agenda when it comes to tackling climate change. China is the second largest consumer of energy in the world so its government has... Read more

Policy | | Sunday, 24 August 2008

PM's carbon target plans face rethink

Summaries - Australian Financial ReviewMonday 21/7/2008 Page: 1A proposal to give parliament the task of annually setting carbon reduction targets in an emissions trading scheme (ETS) looks set to be scrapped by the Rudd Government. The proposal is part of... Read more

Policy | | Thursday, 14 August 2008

More in: Policy

100%
-
+
12
Show options