We at the Energy Blog are big fans of geothermal energy, which is produced when water runs across hot rocks beneath the earth’s surface. The Geysers, the largest single producing geothermal energy field in the world, is in California, not far from the Bay Area, where the Energy Blog’s newspapers are located. (Check out our video of the place, hot rocks, splattering mud and all.)
Well dang, looks like Oregon, our poky ol’ neighbor to the north, has pulled off a coup that leaves California, so-called clean energy leader with our Million Solar Roofs plan and tons of other legislation promoting low carbon and sustainability, in the dust. (Check the YouTube video of the groundbreaking ceremony, above.) The Oregon Department of Transportation is rolling out the nation’s first solar-panel project on a major U.S. highway on Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 in Oregon, Associated Press reported.
It’s predicted that by the end of this year, a row of solar panels about 5 feet wide and two football fields long will begin generating enough electricity to the state’s electricity distribution system to provide 28 percent of the energy needed to power lights at the interchange at night.
Finally a presidential candidate to bring us all together - Paris Hilton. While the entire world is doing somersaults over the fact that Hilton responded to presidential hopeful John McCain’s attack ads suggesting Barack Obama is as shallow as she is, nobody seems to be addressing Hilton’s tongue-in-cheek energy policy. She suggests expanding offshore drilling (McCain’s suggestion) until government incentives for auto manufacturers to make hybrids (Obama’s idea) kick in.
The problem is, any benefits from expanding offshore drilling wouldn’t kick in until 2018, according to the U.S. Government’s Energy Information Administration. So it’s more likely that government subsidies could carry the day until then, though it’s not like such subsidies would take effect immediately. One instantaneous solution: If we all slowed down to 55, which requires no Congressional or presidential action. It’s a thought!
Our pals at Wired.com (well, Chuck Squatriglia, to be exact) alerted us to this amazing creation, the Airflow by Pierre Sabas of France, made entirely of glass. Whether this gorgeous vehicle actually is gonna save a whole lot o’ gas is even now being debated in the comments section to this post over at Wired.
Okay, we know gas is flying off the shelves lately, so to speak, but this is ridiculous. Authorities arrested a man accused of filling up on plane fuel at the gas pumps at Reid-Hillview Airport in East San Jose, our sister publication the San Jose Mercury News reported July 29.
Police arrested Justin Rodebush, 20, but wouldn’t provide any more information Monday about the suspect or possible motives. He is accused of somehow getting through the locked gates at the airport and refueling his car at the self-serve pumps. Stupidity, desperation or controlled substances? Well, police arrested him on suspicion of DUI in addition to the charge of attempted theft. Jeezus, can’t people just settle for driving 55?
(Photo of man fueling up jet by Flickr user Tim Pritlove under Creative Commons license)
Though it’s geographically the biggest city in Contra Costa County, Richmond gets little respect. The “City of Pride and Purpose” is, alas, perhaps best known for violence and drugs; jobs have been scarce since the city flourished during World War II as a shipbuilding center.
Nuclear energy is getting a second look as concerns about greenhouse gases and global warming mount. Supporters include not only the governor, but environmentalist Stewart Brand, author of the Whole Earth Catalog. Learn more about it August 4 at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, starting at 6 p.m.
Well, dang. As many of us know, investing in crude oil has been blamed for the skyrocketing cost of this commodity, which in turn has boosted gas prices to all-time highs.
(As many of us also know, crude oil accounts for some 70 percent of the cost of gas.) But it’s looking like the crude oil investment bubble is deflating.
Crude-oil futures dropped more than two percent to below $123 a barrel this morning, extending crude’s weekly losses to nearly 5%, as economic worries continued and as the dollar gained ground, MarketWatch reported this morning.
“The exhibited selling pressure was a statement of acknowledgement of the adverse effect that high oil prices and credit market woes are having on the global economy,” said John Kilduff, an analyst at futures brokerage MF Global. Well, it’s about time, eh?
Yesterday I stopped at a little dirtbag El Cheapo gas station on San Pablo Dam Road between Orinda and Richmond. You know those little metal flaps that keep the gas flowing so you don’t have to stand there pumping the gas? The dang thing tore a hole in my finger. There I was literally bleeding at the pump. (Photo: blmurch)
We at the Energy Blog are big fans of geothermal energy, which is produced when water runs across hot rocks beneath the earth’s surface. The Geysers, the largest single producing geothermal energy field in the world, is in California, not far from the Bay Area, where the Energy Blog’s newspapers are located. (Check out our video of the place, hot rocks, splattering mud and all.)
Okay, we know gas is flying off the shelves lately, so to speak, but this is ridiculous. Authorities arrested a man accused of filling up on plane fuel at the gas pumps at Reid-Hillview Airport in East San Jose, our sister publication the San Jose Mercury News 
Nuclear energy is getting a second look as concerns about greenhouse gases and global warming mount. Supporters include not only the governor, but environmentalist Stewart Brand, author of the Whole Earth Catalog. Learn more about it August 4 at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, starting at 6 p.m.
Well, dang. As many of us know, investing in crude oil has been blamed for the skyrocketing cost of this commodity, which in turn has boosted gas prices to all-time highs.
Richard Lew e-mailed us to tell us about his approach to saving gas and sent the kickin’ photo of his van in response to 