Solar Electricity Will Soon Become Cheap Enough to Take Over US Energy

The Ivanpah Solar Thermal Facility.. just a short drive from Las Vegas!

After years of struggling as the "too-expensive-to-be-practical" renewable energy source, solar power is finally becoming cheap enough to actually matter in the United States. A new report from Deutsche Bank predicts that solar-generated electricity will soon become a true alternative to natural gas, oil, coal, and other conventional fossil fuel sources in many places throughout the US.

And it will happen incredibly soon... 2016 according to the DB analysts!

Even if the government reduces tax credits (subsidies used to motivate people to install solar panels), solar energy will still be price competitive in more than half the country. This is due to vast improvements in solar technology, more affordable and easy-to-get financing, and the "mainstreaming" of the once exotic energy source.

We say: We live in Las Vegas, one of the world's sunniest cities. The sooner we can get "free" electricity to run the air conditioner and charge our Tesla, the better!!

Learn some mo': While You Were Getting Worked Up Over Oil Prices, This Just Happened to Solar

Photo source: flickr

The Scary Truth About the Future of Bananas

Much like bee-pollinated foods, the future of one of the world's favorite fruits is very much in doubt:



We think it's time for a banana science revolution!

More Carbon Dioxide in Air = Greener Deserts

Apparently all the carbon dioxide gas building up in Earth's atmosphere is helping to make its deserts greener, according to a new report from the Geophysical Research Letters scientific journal. Researchers found that "leaf cover" in arid areas (dry deserts in the US, Australia, the Middle East, and Africa) have increased by 11 percent in just the past 30 years, most likely due to increased photosynthesis from rising CO2 levels.

The research confirms the theories held by many global climate experts: more carbon "plant food" equals more plants all over the planet Earth. Other studies have shown that vegetation has increased everywhere, not just in the deserts and that warming temperatures and increased rainfall may also be having a strong effect.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide, which has increased nearly 15% in the past 30 years, seems to be especially fueling tree growth. According to Australian researcher Randall Donohue:

"Trees are reinvading grasslands, and this could quite possibly be related to the carbon dioxide effect... Long lived woody plants are deep rooted and are likely to benefit more than grasses from an increase in carbon dioxide... The effect of higher carbon dioxide levels on plant function is an important process that needs greater consideration"

We say: Good news! Who cares if rising CO2 levels are raising sea levels... the Las Vegas desert needs more palm trees!

Learn some mo': Carbon Dioxide Greening Deserts

New Clean Energy Production Method Might Lower Carbon Dioxide Levels Too!

Scientists may have discovered a new technique that solves many of the world's energy problems, and a few of its environmental problems too. A new report from researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory describes a way to produce ultra-clean hydrogen fuel while capturing CO2 and neutralize ocean acidification... all at the same time.

The potential giant leap in clean energy production involves mixing salt water and silicate minerals and then running an electrical current through the solution (aka "electrolysis"). By using a novel and relatively simple technique, all kinds of good things happen, including increasing the carbon content of the water greatly while simultaneously creating acid-reducing bicarbonate.

Experts say this technique produces "super-green" hydrogen because, unlike most methods (which are "carbon neutral" at best), it actually consumes CO2. The biggest obstacle will be lowering the cost and scaling the technology up in a way that makes real-world production economically viable. Also, technological hurdles like hydrogen gas storage and transportation problems must be overcome to make this a long-term clean energy solution.

Still, there is great hope that this new technology will lead to an abundance of clean fuel as well as a possible reduction in greenhouse gases. According to Greg Rau, study co-author:

"We think this suggests a process that is significantly cheaper and safer than other chemical air capture methods that have been proposed."

Learn some mo': Scientists Invent Super-Clean Hydrogen Fuel Technique That Could Save Us All

Lockheed Graphene: Cheap Seawater Desalination on the Way!

Here's some really good news for people who like to drink water, grow food, and bathe on a regular basis...

Well-known missile-builder Lockheed Martin has found a way to get the salt out of seawater that requires much less energy and is way cheaper than traditional methods. Some experts believe the discovery, based around ultra-thin carbon membranes called "graphene" filters, has the potential to solve many of the world's very serious potable water problems.

Unlike normal reverse osmosis -- the most common method for desalinating seawater -- the new Lockheed method doesn't require huge, high-power pumping stations and a ton of electricity to push the water through the Perforene graphene filters. Their thinness -- about the width of an atom -- allows them to function at much lower water pressures.

According to head Lockheed engineer John Stetson:

"[The graphene is] 500 times thinner than the best filter on the market today and a thousand times stronger... The energy that's required and the pressure that's required to filter salt is approximately 100 times less... It's all little carbon atoms tied together in a diaphanous, smooth film that's beautiful and continuous.... The amount of work it takes to squeeze that water through the torturous path of today's best membranes is gone..."

We say: Living here in the Las Vegas/Mojave desert, we have a very good understanding of the importance of fresh, drinkable water. Hopefully this new desalination technology will help keep the Bellagio's fountains running. Oh, and also save the lives of billions of people throughout the world in the future....

Learn some mo': Weapons-maker finds method for cheap, clean water

PiCycle: The Coolest Electric Bike on the Road

Here's something we've suspected since the oil price jumps of 2005: electric bicycles are going to be BIG. It's taken longer than expected for them to begin really catching on but it's finally happening. And the new PiCycle hybrid electric/manual bike is leading the pack.

The environmentally friendly "electrobike" is incredibly cool looking. It's not easy to make any bicycle -- electric or not -- look significantly different from other models. but the designers at Pi Mobility have done a pretty good job doing exactly that.

The PiCycle's swooping arch frame design will definitely get looks as you roll down the street. It will also provide you a very cheap mode of transportation as well as some good cardiovascular exercise. The newest model even features built-in WiFi technology that will track your PiCycle if it gets stolen or misplaced!

Reviewers say the PiCycle is fast, stable, exhilarating, and just plain fun to ride. It's ideal for going up and down hills with minimal effort, due to its efficient 750 watt battery-powered motor. It has a 20-mile range at 20 mph with no pedaling. If you do want to pedal it'll let you go 30 miles at up to 30 mph. The price: $3,000 for a single-speed and $5000 for an eight-speed... "PiFi" included.

New materials and construction techniques are allowing a whole new type of bicycle to be made. They get you where you need to go and you don't have to worry about gas prices or hurting the environment. As oil prices continue to rise we think the PiCycle and the new generation of e-bikes are going to explode in popularity!

Learn some mo': Artsy Smartsy Electric Bicyles

Industrial Chemicals Causing Jump in US Autism Rates?

Autism in children may be caused by toxic chemicals in everyday products, according to new research. Currently, about 1 in 110 children in the US has some form of autism and the numbers are increasing rapidly... too rapidly to be explained simply by genetics, increased awareness, or a broader definition of the condition.

Experts say that increasing amounts of environmental chemicals could be the primary cause of the jump in autism rates. Some children appear have more genetic susceptibility to toxic chemicals, causing the development of autism in the womb and possibly after birth.

(Interestingly, a recent study showed that women with high-risk autism genotypes who took prenatal multi-vitamins were less likely to have a child with autism. But the study was relatively small and not definitive.)

Environmental health experts are calling for more government regulation of the chemicals used in household products and released into the environment every day. According to the Director of Program Research at The Autism Society, Donna Ferullo:

"We live, breathe and start our families in the presence of toxic chemical mixtures and constant low-level toxic exposures, in stark contrast to the way chemicals are tested for safety... Lead, mercury, and other neurotoxic chemicals have a profound effect on the developing brain at levels that were once thought to be safe."

The brain and central nervous system of a fetus is extremely sensitive to a wide array of chemicals, especially ones that disrupt hormones like androgens and estrogens. Certain pesticides, traffic pollution, flame-retarding chemicals used in things like furniture, the common plastics chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), and a variety of anti-microbials found in soaps and cosmetics have all been shown to interfere with natural hormone production. And they could all definitely play a role in autism.

New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg has proposed stricter regulations on industrial chemicals, forcing companies to more carefully test their products for safety. We sincerely hope he succeeds!

Learn some mo': Scientists warn of chemical-autism link

Google Will Invest Millions in New Solar Energy Project

Search engine company Google will invest nearly $170 million in a huge new solar energy plant in the Mojave Desert, according to a new statement. The money will go to BrightSource Energy and its "Ivanpah" solar electric generating system, which will use solar thermal power to create cheap, clean, and reliable electricity.

The new project will use technology based around "power towers," which involve aiming sunlight at receivers on the tops of large towers using special heliostat mirrors. The receivers heat water to produce steam, which turns turbines and generates the electricity. So basically it will direct huge amounts of focused solar energy onto very small areas, which will produce electricity very efficiently.

The Ivanpah project the will be the largest solar energy project of its kind in the world and should be completed by 2013. It represents a major increase in Google "green energy" investment profile, which has been growing since the company was granted status as a public utility last year.

Google got into the cheap, environmentally-friendly energy game in order to power its own humongous dater centers. But now it appears that the tech giant has much bigger plans and may one day become a major player in the clean energy industry.

We say: This is GREAT! Solar energy is undoubtedly part of the overall solution for weaning ourselves off of dirty oil, gas, and coal energy and we hope more companies take similar steps (especially here in Las Vegas!).

Learn some mo': Google Invests in World’s Largest Solar Power Tower Plant

eBay Will Buy Your Old Electronics (Really Cheap)

eBay is launching a new service that will help you sell all those old electronics sitting around your house. Their new "InstantSale" program will allow you to trade old cell phones, mp3 players, iPods, computers, etc. for money. According to eBay one of the goals is to recycle the old gadgets, keep them from filling up landfills, and, hopefully, help save the environment. We're sure there's also a nice profit to be had buying "outdated" electronics for super cheap prices and then reselling them and/or their internal parts...

Still, if you have good stuff, you can make some decent money in a relatively quick and easy way. A Droid Eris in good condition, for example, will earn you nearly $90! Even worthless old electronic junk can be gotten rid of for free using eBay's new system.

There have been other similar services offered in the past, but eBay's counting on its 90+ million user base to help it get real traction. At the very least, we now have another option for getting rid of all those gadgets so many of us have sitting around. An option that can earn us some cash! :)

Learn some mo': EBay's Instant Sale Offers Cash for Old Electronics

Oil-Eating Microbe: Nature's Solution to Gulf Coast Oil Spill?

A newly discovered type of oil-eating bacteria may be nature's own solution to cleaning up the giant BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. That's good new because just a few days ago scientists released a report showing that an oil plume the size of Manhattan is still lurking about 3000 feet below the surface of the water.

According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's findings there is "a great potential for bacteria to help dispose of oil plumes in the deep-sea." And here's more good news: not only does the ocean bacteria help to bio-degrade crude oil in deep, cold water... it does so without lowering the oxygen levels in the water.

That means that it probably won't create large "dead zones" of low-oxygen seawater, a problem that already exists in the Gulf.

Learn some mo': 'Opportunistic' Bacteria Feasting Slowly on Underwater Oil in Gulf

US Solar Company Will Build Plants in China

Looks the US is finally going to sell something to China! California solar energy company eSolar Inc. has announced that it will help build several solar thermal power plants in China, a major polluter that wants to decrease its reliance on dirty energy sources (mainly coal, gas, and oil). The power farms will cost about $5 billion dollars and will be able to produce about 2000 megawatts of energy when completed, not an insignificant amount of juice.

This is a good step forward, both for international trade and the world's climate!

Learn some mo': ESolar lands 2,000-megawatt deal in China

Tags: solar thermals