RMI Outlet
Plug Into New Ideas
Take Me Out to the (Solar-Powered) Ballgame
Scoreboards big enough to be seen for miles, light fixtures bright enough to make the night seem like day, and enough deep fryers and beer coolers to satisfy the palates of 40,000 excited fans. Several franchises are tackling these energy challenges by installing renewable generation at their stadiums.
Natural Gas Boom Won’t Stall U.S. Renewables
The recent plummet of the natural gas spot price to a 28-month low about implications for renewable energy—the majority electrical generating component in RMI’s vision of the 2050 U.S. energy economy.
What’s Lighting Up the Web: Solyndra
The recent bankruptcy of Solyndra Energy resulted in a media frenzy that directed considerable attention and scrutiny to the clean energy industry. The failure of this solar company has been called a “black eye” for the renewable energy industry, the end of green jobs, and as David Roberts of Grist warned, a climategate-level mess.
Amory Lovins On Sustainable Business
This week, more than 130 cleantech leaders gathered to listen to renowned sustainability consultant Amory Lovins at the Northwest Energy Angels (client) luncheon hosted at REI. Lovins, who dropped out of Harvard but has 11 honorary doctorates, 29 book titles in his name (working on his 30th), named TIME’s Hero of the Planet, among dozens of other accolades, co-founded one of the most influential non-profits focused on the efficient and restorative use of resources – Rocky Mountain Institute.
Nuclear Power: Join the Live Debate
For four decades we have known modern energy systems could threaten civilisation in two ways—climate change and nuclear proliferation—so we must reject both fates, not trade one for the other. New nuclear build worsens both problems. It provides do-it-yourself bomb kits in civilian disguise. It reduces and retards climate protection by saving 2-10 times less carbon per dollar—and 20-40 times slower—than superior low- and no-carbon competitors. But taking economics seriously and buying those cheaper options instead can protect climate, peace and profits.