Jim Pierobon is Founder and principal writer of The Energy Fix. He is a policy, marketing and social media strategist who has reported on, testified and consulted about smarter grids, cyber-security as it affects the power grid, fossil fuel shortages, price spikes, energy efficiency and the rise and fall -- and the rise again of nuclear and renewable energy sources.‘Energy Security Trust’ concept provides glimmer of bipartisan cooperation-but check the details
To hear Republican Lisa Murkowski, the ranking Republican on the U.S. Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee, agree with President Barack Obama on a major plank of blueprint initially outlined by a forward-thinking coalition of business and military leaders — the Energy Security Leadership Council — could lead one to think maybe a rock peeled [...]
Manage climate risks with this framework – whether you’re a believer or not
Whether one believes in the threats of a changing climate, or not, businesses are sticking their heads in the sand if they don’t at least acknowledge some degree of risk and manage it accordingly. I find it almost impossible to believe how corporate officers, policymakers, insurers, many investors and coastal property owners – to name [...]
Boone Pickens vs. Koch brothers over U.S. natural gas legislation while oil reaches $100, again
Call it a coincidence but there are undeniable linkages. Crude oil has risen once again is flirting with $100 a barrel. Meanwhile, legendary oilman T. Boone Pickens is ratcheting up his push for legislation that would boost the development of U.S. shale natural gas reserves and deploy the cleanest burning fossil fuel to supplant products [...]
What a third-party presidential candidate could do for U.S. energy policy 2013 and beyond
The shallow debates and partisan bickering even with the Republican Party does not bode well for a thoughtful, forward-looking evolution of U.S. energy policy after President Obama’s first term. With his administration scaling back commitments to cleaner energy and falling far short of substantive steps to end the “tyranny” of crude oil as he put [...]
Energy: now a national security priority for ALL the armed forces
For the first time, “energy” is a distinct military program or capability at the Pentagon — on par with troops, weapons and cyber skill sets. And with its just unveiled “Operational Energy Strategy” there is hope this ambitious blueprint could trigger significant new efficiency innovations in vehicles and deployment of onsite renewable sources of electricity. [...]
U.S. EPA app challenge holds promise, but will developers deliver?
The paucity of information and data available to U.S. citizens about the economic, environmental and health risks, consequences, costs and benefits of all forms of energy is a major impediment to an energy-literate society. More data and more information accessible on the Web and mobile devices almost certainly can help address this conundrum. Comes now [...]
Natural gas and renewables – a political AND energy fix this time around?
Put these pieces of America’s, if not the world’s, energy puzzle together and one could see a political AND energy fix combining a lot more natural gas-fueled transportation along with renewable sources of electricity and electric vehicles. As U.S. gasoline prices lurch toward $5 per gallon and Americans are reminded this ‘Earth Week’ of the [...]
U.S. Solar Decathlon looking for new location
For reasons the Obama Administration is not disclosing, the organizers of the very popular and competitive U.S. Solar Decathlon have decided to locate the sustainable home model projects event in late September 2011 away from the National Mall — the “nation’s front yard” — where it’s been held since its inception in 2002. All the [...]