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.FAST FIX: How the Smart Grid can save households almost $600 per year
If you need to quickly grasp the potential and benefits of the emerging smart grid in the U.S., this infographic is the best effort yet. It comes courtesy of the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative and its 90+ member utilities, technology companies, non-profits, regulators and consumers advocates. Increasing the power grid’s efficiency by 9% equates to [...]
Shale gas boom is THE energy story of 2010; what it means for renewables
While it poses numerous threats to groundwater, the production of Marcellus shale gas is changing just about every dimension of the U.S. energy outlook. In the recently released summary of its 2011 projections, The U.S. Energy Information Administration increased its estimate of U.S. natural gas supply pointing to a continuing low price per million cubic [...]
EVs, efficiency, offshore wind are driving U.S. clean tech job creation
With a bit of interpretation from yours truly, here’s a quick read on this year’s Clean Edge report on ‘Clean Tech’ job trends: 1. Clean-tech jobs are spouting in Mexico, not just China. It’s proximity to North American markets begs for more investment there. 2. Feed-in-fariffs are boosting renewable energy apptetites, but payment formulas can make progress unsustainable. Check out [...]
Smart Grid Means Different Things to Different Cultures
Perspectives converging at this week’s GridWeek 2010 conference in Washington, DC illustrate that a smarter grid means different things to different peoples. And therein lies a sizable challenge to vendors who operate on different continents: focus on the goals of each country’s leaders and deliver them while being sure to communicate their benefits to consumers. [...]
Clean energy rising – together – in Maryland
While most states struggle to juggle policy initiatives to foster the growth of different sources cleaner energy AND energy efficiency, at least one state is building a model that brings together the shared interests of these sometimes competing sectors: Maryland. The first-ever Maryland Clean Energy Summit Monday, Oct. 4 in Baltimore demonstrated that how ever [...]