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Energy Literacy Advocates (ELA) is a non-partisan, non-profit, public education and advocacy group dedicated to improving the energy literacy of all sectors of our democracy in order to empower a comprehensive national energy policy that is responsible and sustainable. Stay tuned for updated energy news!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

On Carbon, Tax and Don’t Spend

The following op-ed piece from the NY Times offers an interesting perspective on the subject of carbon taxation. It uses Denmark as an example of how a carbon tax can work, but with a twist - all tax revenues were returned to the industrial companies paying them as subsidies for the adoption of clean technologies or energy sources.

Read the article.

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posted by Jamie Lang at 3:00 PM 0 comments

Mileage at top of car buying list

There are at least some signs that consumers are beginning to change their car buying habits based on the higher cost of gasoline. While the tipping point may yet be to come, at least attitudes are acknowledging the higher cost of fuel.

Read the article.

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posted by Jamie Lang at 2:54 PM 0 comments

Monday, March 24, 2008

U.S. Air Force Mulling "Green" Fuel Options

Great Falls, Montana and the nearby Malmstrom Air Force Base are centerpoints in the U.S. Air Force plan to develop a private coal-to-diesel plant. This plan also includes goals to increase synthetic fuel consumption, so that by 2016 alternatives account for half of the fuel supply. Currently, the Air Force allocates $4.5 billion annually to aviation fuel alone, a price tag that only continues to rise.

Tests in 2006 demonstrated that synthetic fuels can perform at high altitudes, prompting the Air Force to begin seeking a supplier. Proponents of coal-to-liquid technology hail the Air Force's strategy as a jump-start to the industry.

To read more about these developments, click here.

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posted by Amanda Voss at 2:13 PM 0 comments

Friday, March 21, 2008

Inertia Foils Efforts to Curb Fuel Use

Here is an interesting article about why economic incentives are needed for both consumers and producers.

Read the article here.

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posted by Jamie Lang at 2:09 PM 0 comments

The Joule Standard

While fairly technical in nature, this article about adopting a joule standard in order to easily compare energy sources is well put...


Read the article.

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posted by Jamie Lang at 1:36 PM 0 comments

Thursday, March 20, 2008

EPA Accepting Proposals for Clean Diesel Project

Five million is up for grabs as part of the National Clean Diesel Campaign, authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will target appropriated funds toward five Midwestern states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. How to qualify? Innovators can receive grants for their proposals aimed at diesel emission reduction.

The EPA estimates that projects will likely include engine upgrades, cleaner fuel use, and vehicle or equipment replacement. To learn more about this campaign, click here.

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posted by Amanda Voss at 1:13 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Winds of Change: Corporations Lend Names to Wind Farms

In this New York Times article, a new trend in corporate branding is revealed - companies rushing to provide their names and funds to wind farms. Businesses from John Deere to Steelcase furniture are investing both in construction and energy credits from these farms, hoping to reap the profits both from alternative energy and a responsible corporate image.

For the full article on this green corporate trend, click here.

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posted by Amanda Voss at 12:30 PM 0 comments

Friday, March 14, 2008

EPA Expands Diesel Emission Standards

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed stronger than anticipated diesel emission standards today from Houston, Texas. Applicable to trains and shipping, the EPA's action matches those emission guidelines already applicable to large diesel trucks and buses, and for construction, mining and agricultural equipment.

This article further describes the EPA's new standards, which aim to aid communities in achieving better ozone standards.

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posted by Amanda Voss at 10:17 AM 0 comments

Friday, March 7, 2008

GM Aims at More Efficient Ethanol in New Partnership

General Motor's partnership with biology-based renewable energy firm Coskata Inc, first announced at the January 2008 North American International Auto Show, seeks to revolutionize ethanol fuels. Coskata's production scheme boasts not only $1/per gallon production costs, but minimal water use and greater energy efficiency during ethanol generation.

While cheaper than gasoline, ethanol currently available to drivers is also 25 to 30 percent less efficient than the fossil fuel. To overcome this limitation, Coskata's bioreformer method utilizes a refined microbial blend to produce a 99.7 pure ethanol end product, avoiding additional end costs which plague catalytic production systems.

GM and Coskata plan to open a 40,000 gallon capacity demonstration facility later this year, with a 100 million gallon production facility slated for 2011.

The full article is available on page 37 in the April 2008 edition of "Motor Trend," Volume 60, Number 4.

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posted by Amanda Voss at 3:37 PM 0 comments

Americans Start to Curb Their Thirst for Gasoline

Finally we are beginning to see the answer to a long asked question - when will American's gasoline consumption start to decrease due to higher prices? While years ago many ecomonists thought prices above $2 per gallon would do the trick, our growth in consumption has slowed, but not halted - until now.

Read the article.

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posted by Jamie Lang at 12:00 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Bush Emphasizes Energy Goals at Washington International Conference

In this article, President Bush delineates federal plans to increase the United States' energy security. Bush delivered these remarks today to the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference.

Bush's remarks emphasize the December 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), which includes mandates increasing vehicle fuel economy and an aggressive renewable fuels quota. Further EISA provisions encompass home lighting and appliance efficiency standards, and federal loan guarantees to support alternative energy research.

This article additionally provides highlights of recent federal developments in energy policy, both domestically and internationally.

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posted by Amanda Voss at 5:42 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Oil Supply and the Economy

ELA readers will note there are two distinct arguments going on right now about oil supplies. One is about the geological oil supplies remaining, the other is about effective affordable oil supplies remaining.

This article discusses geologic oil supplies and the future, but note it does not address the affordability of these supplies (remember we stopped burning wood for heating needs long before all of the world's forests were chopped down - why?, because coal came along as a cheap solution - we need a similar transition to sustainable energy sources now).

This article discusses the effects of increased oil prices on the economy - perhaps a more relevant consideration than when geological supplies will peak.

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posted by Jamie Lang at 3:57 PM 0 comments

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