Yesterday’s New York Times contained a sobering assessment by Elizabeth Rosenthal on the impact of global economic turmoil on any progress toward a low-carbon energy future.
While Western governments seem determined to adopt meaningful carbon caps, she points out, several significant renewable-energy projects have already been stalled by the recent drop in the price of oil. One example: On Nov. 12, T. Boone Pickens announced he’s putting his West Texas wind farm project on hold until energy prices rebound.
Serious recessions have usually suppressed energy use. This time around, the serious slow-down in Chinese industrial production will forestall the construction of new coal plants there, while reduced driving worldwide should cut carbon emissions temporarily.
Nonetheless, according to Dr. James Hansen and his research team, the carbon clock is at midnight.
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SOLAR TODAY Blog 
Space solar power satellites are the power source of the future. There is simply no way that Earth-based PV, even in combination with wind, tidal, geothermal and a massive conservation effort can provide the energy requirements for even our OWN growing industrial ase, let alone to bring the developing nations into the 21st century and make all humans well off. Why is it that I find NO MENTION OF SSPS ON THIS SITE? Is this not the American SOLAR ENERGY Assn.? So what gives? Even the Pentagon has recently evinced interest in developing SSPS, recognizing that the nation and the world both have need of the energy potential inherent in SSPS. Why then do we see no mention in the pages of SOLAR TODAY or on the ASAS site, either? I can’t wait to hear your answer to this…it makes so little sense that I can’t imagine a scenario where it would be sensible to withhold information on this vital field of SOLAR ENERGY generation.
Comment by Victor Smith December 9, 2008 @ 5:36 amNo worries, Victor. Check out the upcoming March issue of SOLAR TODAY.
Comment by Seth Masia December 9, 2008 @ 3:23 pmEffective Dec. 9, 2008, the SOLAR TODAY blog has moved to http://solartoday.org/blog
Comment by Seth Masia December 9, 2008 @ 9:26 pm