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Five Energy Stories Worth Reading Today (6/26/14)

1 min. read

Here are five recommended reads for today (6/26/14).

Johnson Controls Forum: Energy Efficiency a Key Building Block for EPA Carbon Rule Compliance

2 min. read

Reported by: Bridgette N. Borst

Topics: Clean Economy

Solar Energy Marketing Expert David Briggs: Solar's Key Challenge Now is to "truly out-compete traditional energy"

5 min. read

David Briggs has long-standing experience in the solar industry, including three years at a cleantech communications firm and three years as Marketing Manager at microinverter manufacturer Enphase Energy. Briggs now works as Director of Marketing at mounting systems provider IronRidge. Recently, Briggs took a few minutes from his busy schedule to talk to us about an important topic for the solar industry: how best to engage and market to your customer base, and ultimately to "truly out-compete traditional energy." We greatly appreciate Briggs' insight-filled responses to our questions.

Topics: Marketing & Communications

Changing the Model for Building Solar and Wind Farms

3 min. read

By Tom Matzzie

Recent Conference Points to Potential Reliability, Renewable Energy Benefits of Microgrids

2 min. read

Recently, the Association for Demand Response and Smart Grid’s National Town Meeting in Washington, DC, brought together a variety of players including utilities, policymakers, software developers, and energy writers. The three-day conference kicked off with presentations and group discussions on the hotly debated topic of microgrids.

Yet Another Way in Which Dirty, Toxic Coal Threatens People's Health

2 min. read

We already know that mountaintop removal coal mining poses a serious threat to human health, with "people living near the destruction are 50% more likely to die of cancer and 42% more likely to be born with birth defects compared with other people in Appalachia." As if that's not bad enough, coal-fired power plants "release at least 5.5 billion pounds of pollution into the nation’s waterways every year, " with most "power plant water pollution permits (188 out of 274) hav[ing] no limits on how much
arsenic, boron, cadmium, lead, mercury, and selenium that these plants can discharge." Then there's the nasty air pollution from coal fired power plants leads to " premature death, heart attacks, lung damage, and a variety of other significant health problems" and "$100 billion in annual health costs." Plus, of course, coal is the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel, which means that coal-fired power plants are a major contributor to global warming.

Topics: Clean Economy

"Frack Master" and Other Recent Articles Highlight Gap Between Fracking Fact and Propaganda

2 min. read

A few recent news items highlight the absurdity of fossil fuel interests' fight for fracking, and also the media's sometimes less-than-optimal coverage of that fight.

AWEA, SEIA Leaders: Wind, Solar "two affordable, reliable, and business-friendly solutions" to Meet EPA Rules

1 min. read

We just wanted to highlight this morning's op-ed in The Hill by Tom Kiernan and Rhone Resch - the leaders of the American Wind Energy Association and the Solar Energy Industries Association, respectively, about how wind and solar are "two affordable, reliable, and business-friendly solutions" for America to meet the proposed new EPA carbon pollution rules. Here's an excerpt from the op-ed, with which we concur 100%.

Topics: Clean Economy

Koch Brothers Launching New "Seven Figures" Effort to Promote Dirty Energy; Trash Clean Energy and the Environment

2 min. read

Just when you think the Koch brothers can't get any more active in their relentless anti-environment and anti-clean energy efforts, they do just that.

How Little Will It Cost for States to Switch to Clean Energy?

1 min. read

This little.

US Department of Energy Investing $10 Million for Grid Reliability Projects

1 min. read

Good news from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Yet Another Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Action on Global Warming

1 min. read

Another day, another poll showing the same thing: that Americans overwhelmingly want action to combat global warming and are willing to pay to do so.

Topics: Clean Economy

Even the Pro-Fossil-Fuel Washington Post Editorial Page Calls for Tighter Controls on Fracking

1 min. read

Will wonders never cease? Even the generally pro-fossil-fuels Washington Post editorial page is edging towards concern about fracking's negative impact on the environment.

Topics: Clean Economy

New Study: Revenue-Neutral Carbon Tax "creates jobs, grows the economy, saves lives, and makes Americans richer"

3 min. read

McCarthy Group Study: "Millennials trust their friends, not advertising"

1 min. read

Ragan PR refers us to a new study by The McCarthy Group which demonstrates, yet again, that word of mouth and social media trump paid ads, particularly for young people.

Opower: EPA Carbon Goals "Achievable," "Huge Opportunity for Utilities"

3 min. read

We recently interviewed Paul De Martini of the Newport Consulting Group about the state of the U.S. smart grid market. According to De Martini: