solar power

The 2015 Corporate Leaders in Renewable Energy

Corporate interest in utility-scale renewable energy is heating up. According to CleanTechnica, six Fortune 500 companies reached purchase agreements for solar and wind power in 2015. Hopefully we are witnessing a race for renewable energy megawatts. The results so far -

These six companies ordered a total 710 megawatts of renewable energy this year, which by a current average of 164 homes/MW is enough to power approximately 116,000 homes.  Three of the companies are in the technology industry, one in the auto industry, and one in healthcare.  The current leader, Dow Chemical, is in the chemical industry.

Hearty congratulations to these companies for leading the way!

The year is still young. It’s time to hear from other Fortune 500 companies. 

Tesla Gigafactory: Making high-end battery powered cars affordable

“Very shortly, we will be ready to share more information about the Tesla Gigafactory. This will allow us to achieve a major reduction in the cost of our battery packs and accelerate the pace of battery innovation. Working in partnership with our suppliers, we plan to integrate precursor material, cell, module and pack production into one facility. With this facility, we feel highly confident of being able to create a compelling and affordable electric car in approximately three years. This will also allow us to address the solar power industry’s need for a massive volume of stationary battery packs.”

Read more at http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/23/will-telsa-build-gigafactory/#iXlHivbtRi2d6cbj.99

German solar industry: "A mission too well accomplished"

The traditional energy industry in Germany is stressing about solar power. According to Clean Technica:

On this sunny day in Germany [Tuesday, March 20], PV solar will once again provide about 8% of the total German electricity demand of the day. As I write this, PV solar generates about 16 GW of electricity, approximately 25% of the entire German electricity demand at noon. Hard coal & gas generate less than 10 GW combined….

Solar power is working for Germany and the traditional energy industries know it:

Since those coal, gas, oil and uranium trading corporations (E.On, RWE, BASF, Vattenfall, RAG…) are quite influential and powerful, they are working very hard to kill solar now, before it kills them….

SUNDAY PALEO / September 25, 2011

Arches_2.jpg

Arches National Park. Image: CyberMed, LLC

ENERGY

Canada's Geothermal Resources Could Power the Country One Million Times Over

"Heavy concentrations of geothermal stores near the surface in the Northern and Western parts of Canada (including British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon and Northwest Territories) are the stars of the new report, though resources exist across the country." - EcoGeek

Teen’s invention boosts solar panel output 40 percent

"Unlike other devices that let solar panels move to follow the sun, the SunSaluter doesn't use a motor -- instead, it turns because the different metals it's made of expand in the sun at different rates. That means Full's invention is about 1/60th as expensive as traditional solar trackers -- $10 versus $600 -- and simple enough to be maintained by kids in developing communities." - Grist

GOING PALEO

How Ken Korg Got the Ball Rolling

"Ken Korg’s doctor has been on his back since the last physical, pushing Crestor and blood pressure meds on him. He doesn’t want to end up like his father did, wedded to the pill organizer for the last fifteen years of his life, but he also doesn’t want an early heart attack." - Mark's Daily Apple 

NUTRITION

Organic Farming Outperforms Conventional Practices in 30-Year Study

"America's farming techniques affect the health of our families, our communities, and our planet. The Farming Systems Trial shows that organic farming is the healthiest and safest way to feed the world, provide much-needed jobs, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and protect precious natural resources," says Mark Smallwood, Executive Director of Rodale Institute. - SustainableBusiness.com

Chocolate Good for Heart?

"Researchers from the UK and Colombia say their meta-analysis of seven studies focused on chocolate and a reduction in heart disease shows eating small amounts of chocolate could reduce the risk of heart disease by 37%, and the risk of stroke by 29%." - Care2

SUCCESS STORIES

The Unconquerable Dave: Still Unconquerable

"Back in January I received an email from an all-cap typing, keg-throwing, tree-climbing Primal enthusiast with a grizzly beard and an indomitable spirit that blew me (and eventually Mark’s Daily Apple readers) away. His name? PAPA GROK, aka DAVEMAN, aka The Unconquerable Dave. If you haven’t read his original story take a gander now." - Mark's Daily Apple

Success Story: Gus VanDerVoort

"I had what I called the 'H disease' -- hypertension, high blood pressure and heartburn. I was 50 pounds overweight, lethargic, couldn't move. I felt like an old man, and I was only 48," said the Bartlett resident. "My doctor wanted to put me on two more prescription meds; that was the straw that broke the camel's back." - The Commercial Appeal 

TERRA

Water Evaporated from Trees Cools Global Climate, Researchers Find

"This shows us that the evaporation of water from trees and lakes in urban parks, like New York's Central Park, not only help keep our cities cool, but also helps keep the whole planet cool." - ScienceDaily

URBAN FARMING

The rise of urban farming

"There is a population and culture that is finally saying that all this processed stuff is not good and the only way we can guarantee that food we use is safe is to grow it ourselves." - The Christian Science Monitor

Cities ease rules to encourage urban farms

"City Farm is among farms sprouting in cities across the nation to meet demand for locally grown food and to make vacant lots productive and attractive. Cities are changing zoning rules not just to allow more and bigger urban farms but to encourage them." - Tucson Citizen