Author Archives: Austin Brentley

It’s Already Got Park Place and Boardwalk – Now Google Wants the Utilities

As early as 2004, Google aggressively began presenting itself as a socially conscious, corporate citizen, promoting green technologies and responsible conservation.  And thus, Google’s recent application with the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to buy and sell renewable energy at bulk prices hardly seems surprising.  This move is especially timely on the heels of [...]
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Jevons Paradox and the Curse of Energy Efficiency

When reading most any book on climate change, energy efficiency and conservation are often touted as the easiest and least painful methods to reduce CO2 emissions and erratic weather patterns. The basic rationale behind energy efficiency is simple enough – if you switch to compact florescent bulbs or a fuel-efficient car, you can achieve the [...]
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The US-China Solar Arms Race: a War with Two Victors

According to a speech delivered by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at last week’s Solar Power International conference in Anaheim, the US is in an “arms race” with China over solar energy manufacturing.  Both countries, working furiously, want to become the world’s default manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) technology.  With untold billions of dollars in potential revenue [...]
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