As the Jan. 1, 2013, “fiscal cliff” approaches, one of the most divisive issues in Congress is whether to extend tax credits for wind power that are scheduled to expire at the end of 2012. The political battle lines among… Continue Reading
Natural gas seems poised to make dramatic inroads into the transportation sector for long-haul trucks, given a powerful combination of high diesel prices, a company making large investments in building a nationwide network of stations, and major manufacturers eagerly producing the trucks. A widespread shift to natural gas would have a substantial impact on America’s oil consumption; long-haul trucks, i.e., “big rigs” or “18-wheelers,” transport goods all around the country, and they consumed about 1.9 million barrels a day b/d of oil in 2010. Continue Reading
When it comes to green vehicles in the next couple decades, we actually should be turning our attention to the seemingly dirty 20th-century technology — the conventional gasoline engine. Proposed fuel economy standards through 2025 should dramatically improve efficiency and reduce GHG emissions, while increasingly stringent air quality standards should continue to reduce smog-forming pollutants of these “advanced gasoline” vehicles. Emissions from advanced gasoline vehicles could fall more rapidly than those from electrics and sometimes be a better choice for the environment. Continue Reading
Is ethanol a green fuel or just greenwash? The current U.S. biofuels program that promotes corn-based ethanol is far from environmental sustainability and should be dramatically revamped, concludes a new policy paper by the Baker Institute Energy Forum. Current policy… Continue Reading