Comments on: Joe Powell: ‘Renewable energy needs more than just one silver bullet’

By: Rob

Rob — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:17:51 +0000

Hmmm
almost 40 years ago we had a manufactured energy crunch.All the Corporate energy structures were all going to get on a train and fix the problem.

That was FOUR DECADES AGO !.

Now ‘the cool fad’ is to be a green corporate entity, they are all here to help in the fight all of the sudden . This of course decades after mountain top removal,Air pollution,Toxic waste dumping,takeover of underdeveloped countries to exploit their resources and people,Pollution of the oceans and waterways.

The messiah’s of the world doing their part in your community.Give me a break. The only green these corporate entities are interested is ‘greenbacks,as in federal reserve notes.The easiest way to see whats going on is not only the money trail but the Bloodlines of the families that own these corporations.

Nothing against Mr Joe Powell,obviously a very intelligent man and a benefit to the corporation he works for, Perhaps us too but I would have to do more research to address that point.It is also good to see he is working on non food based fuels…Whoever came up with that biofuel from corn or food that the world needs to eat is ,well not real brilliant.

Thanks EarthSky,Mr Salazar,Mr Powell

By: Dr. C

Dr. C — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:36:21 +0000

I’m very disappointed in this interview. Though I do commend Shell for being among the best of the oil companies in their support of the introduction of renewables, they are still ONLY that–of the best among the OIL COMPANIES that by and large benefit from having things change as little as possible, which includes combustible alternatives (ie biofuels as Mr. Powell obviously gives the most support for) being preferred over converting cars to run on hydrogen cells which would need, not combustible power, but electricity which could be generated VERY efficiently through wind. The reason Mr. Powell downplays wind is obvious. Solar is less of a threat because solar cells are still so expensive and guess what! they need Shell’s oil to make them!

I happen to know quite a bit about wind energy and have had numerous experiences being very close to wind mills–close enough to picnic directly beneath them. I did a survey for any signs of dead birds. Not one. Standing even directly beneath the windmill with one hand touching it, one can easily have a conversation without raising the volume of ones voice. Seriously, there is no noise disturbance. From a mere 100 yards away, there is no perceptible noise whatsoever. They are also very pretty. The people in communities that have windmills that I have talked to are exceedingly pleased with them and proud of them. Farmers brag that with windmills they can grow healthy orchards right beneath them while the alternative fossil fuel, coal, would use 1,000′s of pounds of explosives to blow up the entire mountain to get at the coal inside. Wind is an important investment for America and should not be downplayed.

By: a p garcia

a p garcia — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:06:58 +0000

Joe Powell knows the laws of conservation of matter/energy as well as me, and matter/energy cannot be created nor destroyed. It really makes me wonder where he got the idea that energy can be renewed!