U.S. Interior Secretary Kenneth Salazar announced the approval of the Cape Wind project today: Cape Wind Associates, the developer, said it planned to begin construction of the 130 turbines about five miles off Cape Cod by the end of the year, even as the main opposition group announced that it would immediately file a lawsuit […]
Simulating Our Petroleum-Dependent Future
Computer modeling is a powerful tool for analyzing complex urban systems. Indeed, for decades metropolitan-scale transportation planning has been informed by increasingly sophisticated computer models. In addition, models are commonly used to study all types of infrastructure systems, the urban environment, even possible location of future of urban growth. In fact, I’m building an attractiveness […]
Will Electric Cars Fuel Urban Sprawl?
Shai Agassi has an idea so revolutionary it’s convinced venture capitalists to commit hundreds of millions of dollars, major corporations to sign on, and the leaders of countries around the world scrambling to sign up to be the guinea pigs for his new technology. It’s also an idea that, as soon as it is heard […]
Wind Power in the Bay State
Descending into Boston’s Logan Airport last August, I noticed an unexpected element among the rocky islands and weathered colonials. At the end of a narrow neck of land just feet from seaside homes was a massive, commercial-sized wind turbine turning lazily in the wind. After moving to Boston, wind power seemed everywhere. Setting up the […]
Green Gas?
One of the most interesting things that happened on my recent trip to the west coast occurred looking for a restroom. After pulling off I-5 south of Portland, Oregon, I missed the turn-in for a name brand gas station. I noticed another up ahead. My girlfriend Libby was skeptical. I peered ahead. “It has a […]
Smart Grid Pilot Program Launched
Over 1,000 D.C. homes are now equipped with smart electrical meters that record their hourly electricity usage, encourage conservation during peak times, and even automatically turn down the heat or A/C when electricity is most expensive. The meters are part of a pilot program starting this week to study how “price signals” can encourage consumers […]
T. Boone Pickens: Half Right, Half Wrong
Billionaire T. Boone Pickens is getting attention for his highly publicized energy plan for America. Half the plan is spot-on. America needs to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, like wind or solar. The other half is wrong. He argues we should power our automobiles with domestically-produced natural gas. This will not significantly […]