More news came out today--as it does every day--that further exemplifies a need for the increased use of renewables.

First, to the arctic, where ice melted at a record rate during the summer of 2007--the latest in a litany of accelerating environmental issues.

That announcement came at a conference of the American Geophysical Union; a group of over 15,000 scientists that said warming in 2007 was off the charts. Of course, that's not really hard to believe coming after a summer in which we saw ships sail through what had been the polar ice cap for at least one million years.

That ice cap, which in 1980 was big enough to cover the land area of the continental US, now wouldn't even cover the states west of the Mississippi. But the problem may be even worse than it seems.

Not only is the cap melting, but as it does so, it reflects less radiation from the sun, allowing the Earth to absorb more heat and further exacerbating the warming problem.

And if that news weren't bad enough, there were some other headlines today that painted an equally grim picture.

News today from the UK's Met Office and the University of East Anglia reported that 11 of the warmest years on record occurred in the last 13 years. The eight hottest years overall occurred in the last ten years. Moreover, the last time global annual temperatures fell below average was 1985--over two decades ago. And 2007 is on track to be the warmest year ever.

But the environment isn't the only indication that the world needs to move more quickly towards a low-carbon future.

As if the world's oil addiction wasn't already in serious need of an intervention, the International Energy Agency (IEA) raised its forecast today for world oil demand next year by 115,000 barrels per day because of rising demand.

We'll be using 87.8 million barrels per day (bpd) compared to the 85.7 million bpd we used this year. In addition, oil stockpiles in member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) fell by 22.4 million bpd in October to below the five-year average.

With the world only producing 86.5 million bpd, we'll either have to miraculously find more oil--and believe me, they're going to try--or, the more logical option, increase the use of renewable energy technologies.

But apparently the elected leaders of the US don't see a need for expedited action. Yesterday Senate Republicans successfully filibustered an extensive energy bill, slashing a national renewable portfolio standard that would've required 15% of our electricity come from renewables by 2020 and dropping a provision that would've taken $13.5 billion in taxes from Big Oil to fund incentives for renewables.

The bill, however, did increase automobile fuel efficiency standards to a collective 35 miles per gallon (mpg) for cars, SUVs and light trucks by 2020.

But even the effectiveness of that measure has been called into question, as a new report from the World Resources Institute claims it will not have a real impact on greenhouse gas emissions in the long term. In fact, even with the 35 mpg target, the report says the US would be lucky to reach a 28 mpg average even in the next 20 to 25 years.

But my jadedness and the government's severe pension for inaction aside, world markets are churning out solutions to these crises at record pace--especially in the realm of renewables.

Battery technologies are improving every day, increasing capacity and lifecycle and decreasing charge-time and cost. Advancements in biofuels are occurring rapidly as well. We are quickly transitioning from first-generation fuels like corn-based ethanol, to second-generation fuels like cellulosic ethanol, which aren't dependent on food crops.

Improvements are also happening in the solar world, where panels use less silicon than ever before. Panels are also thinner than they ever have been and, in some cases, are even flexible.

And the list goes on: wave power, geothermal and wind are all increasingly viable and productive alternatives for the generation of electricity.

But the best part is, the companies responsible for these advancement are being rewarded for their efforts. The market has seen an opportunity--where government has failed--for the mitigation of climate change and the curbing of our dependence on hydrocarbon fuel.

Those in the know stand to make boatloads as these companies ramp up production and begin to turn a profit. Make sure you're one of the savvy investors well-positioned to capitalize on what is sure to be one of the worlds strongest markets for years to come.Until next time,

Nick

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Your stamement about "what had been the polar ice cap for at least one million years." is absolute nonsense ice retreats in the last 100+ years have been referenced by others. Sure, we need to plan for post oil, reduce env impacts etc but we need to work from the truth. This bit of journalistic hyp does your intersting site no credit.

Nick, I'm 66 & winters in MN are much milder than when I was 16. Lakes freeze a month later & thaw a month earlier. I love it, "Go Global Warming I live in MN". But it will probably change the water pattern. Less snow & lakes could dry up! However this winter has been almost like days of old, frickin cold. Electric cars don't have heaters. We face tough times & the age of almost free energy is over. Think I will move south!!
Marlin

I'm always amused by the comments of the "people in the know", who talk of an "Energy Crisis" as if it really exists...

I agree........but giving credit to
our ingenious free market, the public
will start buying electric cars and
take care of the laging US auto makers. I've been watching the net
and there are several electrics that
really look promising. ZAP has a
nice one coming out also noting a
longer mileage capacity 150miles &
the Phoenix from Ontario Calif, going
to be made in Mexico - this one really looks nice. I'll just keep
my Honda and add an electric. Sorry for the US makers, they're just not to smart. Hybrids are just a stop gap between what is really needed -
the all electric, the only answer.

If you do your own digging, you will find there are a couple of years in the 1930's that are still 1 and 2 repectively.

One has to wonder if global warming is all that the doomsayers say it is. Yes there is a lot of melting going on way up at the top of the world. But why is it, with so much melting, that our coastlines are not being consumed? The reason why is Anartica's ice pack is growing. Not to say that there isn't a problem, but the real problem, like you say in your e-mails, is that we really do need to change directions and find alternative forms of energy because sooner would be much better than later before the oil does run out.

"And 2007 is on track to be the warmest year ever."

Sorry but this is simply not true.
http://peakoil.com/article34091.html

Furthermore arctic sea ice retreated further in the 1930's and 40,s than it did this year.

http://nzclimatescience.net/images/PDFs/ice%20factsheet.pdf

Two comments. First, global warming is caused by increased radiation from the sun, not by any emissions of gasses by Earthlings. Second, oil speculators will reverse their driving of oil prices higher, in order to drive the price of oil lower, so that all alternative fuels will become uneconomic and thus will be abandoned, so that the speculators may continue to manipulate the oil market's volatility, which is the source of their income from wide fluctuations. Thus, the world will be whipsawed over and over in its search for alternatives for oil, to the great glee of oil price speculators.

only wanted to say just made the trip from florida to maryland and can tell you it cost me in gallons close to 1 whole tank ethanol is a joke we will never be able to get 28 using this junk imho

it will be a lot better if you present all the facts about melting. There is reliable information that the antartic ice is actually growing and added more than 700 miles in 2007. I am totally into renewables but not into panic, Trusting that there is only one side to any scientific investigation is dangerous.

I noticed that you mentioned several sources of alternate energy in the article and in past articles. Any thoughts on tidal power ?

Global warming is a myth and a Gore hoax! Changing temps have been cycling up and down throughout history. The earth was much warmer than it is now in 1931!
So, get off that Gore crap!
Oil is going up to at least $150 per bbl by next July! Same based on increased demand and reduced supply! Simple, isn't it and I can't wait because oil and gas royalties make up 98% of my annual income!

Go to a burning man get together and appreciate the freedom you have from regulations. The same with the markets and imposed regulations from the government. The free market always works better. Your political bias is reflected way to often and from the information I have been able to read the jury is still out on the global warming, and if anyone needs to be regulated it is China and India. As long as we do not melt or freeze we could debate this for what time we have left. Thanks.

Hi Mike

Ethanol from corn or other crops are net negative energy schemes. It takes more energy in than energy out.

It takes tractors to work the land and those tractors burn fossil fuel energy. It takes fertilizer to make the crops grow and fertilizers like nitrogen are made using Natural Gas a fossil fuel. Other fertilizers are mined using equipment and transport methods that burn fossil fuels. Then it takes harvesting equipment and trucks to haul the grain to the ethanol plant burning yet more fossil fuels. Once the grain is at the ethanol plant it takes energy (normally natural gas) to convert the grain to ethanol. Once all is said and done it takes more fossil energy than ethanol energy produced and does nothing for the environment in fact it increases CO2 emissions.

And I am sure you can understand the old economic 101 adage of supply vs. demand and how the demand on our food supply will increase food prices. This could create starvation thereby reducing human population which could be an over all positive environmental effect from using our food to fuel our economy.

I was born and raised on a farm so I know what it takes to grow crops. I also attended the Environmental Biology Program at Canadore College North Bay, Ont. and the Chemical Engineering Program at Cambrian College Sudbury, Ont.

I hope you understand and appreciate what I have told you and use this information to help you clients, if that is your goal. Ethanol subsidies are corrupt and you can verify this by going to any Canadian universities with an environmental studies department to see the actual calculations which show ethanol for fuel as being a net negative energy scheme. If you send me your email I will attach the studies to an email for your perusal.

Wishing you well,

David Sylvestre

P.S.If you want me to investigate innovations I would be happy to do that for you. Pro-bono.

I have been a fairly loyal reader of your publications for quite a while.

I am looking out the window of my office located here in lovely Brookfield WI (a suburb of Milwaukee) watching a 40 mph wind blow all the snow under my garage door and clogging up my kitchen stoop (which leads out to my grill that I haven't been able to use for the last 3 weeks.)

Yesterday morning as I kicked open the door to get out to the bird feeders I found out that I was literally locked out of the house because the outside door latch was covered by 3 inches of ice and I couldn't get back in. I tried whacking the handle with one of my sweeping brooms and in the process had the broom handle slide off and break the nearby door bell button and as a result I was still outside with an incessant doorbell going off inside its heated hallway. Fortunately I remembered I had left a utility hammer in one of the drawers of the outdoor cabinet which I was able to get at by whacking the ice from the frozen plastic tarp which covers the dry bar and encapsulates the cabinet for the winter.

By now you maybe able to understand just how cold my hands were while grabbing the hammer and probably just getting inside to avoid a good case of frost bite to my soft and loving hands.

As I later on traveled down the lane to the highway I was able to gently steer the car down the windblown path serenly covered by 4' drifts covering each side of the drive. I am told the last time we had this much snow up here at this time- was when Grant was going through Richmond and Sherman was conducting his own weenie roast down in Atlanta!! According to the Calendar-it (ain't) even winter yet up here so I'm not sure just what may be in store for us yet.

Please get me in touch with someone who can come up here and supply our area with some much appreciated global warming. I really need it to insure the safety of my mental health in the coming months!!!!!

Sincerely;
J.L. Gelhar

While I read you articles with interest, this one seems to infer that the chicken little syndrome of Global Warming caused by the wicked people who breath and use carbon based technology will be cause of the our destruction. Our destruction may in fact be the result of Global Warming, but not caused by man nor modern technology. The Vikings in the 1000-1100 era and the Chinese in 1400's sailed AROUND Greenland, and 200-300 later a little ice age.