Are smart grids an energy game changer?

Are smart grids an energy game changer?

Computerized “smart grids” could be a boon to the global deployment of decentralized renewable energy. But are they there yet? >>
Oil crunch and Eurozone crisis

Oil crunch and Eurozone crisis

The European Greens raise concerns about the possible impacts of peak oil. >>
Policy innovation for technology diffusion: Japanese renewable energy

Policy innovation for technology diffusion: Japanese renewable energy

Japan's experience with renewable energy illustrates the political dimension of policy innovation. >>
Lessons for Appalachia’s post-coal economy

Lessons for Appalachia’s post-coal economy

Appalachia's residents are working to keep local and sustainable sources of wealth central in a post-coal economy. >>
Energy innovation and traditional knowledge

Energy innovation and traditional knowledge

It is crucial to remember that harvesting alternative energy can have impacts on local and indigenous communities. >>
Transition Town Fujino goes for local energy independence

Transition Town Fujino goes for local energy independence

A Japanese community has embraced the Transition Movement and is working towards a more resilient and sustainable future. >>
Japan — short- and long-term energy risks

Japan — short- and long-term energy risks

Keeping nuclear power in its energy equation, Japan does little to ameliorate short- and long-term risks of oil dependency. >>
Small Islands Push for New Energy

Small islands push for new energy

Small islands seek to slash or eliminate fossil fuel use and related pollution, while increasing energy security, employment and economic and social well-being. >>
Making a difference through geothermal energy

Making a difference through geothermal energy

A UNU fellow discusses how geothermal can help Kenya in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. >>
India: Forget the grid, community power is here

India: Forget the grid, community power is here

A new era of entrepreneurs in India have begun a revolutionary effort to deliver energy access via off grid cell phone towers. >>
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By George, we are all going to fry…

Brendan Barrett explains how some are getting fixated on defending the status quo and it is upping the chances that we face grave planetary consequences. >>
Big picture policy responses to peak oil

Big picture policy responses to peak oil

Four policy scenarios to guide societies trying to respond to the implications of peak oil (and climate change). >>
Boulder votes to free its electric company

Boulder votes to free its electric company

Finding the private utility's take-up of renewables too slow, a US city opts for local control, less coal and more energy innovation. >>
Policy-makers slow to take peak oil action

Policy-makers slow to take peak oil action

The peaking of oil production has gone from a fringe theory to an accepted fact. Yet policy inaction remains the rule. >>
How rural America got fracked

How rural America got fracked

In a new environmental nightmare you knew nothing about, ancient sandstone hills are being razed for a type of silica used by the natural gas industry. >>
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End of business as we know it

Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, we have gone from success to success. But is "business as usual" still an option? >>