http://replacingoil.com Sensible discussion of alternative fuel solutions Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:23:50 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Perhaps in response to the popular, but all to limited 2008 FCX Clarity, Mercedes is showing their commitment to Hydrogen Fuel Cell driven vehicles. In the International Auto Show happening in Frankfurt the head of Mercedes-Benz explained that the automaker is about to enter a "low volume" production phase of ... http://replacingoil.com/2009/09/daimler-promises-hundreds-of-thousands-of-hydrogen-cars/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed He's turned the DOE's oil friendly policies of administrations past on its head. No longer focused only on fossil fuels the DOE now seems to be acting according to the will of the people. Tapping America's vast renewable resources like wind and solar is what we want, not spiralling energy ... http://replacingoil.com/2009/09/department-of-energys-steven-chu-under-attack-by-oil-funded-group/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed While the United States is still considering feed in tariffs, First Solar has signed a contract with Chinese government officials to build a staggering 2 GIGAwatt photovoltaic farm in the Mongolian desert. The plant will operate under China's feed-in tariff. Power companies are required to purchase electricity from the installation for ... http://replacingoil.com/2009/09/first-solar-china-and-feed-in-tariffs/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed This is about to become my favourite biofuel types for its name alone. Woody Biomass, despite it's funny name is getting a chance to both reduce forest fires and fuel rural economies with a 4.2 million dollar grant from the USDA. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack has awarded  grants to 17 small businesses ... http://replacingoil.com/2009/08/4-2-million-for-woody-biomass/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed I suppose I should be grateful to see the DOE dole out 10 million dollars to Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corp. to build a new truck manufacturing plant in Kansas City, but my blood pressure is still rising. GM received billions and the Chevy Volt is still not in production. ... http://replacingoil.com/2009/08/10m-grant-for-all-electric-delivery-trucks-in-mo/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Nearly a decade ago Germany passed a Renewable Energy Sources Act that basically gave smaller renewable energy projects priority access to power grids. At the same time smaller scale energy producers were able to sign extended contracts to provide energy at a higher rate than standard fossil fuel burning energy ... http://replacingoil.com/2009/08/worked-for-germany-but-will-feed-in-tariffs-boost-alt-energy-in-the-us/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed I normally shrug my shoulders or at least roll my eyes whenever I happen across a warning that oil has peaked and we're all going to become road warriors and be forced to sell our children into slavery. But today I noticed this post from their science editor and, well, ... http://replacingoil.com/2009/08/look-out-another-oil-supply-warning/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed I'm not making this up. The U.S. wind energy industry has installed exactly 1,210 megawatts of new power generating capicity in the second quarter according to the American Wind Energy Association. Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) would have s&#^ a gold brick! http://replacingoil.com/2009/07/1-21-gigawatts/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Here's the best thing I've seen today. Obviously we're big fans of algae derived biofuels. Wether you ferment it or milk it, algae's got a very good looking future as a source of energy. The rather large trucking company J.B. Hunt has announced it's commitment to filling its fleet with a ... http://replacingoil.com/2009/07/jb-hunts-big-rigs-are-big-boost-for-algae/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed This one just stinks to high heaven. Although it's great to hear anyone in the Senate praise Electric Vehicles like the Smith Newton, when I saw Kit Bond from Missouri at a podium in front of a Coca-Cola delivery truck manufactured by Smith Electric Vehicles. [caption id="attachment_13" align="alignleft" width="175" caption="Sen. Kit ... http://replacingoil.com/2009/07/gop-senator-kit-bond-praises-all-electric-delivery-trucks/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed