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Recent articles describing some of the challenges of solar companies (i.e. bankruptcy and facility closures) made me think about the natural progression of any industry.  You may recall an earlier post about how the telecommunications industry went through its own house-cleaning and the advice to stay informed with your chosen field.  It's just a matter of time before the renewables go through the same thing, if it hasn't started already.  However, do not despair and abandon your efforts to gain a foothold in the industry.  One of your responsibilities is to stay in tune with the industry of your choice and understand the dynamics.  Why is one company going bankrupt?  Is it a true depiction of industry strength or weakness? What is influencing change? Or is just the result of the cycle that all industries go through?  I would lean toward the latter with the belief that this is a good thing. But let's step this aside from the obvious and start ap...

So the challenge of reviewing the latest on Obama and his direction toward domestic solutions brings up the question of whether or not we look at the package for the immediate good or the realization that the longer term issues are unwavering.  In the article, " Obama urges one-third cut in oil imports " Obama offers the same speech of focusing on the wider use of natural gas and biofuels and establishing higher fuel efficiency standards.  Yet in the same breath, there is a call for "oil companies to make greater use of the federal leases both onshore and offshore to prop up domestic oil output." In my classes, I've had discussions on how to gauge progress in environmental economics.  In one instance, we can commend the President and his drive to push for the advancement of alternative fuel sources, yet without addressing the reason why there is a need for alternatives, we end up with the "more domestic oil!" speech which does little for decreasing d...

The method of using incineration to generate power by burning material (or waste) and then converting the steam to power turbines easily brings up arguments for and against its use.  When discussing costs per tonnage, incineration requires the least capital.  However, the ash, emissions, and the clean-up required as a result of the incineration process is an environmental challenge. Pyrolysis involves the decomposition of organic material in the absence of oxygen, thereby reducing the amount of emissions.  In addition, the process produces very little ash.  This process can produce bio-fuel. In a recent article, " Donation Drives New Direction of Bioenergy Research at University of Idaho ", the University of Idaho received a donation from APT Advanced Trailer and Equipment LP to install a pyrolysis unit at the University's steam plant to research converting wood biomass to energy.   Extracted from the article, "The process yields about 60 percent bio-o...

When I was in telecommunications, there was nothing more fascinating than being part of cutting edge technology.  Part of the enjoyment while in the industry is being able to watch your industry to not only evolve, but to also be a major influence in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.  But that psychological theory was never a prominent thought in my own mind as I watched the progression of technology in the wireless industry slowly choke out the workforce that supported it. While working in a switching office between late '98 and early 2000, I recall the size of the switch rooms and the many rows of equipment required to provide communications to mobile subscribers.  Jump ahead 10 years and you'll find that technology has either eliminated that switching office or reduced the equipment down to a single box.  Less equipment, less headcount. I recently sat down with a very good friend of mine who was with me in the industry from the beginning of our careers in telecommu...