Some Superb Articles from Forbes

I always prefer to take articles on green and renewable energy in the mainstream media much more seriously than I do in blogs and for a reason - these are the views of skeptics who have found something worthwhile in one or another area of environment-friendly technology. If they are convinced, and these are the views that are bound to be considered by large businesses, investors etc, then the products and technologies that they talk about would be sound. Blogs end up as the voices of activists who often are devotees or addicts to something without practical thinking on the issues that theys eek to address. Don't get me wrong - I am not going to unsubscribe to Treehugger for example, but if I find something in Forbes that would get vastly more credence than I would give to a mere blog.

Having said this, let me butt out and leave you with a link that you would enjoy if you have come thus far: http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/02/greentech-solar-autos-technology-ecotech09_land.html?partner=technology_newsletter

Innovative Marketing of Solar Panels by a New Startup

Forbes Magazine has this entry about a company that plans to offer solar panels to budget-conscious buyers by using economies of scale - something that I have been talking about on this blog ever since I began writing for it: http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/02/veranda-solar-greentech-technology-ecotech09_veranda.html?partner=technology_newsletter

I think this is a superb idea and one that should make this company, Veranda Solar http://www.verandasolar.com/ a lot of money especially if they focus on the export market using US Exim Bank incentives to push their panels in other countries around the world. Here's wishing them luck!

Jatropha Cultivation - A Mixed Blessing in India

India has led the world in cultivating Jatropha to produce Biodiesel but the experience has not always been a good one as this article suggests: http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45949 Cows have died from eating the toxic jatropha leaves (there is a new patented British technology, though, that makes jatropha oilcake safe for cattle feed) and all sorts of teething problems have been encountered. While jatropha is a good bridge to a fossil fuel free economy, this article only highlights the need for more concerted effort in installing advanced wind turbines, tidal powerplants, solar thermal and solar photovoltaic plants etc. None of those would be eaten by cows which get poisoned to death.

Let us hope that this happens sooner rather than later in India. The country needs to do this - India's people deserve to live in a clean environment.

India in Positive Focus Again - Nobel Winner Thomas Friedman in The New York Times

I enjoy reading Thomas Friedman's column in The New York Times even though I do not always agree with his views but then who am I? A mere small time blogger. He is a Nobel winner and I have to respect the man to the utmost for that! So what can I do when he writes a very affectionate column about a visit to India but applaud? Check it out at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/opinion/15friedman.html These can only be the views of a man who is a friend of India and who is positively impressed by my country of birth. And when he talks about the India Youth Climate Network with praise, their website needs to be visited as well: http://www.indiaclimatesolutions.com/ Congratulations, guys! Superb show!

Thank you, Dr Friedman! And all the very best IYCN! Good show, India!

Superb Show India! Now When Will These Cars be Available to Indians?

The Geneva Auto Show is the world's biggest and the most important in terms of new car models that come to be displayed every year. So why am I celebrating during a time of gloom? India's Tata Motors have managed to hog a considerable portion of the limelight with their Euro spec Tata Nano (a car that many so-called "experts" said could never be built - the same "experts" who gave AAA+ ratings to crappy Wall Street Banks, I'm sure) and, more importantly, since this is a blog meant to show Fossil Fuels the Fist, because of Tata's new Norwegian engineered Indica Electric car: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/04/geneva-2009-euro-spec-tata-nano-its-bigger-and-all-electric/ When a prestigious website like Autoblog Green raves about this, there is something for everyone to cheer.

This is a good beginning, no doubt, but there is competition that is certain to come. Several Chinese manufacturers have started working on electric cars and countries as diverse as South Africa and the UK have designed commercial vehicles that work on electricity. But I do think that if Tata have made it this far, there is no reason why they would not go further - a lot further in fact. And yes, I am rooting for them to succeed - and rooting for every other designer of electric vehicles to succeed as well. This means YOU Aptera, Tesla and all other creative companies out there. All the very best and may you all win!

India's Opposition Politicians Call Government BS on Power

Good friend Mohanakrishnan has sent this piece by former Indian Express Editor and MP Arun Shourie on the power situation in India: http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20090228/1241/top-half-truths-and-whole-lies.html Conveniently, Shourie does not do more than offer acute criticism. In the event that his party wins in the coming election, it would not help for him to articulate a solution that his own colleagues would almost certainly forget, like India's politicians are almost obliged to once they win.

That said, the state of Karnataka's regulation requiring new apartment buildings to mandatorily have solar powered water heaters is something that the rest of India needs to emulate. And the Government of India, the almighty power that feeds the Indian nation out of the goodness of its mammaries, could look at putting solar panels on government buildings. Prices for solar photovoltaics are low at the moment as the current recession bites across the world and the doofuses in Delhi could get a bargain if they tried to set up a tendering process for them. Let us hope that common sense (a very uncommon commodity in India, by the way) prevails at least as the country lurches towards an election.

Indian Opposition Parties Call Government BS on Power

A link sent my by friend Mohanakrishnan on Yahoo's Indian website has former Indian Express Editor and MP Arun Shourie call the government's lies on the power situation: http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20090228/1241/top-half-truths-and-whole-lies.html But Shourie is a politician these days and he confines his remarks to acute criticisms without offering any possible solutions to the crisis. Or, he may not be aware of the alternatives that are available and which could be used beginning tomorrow if the Indian government and private bodies in India so choose.

The state of Karnataka has introduced some sensible legislation mandating solar powered water heaters for all new multistorey apartment buildings. I think they need to go further by offering tax incentives to owners of older buildings and of individual homes to do the same. And, considering the problems that Bangalore has with power, why not ask all of the software companies - none of them are short a buck or two - to put solar photovoltaic panels on their rooftops? Indeed, why can't the almighty Government of India begin with a plan to make all buildings owned by the government either fully or partially powered by solar power? With the current glut in solar panel production and the low price of panels as many companies feel the recession bite across the world, this would be a superb time to buy and set this up.

Here's hoping for the best ONLY because this is an election year. Indian politicians work hardest in the run up to an election. Hopefully, in the two or three months ahead, they would do something useful on the power front.