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Greenedia Weekly Blog Report: Coal Prices to Double, Chrysler Sets Broad Sights, Organic Hydrogen Producers Decoded, Hybrids Only A Stort Term Solution

By Dave Klecha - Greenedia Editor
Created 2008-02-17 20:34
This is a selection of recent popular blog artciles aggregated on Greenedia.com, where you will find the best blogs from the world of green media, as well as video uploads, podcasts, and blog authoring.

Coal Prices Open The Door To Biomass

Looking toward the possible rise of biomass as an energy source, BioPact Blog points out that coal prices could conceivably double in the next two years.  A variety of pressures on the supply of coal, including limits on production in Indonesia and Australia, and spiraling demand in China and India, are consiring to drive prices up, perhaps much more rapidly than the market is ready to absorb.  The market already received a shock, in fact, when rumors circulated that an Asian steel company paid well above market value for coal.

BioPact goes on to suggest possible high volume alternatives to coal, such as massive brush overgrowth in northern Namibia that could provide up to 500TWh of energy in lieu of coal.  This concept, as well as BioPact's outline for medium and long-term implementation of a biomass fuel economy provides a continuum of energy provision should the price of coal continue to expand in such a dramatic fashion.

Chrysler Exploring Every Available Green Car Tech

Reporting on a video clip of Carlist's Lou Ann Hammon, AutoBlogGreen says that Chrysler seems to be approaching green car technology on every front, looking for the best possible solutions out of what has become a host of alternatives.  The video clip features Hammond speaking with Chairman and Vice President of Chrysler Jim Press, who discusses the company's plans down for the future.

Focusing on the fate of the dual mode hybrid that had been developed with GM and BMW while Chrysler was actually Daimler-Chrysler, AutoBlogGreen looks at the direction of the Big Three company now that Daimler has departed the partnership again.  Daimler seems to have left the dual mode hybrid to Chrysler which they are seeking to develop aggressively, in addition to all the other options.  Their philosophy is that it's not wise to focus too narrowly in this time of transition.

Genome Sequenced For Hydrogen Producing Anaerobe

Green Car Congress points out that a team of German researchers have decoded the genome for a variety of bacteria that produces hydrogen as a waste process.  Growing on sole energy sources ethanol and acetate, the well-studied bacterium provides intriguing options for producing hydrogen from complex sources without slow and expensvie electrolysis.
The post identifies the Max Planck Institute as the source of the research and provides a link to the official publication of the group's findings.

French Insist Hybrids Only For The Short Term

Treehugger takes exception to French research that suggests that hybrids are only a short term solution to looming shortages--and price increases--in oil.  In fact, Treehugger can't seem to believe that research needs to be done into the question of whether or not hybrids are the final solution, since it almost seems to go without saying that they're not.  Hybrids, at best, only extend the mileage of existing internal combustion engines not provide a true alternative.

In the post they suggest a number of measures to thumb one's nose at the findings, including driving a hybrid.  The vehicles may not be a final solution, but they're a better alternative to the lower mileage non-hybrid vehicles, and help to push off the probem a little to give more time for more permanent solutions to be worked out.  They also suggest commenting on the research (and providing appropriate links) and helping support the research into long term solutions.

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Source URL:
http://www.greenedia.com/groups/greenedia-green-building/blog/2008/02/Greenedia-Weekly-Blog-Report-Coal-Prices-to-Double-Chrysler-Sets-Broad-Sights-Organic-Hydrogen-Producers-Decoded-Hybrids-Only-A-Stort-Term-Solution