6:  Utility Scale Geothermal developers

Perpetual motion machines, unicorns… utility-scale geothermal?

Unfortunately for geothermal developers, it seems that tapping the earth’s core to generate energy has increasingly been consigned to fantasy land. Swiss authorities shut down one project, backed by former oilman Markus Häring, because studies showed that it could trigger earthquakes and cause damage to properties.

Then Google-backed AltaRock Energy gave notice to the Department of Energy in early December that it was abandoning its Geysers drilling project near San Francisco. Add these setbacks to the enormous cost and inexact science of drilling holes miles in the ground and you’ve got a technology that appears not to be ready for large-scale development.

The DOE remains keen, saying the technology has “enormous potential.” Recently, however, we’ve only seen enormous setbacks.

7: The French Carbon Tax

Back in September, French President Nicolas Sarkozy rolled out a carbon tax, making good on a campaign promise to put his country at the forefront of the climate change fight. The legislation barely passed the French Assembly and was set to go into law this month, that is, until France’s highest court stepped in and ruled that its web of loopholes, benefiting energy companies and energy-dependent sectors like farming and fishing, rendered it ineffective in cutting down carbon and green house gas emissions. Had it come into effect, the law would have raised some 1.5 billion euros ($2.15 billion) in its first year.

The court ruling, which came as a surprise, underscores the hurdles faced by industrial economies as they attempt to clean up their energy consumption by pricing carbon. The French government is now scrambling to get another law into the books.  It plans to have a new draft ready by January 20th.

8: Joseph Romm, blogger Climate Progress, Senior Fellow,Center for American Progress

GER’s rankings are a month-by-month rundown of who’s hot in green energy, so most folks appear once and then disappear until they do something interesting again. Not Climate Progress blogger Joe Romm. He’s always hot. Cold December got you feeling like maybe global warming is overblown? Please allow Joe to correct you. Don’t like The Washington Post’s editorial or op-ed pages? Please allow Joe to smack them down for you. Your eco hero, Bill McKibben, doesn’t like President Obama’s performance in Copenhagen? You’re wrong Bill, Joe said so. He sometimes goes overboard with his rhetoric – his attacks on The New York Times’ Andrew Revkin are still a little inexplicable – but if anyone is going to combat buzzsaws like Sen. James Inhofe and blogger James Delingpole, it’s Romm.

9: Copenhagen, home of the United Nations Climate Change Conference

Copenhagen, for two weeks became the home for all things climate change. Had it been successful, the event could have linked the city to a seminal, historical agreement. But China stepped in to ensure that a Copenhagen Agreement was not. Instead, as had been rumored in the weeks leading to COP15, chances of a global binding agreement were dead on arrival. Copenhagen will likely go down in history as a minor milestone in the world’s ongoing quest to cut carbon and green house gases emissions. But, while there will not be a historical “Copenhagen Agreement,” the city and the conference organizers did effectively put the issue of climate change at the forefront, hosting both skeptics and believers.

The failed talks have firmly placed China and the U.S. in the front seat of climate change talks, and put and the U.N. system in the backseat. The city of Copenhagen might not be linked to a much-needed climate change agreement but, at the very least, it could go down in history as the the place that laid the foundations for a more efficient negotiating process that could ensure that a binding climate change agreement eventually sees the day.

10: Earth Capital Partners, cleantech-focused private equity fund

Earth Capital Partners, a London-based clean energy-focused private equity fund, announced last month the first close of its debut fund, the €750 million ($1.125 billion) ECP Renewable Energy Fund One. The fund plans to invest in solar, biomass, biogas projects in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and is managed by a seasoned energy pro, former AES executive Christoph Waltenspul.

With clean energy investments largely tapped from government funds these days, any successful fund raising of private capital is worth highlighting. Cleantech (thanks to unprecedented government backing) is making a comeback in the hearts of private investors, both in the U.S. and abroad.

The end of QE will be a big problem in the US. Yet what happens in the UK, where the BOE is openly monetizing, once their free liquidity ends, could be a watershed event. Couple this with the likelihood of a downgrade, and the UK’s fiscal and monetary future in 2010 is looking quite shaky. Today PIMCO’s Scott Mather told Dow Jones his expectation for a rating downgrade of the island nation: “It’s just a question of when on the current trajectory, not if.

Based on what we know today about the debt trajectory and about the inability to adjust that, I think it’s greater than a 50% likelihood for sure. Call it more like 80%.” And according to Mather, rates on gilts will shoot up by 100 bps once the bond-buying program ends. It is amusing that the fiscal health of the developed world now hinges on the amount of ink cartridge accessible by the two main central banks.

Read the whole story at ZeroHedge –>

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• PIMCO: How The Government’s Huge Debt Binge Means Corporates Will Rule In 2010
• PIMCO Slams The Brakes On US, UK, And Corporate Bond Buying, Amid Massive Debt Binge
• Everbody Is Obsessed With PIMCO’s "New Normal"

Bissell (the company that makes one of my must-have pet cleaning tools!) has announced their third annual Most Valuable Pet (MVP) Contest.

Interested pet owners have from January 1 to March 25, 2010 to submit photos of their four-legged friends. Each week, the top voted pet will move on to the semi-finals, from which the grand-prize and second through fifth prize winners will be selected.

Prizes include the chance to be featured on Bissell pet product packaging, a $10,000 donation to the pet charity of choice and a “Perfect For You And Your Pet” $500 shopping spree, courtesy of Bissell!

More than 100,000 pets were entered into the contest over 2008 and 2009, and to help pet parents garner votes for their photogenic pets, Bissell created some custom widgets that can be uploaded to blogs and social networks such as Facebook, helping to win votes and the hearts of the pet’s family and friends.

To enter your pet, simply go to the Bissell webpage and follow the instructions!

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Bissell’s Most Valuable Pet Contest

Norway, Europe | Natural Wonders

Hidden in Norwegian mountains, Kjeragbolten is a place that looks like something from Middle Earth.

Kjeragbolten is a boulder wedged in a mountain crevasse by the edge of the Kjerag mountain in Lysefjord near Stavanger. (You might have seen it in one of “Where the Hell is Matt” videos which feature a man doing a crazy dance in dozens of locations around the world.)

The boulder itself is a 5 cubic meter large block of stone, suspended above 984m deep abyss. Despite its impressive appearance it is easily accessible on foot without any special equipment needed. The whole of Kjerag mountain is a popular hiking area and Kjarebolten is a favorite photo spot.

Apparently, for some the thrill of standing on a boulder suspended between two cliffs isn’t quite enough, as Kjeragbolten has become a very popular spot for base jumpers to launch themselves into the air.

Another year, another CES. Each year brings bigger, badder gadgets, and each year we put our nose-to-the-grindstone in hopes of bringing you guys the best coverage yet. We’re kicking things up a few notches this year; we’ve got more happy faces from the CrunchGear and MobileCrunch team roaming the halls of the Las Vegas Convention center than ever before — and this time, we’ll be bringing it to you live.

We’ll be posting up a storm as we normally would, but we’ll also have a live video feed (brought to you by the wonderful folks over at Livestream) going around the clock over at CrunchGear to give you guys at home a little peek into the madness that is the Consumer Electronics Show. Follow us during the day as we dig for the latest gadget gossip, and then during the night as we make the terrible combination of desert heat and hard alcohol.

With all that said, I’m off to the airport. While I’m up in the air, be sure to check out John Biggs’ predictions for What to expect from CES 2010.

Crunch Network: TechCrunch obsessively profiling and reviewing new Internet products and companies

Looking for a food that can help make you trim, fit, healthy, pump you full of anti-oxidants, and give you great skin? Who isn’t? (especially after all those January resolutions!) Well, while I can’t make any promises, few foods are as well rounded and have as many health benefits as black beans.Ounce for ounce, black beans have the same amount of protein as beef but contain no cholesterol, are packed with anti-oxidants, essential fatty oils, and fiber, and have only a third of the calories.

Here are some of the benefits:

1.) Fiber and Protein.  The American Dietetic Association says that Americans barely eat half the amount of recommended fiber per day. Black beans are high in dietary fiber, which makes it an effective food for lowering cholesterol and improving digestion. 1 cup of black beans provides 15grams, or 60% of the RDA, of fiber. The high fiber and protein content in black beans makes it a nearly perfect food for maintaining controlled blood sugar levels and avoiding glycemic index peaks and lows. The added benefit of keeping blood sugar levels even is that metabolism remains strong. Your body will burn calories throughout the day, rather than slowing down as your blood sugar dips. 

2.) Nutritional Content and Trace Minerals.  Black beans are extremely high in nutritional value as well and excellent sources of many vitamins and minerals, including folate,molybdenum, and iron. Molybdenum is a mineral that counteracts the effects of sulfites, such as those found in red wine. So for those sensitive to sulfites, a serving of black beans may help avoid that red wine headache.

3.) Anti-oxidants. Black beans also have high flavonoid anti-oxidant levels which can battle cancer, heart disease, and aging. It’s a lesser known fact that black beans are an anti-oxidant powerhouse. A study that appeared inthe Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found flavonoid levels similar to those found in red grapes and cranberries. The anti-oxidants are found in the skin of the bean, and the darker the skin, the higher the levels of anti-oxidants.

4.) Get your omegas! Black beans also contain omega-3 essential fatty oils. The benefits of omega-3’s are becoming well known and include skin health and lowered blood pressure. Many people with sensitive skin or dermatitis notice a dramatic improvement after incorporating omega-3 supplements or omega-3-rich foods into their diet (even one of my dogs was put on omega-3’s to improve skin allergy symptoms and it worked!). Fatty fishes such as salmon are the primary source of omega-3’s. For vegetarians or people who don’t eat fish regularly, black beans or other omega-3-rich foods are a must.

There are many ways to incorporate black beans into meals. Many South American or Mexican dishes include black beans. An easy way to create a complete protein is to pair it with some brown rice like I sometimes do for a near-instant lunch.  Or just serve along fajitas, a quesadilla, or huevos rancheros. 

This soup is one of my favorite recipes (from our cookbook “Cooking with All Things Trader Joe’s”), smoky with cumin and tangy with lime. It’s a healthy and low-fat meal that can be part of a weekly menu. Canned beans preserve the nutritional value of the beans and make itmuch easier and convenient to use them in recipes.  If you’re on a sodium-restricted diet, make sure you check the label, as most canned beans tend to be already seasoned with some salt.

If you prefer a smoother soup, you can puree one of the cans of beans (often I make a double batch of this soup and puree 2 of the cans).  You can also let it simmer longer and get very thick for a terrific bean dip or burrito filling!   This soup also freezes well, although we usually never have any left over to freeze!

Black Bean Soup

1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped (or use 1 1/2 cups TJ’s Freshly Diced Onion)
1 clove crushed garlic, or 1 cube frozen Crushed Garlic
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp ground cumin
2 (15-oz) cans black beans (do not drain)
1 cup (half a jar) of your favorite salsa, such as TJ’s Chunky Salsa
2 Tbsp lime juice (juice of 1 lime)
Plain yogurt or sour cream (optional)

1. In a medium pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions until they are soft and translucent.
2. Add cumin and garlic, sautéing for an additional minute.
3. Pour in black beans (including juices), salsa, and lime juice. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Simmer covered for 20 minutes.
4. When serving the soup, top with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream.

Prep Time:  10 minutes
Hands-off Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Makes 4 hearty servings, Calories per serving: 280, Fat per serving: 6.9 g, Protein per serving: 10.9 g (not including sour cream)

The new Archerfish Solo is a home surveillance system that is more advanced than anything that has come before it. Lets face it, even with motion activation, you’re bound to end up sorting through tons of empty footage. But Archer is super intelligent, you can specify it to look out for expected events, unanticipated intrusions, or just the odd things that can happen when you’re not around. When one of these things do happen, Solo notifies you with a video message sent to your cell phone or email.

Archerifsh Solo doesn’t even require a dedicated PC, it works out of the box. It automatically records event video clips to Archerfish secure servers and continuous video to a Micro SD card. It also gives you 24/7 viewing access via the web, it works both indoors and outdoors, its expendable, and it automatically filters out video that doesn’t interest you. The Archerfish Solo will be available in April for $399.

• Advanced Video Technology: Analyzes video in real-time; not available in any other consumer product
• Complete System Out of the Box: Doesn’t require a dedicated PC
• 802.11b/g Wireless: Works with your wireless router for easy setup and use
• Mobile Notifications: Sends video notifications to any user’s mobile phone or email inbox
• Flexible Recording: Automatically records event video clips to Archerfish secure servers and continuous video to a Micro SD card
• Dual Use Camera: Works indoors/outdoors with day/night capability
• Custom Web SmartPortal:* Provides point-and-click management of your Archerfish devices, locations and users
• 24×7 Live or Recorded Video Access: Allows viewing of any location, from anywhere
• Expandable System: Makes it easy to add more Archerfish devices, even in different geographic locations
• Video Search Engine: Finds specific video clips by event, date and time
• Intelligent Video Filter: Automatically filters out video that doesn’t interest you
• Automated System Safety: Preserves peace of mind with tamper detection, self recovery, secure storage and proactive system health monitoring

I wonder how many people out there keep personal daily checklists. I’m thinking of developing one. There are quite a few things I’d like to do on a daily or weekly basis. I tend to be someone who likes seeing progress in some chartable form and this ability to chart progress definitely motivates me.

For instance, I have long wanted to be a runner. I have many times started exercise programs and incorporated running or walking into the program. Last winter, when I was working out at the gym I realized that I especially like walking or running for long distances. Once I was on the treadmill, I preferred going for 45 minutes rather than just doing 20 and being done with it. But what I really wanted was to run and walk longer distances outside. I tried a few times to run outdoors in winter and I couldn’t stand it. The cold was simply too much.

Later in the summer, I decided once again to give it a try. This time I was walking and running outside and I was enjoying it, but what really got me hooked I think was when I started using Nike+ with my iPod. To use it, you need a small chip which you put in your shoe (or put inside a little pouch that attaches to your shoelaces). The chip acts like a pedometer, transmitting a signal, presumably whenever you take a step. You have several choices for a receiver to keep track of your progress. iPod Touches and iPhones have an app built into it that you can use to track your runs. You can also buy an attachment for other iPods or you can buy a separate bracelet to track your runs.

The Nike+ system will keep track of your distance, time, and even calories spent. Every time you sync your iPod, your data will be uploaded to the Nike website where you can graphically see your progress, set goals, and participate in challenges with other runners. It does need some calibration, but it’s accurate enough to at least tell you when you are making progress. For me, it’s just the kind of nudge I need to keep going. So far, I’ve run or walked over 200 miles with Nike+ and my goal is to do another 700 – 1000 miles this year with it. In part because of the Nike+ system, this fall I ran my first 5K and 10K races.

Anyway, there are a number of things that I’m working on that I’d like to keep at it, things that if I did every day, I would see significant progress in the next year. I’d like to practice playing guitar each day (a new hobby I took up in the fall). I’d like to keep up better with my online business, making sure to do a few key tasks each day. I’d also like to keep this blog up (I’ll refrain from stating a goal, since I think it will be doomed as soon as I choose to make such a blogging goal public.). There are a few other things I’m sure I’ll want to include.

This brings me to a story I heard today on the radio. It was about some research that indicated that if surgeons followed some simple changes to their procedures, like instituting surgical checklists (similar to the checklists that pilots use when preparing to fly), they would likely have better outcomes and fewer mistakes. It got me thinking that I may want to develop a simple daily and weekly checklist for myself. That’s what I intend to do. I’m going to keep it simple at first, with a minimum of things to do and then slowly add things to it. Perhaps I’ll publish it after I’ve revised it a few times.

ESPN will launch its first 3D TV network in June.

On Tuesay, the Disney-owned sports unit announced the introduction of ESPN 3D, the industry’s first 3D television network. ESPN has been testing 3D for more than two years and produced the college football game between University of Southern California and Ohio State University in select theaters and on the USC campus last fall.

“This will be a meaningful step to drive adoption of 3D television sets and afford opportunities for our affiliates to create value through new product offerings, and our advertisers, who want fresh sponsorship opportunities,” Sean Bratches, ESPN’s executive vice president of sales and marketing, said in a statement this afternoon.

ESPN 3D will host its first broadcast –the World Cup soccer match between South Africa and Mexico — on June 11. The network expects to air at least 85 live sporting events during its first year.

The elite online dating club BeautifulPeople.com (yes, this is a real Web site), trimmed 5,000 members from its service because they appear to have indulged in too much Christmas ham.

Feast your eyes on this excerpt from the company’s statement, via CNN:

“As a business, we mourn the loss of any member, but the fact remains that our members demand the high standard of beauty be upheld,” said Robert Hintze, founder of BeautifulPeople.com. “Letting fatties roam the site is a direct threat to our business model and the very concept for which BeautifulPeople.com was founded.”

Publicity stunt? Probably. Shocking? Hardly. When vain folks sign up for a service so they can be rated by a group of narcissistic pretty people this is bound to happen.

If you’re one of the expelled 5,000, don’t let this get you down. The company says you’re welcome to reapply—after the love handles are gone, of course.

Related Content:
Discoblog: New Theory: Plastic Can Make You Fat?
Discoblog: Fighting Child Obesity, One Bake Sale at a Time
Discoblog: Researchers Discover How Ice Cream Controls Your Brain

Image: Beautifulpeople.com

“Pretzel Dough” Program Launches Nationally

Effective immediately, Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels is kicking off its Pretzel Dough program, an initiative that is offering schools across the country an unprecedented $1 per Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzel UPC box flap collected and returned to the pretzel company during the 2009-2010 school year.

The schools are entitled to use this money however it’s most needed.

“‘Pretzels with a Purpose’ is how we choose to live and run our business,” says Kim Holstein, President and Chief Inspiration Officer of Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels.

“We’re a thriving pretzel business that is privileged and obligated to make a change in our communities.

Pretzel Dough is our way to give back to those schools that may have had funding cuts or just need a little money for supplies, equipment or school sponsored activities. There are similar box top programs out there, but during our inaugural year we’re reimbursing the school up to 10 times more than other companies.”

To enroll in the program, enthusiastic parents, teachers, students and administrators should visit kimandscotts.com.

The site will collect the volunteer coordinator’s name and school information. In turn, Kim & Scott’s will provide all of the information needed for the school to become an instant “Pretzel Dough” participant.

When Kim and Scott Holstein developed the idea for its all-natural, hand -twisted, nut-free soft pretzel business, they vowed that good would come from every pretzel made. And since then they have lived their “Pretzels with a Purpose” mantra.

“We feel it’s crucial to monetarily support schools while empowering kids along the way,” says Holstein.

“Kids can be raising “dough” for much needed programs, feel accomplished and enjoy a healthier, all-natural pretzel along the way. This is what Kim & Scott’s calls Pretzel Power in action.”

“Pretzel Dough” is the most recent philanthropic effort launched by Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels.

The company’s philanthropic arm, Pretzels for Peace(TM), was started with the business’ inception more than 14 years ago. Pretzels for Peace(TM) regularly donates pretzels, time and a portion of its proceeds to organizations that make a positive difference in the world.

Some of the organizations that have benefited from Pretzels for Peace(TM) include: the ALS Foundation, the Avon Breast Cancer Walk, Breast Cancer Network of Strength (the organization formerly known as Y-Me), Children’s HeartLink, Homes for Our Troops, National Heart Association, the Special Olympics, and Trees for The Future.

Efforts like this ensure the company lives their mission, to make pretzels with a purpose.

Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels can be found in the frozen aisles of Whole Foods Market, Super Target and major grocery chains. They’re also sold in smoothie chains, coffee shops, movie theaters and airports around the country.

Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels was started in 1995 and is now run out of a 38,000 sq. foot Chicago bakery with annual sales projected at $10-15 million. Almost 15 years later they’ve transformed the pretzel from a snack to an anytime meal. Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels deliciously touts more than 12 varieties.

Each all-natural pretzel is twisted by hand and made from scratch. The company is proud that its pretzels are made in a nut-free facility, a great source of whole grains and free from trans fats, preservatives and hydrogenated oils.

About Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels

Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels was founded in 1995 by husband and wife team Kim and Scott Holstein. Since inception, the company has prided itself on its all natural, twisted by hand soft pretzels made in a nut-free bakery.

The pretzels can be found in the frozen grocery aisles of Albertson’s, Jewel, SuperTarget, and Whole Foods. Kim & Scott’s products and philanthropic efforts were highly praised in 2004 by Fortune Magazine as a company “Breaking Big” and recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of the “fastest growing companies in America.”

Additionally, they have been deliciously touted by USA Today, Entrepreneur, CNBC’s Power Lunch, CNBC’s Donny Deutsch’s “Big Idea,” Food Network’s Dean Brothers and Food Network’s Roker on the Road who even called the pretzels “the talk of the Windy City.”

For the past seven years, the pretzels have been sold on QVC to an audience of more than 87 million. In September 2009, Kim was recognized as the Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year by the Women’s Business Development Center of Chicago.

And for more, visit us on our blog, Twitter, Flickr and You Tube.

• kimandscotts.wordpress.com
• twitter.com/kimandscotts
• youtube.com/user/kimandscotts
• flickr.com/photos/kimandscotts

Hint: it’s not from space and it’s not from inside your body. But it does represent something you’re totally reliant on.

It’s an electrograph of a brass wire gauge, made in 1900 to help show the wary public that electricity didn’t come in just the form of tree-felling and fire-starting lightning. Scientists needed to prove that it was a safe thing to allow into their homes, and that involved visualizing electromagnetic waves in a way that the public could understand. This was one of the ways they did it. It just happens to look pretty awesome. [Wired; Photo courtesy San Francisco Museum of Modern Art]