When we think of the economy we normally think of things like labor and capital. Labor is the workforce that enables our social and economic well-being. But there is also the thing economists call capital—in effect, the infrastructure, the machines,
Hydropower is being left behind. Yet hydropower remains the largest source of U.S. renewable energy, but why is it no longer growing? And why is a resurgence crucial for both society and for our economy? The concept of using water
What if… we could harness the mechanical vibrations of everyday objects we interact with and turn it into electrical energy? What if the fibers moving around in the pockets of our favorite shirts and pants could charge our cell phones while wearing them, or the motor mounts in our cars were also energy-reaping shock absorbers that re-charged the car battery while also powering other devices?
In 2019, the 331 million people living within the United States spent an estimated $1.2 trillion to meet their combined needs for an array of energy services (EIA 2020). That is equivalent to an economy-wide per capita energy bill of about
By David Schaller What exactly does sustainability mean? The issue has been discussed and debated for decades; and yes, there is still so much to consider when trying to explain such an important concept. Over these past 18 years, I
By: George Burmeister* Local government leaders are starting to see the climate and economic necessity of decarbonizing and transitioning to 100-percent renewable electricity supply. They are now focusing on the importance of investments to transform their economies by the productive use
There is neither a law of physics nor economics that prevents us from quadrupling the productive use of energy and other resources. Rather, it is much more an issue of imagination and our political will to get it done.
– John A. “Skip” Laitner