Arjuna’s Recent Comments

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  Auto retrofits - ramping up the technology

  Gar,
  The key here with the auto retrofits is that this is very near-term technology.  This could be ramped-up quickly which would reduce the cost and be widely available.

  Ex-Intel CEO Andy Grove is talking up retrofits too: http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_9741842

  huge opportunity here.On Short, medium, and long-term solutions to phase out oil posted 1 year, 3 months ago 46 Responses

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  Retrofit cars to hybrids

  Another potentially extremely important option is retrofitting existing cars to become hybrids.  The X-Prize candidate Poulsen Hybrid is a promising idea: http://www.climateatbay.net/2008/07/game-changer-hybrid.h ...On Short, medium, and long-term solutions to phase out oil posted 1 year, 3 months ago 46 Responses

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  Missing a key point

  You're missing one of Khosla's central points - parallel hybrids are cost prohibitive - ie: the incremental cost relative to a standard car is going to add several thousand dollars.  That's why he is pushing serial hybrids.  

  There's potentially something to that argument depending on whether mass production of parallel hybrids could drive the cost down faster than alternatives - but the added complexity does suggest his point may be valid. On A pragmatic view of cellulosic biofuels posted 1 year, 9 months ago 5 Responses

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  Demonizing S&N

  I don't see why some people feel compelled to demonize S&N.  They completely acknowledge the terrific challenge and terrible problems we face.

  They have performed a valuable service by asking the movement to examine it's strategies and accurately note that the environmental movement is tilted towards motivating people based on fear rather than inspiration.  This assessment genuinely is a problem.On The right way to interpret Shellenberger & Nordhaus posted 1 year, 9 months ago 10 Responses

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  There are successes starting to emerge

  It's true that MCPA is often signed and followed with no action, but things are happening.  The Sierra Club's Cool Cities campaign (www.coolcities.us) is doing great work to actually move cities.  In San Mateo and Santa Clara counties in CA there are nearly 20 citizen teams pushing their cities to act.  Last year, 10 cities signed, 8 established taskforces or hired consultants, 2 completed their community-wide emissions inventory, 1 adopted a climate action plan -- a start, but more are coming.  And of course, San Jose adopted a bold "Green Vision" setting huge goals like 100% renewable power in 15 years.  Substantive measures like green building standards look imminent in the region.  Other states like NJ, ME, IL, and others have similarly substantial Cool Cities efforts.

  This is "in the trenches" work but things are happening!On Climate treaty among mayors often honored in the breach posted 1 year, 10 months ago 6 Responses