Oh the weather outside is frightful...

So, my fellow environmentanauts, as the Met office predicts more snow for later this week, the outlook for The Ecologic News© is also pretty grim.

First of all, Fred Olsen has pulled out of a major off-shore wind-farm project. This is bad news for Scotland. Read the full story here.

It looks like the superpowers are coming to loggerheads and firmly staying there, with neither America nor China willing to compromise on the upcoming climate summit in Cancun. Its not exactly nuclear war, but if no middle ground can be found, it may have just as far-reaching consequences. For more details, click the link.

He has been on the news recently saying that nuclear power is the way forward for the green movement. It’s put the radioactive cat amongst the environmental pigeons, albeit in the dirty alleyway that in my mind is Channel 4, but is he right? The Ecologist has an exclusive interview with him here, so decide for yourself.

However, on Islay, the Queen of the Hebrides, all the bad news is being ignored by 3000 islanders who, while distilling copious amounts of whiskey, have also agreed to the development of a tidal array on the sea-bed just offshore. If the demonstration works, then the whole of Islay will be powered by the sea, including the distilleries, which then go on to power the people. It’s a wonderful system, and here’s to them, in the hope that it works out.

And finally, a good news story. The Feed-In Tariff, which was much lauded and can be read about elsewhere on our website, has really taken off. A new blog from Yougenexplains why and how.

Wrap up warm everyone, and have a good week!

Winter is a'coming in

Well, it seems that winter has truly arrived, and with the clear skies comes a bitter frost. Naturally, some people may think of turning to renewable energy to heat their house and to cut down on bills and their carbon footprint. Importantly, therefore, the Government will introduce the Renewable Heat Incentive in July to help prospective renewable customers out, but as with all things in Whitehall, it can seem unclear. Thankfully, Yougen has got some wonderful blogs which go into clearer detail here and here. Definitely worth a look.

For those with more intimate things on their mind though, the Ecologist has released the latest in a series of ‘How to…’ articles – this one on how to have sex – sustainably and ethically. While this sounds like an ad for free trade Viagra, it is actually an interesting read, in an area you wouldn’t normally consider. It can be found here

Now, it has recently been in the news that Britain will be sharing its armed forces with the French (cue horrified gasp from the far right), but its not widely known that some of our energy comes from over the Channel. In fact, Electricité de France owns London Electricity. As well as their prolific use of nuclear power, the French have also charged ahead with tidal barrages, the biggest of which is the Rance barrage, the largest in the world. Given that the Severn barrage project has just been cancelled, that means that the French are far ahead of us in terms of renewable power generation. We could stand to learn a few lessons.

But there is a silver lining on the metaphorical cloud. David Cameron is reviving plans to create a national happiness index. I certainly feel better knowing that the government will be able to quantify my psychological well-being, but it does allow me the rare pleasure of dispensing advice and quoting Bob Marley at the same time.

‘Don’t worry, be happy’

Even boogeymen need energy

Now that Hallowe’en has gone, its time for the really chilling stories. Read on if you dare…

A Canadian mining company has been given permission to dredge the Papua New Guinea sea bed for minerals. Critics say the environmental impact could be devastating…

Scientists warn that dark soot particles from the flights of new ‘space tourists’ could wreak havoc on our already fragile climate…

Chris Huhne is heralding a green revolution. But who will be for the chop…

However, on a happier note, solar panel beacons are shining forth as an example to the world, in the form of the USA and South Africa.

Last week, on 'Renewable Energy - The Reality'

*Scottish and Southern Energy has received planning consent to develop a 60MW pumped storage scheme at its existing Sloy hydroelectric power station at Loch Lomond. See the full story here

*The Renewable Energy Association, together with environmental organisations and a number of MPs, have held a renewable heat lobby outside the Houses of Parliament to “keep the pressure up” on government to introduce the Renewable Heat Incentive by April 2011. Find out more by following the link

*Energy Trends and Quarterly Energy Prices publications are published recently by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Go to the page to download the PDF by clicking this sentence.

*And finally, Cornwall is set to house the ‘UK’s first’ solar park after permission was granted for a 1.55MW development at the disused Wheal Jane mine site. See the light here.

Thats all for this week folks, don’t forget to wrap up warm, as meterorologists have predicted a harsh winter based on seven siberian geese coming over here.

Wind Power - a load of hot air?

Here is a presentation, by Mike Postlethwaite of Turbine Services, on the merits of local wind turbine power generation.