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February 21, 2006
Reading list on Energy
I often get asked what books have been influential in forming my thinking around energy. Especially how someone with a software or technology background can begin to get a handle on some of the macro issues. I am not sure that I have found all the best sources yet and I am SURE I haven't read them in the right order, but for the person just starting out I would recommend you read the following books in the following order:
The Bottomless Well, by Peter Huber and Mark Mills. This is two silicon valley guys talking primarilly about the electrification of everything hand how digital has replaced analogue in many more places than the computer. Lots of familiar language for a tech person to understand the three different energy markets (electricity, direct heat, transportation) and the options in each. After this one I was glad that silicon will eventually make cars solid state, lighter and better, but I realized that this won't happen in my lifetime and for now we are stuck with oil in our transportation system and no option. Huber and Mills definitely have an agenda.
Sleeping with the Devil, by Robert Baer. Robert Baer was CIA station chief in the mid east forever. His story was the basis of the movie Syriana (which I highly recommend). This will scare the **** out of you. When you realize that with less resources and coordination it took to bring down the twin towers, the world oil supply could be crippled for a decade, you should be affraid, very affraid. Baer also goes into how corrupt the Saudi royal family is and how tightly our fate is tied to theirs. Baer definitely has a POV and an agenda.
Energy at the CrossRoads, by Vaclav Smil. Haven't finished this one yet, but after being shocked by the theatrics of the first two (and rightly so), Smil's academic "just the facts" approach can be read without the heart racing too much. But I wouldn't start here, because you won't understand the enormity of the problem without the graphic excesses of the above.
Twilight in the Desert, by Matthew Simmons. More graphic excesses. Simmons is probably the hottest head screaming about "peak oil". The fact that oil is running out. I don't know that I agree with his immediate and dire predictions and he is definitely on the most radical side of "the sky is falling" argument, but it is good to get the worst case scenario out of the way. I am still looking for the best case scenario laid out in a clear an convincing manner. To date I have only found "don't worry about it" guys. That is not an answer.
more to come.
Posted by Martin at 9:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Why I recommend "The Bottomless Well: The Twilight of Fuel, the Virtue of Waste, and Why We Will Never Run Out of Energy"
the most important book on energy you can read this year.
Posted by Martin at 9:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
How to pitch an idea
David Cowan, Who Has Time For This?, unlike me, thinks about his posts. And makes some very good ones. His most recent on how to summarize your idea and pitch it in a quick an conscise manner is a keeper for anyone with an idea.
Posted by Martin at 9:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
A story about "Island Justice: A Novel"
I read so much stuff that makes my brian hurt that I occasionally need something that just flows. I usually turn to mysteries for that. In this case, i was intrigued by a story set on an Atlantic island of the east coast. I have spent summers on Block Island which it sounds like this island could be. There is a very bright line between year round’ers and summer people. Winthrop weaves an engaging story out of the unlikely mixing of these two worlds. complete with the guy who can’t take the pressure and explodes during the long winter. It could be called a chick book in that it is written by a woman and the two main characters are women, one of whom is struggling with a failing marriage. If you are in any trouble at all with your marriage, DO NOT offer this book to your spouse. Hide under the blanket and read it yourself.
Posted by Martin at 8:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Seattle BioFuels receives EPA award
The Eastside Business - report has the story of Michael Bogert stopping by our refinery yesterday. The Bush administration is out recognizing companies that are doing what Bush talked about in State of the Union.
Martin Tobias, CEO of Seattle Biofuels receives award from EPA adminstrator Michael Bogert
EPA photo 1
EPA photo 2
EPA photo 3
Posted by Martin at 8:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Bye bye Treo 700W
I hate the Palm OS. I bought the first one that came out. At the time i was using a Psion PDA. I ditched it for three months and tried to force myself to use the Grafiti handwriting stuff on the Palm. It was hell. If all you do with your PDA is sync with your desktop and use it to check your calendar then ok. If you actually write things of any length forget it. Then along came the blackberry with it's wonderful keyboard and push e-mail and I was sold. I have owned every blackberry model since the first one. But Blackberry doesn't do multi-media very well, the document attachment service is clunky and I wish it had a camera. Oh, and there is that little problem that they may be out of business soon.
So when the Treo 700W (windows) came out I thought to give it a try. I have been playing with it for the last three weeks. The primary appeal was:
1. a camera
2. direct connection to Exchange 2003 without a Blackberry server (that I just paid $4k for)
3. easier desktop integration (maybe)
After three weeks, the Blackberry is still standing and the Treo 700W is headed to e-bay. Here are the problems
1. Windows is great on a big screen. It SUCKS on a small screen. Half the screen is taken up with scroll bars and boxes and whatever. Your effective viewing area is cut in half.
2. The exchange connector didn't work. Some problem with the security certificates. Three days on it with my IT guy didn't get the Treo 700W connected to my exchange server.
3. Pull e-mail sucks when you are used to push. I want the stuff to just arrive, I don't want to have to keep going to get it.
4. Windows is not a good interface for a camera.
5. Outlook Web Access sucks on the 700W. The IE browser effectively manages the frames, but they make the content area so small that you can't read your messages. On the Blackberry with it's 4th Pass browser, they gracefully degraded the frames into something that was actually viewable and worked better.
Bummer. I wish Microsoft could create a good handheld experience. For now I am sticking with my Blackberry and waiting for a handheld with a camera.
Posted by Martin at 12:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Offensive cartoons?
I don't understand riots over cartoons. I am a Catholic. My first reaction to images that go against my belief system is not to riot in the streets, burn buildings and kill people. There is a deep seeded intollerance in the people who are doing these things. A level of intollerance that I am affraid most people in the liberal western democracies will never understand and will always try to passify with negotiation and treaties. I am especially disturbed by some in the media who are giving the administration and Israel grief for pulling funding from the PA after Hamas was elected. So there is a moral code somewhere that says I have to continue financial support to an organization that does not recognize my right to exist, sends suicide bombers into my coffee shops and is recognized as an international terrorist organization? I don't understand this at all.
While we have all been hearing of these offensive cartoons, I hadn't seen any of them until recently. Here are the ones causing the riots and some others I find entertaining. Are any of these worth fighting over? Are the people who do fight worth defending?
Posted by Martin at 12:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 20, 2006
The money sentence
I love election years. Lots of extra mail asking for money. In every letter is the "money sentence" that summarizes the issues the candidate things are most important to their base (read MONEY). I recently received a letter from both the incumbent US Sanator, Maria Cantwell and the challenger, Mike McGavick. See if you can tell which is from who.
"To be sure, I intend to wage a vigorous debate on the most important issues of our time - taxes and spending, securing our borders and protecting our homeland, creating jobs, promoting an economic climate that's stronger for families, and making sure the nation we leave for our children is stronger and more secure than the nation our parents left for us."
or
" Your support will enable me to keep fighting for you in the U.S. Senate on issues of shared concern, including creating financial stability throughout the nation, protecting our personal choices and ensureing a healthy environment for generations to come. Together we will continue to make a difference."
well I guess that isn't too hard. Interesting where each puts the emphasis huh?
Posted by Martin at 6:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 17, 2006
uninstalling software
- Picasa, photo viewer. It installed with Google desktop toolbar. Never used it. I like the screen saver from Google that automatically grabs photos and makes them the screen saver. I bet it uses some Picasa stuff so I may have to re-install it, but I needed the 35mb. In general I have not found a photo organizing software that I would actually use.
- Palm ActiveSync Bluetooth plugin. Installed to go with my new Treo 700W. Bluetooth can't say connected with the X41 long enough to do a full sync (probably has something to do with my 6456 contacts). So I am using the cable.
- Microsoft ActiveSync 4.0. INstalled for the Treo 700W. this is desktop sync. I have the Treo to try to get syncing working over the air direct to the Exchange 2003 server. Don't need it. And it sucks anyway.
Posted by Martin at 10:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Oil prices from August 2004 - Jan 2006
The graph says it all
Posted by Martin at 10:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 15, 2006
Dodge approves B20
The oil company FUD around warranties is cracking: Green Car Congress: Chrysler Sanctions B20 in Dodge Ram Pickups
Posted by Martin at 2:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 13, 2006
Energy Independence Bill passes Washington State Senate!
Just received confirmation today that the bill passed the Senate! It is 90% to the governor's signature!
Way to go Washington!
Energy Independence through Renewable Fuels Team,
Congratulations everyone!! The Renewable Fuels Standard bill passed the House Friday night with a very good, bipartisan vote, and the Senate this morning with a closer vote -- 3 Republicans voting for (Esser, Finkbeiner and Schmidt).
The amendments in the House and Senate were mostly the same. They are measuring the biodiesel percentage on a volumetric basis, rather than on a per gallon basis, and requiring that in order to ramp up to 5% biodiesel we need to meet a 3% standard with in-state feedstocks (which will delay ramp up somewhat). In the Senate there was one additional requirement that state fleets move to a 20% blend in all their vehicles by 2009, and report back on their progress, in order to inform implementation of this bill.
The fight is not over. We will need to keep the pressure on as the bills switch houses and go through the process. However, lets take this moment to celebrate victory, and a huge step forward for our effort.
Great work! The past weeks have been very intense, but all the hard work paid off. Thank you!!!
Go to www.leg.wa.gov for more details on the final bills, as amended.
Sarah
Posted by Martin at 1:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 11, 2006
AP story on Biodiesel shows up across the nation
My father called today. One of his friends at his knitting class asked if that was his son in the Medford Oregon paper. Yes, father, it was.
in a 2005 Volkswagen Beetle -- one that's entirely powered by soybean oil. The
chief executive of Seattle Biodiesel hopes thousands of others will soon follow
his lead.
To help achieve that goal, Tobias recently attracted $7.5 million in venture
capital financing from Nth Power, Technology Partners and Microsoft co-founder
Paul Allen's Vulcan Capital.
The round, which brings total financing in the two-year-old company to $9.5
million, is among the largest for a
Tobias said.
"We obviously want to be a national company," he said. "And we
think we have a better, faster, cheaper way to make biodiesel that we can
replicate all over the country and internationally."
The recent financing will be used for expansion, with plans to open a new
biodiesel refinery and canola-crushing oil facility this summer. Tobias declined
to comment on the new plant's location or size, though he said it would be
significantly larger than the company's 5 million-gallon
"Demand is so high that we still have not been able to meet it with our
current facility," Tobias said. Seattle Biodiesel signed a deal late last
year to provide up to 1 million gallons of biodiesel to the
and SSA Marine.
The company's new crushing facility will be in
Washington
variety of the rapeseed plant, into oil.
Currently, Seattle Biodiesel imports soybean oil from the
a costly endeavor that Nth Power managing director Nancy Floyd said can add as
much as 50 cents to the cost of a barrel of biodiesel. "It is hugely
expensive," Floyd said.
By shifting to locally produced canola oil, Tobias hopes to get a better handle
on costs and help
farmers discover a new cash crop. Canola oil also produces a higher grade of
fuel.
"The corporate goal is to make biodiesel cheaper than petroleum
diesel," said Tobias, who ran his VW Beetle on
need to invest a lot in process technology and scale in order to do that."
The idea of setting up smaller production facilities near key markets on the
coasts made sense to Floyd, whose
Francisco
companies.
There are large biodiesel producers in the
But Floyd said their distance from key markets -- eco-friendly places such as
Francisco
The biodiesel market is booming, with state and federal programs offering
incentives to producers. The state Legislature is considering a bill requiring
that all diesel motor fuels in
contain at least 2 percent biodiesel if certain criteria are met. The bill also
would require that a "predominant portion" of the biodiesel be
derived from crops grown in the state.
That could be a huge boost for companies such as Seattle Biodiesel, the largest
producer in the Pacific Northwest, said Patrick Mazza, research director at the
nonprofit
environmental group Climate Solutions.
"The standard is 2 percent, going up to 5 percent later," Mazza said.
"That guaranteed market is really going to help Seattle Biodiesel, and it
is going to create incentives to produce biodiesel in the state."
Biodiesel legislation has been adopted in other states, including
And a federal biodiesel excise tax, which went into effect a year ago and was
recently extended to 2008, has boosted demand throughout the country.
The involvement of celebrities in the biodiesel crusade -- including country
singer Willie Nelson, who is marketing a biodiesel fuel called BioWillie --
also is driving interest.
Mazza believes that Seattle Biodiesel, while relatively unknown and small at
just 19 employees, can make some waves in the industry.
"Being a small company itself is not an overwhelming challenge -- about
everyone in the field is pretty small," he said. "There is no Exxon
of biodiesel yet."
Seventy-five million gallons of biodiesel fuel were produced in the United
States last year, triple the amount in 2004, said Jenna Higgins, a spokeswoman
for the National Biodiesel Board.
Still, 75 million gallons is just a drop in the bucket when compared with the
67 billion gallons of diesel fuel consumed annually in the
But Tobias, a 41-year-old venture capitalist, sees opportunity in those
numbers.
"Biodiesel is a one-for-one replacement for diesel, so the theoretical
market for biodiesel is the market for diesel," Tobias said.
"The great thing about biodiesel is that you can start small and just mix
it in a little bit to get some of the environmental benefits and to reduce some
of your petroleum usage. Then you can increase the mixture, and the diesel
engines don't know any different."
Posted by Martin at 9:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Handy Washington state guide to Biodiesel and related legislation
thanks News Tribune!
Biodiesel at a glance
WHERE to get it
Eatonville: 117 Washington Ave.
Enumclaw: 680 Griffin Ave.
Fife: 2401 70th Ave. E.
Kent: 20242 84th Ave. S.
Lakewood: 9450 47th Ave. S.W.
Sumner: 3819 142nd Ave.
Tacoma: River Street and Portland Avenue
Tacoma: Interstate 5 and Port of Tacoma Road
Biofuel bills in the Legislature
(HB means House Bill, SB means Senate Bill)
HB 2663: Gives tax exemptions for alternative fuels manufactured in Washington state.
HB 2664: Requires at least 2 percent biodiesel by volume be added to all diesel motor fuel and 10 percent ethanol by volume be added to all motor gas fuel sold in the state.
HB 2665: Requires 10 percent ethanol by volume be added to all motor gas fuel sold in the state.
HB 2666: Provides tax exemptions for biofuel production, manufacturing and distribution.
HB 2738: Provides requirements to increase the minimum biofuel contents.
HB 2775: Establishes a Bioenergy Loan Program.
HB 2939: Provides $100 million for loans to companies investing in biofuel infrastructure and facilities.
SB 6501: Creates the Washington Bioenergy Loan Program.
SB 6508: Requires at least 2 percent biodiesel by volume to be added to all diesel motor fuel and 2.5 percent ethanol by volume be added to all gas motor fuel sold in the state.
SB 6514: Requires state agencies and contractors to use biofuels by June 1.
SB 6516: Gives sales and use tax exemptions to encourage the use of alternative fuels.
Posted by Martin at 9:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Here is a gadget that I must have
and it is good for diesel trucks too! Oil bypass filter that filters your oil on your big rig and reduces 99% of your engine wear. Change your oil now every 50,000 miles. Thanks to Cool Tools for the tip.
Filtration Solutions FS2500
[For many decades, consumers have been enticed to use "special" engine oil filters and additives despite a lack of real evidence for their effectiveness. I was dubious when Joachim Klehe told me of a bypass system from Filtration Solutions Worldwide that might have the potential to double engine life in pickup trucks, SUVs, and full-size Big Rigs, but Joachim makes a convincing case. CP]
If someone is skeptical about going that long between oil changes, the FS-2500 folks also offer an "Oil Analysis" club where oil can be extracted from the bypass filter via a T-valve and sent to the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, TX.
Maybe the FS-2500 could be adapted for use on a passenger car, but I suspect there would be two major challenges: a safe and secure mounting location, as it's a fairly large unit, and a means of mounting the oil fitting on the engine's regular oil filter where there's sufficient pressure.
-- Joachim Klehe
[Since most of the damage inside an engine is probably caused by small particles which act in the same way as an abrasive cleaner, a really good filtration system should make a dramatic difference. Whether it's worth the money will depend on whether you plan to continue using one vehicle for many years into the future, and if you live in an area where underbody corrosion may terminate the vehicle's useful life before engine wear. --CP]
Manufactured by http://filtrationsolutionsww.com
Posted by Martin at 8:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 10, 2006
The Oregonian article on northwest Biodiesel
In Oregonlive.com there is a good current update of the biodiesel projects in the northwest. One crazy claim that a guy in Yakima will invest $100-$200M (no way). Write your legislator and vote for these RFS mandates.
Posted by Martin at 4:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 9, 2006
News from San Diego Biodiesel conference
The show was 3X bigger than last year: SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Business -- Biodiesel's buddies. This year saw the performance vehicles show up. A 700hp custom Willy's pickup with a hummer motor and a chopper with a 38hp diesel. I liked the motorcyle the best. The show was sold out and there were more than 60 vendors (vs 20 last year). I didn't go to one session, only talked with people and had meetings in the hall. A very good show. Check out the web site for many of the materials.
Posted by Martin at 11:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
SonicWall buys Mail Frontier
Mail Frontier, the company which was running full page NewsWeek and CNN ads with their venture capital have sold themselves for peanuts. With $24.5M in, I gaurantee you the VCs are not happy with a $31M price. With preferences I bet the common shareholders got nothing.
Publicly Traded Security Co. SonicWALL Buys MailFrontier For $31M In Cash
By VentureWire Staff Reporters
Posted by Martin at 11:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
SonicWall buys Mail Frontier
Mail Frontier, the company which was running full page NewsWeek and CNN ads with their venture capital have sold themselves for peanuts. With $24.5M in, I gaurantee you the VCs are not happy with a $31M price. With preferences I bet the common shareholders got nothing.
Publicly Traded Security Co. SonicWALL Buys MailFrontier For $31M In Cash
By VentureWire Staff Reporters
Posted by Martin at 11:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 7, 2006
UBS analyst digs into public market companies affected by state of the Union
Everyone is talking about the state of the union and if Bush is real in his commitment to alternative energy or not. One question I had is what public companies could be affected? UBS did a great job summarizing the proposals in the state of the union and the various affected companies. One interesting thing is that UBS doesn't cover most of them. In fact no-one does. state_of_the_union_010206.pdf
Posted by Martin at 7:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 2, 2006
WSJ notes VC interest in Alternative Energy
Out today: WSJ.com - Alternative Fuels Attracting Venture Capital. I talked to the reporter, but didn't make the story. Oh, well, can't win them all.
Posted by Martin at 5:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 1, 2006
Hillary Clinton visits Seattle Biodiesel
Last friday: Clinton Aims to Boost Alternative Fuels Hillary Clinton and Maria Cantwell took a tour of Seattle Biodiesel. They introduced legislation to create a new agency to fund biofuels research to help create more companies like Seattle Biodiesel. Then last night Bush made a strong emphasis on renewables and biofuels in the State of the Union. Hey, I am even quoted!
Posted by Martin at 6:22 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Timeless advice from Philip Marlowe
I am a huge Raymond Chandler fan. I have read all of his books (even the non-fiction). And a couple of biography’s. I have a picture of him in my house done by a very famous East German artist. The only problem is that he is dead and not writing anymore. So I was in a bookstore on Lincoln road in Miami Beach yesterday and at the checkout stand was this book. Basically an editor took the time to go through Chandler’s books and pull out quotes on Philip Marlowe’s life philosophy. Here are some I love:
On Blondes:
“It was a blonde. A blonde to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained glass window.”
On Needs:
“I needed a drink, I needed a lot of life insurance. I needed a vacation. I needed a home in the country. What I had was a coat, a hat and a gun.”
On Crime:
“That’s the difference between crime and business. For business you gotta have capital. Sometimes I think it is the only difference.”
if you need a different perspective on life and a bit of lift, pick up this little book.
Posted by Martin at 6:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack