Bob Goozner's Solar Review

Today's Investment Advice

Robert E. Goozner - September 29, 2008

Publication Day

     The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues publications once a week, on Thursday. Today, the USPTO issued 6,371 publications.

    Of the 6,371 publications issued today,

    40 contained the word "photovoltaic";

    39 contained the phrase "solar cell";

   7 contained the term "biodiesel";

    1 contained the word "geothermal"; and

   11 contained the phrase "wind turbine".

    The featured publication for today is from Damoder Reddy, who developed photovoltaic devices having IR and/or UV absorbing nanostructured layers that increase efficiency of solar cells.    See: U.S Publication 20080230120.

Robert E. Goozner - September 25, 2008

Stolen Solar Cells

The problem with stolen solar cells first arose in Germany, as I noted several months ago. Now it seems that organized theives are stealing solar cells in California and selling them in Internet fencing operations like eBay and Craigslist. This is reported by Kate Galbraith in today's New York Times.

Continuing on the topic of pilferage, GM is still trying to get their hands on $25 Billion of government money to fund the project for their fictional Chevy Volt electric automobile. However, AFS Trinity Power, a company that is making legitimate progress in alternative automobiles, put a full page ad in the Washington Post today begging that the small firms get a taste of this money. The associated press release can be read here. However, this is all chump change compared to the $700 billion (or is it up to a trillion?) that Wall Street is demanding to keep the financial system from collapsing.

Anyway, with all this money in the air, Chrysler yesterday announced that they are getting into the electric car racket, and are even saying they will have one for sale by 2010.

Robert E. Goozner - September 24, 2008

Patent Day

          The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues patents once a week, on Tuesday. Today, the USPTO issued 2,331 patents.

    Of the 2,331 patents issued today,

8 contained the word "photovoltaic";

   13 contained the phrase "solar cell";

   1 contained the term "biodiesel";

   0 contained the word "geothermal"; and

   4 contained the term "wind turbine".

An interesting patent for today is by Marius A. Paul et al. for a universal thermodynamic gas turbine in a closed Carnot cycle suitable for geothermal applications. See: USP 7,426,832.

Robert E. Goozner - September 23, 2008

5 Grand

    The Wall Street bailout is estimated to cost the American taxpayers $700 billion and upward. Figuring that about 300 million people live in the USA, the bill comes to $2,333 per person. However, since there are only about 138 million taxpayers in the USA, the bailout will cost $5072 per taxpayer.

    Well, I do pay taxes, but I don't remember ever agreeing to have this 5 grand added to my tax bill. This is especially galling since many of the rich who benefitted so much from the Wall Street bubble scarcely pay any taxes. Also, that $700 billion could have gone a long way in improving eductation, infratructure, energy research, etc.

    Robert E. Goozner - September 22, 2008

Publication Day

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues publications once a week, on Thursday. Today, the USPTO issued 6,706 publications.

    Of the 6,706 publications issued today,

    35 contained the word "photovoltaic";

    39 contained the phrase "solar cell";

   8 contained the term "biodiesel";

    20 contained the word "geothermal"; and

   8 contained the phrase "wind turbine".

    The featured publication for today is from Eitan C. Zeira, who developed an all printed solar cell array where  polymer solutions and semiconductive oxide dispersions are formulated into inks that are laid down on top of one another to produce voltage and current when exposed to light..    See: U.S Publication 20080223428.

    Robert E. Goozner - September 18, 2008

Sub-Prime Business Methods

    Not too long ago the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) saw fit to start issuing patents on business methods. Now that fancy new business methods are bringing the economy close to collapse, I am wondering whether there are any second thoughts regarding business method patents. Think of the "useful" part of Section 8 of the United States Constitution, which states: "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries."

    More specifically, lets look at the patents pertaining to subprime mortgages. By feeding the key words "mortgage" and "subprime" into the USPTO search engine, one finds 13 patents. Typical of these patents is the one by master of the universe Brian L. Libman , late of freshly bankrupt Lehman Brothers Inc., who developed USP 7,310,618 for an automated loan evaluation system.

    Looking a bit further, Lehman Brothers Inc. is the owner of 8 business method patents. Perhaps they could have predicted their stock tanking from using their patent for methods and systems for analyzing and predicting market winners and losers - USP 7,263,502. At least these patents represents assets that can be liquidated in bankruptcy.

* * * * *

Patent Day

          The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues patents once a week, on Tuesday. Today, the USPTO issued 2,435 patents.

    Of the 2,435 patents issued today,

8 contained the word "photovoltaic";

   6 contained the phrase "solar cell";

   1 contained the term "biodiesel";

   0 contained the word "geothermal"; and

   5 contained the term "wind turbine".

   Continuing in the business method mode, Mark van Soestbergen et al. of International Carbon Bank and Exchange, Inc. developed a a system and method of for the banking and trading of emissions reductions credits (ERC's) . See: USP 7,426,489.

Robert E. Goozner - September 16, 2008

Spore

    My kid downloaded Spore this weekend, the hot new computer game in which creatures emerge from the primordial ooze, evolve and eventually become sentient and form civilizations. I am happy to report that my kid (and his friends playing the game) evolved well.

    On the other hand, VP candidate Sarah Palin seems to have trouble with the theory of evolution and believes that creationism should be taught in the schools. That is, if there are any books left in the schools after Ms. Palin is through removing most of the books from the library. Personally, I would rather see straight-up religion (but whose religion?) taught in the schools than this crackpot-cristianized form of Lysenkoism.

    Of course the Republicans are now saying that Obama (or is it the Democrats in general) are supporting teaching sex education before the children learn how to read. However, between pulling books from the library and teaching crackpot pseudo-science, the kids probably won't learn to read until they are 16 years old if the Rebublicans have their way. So maybe the Republicans have a point.

    Robert E. Goozner - September 15, 2008

Publication Day

    The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues publications once a week, on Thursday. Today, the USPTO issued 6,561 publications.

    Of the 6,561 publications issued today,

    44 contained the word "photovoltaic";

    50 contained the phrase "solar cell";

   8 contained the term "biodiesel";

    14 contained the word "geothermal"; and

   9 contained the phrase "wind turbine".

    The featured publication for today is from Russell Gaudiana et al., who developed a photovoltaic cell in the form of a fiber.    See: U.S Publication 20080217587.

* * * * *
9-11

    Today is the anniversary of the attacks on New York and Washington. Let us remember that these attacks were planned by Saudi Arabians, carried out by Saudi Arabians and financed by Saudi Arabians. Whenever you buy gasoline for your car you are sending money into the hands of these very same people. The less gasoline that you buy sends less money into the hands of these people.

       Robert E. Goozner - September 11, 2008

Obama Drilling

    It seems that Barack Obama is softening his stance on offshore drilling, since most people appear to be for it. However, I don't see any change in the energy program on Obama's web site, which can be found here.

    However, the main points of Obama's energy program have not changed, which are:

    • Provide short‐term relief to American families facing pain at the pump
    • Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.
    • Within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined
    • Put 1 million Plug‐In Hybrid cars – cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon – on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America
    • Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025
    • Implement an economy‐wide cap‐and‐trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.

    Of course some of the points in Obama's program represent grandstanding, such as short term relief at the pump (by taxing "excess profits" of the oil companies?). On the other hand, Obama does have an overall comprehensive plan to attack the energy problem.

    On the other hand, McCain's answer appears to be "Drill, Drill, Drill!" Also, there is the $300 million prize for lithium battery development, which (as I have noted before) sounds like a probable giveaway of taxpayer money to Exxon.

    There is now another problem with anything the McCain campain promises - that of veracity. Running mate Sarah Palin has turned out to be a brazen liar. Palin was an avid supporter of the "Bridge to Nowhere" until the earmark turned toxic in Washington, then she withdrew her support. Now Palin is repeatedly saying that she was against the "Bridge to Nowhere". She is lying over and over again.

    Now, since the Republicans are openly lying about what they are for and against, why should we believe anything they say about energy, especially given that Alaska (Palin's home state) has a very big stake in "old" energy.

    Robert E. Goozner - September 10, 2008

Patent Day

          The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues patents once a week, on Tuesday. Today, the USPTO issued 3,437 patents.

    Of the 3,437 patents issued today,

13 contained the word "photovoltaic";

   8 contained the phrase "solar cell";

   3 contained the term "biodiesel";

   2 contained the word "geothermal"; and

   3 contained the term "wind turbine".

   An interesting patent for today is by Eugenio Giorni et al. of General Electric, who develped a vapor turbine operating with geothermal vapours containing corrosive agents or aggressive substances such as chlorides and/or sulfides in particular. See: USP 7,422,798.

Robert E. Goozner - September 9, 2008

Exxon's New Poster Boy

    ExxonMobil has been filling the television and newspapers with self-serving ads during the last few days in tandem with the Rebublican convention. However, they are now offering more personalities than Pat Brant. For example, another researcher ExxonMobil is featuring is Vijay Swarup, who can be found (along with Pat Brant) cooing about lithium ion batteries on Exxon's web site.

    Well I checked Mr. Swarup out on the USPTO web site and found he was listed as an inventor on 19 patents. Mr. Swarup also only has 3 published patent applications. Interestingly he has only had one patent in the last 6 years, which was for a process for alcohol production by selective ether decomposition (USP 7,399,981). His earlier work pertained to coatings such as clearcoat compositions containing phenolics.

    So I don't get it. Where is his work on lithium ion battery membranes?

* * * * *

Publication Day

    The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues publications once a week, on Thursday. Today, the USPTO issued 6,591 publications.

    Of the 6,591 publications issued today,

    54 contained the word "photovoltaic";

    47 contained the phrase "solar cell";

   13 contained the term "biodiesel";

    5 contained the word "geothermal"; and

   9 contained the phrase "wind turbine".

    The featured publication for today is from Richar R. Woods et al. of Primafuel, who developed a method for  converting a fatty acid rich material to biodiesel using a homogeneous catalyst, followed by electrodialysis of the resulting product to remove the catalyst.    See: U.S Publication 20080209799.

       Robert E. Goozner - September 4, 2008

Exxon and T. Boone

    The Republican convention is going on and the telelvision and newspapers (such as the Wahington Post) are being saturated with advertisements from the likes of ExxonMobil and energy vulture T. Boone Pickens (and also the natural gas lobby) touting their vision for solving the ongoing energy crisis, which is to enrich themselves while taking cover behind a Potemkin village of green initiatives.

    However, Tom Friedman is taking them (or at least the Republicans) to task in a good column in today's New York Times.

    So remember, when ExxonMobil runs an ad showing Pat Brant in his little goatee babbling about lithium ion batteries, there is another man in a little goatee behind the facade - the king of Saudi Arabia.

* * * * *

Patent Day

          The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues patents once a week, on Tuesday. On Tuesday, the USPTO issued 3,467 patents.

    Of the 3,467 patents issued on Teusday,

17 contained the word "photovoltaic";

   12 contained the phrase "solar cell";

   4 contained the term "biodiesel";

   4 contained the word "geothermal"; and

   5 contained the term "wind turbine".

   An interesting patent for today is by Tsuguo Koyanagi et al. of Catalysts & Chemicals Industries, who develped a photovoltaic cell is capable of inhibiting back current and decomposition of a spectrosensitizing dye caused by the ultraviolet rays. See: USP 7,420,117.

Robert E. Goozner - September 3, 2008

Publication Day

    The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues publications once a week, on Thursday. Today, the USPTO issued 7,789 publications.

    Of the 7,789 publications issued today,

    47 contained the word "photovoltaic";

    38 contained the phrase "solar cell";

   12 contained the term "biodiesel";

    11 contained the word "geothermal"; and

   10 contained the phrase "wind turbine".

    The featured publication for today is from Erik Enebakk et al. of ELKEM ASA, who developed a silicon feedstrock for solar cells.    See: U.S Publication 20080206123.

    Robert E. Goozner - August 28, 2008

Chevy Volt - Is It Real?

    Recently, I was sitting in a golf cart and my companion mentioned that his Lexus was 14 years old and it was time for a new car. He mentioned the possibility of buying an electric car - specifically the Chevy Volt Chevy Volt, which is perhaps an appropriate thought if you are sitting in a golf cart.

    But the question came up: Is the Chevy Volt going to be a real car or is it just a dog and pony show put on by General Motors to demonstrate that they are doing something about the energy crisis? For example, despite all the hype, it is difficult to determine what the car will look like. See also here. However, almost 35,000 people have signed up to but the car, even if the estimated price is about $40,000.

    However, like GM's hydrogen technology fuel cell car, the Chevy Volt could end up being a concept car that will never be produced. This is especially true given that the next president (whether Obama of McCain) will be under tremendous pressure to provide a government bailout of the auto industry. That is, as far as GM is concerned, a better solution is corporate welfare to have them produce cars that nobody wants to buy.

    Perhaps I have a jaundiced view of GM. But I remember GM's response to the energy crisis of the '70s, which was not to produce a piece of engineering but rather to produce a piece of distain called the Chevy Vega, which is acknowledged to be one of the worst cars ever made. See also here. Not that the Ford Pinto was any better. And who can forget the Corvair. Everyone of a certain age has memories of a Corvair careening down the road trailing a nacreous cloud of grayish black smoke that seemed to be peculiar to the Corvair.

    So will the Chevy Volt be a real car? Or will the American car companies proffer solutions that channel their answers to the energy crisis of the '70s - an orgy of shoddy engineering?

* * * * *

CLEANTECH IN ISRAEL

A good article about energy policy in Israel can be found in the Jerusalem Post. Also, there is a good article on biodiesel research in Israel.

Robert E. Goozner - August 27, 2008 (back from vacation)

Financing Solar Energy

    An alternative way to finance residential solar cell arrays is being considered in California. The idea is to have the municipality back the loan, which would then be amortized over 20 years with a property tax assessment. That is, the payment for the solar cells would by a part of the property tax assessment. Not only is this being considered in liberal Berkeley, but also in conservative Palm Desert. This was recently reported in the Los Angeles Times.

    I'll be on vacation next week. So updates to my web site may be sporadic.

    Robert E. Goozner - August 15, 2008

Publication Day

    The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues publications once a week, on Thursday. Today, the USPTO issued 6,315 publications.

    Of the 6,315 publications issued today,

    47 contained the word "photovoltaic";

    32 contained the phrase "solar cell";

   13 contained the term "biodiesel";

    14 contained the word "geothermal"; and

   7 contained the phrase "wind turbine".

    The featured publication for today is from Coorey J. Centen et al. of Mobilab Technologies, who developed a protein-coupled bioelectric solar cell where Bacteriorhodopsin provides the solar energy conversion while the Cytochrome is sandwiched between microporous electrodes and provides the electromotive force.    See: U.S Publication 20080193802.

    The Washington Post had a good article today by James Hohman on how subsidies help residents go solar (you may need to register). It discusses how tax credits and a grant from the State of Maryland reduced the cost of a $35,000 solar system to $18,000, which is almost a 50% reduction.

    Of course, these tax advantages are going to disappear this December unless the new energy bill is passed. John McCain's no-shows on energy bill votes are disussed below. Despite his ads, McCain's energy policy is no energy policy. McCain may talk tough about Russia's invasion of Georgia, but Russia did not invade Georgia to secure a supply of silicon for solar cells.

Robert E. Goozner - August 14, 2008

McCain's Energy Policy

    Thomas Friedman had an excellent column in today's New York Times in which he exposed John McCain's lack of commitment to alternative energy. McCain has missed eight votes on the energy billl, which would extend the investment tax credits for installing solar energy and the production tax credits for building wind turbines and other energy-efficiency systems. By not showing up and voting, McCain is essentially voting against the energy bill. When these tax credits expire in December, this will be a great blow to emerging alternative energy technologies.

    This is the true face of John McCain on alternative energy - a George W. Bush retread.

    The column also had a nice plug for Scott Sklar of the Stella Group, which markets renewable energy.

    Robert E. Goozner - August 13, 2008

Patent Day

          The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues patents once a week, on Tuesday. Today, the USPTO issued 3,469 patents.

    Of the 3,469 patents issued today,

15 contained the word "photovoltaic";

   13 contained the phrase "solar cell";

   0 contained the term "biodiesel";

   5 contained the word "geothermal"; and

   2 contained the term "wind turbine".

   An interesting patent for today is by Gary Delmar Jaycox et al. of du Pont, who develped a hole transport polymer with the potential for utilization in solar cells. See: USP 7,410,702.

I was watching TV again last night (a bad habit, I admit) and ExxonMobil had an advertisement touting their efforts in Africa to prevent malaria by handing out mosquito nets. However, the advertisement failed to mention that the spread of malaria in the third world is driven by global warming, which raises the mosquito line to higher elevations to thereby put inhabited areas at risk. For example, you can read about this in Neew Guinea here.

ExxonMobil failed to mention that global warming is caused, to a great extent, by the burning of the fossil fuels that they peddle. Anyway, you can take a look at their self serving Corporate Responsibility Page

Robert E. Goozner - August 12, 2008

Tire Pressure

    When I was young (and this country could do things like put a man on the moon) virtually every gas station was equipped with a regulated air pump. The pump had a lozenge-shaped head mounted on a trapezoidal pedestal. A silver handle was on the side of the head, and turning the crank would allow one to dial up the exact air pressure to fill the tire. When filling, the air pump would emit a series of rings, first rapidly, then falling off until a final ring indicated that the tire was filled to the exact pressure. This of course was back in an era when industrial design and service counted for something. The last one I know of is at the Sunoco station at Lee Highway and Harrison Street in Arlington, but that has been put out of commission about a year ago and just sits forlornly when a plastic bag over its head as a final indignity. The air regulators are gone, just like the fire alarm boxes whose shattered husks (also masterpieces of industrial design) can still be seen here and there in D.C.

    Now, the presidential campaign is going on and on about energy. One of the latest things is the McCain camp making fun of keeping your car's tires properly filled, even though it would save you 12 cents per gallon immediately, which is more of an instant savings than future oil drilling. Nonetheless,  Charles Krauthammer dissed proper tire pressure in today's Washington Post. Although at the end, he support proper air pressure too.

    However, filling up ones tires has gotten quite difficult. At most, a gas station may have an unregualted hose, which would require trial and error with a tire guage to get the right pressure. Even worse, most gas stations now have a coin operated air pump where you must feed in quarters to start the air pump. I can tell you from experience that there is no ballast (which is a storage tank) and the air pump cuts off before the proper pressure is attained.

    As a result, it would be nice if the oil companies (who ultimately own these gas stations) would bring back the old regulated air pumps. I don't know how much that would cost. But since the oil companies are now posting profit numbers that can only be understood by astronomers, it wouldn't cut into their profits that much. Every little bit helps.

    Service With A Smile - Robert E. Goozner - August 8, 2008

Publication Day

    The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues publications once a week, on Thursday. Today, the USPTO issued 5,369 publications.

    Of the 5,369 publications issued today,

    38 contained the word "photovoltaic";

    26 contained the phrase "solar cell";

   4 contained the term "biodiesel";

    4 contained the word "geothermal"; and

   9 contained the phrase "wind turbine".

    The featured publication for today is from Romano Artioli of Luxembourg, who developed an electrically propelled vehicle that can incorporate photovoltaic cells.    See: U.S Publication 20080185196.

Robert E. Goozner - August 7, 2008

Bruce Ivins

    Bruce Ivans was the suspected anthrax terrorist who commited suicide before he was due to be arrested. I looked into some of his background, and he was involved in quite alot of interesting research.

    In U.S. Publication 2006/0019239 Ivins helped develop a method of preventing or treating an infection caused by a bioterrorism agent, specifically to a method of increasing an immune response to a bioterrorism agent using an oligodeoxynucleotide.

    In U.S. Patent 6,387,665 Ivins helped develop a vaccine for anthrax that inolves a bacterial expression system and production and use of protective antigen (PA) against Bacillus anthracis.

    In U.S. Patent 6,316,006 Ivins helped develop a bacterial expression system for production of protective antigen (PA) against bacillus anthracis.

    Ivins also supplied microbial (such as anthrax) strains for other researchers, such as James R. Baker et al. in U.S. Patent 6,559,189 and U.S. Patent 6,635,676.

    Some of Ivins scientific publications include Ivins et al., "Experimental anthrax vaccines: efficacy of adjuvants combined with protective antigen against an aerosol Bacillus anthracis spore challenge in guinea pigs." Vaccine 1995; 13: 1779-1784.

    This is just what I found with a quick look. I am sure that his CV is much more extensive.

    Moving on, I read the Wall Street Journal today (Oh Boy!). The WSJ appeared to heaping vitriol on everybody's energy plans, particularly Obama's plan to spend $150 billion to promote alternative energy over 10 years.

    As for me, I did my bit by riding my bicycle to work.

    Robert E. Goozner - August 6, 2008

Patent Day

          The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues patents once a week, on Tuesday. Today, the USPTO issued 3,476 patents.

    Of the 3,476 patents issued today,

10 contained the word "photovoltaic";

   8 contained the phrase "solar cell";

   1 contained the term "biodiesel";

   2 contained the word "geothermal"; and

    0 contained the term "wind turbine".

   An interesting patent for today is by Christoph Brabec et al. of Konarka, who develped a method for the production of organic solar cells or photodetectors, particularly based on organic polymers. See: USP 7,407,831.

I've been looking at Al Gore's seb site about the climate crisis at Wecansolvit.org and am trying to figure it out. I am also seeing full page ads touting the web site in the newspapers such as the Washington Post.

Robert E. Goozner - August 5, 2008

Biking in LA

    I rode my bicycle into work today and did a personal best of 50 minutes to cover the 10.5 miles from Arlington to Old Town Alexandria.

    On the other hand, bicyle commuting in other places outside the Washington DC area can be tough. In today's Wall Street Journal, Rhonda L. Rundle had an excellent article on Risking Life and Limb, Riding a Bike to Work in LA.

    However, the mathematics is working. One cyclist in the article reported saving $220 per month in gasoline. Strangely, the WSJ (which is a fininancial paper) failed to note that this savings represents funds that are not being sent overseas to places like Saudi Arabia and Iran, but instead are kept in the local economy. So the ultimate economic benefit is much greater than $220 per month.

    Robert E. Goozner - August 1, 2008

Publication Day

    The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues publications once a week, on Thursday. Today, the USPTO issued 6,092 publications.

    Of the 6,092 publications issued today,

    35 contained the word "photovoltaic";

    35 contained the phrase "solar cell";

   8 contained the term "biodiesel";

    11 contained the word "geothermal"; and

    7 contained the phrase "wind turbine".

    The featured publication for today is from Christopher Thompson et al., who developed a method for harvesting latent energy and water from atmospheric air by adiabatically decompressing a controlled volume of atmospheric air to lower its pressure and temperature below the saturation point of included water vapor, thus causing the water vapor to change state to nonvaporous water and release to the decompressed air thermal energy associated with the change of state.

See: U.S Publication 20080178625.

Robert E. Goozner - July 31, 2008

Obama on Energy

    On Monday I looked at McCain's energy plan (or lack of such). Today I took a look at Barack Obama's web site on energy issues for his position on energy.

    Obama proposes an economic stimulus to immediately put tax rebates in the pockets of American families to pay for rising energy prices. As president, Obama will enact a tax fairness agenda that provides 150 million workers a “Making Work Pay” tax credit of $500 per person or $1,000 per working family. This is middle class welfare that solves nothing.

    Obama proposes to regulate energy markets and investigate market manipulators. Good luck with that. OK, speculators are vultures but, like vultures, speculators perform a useful function. The speculaors guarantee that oil will be available to those with the money to pay for it. Also, the markets, which are international, will be resistant to attempts by one country at regulation.

    On the upside, Obama proposes to invest $150 billion over 10 years to advance the next generation of biofuels and fuel infrastructure, accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrids, promote development of commercial-scale renewable energy, invest in low-emissions coal plants, and begin the transition to a new digital electricity grid. A principal focus of this fund will be devoted to ensuring that technologies that are developed in the U.S. are rapidly commercialized in the U.S. and deployed around the globe.

    Most importantly Obama has a plan while McCain merely has an attack ad. If you want to read it, here is Obama's position paper.

    Although some of Obama's ideas are nonrunners, I think that his plan for an intensive 10 year R&D effort puts him way ahead of McCain on energy issues.

    Also, columnist Tom Friedman has a good column today on the Rebublican obsession for offshore oil drilling.

    Robert E. Goozner - July 30, 2008

Patent Day

          The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues patents once a week, on Tuesday. Today, the USPTO issued 2,860 patents.

    Of the 2,860 patents issued today,

8 contained the word "photovoltaic";

    15 contained the phrase "solar cell";

   2 contained the term "biodiesel";

   1 contained the word "geothermal"; and

    2 contained the term "wind turbine".

   An interesting patent for today is by Silvia Roselli et al. of Sony Deutschland, who develped a discotic liquid crystal based electronic device using interdigit structure electrode, which can be used as a solar cell. Years ago, I did research on discotic liquid crystals when I was a graduate student at Temple University.   See: USP 7,405,793.

Robert E. Goozner - July 29, 2008

McCain on Energy

    If you are following the election advertisements, you will notice that John McCain is flooding the television channels with spots that are directly blaming Barack Obama for high energy prices. Will McCain do better than Obama? When I last looked awhile back, it appeared that McCain had the worst (as in no) energy policy.

    McCains's web site now contains an alternative energy page, which sets forth an energy plan called The Lexington Project. The first item in the agenda is drilling for more oil, and ending the moratorium on drilling on the continental shelf. Also, McCain proposes to spend $2 billion annually to advancing clean coal technologies. McCain also promotes natural gas. The backbone of McCain's energy policy is thus to keep promoting sunset carbon-based energy policies which led us to the current energy crisis in the first place. This reminds me of the adage that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again in the hope of obtaining a different result. This is an energy policy that promotes carbon-based energy, which will reinforce our dependence on (and will support) nasty places run by middle eastern potentates, post-soviet plutocrats, Venezuelan wingnuts, etc.

    How about alternative energy? In this area, McCain flirts with incoherence. I will quote in full:

John McCain Will Encourage The Market For Alternative, Low Carbon Fuels Such As Wind, Hydro And Solar Power. According to the Department of Energy, wind could provide as much as one-fifth of electricity by 2030. The U.S. solar energy industry continued its double-digit annual growth rate in 2006. To develop these and other sources of renewable energy will require that we rationalize the current patchwork of temporary tax credits that provide commercial feasibility. John McCain believes in an even-handed system of tax credits that will remain in place until the market transforms sufficiently to the point where renewable energy no longer merits the taxpayers' dollars.

    Does that mean that he is for against the tax credits in the dying energy bill? What the heck does "rationalizing" tax credits mean anyway? On the other hand, he does propose a $5,000 tax credit for purchasers of zero carbon emission cars.

    However, McCain is still pushing a $300 million prize to improve battery technology for hybrid and electric automobiles. As I've mentioned before, this smells a whole lot like a giveaway to ExxonMobil, an oil company which has its own campain for their poster-boy scientist of dubious distinction Pat Brant. This web site does admit that "Brant and his global colleagues developed a new film separator that can withstand more demanding hybrid-vehicle battery conditions." This is referring to the Japanese subsidiary of ExxonMobil Tonen Chemicals that actually does the battery membrane research.

    However, putting Japanese researchers on a television advertisement is not the type of thing that would reassure the public, but merely remind people of the poor state of energy R&D in this country.

    Robert E. Goozner - July 28, 2008

BICYCLES IN BERLIN

TRAILS END IN BERLIN

Patent Attorney Office River-Vu

Patent Lawyer View

My law firm, Young & Thompson, moved into nice new offices at the northern edge of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Somehow I was given a prestigious (but not corner) office with a view of the Potomac river.

Although you can barely see it, the Alexandria boathouse is at the end of Madison street, and one can see the rowing team practice in the late afternoon.

AACHEN GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

The Goozner Solar Review arises from my long standing interest in all forms of alternative energy. This not only includes solar energy, but all kinds of energy that are non-carbon based. Above, you see me in front of the geothermal project at the University of Aachen (Germany). The geothermal energy is obtained by sinking a shaft about 1km straight into the ground, and exploiting the temperature gradient between the abyss and the surface. This shaft will supply most of the energy used by the University.

LINKS

Solar Decathlon	Department of Energy	Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy	National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
United States Patent And Trademark Office	Gooznews	Young & Thompsom