Polycrystalline Solar Cell

Back in July, I announced the start of a new series of posts on Sustainable Energy, but I haven’t had a chance to actually write about the topic until today.  No time like the present, then, to launch into my favorite diatribe:  Solar Heresy.

My concern about solar cells — specifically silicon photovoltaic cells — is that it takes a great deal of energy to make silicon. Continue Reading »

Today is the first in a series of posts on sustainable energy.  What, you may ask, does finding a sustainable source of energy have to do with financial planning?

I believe there is no greater threat to our long-term planning — both individually and as a nation — than finding a solution to the energy problem.

By “long-term” I mean my lifetime and that of my child’s.  True financial planning considers not only how to fund your life and your lifestyle but what you are going to pass on to the next generation.  I started thinking about what a financial plan for Uncle Sam would look like.  Of course it’s a bit contrived, but it’s perhaps interesting to take a minute to think about what are his goals, his financial status, and his risk exposures. Continue Reading »