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Energy Independence
For people interested in reducing their usage of fossil-fuel evergy through conservation, renewables, and alternative energy: solar, wind, biodiesel, fuel cells
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The Economist overview of Alternative Energy
In its June 19th issue, The Economist published an amazing summary of the state of alternative energy. Check it out here: view link
There are great facts and stats and very sound assessment of the state of the science.
The Economist, of course, is a business magazine so their bias tends to be about the economic viability of technologies in the relatively short term. But being a European publication, they take the need for alternative energy more seriously that most of the American press.
There are great facts and stats and very sound assessment of the state of the science.
The Economist, of course, is a business magazine so their bias tends to be about the economic viability of technologies in the relatively short term. But being a European publication, they take the need for alternative energy more seriously that most of the American press.
Oil Man Becomes Wind Man
Big Oil man T Boone Pickens has been predicting the rising price of oil for a while -- and making millions on his investments. Now he is switching to wind, planning the largest wind farm in the world: view link
But it is not just another investment, it is part of a larger strategy that involves displacing the natural gas currently used for electricity generation and using it for cars. See The Pickens Plan at view link
My take: not a bad idea. What I like most is that this seems to be a viable medium term plan while we ramp up and refine other renewables. Any real solution to the energy issue needs to have short (3 - 5 year) actions, medium (5 - 15 years) actions and long term (15+ year goals) to really solve the problem. But no one talks about this entire spectrum.
The big missing link: conservation and higher auto mileage standards (see the Union of Concerned Scientists site for their analysis of how to improve SUVs to 40 mpg using existing technology view link ). These are actually the biggest energy resources in the US, if we only will develop the will to tap them.
Ya'll know I'm a fan of solar, but from my experience it ain't quite ready for prime time. It'll get there, but in the meantime we need a medium-term plan that can be implemented now. The Pickens Plan has merit.
But it is not just another investment, it is part of a larger strategy that involves displacing the natural gas currently used for electricity generation and using it for cars. See The Pickens Plan at view link
My take: not a bad idea. What I like most is that this seems to be a viable medium term plan while we ramp up and refine other renewables. Any real solution to the energy issue needs to have short (3 - 5 year) actions, medium (5 - 15 years) actions and long term (15+ year goals) to really solve the problem. But no one talks about this entire spectrum.
The big missing link: conservation and higher auto mileage standards (see the Union of Concerned Scientists site for their analysis of how to improve SUVs to 40 mpg using existing technology view link ). These are actually the biggest energy resources in the US, if we only will develop the will to tap them.
Ya'll know I'm a fan of solar, but from my experience it ain't quite ready for prime time. It'll get there, but in the meantime we need a medium-term plan that can be implemented now. The Pickens Plan has merit.
Idealists say Why No NUKES=risk to human health
WHY NOT NUCLEAR POWER???? Because nuclear accidents pose a serious risk to human health for up to twenty years after an accident!
From Planetark.com:
CHERNOBYL POWER PLANT, Ukraine - Work is expected to start this year at Chernobyl on a new structure to entomb its shattered reactor and stop radiation leaks at the site of the world's largest nuclear disaster.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) pledged 135 million euros ($211 million) to make safe the nuclear power plant more than two decades after the explosion and fire that dumped radiation over much of Europe. But it will be 100 years before people can resettle the area.
The cash, about 10 percent of the bank's net profit in 2007, will go into a fund to build a new containment vessel at the plant, in thick woodland near Ukraine's border with Belarus.
Reactor four, which blew up on April 26, 1986, is to be crowned by a steel arch which will measure 257 metres across and 105 metres high and will lock in radioactive dust. A separate facility will house spent nuclear fuel now under grassy mounds.
Radiation levels near the plant still hit 300 microroentgens -- 30 times levels acceptable for humans.
The blast spilled radiation over most of Europe, with Belarus, downwind from the plant, affected most acutely.
Estimates of the number of deaths directly related to the accident vary. The World Health Organisation estimates the figure at 9,000 while the environmental group Greenpeace predicts an eventual death toll of 93,000.
For the balance of the article, go to link:
view link
Source: Story by Amie Ferris-Rotman written on 26/5/2008
***********
With all the viable Renewable Energy available in the US, we don't need to invest in nuclear power, WE NEED TO INVEST IN CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY NOW.
Energetically Yours,
Diane Tegarden
From Planetark.com:
CHERNOBYL POWER PLANT, Ukraine - Work is expected to start this year at Chernobyl on a new structure to entomb its shattered reactor and stop radiation leaks at the site of the world's largest nuclear disaster.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) pledged 135 million euros ($211 million) to make safe the nuclear power plant more than two decades after the explosion and fire that dumped radiation over much of Europe. But it will be 100 years before people can resettle the area.
The cash, about 10 percent of the bank's net profit in 2007, will go into a fund to build a new containment vessel at the plant, in thick woodland near Ukraine's border with Belarus.
Reactor four, which blew up on April 26, 1986, is to be crowned by a steel arch which will measure 257 metres across and 105 metres high and will lock in radioactive dust. A separate facility will house spent nuclear fuel now under grassy mounds.
Radiation levels near the plant still hit 300 microroentgens -- 30 times levels acceptable for humans.
The blast spilled radiation over most of Europe, with Belarus, downwind from the plant, affected most acutely.
Estimates of the number of deaths directly related to the accident vary. The World Health Organisation estimates the figure at 9,000 while the environmental group Greenpeace predicts an eventual death toll of 93,000.
For the balance of the article, go to link:
view link
Source: Story by Amie Ferris-Rotman written on 26/5/2008
***********
With all the viable Renewable Energy available in the US, we don't need to invest in nuclear power, WE NEED TO INVEST IN CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY NOW.
Energetically Yours,
Diane Tegarden
A True Visionary
Chasing down solar related links in a posting in another group, I came across the following article published in the New York Times on line:
RECONSIDERATION
Current Thinking
By HEATHER ROGERS
Published: June 3, 2007
When Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced his vision of development in New York City over the next 25 years, he highlighted a plan to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 30 percent. To anyone who has studied the history of power consumption in the United States, his proposal sounded a curious echo. New York, after all, was home to one of the country’s first central power stations, built by Thomas Edison in 1882. No individual deserves more credit, or blame, for America’s voracious electricity consumption than Edison, who conceived not only that generating station but also the notoriously inefficient incandescent bulb and a slew of volt-thirsty devices.
see balance of article in first reply
RECONSIDERATION
Current Thinking
By HEATHER ROGERS
Published: June 3, 2007
When Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced his vision of development in New York City over the next 25 years, he highlighted a plan to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 30 percent. To anyone who has studied the history of power consumption in the United States, his proposal sounded a curious echo. New York, after all, was home to one of the country’s first central power stations, built by Thomas Edison in 1882. No individual deserves more credit, or blame, for America’s voracious electricity consumption than Edison, who conceived not only that generating station but also the notoriously inefficient incandescent bulb and a slew of volt-thirsty devices.
see balance of article in first reply
Light Bulbs
I have been reading different forum posts and comments on PickensPlan. I am just starting to learn more, and not very smart on these things. Could someone please give me a very simple list of the different light bulbs? And which we are to use now? Thanks!
Ground Water Heat Pump
At the Manistee Michigan Energy Fair 6-08 I heard about a Ground Water Heat Pump. Does anyone have one of these systems?
Windspire
Does anyone have a Windspire? I recently attended an Energy Fair at Manistee Michigan and saw this type. I will include photos in first reply.
Solar Power Purchase Agreements
As many of you know, I have solar panels on my house (check the photos in the group or my blog view link
Increasingly, a new financing option called "power purchase agreement" or PPA is springing up. It works like this: you contract with a company to design, install and maintain your system; you sign a 10 - 20 year agreement to buy the electricity generated from the panels at a rate set out in the contract; the company incurs all the costs of buying and installing the panels.
Right now, companies like Sun Edison view link create these kinds of installations on a large scale: utilities, big store chains like Whole Foods Markets, etc. Tioga Energy view link and MMA Renewables view link are doing slightly smaller installations.
My church is interested in installing solar panels and I am looking into creating this kind of arrangement to fund it. Anyone been involved in a PPA?
Increasingly, a new financing option called "power purchase agreement" or PPA is springing up. It works like this: you contract with a company to design, install and maintain your system; you sign a 10 - 20 year agreement to buy the electricity generated from the panels at a rate set out in the contract; the company incurs all the costs of buying and installing the panels.
Right now, companies like Sun Edison view link create these kinds of installations on a large scale: utilities, big store chains like Whole Foods Markets, etc. Tioga Energy view link and MMA Renewables view link are doing slightly smaller installations.
My church is interested in installing solar panels and I am looking into creating this kind of arrangement to fund it. Anyone been involved in a PPA?
Photos
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ran barrel i...
about 1 month ago
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low tech rai...
about 1 month ago
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solar shades
2 months ago
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solar chimne...
2 months ago
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inovative......
2 months ago
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water tank 1...
3 months ago
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