tagged w/ Alternative Energy
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A new nuclear reactor design being backed by the United States may not be durable enough to withstand earthquakes, hurricanes or a direct airplane hit, American regulators have said, raising security concerns as the country attempts an atomic revival.
President Obama announced $8.3 billion in loan guarantees this week for two new reactors planned at an existing Southern Company nuclear site some 170 miles east of Atlanta, Georgia.
The reactors would use the AP1000 third-generation technology designed by Pennsylvania-based Westinghouse, one of the world's largest makers of nuclear turbines. The company says the AP1000 is the "safest" nuclear power plant on the market. A full one-half of 440 reactors on the books worldwide are based on it, according to its figures. In America, around 12 AP1000s are planned.
But the design has yet to get safety clearance in the U.S., and it is not generating electricity anywhere in the world. ...
http://solveclimate.com/blog/20100217/obamas-8-billion-nuclear-boost-dogged-safety-concernsA new nuclear reactor design being backed by the United States may not be durable... more
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Researchers have found a way to make flexible silicon solar cells using only 1 percent of the material used in conventional solar cells.
The cells are made of micron-sized silicon wires that are encased in a flexible polymer that can be rolled or bent. The researchers at Cal Tech who developed the cells eventually see them being used in clothing, but, for now, the cells could create cheaper and easier-to-install solar panels.Researchers have found a way to make flexible silicon solar cells using only 1 percent... more
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The solar efficiency problem may be solved, not by some amazing new material, but by existing and surprisingly cheap components.
Such were the findings of IBM researchers who recently achieved 9.6 percent efficiency with cells made from copper, tin, zinc, sulfur and/or selenium.
The efficiency of any solar cell refers to its photoelectric conversion rate; in other words, its ability to convert sunlight into electricity. While higher efficiency rates have been posted in the solar world (the highest so far is a 19.3 percent efficiency announced by Mitsubishi today), the IBM cell set a record for solar cells made with such low-cost and readily available materials. ...
http://solveclimate.com/blog/20100216/ibm-breakthrough-could-deliver-low-cost-efficient-solarThe solar efficiency problem may be solved, not by some amazing new material, but by... more
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"The world's energy portfolio should not include coal or natural gas, he said, and must include carbon capture and storage technology as well as nuclear, wind and both solar photovoltaics and solar thermal power."
"According to CNN, Gates spent a large portion of his speech endorsing technology that could turn spent uranium fuel rods into clean energy. Gates told the audience that the technology could power the world indefinitely, and that the U.S. could be powered for 100 years using the spent fuel rods already in its possession."
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WTF????? For everyone to live like Bill Gates, we might need to do what he says. Unplugging Bill Gates' house from the grid would be a good start, but more nukes? NO!
Reprocessing is the worst development in nuclear technology since the atomic bomb. You've heard the term nuclear nightmare? Well this is it.
100 years? Really Bill? really? Does that seem like a long time to you? When you consider the nuclear reprocessing boondoggle and nuclear waste in general, its infinitesimal. I'm beginning to think Dr. Helen Caldicott was right, some of these pro-nuclear people may be clinically insane.
I've been a fan of Gates and I've used windows beginning with version 2.0, but my next computer may very well be a solar powered MAC.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/12/bill-gates-ted-speech-201_n_461034.html
http://www.redesign-day.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/aerial-view-of-bill-gates-house.jpg"The world's energy portfolio should not include coal or natural gas, he... more
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US Energy Secretary Steven Chu speaks at the 2010 Washington DC Auto Show about the administration's commitment to advancing fuel efficient vehicles while helping to create clean energy jobs. Nissan Leaf program funding is discussed, along with a range of alternative fuel technologies, in addition to electrification.US Energy Secretary Steven Chu speaks at the 2010 Washington DC Auto Show about the... more
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"China vaulted past competitors in Denmark, Germany, Spain and the United States last year to become the world’s largest maker of wind turbines, and is poised to expand even further this year.
China has also leapfrogged the West in the last two years to emerge as the world’s largest manufacturer of solar panels. And the country is pushing equally hard to build nuclear reactors and the most efficient types of coal power plants."
????????
Green:
Wind Turbines, Solar Panels (+2)
Not Green:
Nuclear Reactors, Coal Power Plants (-2)
Total score? 0
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/business/energy-environment/31renew.html"China vaulted past competitors in Denmark, Germany, Spain and the United States... more
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"The United States of America can lead in the development of clean energy technology and manufacturing while we lead in the fight against global warming.
Everyone knows we have a dependence on oil we buy from countries that don't share our values. This threatens our security and our integrity. And it needs to stop. We know it does. Still, we've seen our dependence on foreign oil grow and pollute the air we breathe and endanger our planet. But we can change that. Now.
There's a bill in the Senate that will break foreign oil’s stranglehold on our country, reduce carbon pollution, and create jobs right here in America—good jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced.
It’s one of the most important pieces of legislation of our time. It's a clean energy bill. And it’s been a long time coming.
Email your Senators to pass the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act. This is our moment."
http://www.nrdcactionfund.org/thisisourmoment/
TAKE ACTION NOW:
https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1679&s_src=tiom
Join Organic:
http://current.com/groups/organicgreen/"The United States of America can lead in the development of clean energy... more
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The company will use the nearly $43 million in venture capital funding to continue testing of its jet engine-inspired wind turbine that, according to its designers, triples standard wind turbine efficiency.The company will use the nearly $43 million in venture capital funding to continue... more
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While the U.S. president may ease off his public drive for climate-protective efforts, the nation’s governors are not.
In state of the state addresses across the country this month, governors from both parties have been taking about the value of clean energy and energy efficiency in the race to create stronger economies and jobs. They are touting their successes and aiming to be the state to lead the world into the future.
Even Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, talked about clean energy, biofuels and carbon capture and storage as he discussed the state's fossil fuel industry. ...
http://solveclimate.com/blog/20100126/governors-see-jobs-path-clean-energy-efficiencyWhile the U.S. president may ease off his public drive for climate-protective efforts,... more
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While debates about the economy, unemployment and the effectiveness of the stimulus plan continue to rage throughout the country, their appears to be a bright spot for proponents of clean energy stimulus spending.
According to Whitehouse.gov, the release of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) 4th Quarter 2009 industry assessment(PDF) indicates that stimulus spending is directly responsible for turning a potential 50% decline in growth in the wind power sector into a 39% increase in growth in the country's fleet of wind plants in 2009 alone.
"The U.S. wind industry shattered all installation records in 2009, and this was directly attributable to the lifeline that was provided by the stimulus package," Denise Bode, the trade association's chief executive told The New York Times Deal Book Blog. "The second half of the year was extraordinary. But manufacturers didn't see much growth because they had built up so much inventory."
The White House also points out the environmental benefits to this economic growth: "America's wind power fleet will avoid an estimated 62 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, equivalent to taking 10.5 million cars off the road. "
Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) co-author of the Waxman-Markey clean energy bill, praised the results of the assessment: "In 2009, America's wind capacity grew by nearly 40 percent - blowing past the expectations that existed prior to the passage of the Recovery Act, These numbers show the potential for growth in clean energy, if only our country will make a commitment to these technologies."
The AWEA report also points out, however, that "The wind manufacturing sector has the potential to employ many more Americans in green jobs, but without a renewable electricity standard to provide a long-term market, the sector will be slow to grow."While debates about the economy, unemployment and the effectiveness of the stimulus... more
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"Bertrand Piccard is no conventional environmental activist - he hopes to raise awareness about the potential of renewable energy by flying a solar-powered aircraft around the world.
"What we want to do is to fly day and night to show that, with renewable energies, you can have unlimited duration of flight, no restriction," Piccard told AFP at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, where he had a booth to promote his venture.
The 51-year-old Swiss psychiatrist plans to fly his one-of-kind 'Solar Impulse' around the world over 20 to 25 days, traveling at an average of 70 kilometres (43 miles) an hour.
He will split the flying time with Andre Borschberg, a former Swiss fighter pilot.
'We believe that if an airplane can fly around the world with no fuel, nobody can say after that it's impossible to do it for cars, for heating systems, for air-conditioning, for computers and so on," he said.' "
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/swiss-pilots-aim-to-circle-world-in-a-solarpowered-plane-1876888.html
Showing this to the world will raise awareness about the importance and effectiveness of solar energy. Demonstrating it is more important than writing about it.
As said before, it's all about control and keeping us dependent.
The first electric car was invented by Robert Anderson of Scotland in the 1830's.
Many other models were invented since then.
The world's first solar-powered automobile was designed by William G. Cobb.
The first person to construct a solar car was Alan Freeman of Rugby in England in 1979.
What happened to all of it?
Two hundred years later and we still run everything with oil, how greedy is that?
The world's independence would have been here already if it wasn't for the corporate domination."Bertrand Piccard is no conventional environmental activist - he hopes to raise... more
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I would have preferred a title like this instead: The oil industry killed the electric car but the author knows that.
Watch this video and here are two excerpts from his article:
"There are two electric car manufacturers in Canada – and the government has killed them both. Both were killed by a change to a key Transport Canada regulation that limited their speed to 40 km/h, and thus the ability to drive them on city streets. The British Columbia (BC) company has been sold to a company in Pakistan, and the Ontario company that manufactured the cars in Quebec recently had to quit for the same reason. Zenn’s cars 'had been hailed as a mini-revolution in the industry.' "
"No wonder Mr. Harper says Canada can’t meet Kyoto – he’s doing what he can to sabotage our chances, and to keep us forever subservient to foreign corporations."
For more at the link:
http://www.briangordon.ca/2010/01/canada-killed-the-electric-car/
Video from: http://www.cbc.ca/video/popup.html?http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/news/features/sherren-electriccar-071025.wmv
It's all about control and keeping us dependent.
The first electric car was invented by Robert Anderson of Scotland in the 1830's.
Many other models were invented since then.
The world's first solar-powered automobile was designed by William G. Cobb.
"The first person to construct a solar car was Alan Freeman of Rugby in England in 1979. Alan road registered his solar car in 1980. This simple design is both practical, effective and economical." Below in the response you'll see the photo.
And so many other beautiful inventions were created.
But what happened to all of it?
Two hundred years later and we still run everything with oil, how primitive is that?
The world's independence would have been here already if it wasn't for the corporate domination.I would have preferred a title like this instead: The oil industry killed the electric... more
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KrisCan joins David Yarrow during a biochar experiment with artist Sara Worden where David describes the benefits of biochar - from soil remediation to carbon sequestration to potential fuel source. He explains how we need to continue testing this technology to understand better how it works and that it should be an application everyone uses in their gardens to both enrich the soil food web while helping to pull carbon out of the atmosphere.KrisCan joins David Yarrow during a biochar experiment with artist Sara Worden where... more
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By MARK WILLIAMS, AP Energy Writer – Mon Dec 21, 11:40 am ET
An unlikely source of energy has emerged to meet international demands that the United States do more to fight global warming: It's cleaner than coal, cheaper than oil and a 90-year supply is under our feet.
It's natural gas, the same fossil fuel that was in such short supply a decade ago that it was deemed unreliable. It's now being uncovered at such a rapid pace that its price is near a seven-year low. Long used to heat half the nation's homes, it's becoming the fuel of choice when building new power plants. Someday, it may win wider acceptance as a replacement for gasoline in our cars and trucks.
Natural gas' abundance and low price come as governments around the world debate how to curtail carbon dioxide and other pollution that contribute to global warming. The likely outcome is a tax on companies that spew excessive greenhouse gases. Utilities and other companies see natural gas as a way to lower emissions — and their costs. Yet politicians aren't stumping for it.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_us_energy_shiftBy MARK WILLIAMS, AP Energy Writer – Mon Dec 21, 11:40 am ET
An unlikely source... more
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KSirys
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added this
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2 years ago
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Gregory Kallenberg was sitting in a Shreveport diner early last year the first time he heard about the massive Haynesville natural gas find from a fellow patron.
“It was like the crazy miner who comes in from the hills saying he has found gold,” said Kallenberg, a former newspaper reporter and cable television writer turned documentary filmmaker. But what he thought would be a film about the people in the middle of a mad rush for drilling rights ended up being something bigger, a story about the nation's energy future.
Kallenberg took a few minutes from preparing for a screening of the movie at the Copenhagen climate change conference this week to speak with Chronicle reporter Tom Fowler by phone about his film Haynesville.
Clink on link to read the full story.Gregory Kallenberg was sitting in a Shreveport diner early last year the first time he... more
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IGCC plants have been deployed worldwide and have demonstrated the capability to significantly reduce emissions. The technology converts solid fuels, such as coal, into a cleaner burning hydrogen-rich fuel, which then is used by a gas turbine combined-cycle system to generate electricity, providing a cleaner, economical coal-to-power option. IGCC also significantly reduces criteria emissions—sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, mercury and particulate matter, and decreases water consumption by up to 30 percent (as compared to a conventional coal plant).
http://3blmedia.com/theCSRfeed/GE-Technology-Selected-IGCC-Project-Southern-CaliforniaIGCC plants have been deployed worldwide and have demonstrated the capability to... more
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SHOCKING NEW NASA DATA / NEW PREDICTION = "3 TO 5 YEARS NO ICE IN ARCTIC"
THE PERMAFROST = IS NOW THAWING....
3-5 years All Arctic Ice will be gone. Five years after that... no ice on either pole!
Watch Video as prehistoric methane gas is released under the ice from the thawing permafrost below is ignited.
NEW DATA: The original time to reach the permafrost thawing tipping point wasn't predicted to happen until 2050.
We need to understand what is happening and how the effects of what is now taking place... will change all our lives in the "months and few years ahead".SHOCKING NEW NASA DATA / NEW PREDICTION = "3 TO 5 YEARS NO ICE IN ARCTIC"... more
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