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At 12:47 AM 3/7/2004 +0000, deb quoth:
>would someone tell me if this is a reliable report?
>
>http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/
>
>thanks,
>debrah
Based on a VERY quick review (and previous readings of
similar materials), I'd say:
- It's generally accurate in terms of oil supplies.
- It dramatically underestimates the potential of renewables
(I'm a wind guy, so of course I would feel that way, but its
summary for wind is way too pessimistic).
- It also underestimates the potential of a variety of
technological fixes that are likely to be available in the
next 20-30 years.
I think we are already seeing what's going to happen with
oil--a slow slide rather than a sharp collapse, with the
underdeveloped areas of the world (e.g., Africa) taking it
on the chin. Fuels will become more expensive, and the
global divide between rich and poor will become sharper.
For example, wind is enormously abundant, and can be
used to produce hydrogen. That is currently a very
expensive process, but before 90% of us die, I believe it
would come into widespread use--the basic problem would
be not that energy was not available, but that it was much
more expensive.
That's my two cents. I like Simmons--he knows what he
is talking about and has a lot of credibility--but he does not
yet know as much about wind as he does about fossil
fuels. He will be speaking at our conference later this
month.
For more on wind, see
http://www.ewea.org/03publications/WindForce12.htm
(wind can supply 12% of world electricity by 2020)
http://www.yes2wind.com/29_02_news_story.html
(wind can supply every household in Europe by 2020)
Regards
Tom Gray
Deputy Executive Director/Director of Communications
American Wind Energy Association
PO Box 1008
Norwich, VT 05055
(802) 649-2112 (voice)
(802) 649-2113 (fax)
tomgray@...
The World of Wind Energy is coming together at
Global WINDPOWER 2004
Chicago, Illinois, USA
March 28-31, 2004
http://www.awea.org/global04.html
This message sent with green electricity purchased via
"green tags"--for more info, see
http://www.greentagsusa.org .
Put simply: oil is abundant and cheap on the upslope, scarce and expensive on the downslope.
For the past 150 years, we have been moving up the upslope of the global oil production curve. "Peak Oil" is the industry term for the top of the curve. It's often referred to as "Hubbert's Peak" a reference to King Hubbert, the geologist who discovered that oil production follows a bell curve.
thanks manuel,
in the links attached to the article, it states that
there is not enough time to develop/implement
alternative energy sources on a large enough scale and
this will lead to widespread destruction, etc.
what do you (or others on the list)think/ suggest?
debrah
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(1) Don't agree, think there will be a long period of
energy becoming more expensive and national (and
global) society becoming more divided into haves and
have-nots.
(2) Even so, there is not a moment to lose. Global
warming on the one hand, oil depletion on the other.
The time for alternatives was 20 years ago, but today
is still better than tomorrow or the next day.
Tom
At 05:10 AM 3/7/2004 -0800, debr.welch quoth:
>thanks manuel,
>
>in the links attached to the article, it states that
>there is not enough time to develop/implement
>alternative energy sources on a large enough scale and
>this will lead to widespread destruction, etc.
>
>what do you (or others on the list)think/ suggest?
>
>debrah
> From: "debr.welch" <deb_welch@...>
>
> there is not enough time to develop/implement
> alternative energy sources on a large enough scale and
> this will lead to widespread destruction, etc.
>
> what do you (or others on the list)think/ suggest?
I think that, just with any commodity curve reversal, there will be
winners, whiners, and losers.
The winners will be those who will exploit the inevitable overlap
between falling production and rising demand by gouging the market. The
losers will be those at the bottom, who will be forced to go without
due to lack of economic resources. The whiners will be the vast middle
class, stuck with their 12 mpg SUVs. They can afford to pay $4-$8 or
more a gallon, but you can bet there will be LOTS of politicians voted
out of office over it.
I also expect Europe and Japan to be winners, being more than twice as
energy efficient than the US, they'll be less than half as impacted.
This may lead to a flight of capital from the US, further depressing
the dollar. At some point, this will force oil producers to abandon the
dollar, which will accelerate the price rise in the US. It's a
classical positive-feedback death-spiral.
If you believe the report (as I do) it would behoove you to secure your
own energy supply (as I am).
: If you succumb to the temptation of using violence in the
: struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and
: desolate night of bitterness, and your chief legacy to the future
: will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos. - Martin Luther
: King Jr.
: Jan Steinman <http://www.Bytesmiths.com>
Many thanks from the Moderator to members like Tallex2002 for the
useful and informative posts such as the one just listed.
This is most helpful because it provides documented information on
what is happening "right under our noses" yet many folks refuse to
see and understand. The world is coming constantly closer to the edge
where it will be a completely different kind of place. And being in a
state of denial that this is about to happen, either individually or
collectively, is not going to prevent it.
Al
thanks Al
new post
Hi all,
I'm reminded of the moon landing deniers (people who actually
think that we did not land on the moon) and the flat earth society.
In the context of global warming there is solid evidence that it
is occuring. Whether it is caused by human factors,
as opposed to natural cycles that tend to happen every few
100,000 years or so is irelevent.
It is real. The costs to humanity will be huge.
As someone posted recently(lol)Do you not "believe scientists
and nobel lauriates"
This is no scare tactic, fear mongering, special agenda,
no chicken little, no dooms day scenarios(the pentagon has enough
of those) no sensational headlines.
You can deny it all you want but the smart folks
on these lists are doing some prudent planning for the uncertain
years ahead. I have a touch of bronchitis and like
millions of others have seen days where the smog is so bad
people with these problems shouldn't even go out. 2003 was the
hottest year on record and this trend has been continuing for quite
some
time. Gasping for air sometimes on days like this
never use to happen when I was a kid, because these types of extremes
simply did not happen. To many others and myself, this is no
fantasy. This is real.
There are alot of good folks on these lists working on some
great projects and excellent devices and a tip of the hat to all.
Over the years I have done solid experimentation with
hydrogen generation, small wind power systems, minto wheels,
compressed air/hydrolic systems and such and I know full well about
the dedication, thousands of hours, disapointments, successes
and skinned knuckles.
There is always hope for the future as well. I prefer to
think that my glass of wine is have full, rather than have empty,
however we really have to get with it.
That is my last 2 cents on this subject
regards
new alternate energy webring member
The GoBox is a set of electronic subassemblies to control the Motor
functions of Experimental Vehicles, especifically those that use
water and hydrolysis
products to reduce or replace petrol as combustible
http://scripts.cgispy.com/webring/webring.cgi?id=tallex123456
Aternate Energy Resource Network
resources-news sources
updated through out the day
http://www.alternate-energy.net
Weekly News Alerts
http://www.alternate-energy.net/newsalerts04-12.html
Alternative Energy System Calculators
http://www.alternate-energy.net/calcsyst04.html
Many thanks from the Moderator to members like Tallex2002 for the
useful and informative posts such as the one just listed.
This is most helpful because it provides documented information on
what is happening "right under our noses" yet many folks refuse to
see and understand. The world is coming constantly closer to the edge
where it will be a completely different kind of place. And being in a
state of denial that this is about to happen, either individually or
collectively, is not going to prevent it.
Al
thanks Al
new post
Hi all,
I'm reminded of the moon landing deniers (people who actually
think that we did not land on the moon) and the flat earth society.
In the context of global warming there is solid evidence that it
is occuring. Whether it is caused by human factors,
as opposed to natural cycles that tend to happen every few
100,000 years or so is irelevent.
It is real. The costs to humanity will be huge.
As someone posted recently(lol)Do you not "believe scientists
and nobel lauriates"
This is no scare tactic, fear mongering, special agenda,
no chicken little, no dooms day scenarios(the pentagon has enough
of those) no sensational headlines.
You can deny it all you want but the smart folks
on these lists are doing some prudent planning for the uncertain
years ahead. I have a touch of bronchitis and like
millions of others have seen days where the smog is so bad
people with these problems shouldn't even go out. 2003 was the
hottest year on record and this trend has been continuing for quite
some
time. Gasping for air sometimes on days like this
never use to happen when I was a kid, because these types of extremes
simply did not happen. To many others and myself, this is no
fantasy. This is real.
There are alot of good folks on these lists working on some
great projects and excellent devices and a tip of the hat to all.
Over the years I have done solid experimentation with
hydrogen generation, small wind power systems, minto wheels,
compressed air/hydrolic systems and such and I know full well about
the dedication, thousands of hours, disapointments, successes
and skinned knuckles.
There is always hope for the future as well. I prefer to
think that my glass of wine is have full, rather than have empty,
however we really have to get with it.
That is my last 2 cents on this subject
regards
new alternate energy webring member
The GoBox is a set of electronic subassemblies to control the Motor
functions of Experimental Vehicles, especifically those that use
water and hydrolysis
products to reduce or replace petrol as combustible
http://scripts.cgispy.com/webring/webring.cgi?id=tallex123456
Aternate Energy Resource Network
resources-news sources
updated through out the day
http://www.alternate-energy.net
Weekly News Alerts
http://www.alternate-energy.net/newsalerts04-12.html
Alternative Energy System Calculators
http://www.alternate-energy.net/calcsyst04.html
Attahed as Word and text files is a newly updated press release on our
3/28 protest at the Salem Nukes.
The PSEG whistleblower has confirmed that he will indeed appear on 3/28
and be the main speaker at our rally.
Please come out on 3/28 and listen to and support the person who had the
courage to demand that PSEG run their
nukes safely, instead of for maximum short term profits.
Help us send the message to the NRC and PSEG - NO TMI ON THE DELAWARE -
UNPLUG SALEM NOW!
See you all on 3/28.
norm
--
Coalition for Peace and Justice (http://www.coalitionforpeaceandjustice.org); and the UNPLUG Salem Campaign (http://www.unplugsalem.org); 321 Barr Ave., Linwood, NJ 08221; 609-601-8583/37; ncohen12@.... The Coalition for Peace and Justice is a chapter of Peace Action (http://www.peace-action.org). "You can say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one" (Lennon). "Don't be late for your life" (Mary Chapin Carpenter).
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
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---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Unplug Salem Campaign; Coalition for Peace and Justice;
321 Barr Ave; Linwood NJ 08221
609-601-8583/8537
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UnplugSalem/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
UnplugSalem-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
CLOSE THE SALEM NUKES NOW
The UNPLUG SALEM Campaign
321 Barr Ave., Linwood NJ 08221
609-601-8583/601-8537; ncohen12@...
http://www.unplugsalem.org/
Date: 03/12/04
REVISED AND UPDATED:
For Immediate Release and Community Calendars:
PSEG NUKE SAFETY WHISTLEBLOWER TO SPEAK AT 3/28 UNPLUG SALEM CAMPAIGN RALLY
A whistleblower who has provided the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
with detailed information on safety culture problems at all three of PSEG's
nuclear power plants will be the featured speaker at the upcoming UNPLUG Salem
Protest to be held Sunday, March 28th, 2-4 pm, on the access road leading to
Artificial Island, in Lower Alloways township. Rain location will be the Salem
Quaker Meetinghouse, on route 49 in downtown Salem.
This will be the first time that the PSEG whistleblower will be speaking
in public. He will describe the
reasons why he decided to go to the NRC with his safety concerns, and will
discuss those concerns in detail on March 28th.
The protest will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the meltdown at the
Three Mile Island nuclear plant outside of Harrisburg, Pa. The rally is
entitled: No TMI on the Delaware.
In addition to the whistleblower, there will be a large number of other
expert speakers, including: Dave Lochbaum, nuclear safety engineer for the Union
of Concerned Scientists; Joe Mangano, chief researcher for the Radiation and
Public Health Project; Jim Riccio of Greenpeace; Paul Gunter of the Nuclear
Information and Resource Service; Tony Totah, marine biologist for Clean Ocean
Action; Jane Nogaki, Pesticide Coordinator for the NJ Environmental Federation;
Dr. Judith Johnsrud of Three Mile Island Alert; and Ray Shadis of the New
England Coalition.
Also speaking will be Frieda Berryhill, who has opposed nuclear power from
before the Salem Nukes were built; Norm Cohen of the UNPLUG Salem Campaign;
Grace Costanzo of the Jersey Shore Nuclear Watch; and Roy Cannon and Matt Ahearn
of the Delaware and New Jersey Greens.
Entertainment will be provided by the Eco-Chorale, and the protest will be
powered by solar power
provided by LBI Solar.
The NRC's annual assessment letters, dated March 3rd 2004, continue to
point out the NRC's concerns with the poor safety culture at both of the Salem
Nukes and the Hope Creek Nuke: "Cross-cutting issues involved instances of
ineffective, untimely problem solving and corrective actions (and) numerous
inspection findings which indicate that weaknesses continue."
Commented Norm Cohen, UNPLUG Salem Campaign Coordinator, "For the last three
years we've been saying that the safety environment at PSEG's nuclear plants is
dangerous. Now we have concrete proof. Close those dangerous nuclear plants
down now!"
Please join us on March 28th to make sure that Salem and Hope Creek do not
become our own TMI on the Delaware.
CONTACT: Norm Cohen - 609-601-8583
Hi all,
I thought this article would be of interest to the group.
Kohei Minato and the Japan Magnetic Fan Company
A maverick inventor's breakthrough electric motor uses
permanent magnets to make power
and has investors salivating
by John Dodd
http://japaninc.net/technology/
This has enormous implications and potential. Real-time
applications of magnet motors and developing these technologies
further will help to increase energy efficiency of
devices many times over. The possible applications for
traditional manufacturers as well as alternative energy
systems is endless.
regards
tallex
Aternate Energy Resource Network
resources-news sources
updated through out the day
http://www.alternate-energy.net
Weekly News Alerts
http://www.alternate-energy.net/newsalerts04-12.html
Alternative Energy System Calculators
http://www.alternate-energy.net/calcsyst04.html
Hello
A excelent news: India invited to join ITER (nuclear fusion)
in my blog: http://www.povolivre.blogger.com.br/
In the Indian News:
FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2004, THE TIMES OF INDIA
India to participate in fusion
PTI[ FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2004 03:44:29 PM ]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/569745.cms
NEW DELHI : India is considering participation in an international project
on fusion research, an area which is being touted as the future technology
to meet growing energy demands of the world, officials said on Friday.
The issue was discussed here on Thursday at an Indo-UK Science and
Technology Joint Committee meeting.
India has expressed interest in collaboration in the ITER (fusion research)
project, the officials said.
However, the decision would be taken by the UK government in two-three
months. There has been an embargo since 1998 on participation of other
countries in the UK-led project in which Japan , Russia , China and Hong
Kong are already partners.
India , which has its own programme on fusion research, wold be able to use
the facility that is being created under the international programme to
carry out its research, they said.
Chief Scientific Advisor to British Government David King, who led the
British delegation in yesterday's meeting, said that fusion power can
generate enough energy for next two millennia. There is enough lithium in
the earth and deutrium in the sea, both fuel for energy geneation through
fusion.
Scientists have been able to get ten times for energy as output in
comparison to input in the fusion research. The international project aims
to set up a facility with all the machinery needed to carry forward this
research, he said.
The project envisages energy generation through fusion becoming a reality in
30-35 years. However, the time could be shortened if there is more flow of
money into the project, King said.
Indian officials said that country's participation could be through European
Union network or through bilateral agreement with the UK .
If India participates through bilateral arrangement it would need to
contribute about 10 per cent of total project cost of five billion euros.
However, through EU network, India would need to contribute more in terms of
machinery, they said.
The officials said India was also considering participation in another
international project in which a grid was being set up to allow scientists
from the countries involved to exchange scientific information.
The proposal would be mooted by IIT, Delhi . Besides, Department of Science
and Technology, Ministery of Information Technology would also be a party to
it.
The issue had come up in Thursday's meeting. UK is the leading country in
this project on "E-Science". India would need to contribute about 200-300
million pounds for participating, King said.
----------------
India News: India invited to join international power project
19-March-2004
http://www.keralanext.com/news/index.asp?id=30085
Chennai, India : India has been invited to join what is considered the
biggest international project on nuclear fusion power that the European
Union (EU) is spearheading. However, India has yet to respond to the
invitation. Apart from EU members, other countries funding and participating
in this research and experiment project on nuclear power through fusion
technology are Russia and Japan.
David King, chief scientific adviser to the British government and head of
the Office of Science and Technology, told IANS here Friday that India has
been asked to join the select club of countries pioneering this technology.
He took part in an India-British science and technology joint committee
meeting in New Delhi Thursday that aims to increase cooperation in science
and technology between the two countries over the next two years.
The offer to India to join the fusion power club was made at this
interaction.
China, Korea and the US have recently chosen to become members of this
select club of countries testing new energy frontiers.
The working group on science and technology meets biannually and is headed
by the secretary, Department of Science and Technology on the Indian side
and the Chief Scientific Advisor on the British side. The last meeting was
held in London in July 2002.
The nuclear fusion power project is expected to cost 5 billion Euros and is
expected to take 10 years to build. A country becomes a member in the
project by paying 10 percent of this projected cost.
India probably is deliberating on the financial aspect, leading to a delay
in deciding whether to join the group or not.
India, like most of the world, has chosen fission technology (by splitting
the atom) for nuclear power.
King said no new nuclear power plants with fission technology are being set
up in Britain.
"We are keeping our options open on the fission nuclear power programme," he
said.
Fusion technology is based on a process where nuclei of two different atoms
are joined to make a heavier nucleus to release energy. So far, the process
has been used to make bombs but not generate power.
Fusion power is more environment-friendly, scientists like King say: "The
ash of the fusion power process is not radioactive."
That would be one of the reasons that countries like China and Korea are
looking at nuclear fusion technology option.
The pilot project is supposed to develop capacity to produce one gigawatt of
power when it goes operational. In December, scientists at a meeting in
Washington decided to set up the fusion power plant either in Japan or in
France. The final decision will be known by the yearend. With the EU having
a single vote on matters like this and five other nations having one each,
the decision may split equally between Japan and France. "If India comes
aboard, there will be seven voices on a major project like this and a
decision would be easy," noted King. Indo-Asian News Service
Hi all,
I thought some of you would find this interesting.
SLU student and his chemistry adviser may
have the spark for something big
By Shera Dalin
03/29/2004
Imagine powering up your cell phone's battery
with vodka and having the charge last for a week.
An area seed-money group was so taken with the
idea of turning hooch into juice that it
invested $400,000 in cash and in-kind services
with the St. Louis company that is developing
the technology. BioGenerator, a new seed-capital
company, signed a deal Friday with Akermin Inc.
Potential uses for Akermin's technology include
powering a cell phone or laptop computer using
vodka, beer or any other ethanol-based substance.
Cooking oil, sugar and many other organic substances
will work, too, but ethanol is more efficient,
Akers said.
full story here
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/Business/A8E1F5E
9777F1AA786256E67001F3526?
OpenDocument&Headline=SLU+student+and+his+chemistry+adviser+may+have+t
he+spark+for
regards
tallex
Aternate Energy Resource Network
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updated through out the day
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Weekly News Alerts
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Hi all,
Imagine the possible applications for flexible solar cells
http://www.spheralsolar.com/http://www.spheralsolar.com/2_spheral-technology/
Spheral Solar of Cambridge, Ontario, which acquired patents on the
concept in 1997. Spokesman Milfred Hammerbacher expects the
company to start making its flexible panels next year.
Recycling silicon
The manufacturing process uses waste silicon from the chip-making
industry, which is melted down and shaped into spheres about one
millimetre across. Next, the cores of the silicon spheres are doped
with boron atoms, which turn it into a "p-type" (positive)
semiconductor. Then phosphorus atoms are diffused into the outer
layer of the beads, converting it into a negative "n-type"
material.
Spare electrons in the n-type material flow into holes in the
p-type - which establishes an electric field across the p-n
junction. This field pulls apart the electron and hole produced
when a photon of light is absorbed by the silicon. These charges
then flow through an external circuit via the aluminium contacts,
creating a current.
The arrays are simple to make. The spheres are dropped into a
perforated aluminium sheet, which makes contact with the n-type
material on the surface. Some of the exposed n-type surface is
then etched away to reveal the p-type core, and a second aluminium
sheet is applied - making electrical contact with the p-type core.
Both surfaces are then sealed with a plastic sheet.
Aternate Energy Resource Network
resources-news sources
updated through out the day
http://www.alternate-energy.net
Weekly News Alerts
http://www.alternate-energy.net/newsalerts04-12.html
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http://www.alternate-energy.net/calcsyst04.html
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY COALITION
1612 "K" Street, N.W.; #202-A; Washington, DC 20006
202-293-2898, ext.201
News Release
COALITION CALLS UPON CONGRESS TO INCREASE RENEWABLE ENERGY FUNDING
IN FY05 TO NEARLY $600 MILLION
For Release: April 6, 2004
Contact: Ken Bossong 202-293-2898, ext.201
Karl Gawell 202-454-5264
WASHINGTON DC -- In a letter delivered today, the Sustainable Energy
Coalition called upon congressional appropriators to "substantially
increase" federal support for the cross-section of renewable energy
technologies.
Providing technology-by-technology recommendations, the 25 business and
energy policy organizations proposed increasing the U.S. Department of
Energy's renewable energy program budget to $598.5 million in Fiscal Year
2005 (FY05). That is nearly 60% more than the White House's FY'05 budget
request ($374.8 million) and two-thirds more than the actual FY'04 budget
($357.5 million).
The letter, delivered to the chairmen and ranking members of the Energy &
Water Subcommittees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives
Committees on Appropriations, acknowledged "the pressures on the federal
budget." However, the authors stressed that "renewable energy is growing
and will continue to grow as alternatives become less plentiful and more
expensive. On a percentage basis, solar and wind energy are the fastest
growing sources of electricity worldwide. Geothermal, hydropower and
biomass play an important role in our electricity mix today and will be
even more important components of our generation in the future."
Moreover, "the technologies enabling this ongoing renewable energy
revolution were developed in the United States. However, lukewarm domestic
support for incentives and research means that market share, technical
expertise and thousands of new, local jobs in this sector are increasingly
moving overseas. This accelerating trend must be reversed."
The letter concluded that "each of the renewable energy technologies --
biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind -- have the potential to
contribute enormous amounts of new, domestic energy to our economy. It is
time for Congress to put words into action, and fund the Department of
Energy's renewable energy programs so they can achieve their full potential."
The complete text of the letter and specific technology budget
recommendations along with the list of signing organizations follows.
# # # # # # #
The Sustainable Energy Coalition is a coalition of more than 80 national
and state business, consumer, environmental, and energy policy
organizations which collectively represent several thousand companies,
community groups, and municipal utilities. Founded in 1992, the
Sustainable Energy Coalition promotes increased use of renewable energy and
energy efficient technologies.
=====================================
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY COALITION
1612 "K" Street, N.W.; #202-A; Washington, DC 20006
202-293-2898, ext.201; kbossong@...
SUPPORT INCREASED FUNDING FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS
April 6, 2004
The Honorable David Hobson, Chair
The Honorable Peter J. Visclosky, Ranking Democrat
Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
US House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Pete Domenici, Chair
The Honorable Harry Reid, Ranking Democrat
Subcommittee on Energy and Water
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20515
ATTN: Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee Staff
Dear Chairman Hobson, Chairman Domenici, Ranking Democrat Visclosky and
Ranking Democrat Reid:
We write to urge you to substantially increase the level of federal support
for renewable energy programs in the FY 2005 energy and water
appropriations bill.
Investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy programs are a
cost-effective way to:
* produce domestic high-tech manufacturing and operations jobs,
* reduce energy imports,
* improve national, homeland, and energy security,
* improve electrical grid reliability,
* provide environmental and health benefits, and
* reduce our dependence on energy sources with unsure supply and unstable
rates for electricity generation.
Renewable energy is growing and will continue to grow as alternatives
become less plentiful and more expensive. On a percentage basis, solar and
wind energy are the fastest growing sources of electricity worldwide.
Geothermal, hydropower and biomass play an important role in our
electricity mix today and will be even more important components of our
generation in the future.
The technologies enabling this ongoing renewable energy revolution were
developed in the United States. However, lukewarm domestic support for
incentives and research means that market share, technical expertise and
thousands of new, local jobs in this sector are increasingly moving
overseas. This accelerating trend must be reversed.
We recognize the pressures on the federal budget. However, we are
approaching a critical junction in our thinking about renewable energy
either we push these technologies over the last hump to widespread
commercial acceptance, or our security and economic well-being remain at
the mercy of other nation’s technology and resources.
Following are our specific recommendations for FY 2005 funding for
sustainable energy programs in the energy and water bill:
Biomass/Biofuels: $100 Million
Biomass power funding should support cleaner combustion, gasification, and
digestion technologies for electric generation with biomass. A variety of
feedstocks should be tested for emissions within these technologies.
Distributed generation with small biomass systems should be emphasized as
well. The power and fuels programs should work closely together to develop
a biorefinery plant that can be operated in the U.S. to produce clean fuel,
power and chemicals. The biofuels program should add to the existing
biomass options (e.g., corn fiber) with an expanded focus on cellulosic
biomass for ethanol as well as biodiesel.
Accordingly, the Coalition seeks $55 million for Biofuels RD&D program that
focuses on cost reductions in the production of ethanol through the
fermentation of sugars and the gasification of cellulosic biomass and
biomass waste streams for the production of syngases and their conversion
into biofuels. Areas to be highlighted include:
1) developing new products for distillers grains and positioning
corn-to-ethanol plants to accommodate cellulosic biomass for the production
of fermentable sugars and for the use of residuals and lignin to produce
both thermal and electrical power;
2) Accelerating the use of ethanol in E-85 vehicles by optimizing these
engines for the higher octane of ethanol;
3) Continuing to work with USDA and DOI -- in locating and funding RD&D
projects that will convert agricultural and forestry crops and residues
into biofuels;
4) Working with EPA in funding their RD&D in developing an advanced
biofuels spark-ignited engine;
5) Working with engine manufactures to optimize the performance of diesel
engines using a no-sulfur, middle distillate produced from cellulosic
biomass it is possible that this combination will more than favorably
compete with hydrogen in terms of costs and environmental benefits; and
6) [see item 4) under Biomass Electric with a focus on the production of
biofuels].
The Coalition further asks for a $45 million Biomass Electric RD&D program
which becomes less line-itemed but directed towards industry
commercialization partnerships around five technology areas:
1) gasifiers - maintain a program to validate and enhance performance on
large and smaller-scale generators,
2) anaerobic digestion - assist existing industry on standardization,
replication and integration with a range of biomass-electric generation
technologies,
3) heat engines - assist existing industry manufacturers in validating
systems using biogas, biodiesel, landfill gas, and waste heat,
4) diesel and reciprocating engines using biodiesels, ethanol and other
liquids and biogases, and
5) utility education programs for independent, cooperative and municipal
utilities on utilization of their biomass resources to stabilize electric
rates, enhance reliability of the US electric grid, and lower emissions.
Geothermal: $42.5 Million
The US urgently needs to develop the technology and resource knowledge
necessary to tap its extensive geothermal resources base. While the USGS
estimates the accessible resource base to be at least 95,000 MW, because of
the high risk and cost of production we are tapping only 2% of this
potential. Currently, DOE geothermal research program is severely under
funded. At one time the geothermal research budget was over $150 million,
but today the program struggles to maintain a bare-bones research program.
When one production well can cost $10 million, a research program that is
presently funded at $25.5 million (FY04 budget) is simply below critical
mass. The DOE research program lacks funding to support cost-shared
research into advanced technologies, cannot support or undertake critical
resource assessment, and fails to take the other measures needed to tap the
huge identified potential of this resource.
In addition to continuing the base program funding (FY04 budget of $25.5
million), we recommend: an additional $1.5 million for resource assessment
- the US geothermal resource assessment is over 25 years old and urgently
needs updating and DOE needs to be engaged in that update to ensure that is
uses the best science and technology available; $3 million for direct use
geothermal efforts, which are directed to expand the utilization of
geothermal energy for agricultural, commercial, and other uses by building
upon successful efforts of organizations like New Mexico State University;
$5 million for an advanced power technology development solicitation, which
will seek industry partners to develop the geothermal power system of the
future; and, $7.5 million for "enhanced geothermal systems" technology
development, work which holds the promise of increasing the geothermal
resource base ten-fold.
Hydrogen: $110 Million
While Hydrogen is not a fuel, it represents an important energy carrier.
The Coalition stresses that the DOE RD&D be focused on utilizing renewable
resources, waste heat, and related clean processes to generate hydrogen,
and to de-emphasize the use of coal or nuclear energy, traditional energy
resources, for this purpose. Hydrogen RD&D should focus in four primary areas:
1) Infrastructure and storage to transport, store and safely utilize
hydrogen: $40 million,
2) Creation of hydrogen from renewable energy and waste heat (CHP)
utilizing the many options including novel concepts: $40 million,
3) Codes and standards development for hydrogen siting and safety including
public education: $15 M, and
4) Unique conversion of hydrogen to electricity including primarily fuel
cells, but also heat engines and NIMH storage systems: $15 million.
Hydropower: $10.0 Million
Funding for the Department's hydropower program should be directed to the
Department's Advanced Hydropower Turbine (AHT) program and its related
activities. The funding should also support the Department's efforts to
study other operational and environmental issues related to hydropower
production, including the potential integration of hydropower with other
renewable energy technologies, as well as efforts focused on new hydropower
technologies, such as micro-hydropower and free-flow technologies that
require no dams or diversions. Funding should also be made available to
conduct research and development that will improve the technical, societal
and environmental benefits of hydropower. The Department should be
directed to disperse appropriated money among these program areas as
appropriate.
Photovoltaics: $100.0 Million
DOE research continues to bring costs down and performance up, fostering a
domestic high-tech manufacturing base. However, the US is losing share to
Japan and the EU in this rapidly growing market. A 2001 DOE Peer Review
concluded that the PV program's work was : "outstanding across all
activities. doing an extremely effective job of setting priorities,
balancing allocation of available resources, recognizing and addressing
critical problems and barriers to progress and commercialization, and
supporting the quality of work required to achieve its goals. The panel
notes that the consistently high rankings assigned in this evaluation are
very unusual, and they are also very deliberate. The panel believes this to
be a truly outstanding element of the Department of Energy's programs." The
cost-shared components have been experiencing particular success, doing
cost-competitive research in coordination with industry, while keeping
solar manufacturing in the United States.
This program's competitive environment ensures rapid and cost-effective
development and adoption of technologies that would not likely emerge
otherwise. The Building Integrated PV program has attracted Administration
notice. The FY 2003 Congressional Budget Document trumpets "an exciting and
rapidly growing solar application which will help cross the profit
threshold that holds the key to significant growth." Meanwhile, the Thin
Films Partnership continues to exceed their own worldwide efficiency
records, with the real, near-term potential of cutting solar prices by half.
Concentrated Solar Power: $25.0 Million
Concentrated Solar Power deserves serious consideration and support
particularly as a bipartisan promotion of Southwestern Governors supporting
a 1000 MW initiative. The advanced trough RD&D program for electric power
generation, absorption cooling and water and industrial process heating
have shown immense promise and should be aggressively continued. Heat
engine work focusing on validating the 1 MW deployment in Nevada of
concentrated dish/Stirling engine as well as trough ORC needs broadening
deployment, Technology validation of the new 1 MW solar trough/organic
Rankin system in AZ and of the potential 50 MW power purchase agreement for
solar trough electric generation in Nevada deserves high priority to
increase market knowledge and acceptance. Finally, continued work on energy
storage for all concentrated solar power technologies, including solar
power tower, should received greater RD&D attention and deployment.
Solar Heating and Lighting: $5.0 Million
Formerly filed under the "solar buildings" heading, is Solar Heating and
Lighting. Solar water heating technologies are utilized around the world in
quantities far exceeding those in the US. Such systems can significantly
reduce the consumption of electricity, and of natural gas - up to several
percent in many countries. Within this program, emphasis will be placed on
reducing the cost of solar water heating - the goal is to reduce the cost of
solar water heating to 4˘/kWh in 2004.
Wind Power Technologies: $55 Million.
Funding would be focused on developing a next-generation wind turbine
capable of operating in areas with lower wind speeds, thus expanding wind
development potential by twenty times as well as allowing placement of
turbines closer to existing transmission lines. Funding also would be used
to study increased integration of wind energy into the nation's power grid.
In addition, there would be an enhanced focus on utilization of small wind
turbines and wind hybrid systems for voltage line augmentation, back-up
SCADA and other wireless controls and security, and other applications to
strengthen electric grid reliability using distributed technologies.
Distributed Energy Resources: $76 Million
This program focuses on developing a variety of technologies that can
produce power in buildings and industrial facilities and the additional
technology required in integrating these together (and with renewable
generation). The program focuses on Gas Turbines, Reciprocating Engines,
Microturbines, and Thermally Activated Technologies that utilize waste heat
and needs to expand significantly into integrating renewable options and
hybrids. Aside from these technology areas, the program must focus on
integrated and multi-technology and resource end uses such as fuel cells,
desiccants, heat engines, turbines, and absorption chillers) in hybrid and
combined heat and power applications. The focus is both on development of
the technologies necessary for integration and development of actual
packaged systems for customer use. These CHP applications can reach energy
efficiencies of upwards of 80%, thereby eclipsing the efficiencies capable
in any one technology alone.
Renewable Energy Production Incentive: $40 million
The Department of Energy's Renewable Energy Production Incentive (REPI)
program was created by the 1992 Energy Policy Act to provide public power
systems and rural electric cooperatives with a counterpart to the tax
incentives that are available to for-profit utilities for renewable
generation. Under the program, new solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and
landfill gas projects are eligible to receive 1.8 cents per kWh of
production, payable for ten years. The REPI program is invaluable to
not-for profit utilities in helping them to make investments in these
costly but critical resources. Over the past decade, however, REPI has been
underfunded by more than $60 million. The REPI program must be fully funded
to cover all eligible projects in order to realize its objective of
spurring increased investment in renewable energy. Short of providing full
funding, the REPI program requires a minimum of $13 million in the E&W bill
for FY 2005."
International Renewable Programs: $10 million
The Department of Energy has maintained a low level of activities in
international areas, but in recent years has concentrated primarily on
international research efforts of interest to the Department. We recommend
that the Department redirect its efforts towards working to enhance the
competitive position of US based firms in international markets. With the
renewable markets being among the fastest growing in the world, DOE should
be engaging in collaborative efforts with the Department of Commerce and US
Agency for International Development to ensure that US renewable energy
products and services are benefiting. Moreover, simple technology
cooperation by the Department without a corresponding understanding of how
these efforts affect the competitiveness of US firms may lead to results
that damage our country's interests. Correspondingly, we propose that $10
million be provided for international efforts, and recommend that no less
than $7 million of this total be used for efforts aimed at market
development conducted collaboratively with other federal and state agencies
and US industry.
Public Education: $20 million
Government alone cannot solve the nation’s energy problems. Gaining the
cooperation of industry and the public to voluntarily take the action
needed to improve energy efficiency and to purchase renewable energy
products and technologies would greatly expedite the commercialization of
sustainable energy options. Before such actions can be taken, consumers
must know what it is that they can do to help the nation and their
communities. Working with state and local governments and NGOs, and with
the advice of the State Energy Advisory Board, the U. S. Department of
Energy should be directed to initiate an energy education program to
provide consumers with information they need to support sustainable energy
development through voluntary action.
Renewable Energy Resource Assessment: $5 million
Resource assessment providing a detailed inventory of the amount and
characteristics of the various renewable energy resources available is
critical to making informed decisions about the potential development of
these resources for a more diversified US energy portfolio. Such
assessments are needed on a regular basis to take into account changes in
market conditions, available technologies, and other relevant conditions.
Such information is currently not available in an adequately detailed and
up-to-date manner to assist decisionmakers. The provision essentially
calls for the inventory of renewable “reserves” similar to the extensive
information collected by the federal government regarding fossil energy
reserves. This is an inexpensive investment that can have an enormous
impact in leveraging future energy investments.
Conclusion
As President Bush recognized in his State of the Union address, we urgently
need to develop domestic energy resources. Each of the renewable energy
technologies -- biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind -- have the
potential to contribute enormous amounts of new, domestic energy to our
economy. It is time for Congress to put words into action, and fund the
Department of Energy's renewable energy programs so they can achieve their
full potential. We hope our recommendations help you to realize this goal.
Thank you for considering our views.
Sincerely,
American Bioenergy Association
American Public Power Association
American Solar Energy Society
American Wind Energy Association
Bob Lawrence & Associates
Breakthrough Technologies Institute
Burlington Electric Department
Business Council for Sustainable Energy
Cascade Associates
City & County of San Francisco
Clean Fuels Development Coalition
Colorado Energy Group
Council for Photovoltaic Research
Environmental & Energy Study Institute
Geothermal Energy Association
Interwest Energy Alliance
National Hydropower Association
New Uses Council
Potomac Resources
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Solar Energy Industries Association
SustainableBusiness.com
The Stella Group Ltd.
Updike, Kelly & Spellacy
Vermont Energy Investment Corp.
==================================
_________________________________________________________________
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Greenpeace is launching the Greenpeace Organizing Term, a Fall
semester
grassroots campaigning apprenticeship. This Fall, Greenpeace will
accept
ten of the country's top student activists for a semester long
training
program in which the students will help run a national clean energy
campaign, receive training from the nations best organizers, travel
internationally for a skill share, and help build the global student
movement for clean energy.
We are looking for the best college students - primarily
sophomores
and
juniors - who are passionate, bold, smart, visionary, strategic,
savvy,
eager, and who believe that peaceful protest is an effective way to
protect
our environment.
Please take a moment to click on the link below for more information
about
the Greenpeace Organizing Academy, how you can apply, and who you can
call
for more information.
Click on http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/goa for all of the details!
Please also take the time to think about the most active and committed
students in your group and your campus and make sure to pass this
information along. The Greenpeace Organizing Academy promises to be a
challenging and fun training ground for students who see themselves
as part
of the long-term solution to environmental problems.
Applications can be submitted until April 19 and admissions are
rolling.
Hi all,
I couldn't resist posting this article. Using ebay to
auction off promising technology is certainly a novel approach.
It remains to be seen if this is for real. If it is legit,
there is also a good possability that it will gvet bought
up and kept off the market by some corporation. We will see.
Veteran Inventor Revs Up The Creativity For Pollution-Free,
Alternative Fuel Motor Conversion Kit. All Rights, Trade
Secrets To Go To Highest eBay Bidder May 10 - May 20, 2004.
A newly developed technology that allows motors to run
pollution free on alternative fuels can be purchased by
the highest bidder on eBay in May, 2004.
(PRWEB) April 10, 2004--www.merittinternational.com/pollutionfree
It's a story that is unique in every way. A successful
invention/product development veteran creates an
innovative new technology that converts typical
engines into pollution free motors - novel and
newsworthy in and of itself. However, what this
creative entrepreneur plans to do with his
patented-pending technology is what makes the
story even more unique.
About Ron Meritt/Meritt International, Inc.
Ronald R. Meritt of Meritt International in
San Luis Obispo, California is a successful
inventor and product development specialist
who may be best known as the inventor of the
original portable car video player - Video
Traveler: www.videotraveler.com
Meritt's concept for mobile video units is
currently being used in thousands of vehicles
worldwide. Meritt is now using that expertise
to bring new products to market and is adding
a focus of developing "green products" that
are environmentally friendly.
About the Meritt International Pollution-Free
Alternative Fuel Motor Conversion Kit:
When installed on a gas combustion motor, the
conversion kit allows the motor to run on a
variety of alternate fuels or gasses and be
virtually pollution free. Meritt has designed
the conversion kit to allow motors to run on
either flammable or non-flammable fuels,
meaning that a properly converted motor using
this technology may run on just about any
gas or liquid, including water.
Meritt actually began working on this technology
back in the 1970's when the gasoline crisis
was at its peak. But the uncompleted project
was set aside as Meritt pursued other ventures.
However, now, with gas prices potentially
rising to as much as $3 per gallon and the
United States' increasing dependence on
foreign oil, this technology has new significance
and potential. So Meritt recently resurrected
the project and after months of fine-tuning he
now has finalized a working prototype. Unlike
the highly publicized fuel-cell or hydrogen
technologies that are in development right
now, this motor conversion kit is different
because it is an upgrade kit that potentially
could be installed on almost any gas combustion
engine used in cars, trucks, boats, garden
equipment, etc.
As evidenced on the downloadable video link
above, Meritt successfully installed his
invention on a small 100 cc motorcycle engine
to prove its functionality and capabilities.
The prototyped motor, which was recently
evaluated at a fully licensed motor vehicle
smog inspection station in California, emits
a measured exhaust that is 99% pollution free.
What's more, the conversion kit allows the
motor to actually exhaust high levels of
oxygen, making it possible to literally breathe
the engine exhaust.
The design of the pollution-free motor is
protected by a pending patent, and many
of the modifications are trade secrets known
only to Meritt and his development team. As
far as providing additional information on
the technology, what can be mentioned is
that there have been extensive internal and
external mechanical and electrical modifications
to the prototype motor. With further development,
this first-stage technology has extensive market
potential for use in cars, trucks, boats,
tractors, gas powered garden equipment,
generators and any other gas powered products.
Unique Marketing of the Technology - eBay Is
The Way (May 10 - May 20, 2004) Instead of the
typical licensing avenues that similar technologies
might be subjected to, Meritt has decided to try
a somewhat unorthodox yet creative marketing angle.
He will sell the rights to the technology and a
working prototype on eBay to the highest bidder,
with no minimum bid. The online auction start
date will run from May 10 - May 20, 2004. The
bids will be for the
one-time technology transfer fee that includes
pending patents, trade secrets, a fully functional
prototype engine, and all documentation associated
with this invention. It will give the buyer full
profit making capabilities with no future royalties
going to Meritt International. Once purchased,
the buyer is free to further develop the technology
for as many industry applications as possible.
Meritt is confident that a corporation, university
or entrepreneur will be able to acquire his
technology and take it to the next level. "Some
day we will deplete the global supply of oil,
and when that happens, millions of gas combustion
engines will be waiting for an alternative fuel.
Whoever owns this technology owns the rights to
a possible solution, and the opportunity to generate
a lot of money," says Meritt.
When asked why he is selling the rights and not
developing this potentially lucrative technology
himself, Meritt responds, "It will require more
development to take this technology to the next
level. I have already managed a very successful
company, and frankly, I need to keep my focus
there rather than starting another new company
from scratch. I really want to see this technology
developed into a mainstream product that will
help the environment, and I feel this is the best
way."
For more information and a look at the video and
Smog Test Report go to:
www.merittinternational.com/pollutionfree
To arrange an interview with Ron Meritt contact
Spread The News Public Relations: 785.842.8909 /
info@...
regards
Aternate Energy Resource Network
resources-news sources
updated through out the day
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Weekly News Alerts
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Alternative Energy System Calculators
http://www.alternate-energy.net/calcsyst04.html
Post 9/11 the development of alternative energy should have been one
of the top two priorities of the American government. Instead
governments at all levels have put up roadblocks to alternative
energy development at a time when the cost of a wind turbine and
fossil burning facility are almost identical (and the windmill's cost
is going down).
Join me at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmericanEnergyandClimateInitiative
Thanks,
R. Blake
Very true... America should be (and have been)investing heavily in
wind. America should have begun investing in wind way back during
the oil embargoes of the 70s. Those were clear "wake up" calls.
Americans tend to have very short memories. We need huge
investments both in rewnewable generation and distribution. We
invest roughly $500B/year in defense, much of which is required to
ensure (?) energy supplies. The cost of renewable should be weighed
not only against "coal" (and it's environmental costs, too), but
against how much we can reduce defense costs by building a
diversified, distributed, renewable energy system.
We *should* now have the lead in wind technology/sales. However due
to our sloth, Europe provides about 90% of the world's windmills...
those jobs/tech should be "here".
Bob
--- In tomorrow-energy@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Blake"
<richrblake@y...> wrote:
> Post 9/11 the development of alternative energy should have been
one
> of the top two priorities of the American government. <snip>
Hi all,
This is interesting research. We really have to accelerate
the development of sustainable technologies like these
and lighten our footprint on this planet.
Research shows swine manure can become crude oil
Monday April 12, 2004
By JIM PAUL
Associated Press Writer
URBANA, Ill. (AP) A University of Illinois
research team is working on turning pig
manure into a form of crude oil that could
be refined to heat homes or generate
electricity.
Years of research and fine-tuning are ahead
before the idea could be commercially viable,
but results so far indicate there might be
big benefits for farmers and consumers, lead
researcher Yanhui Zhang said.
``This is making more sense in terms of
alternative energy or renewable energy and
strategically for reducing our dependency
on foreign oil,'' said Zhang, an associate
professor of agricultural and biological
engineering. ``Definitely, there is potential
in the long term.''
The thermochemical conversion process uses
intense heat and pressure to break down the
molecular structure of manure into oil. It's
much like the natural process that turns organic
matter into oil over centuries, but in the
laboratory the process can take as little as
a half-hour.
A similar process is being used at a plant in
Carthage, Mo., where tons of turkey entrails,
feathers, fats and grease from a nearby Butterball
turkey plant are converted into a light crude oil,
said Julie DeYoung, a spokeswoman for Conagra
Foods, which operates the plant in a joint venture
with Long Island-based Changing World Technologies.
But converting manure is sure to catch the attention
of swine producers. Safe containment of livestock
waste is costly for farmers, especially at large
confinement operations where thousands of tons
of manure are produced each year. Also, odors
produced by swine farms have made them a nuisance
to neighbors.
``If this ultimately becomes one of the silver
bullets to help the industry, I'm absolutely
in favor of it,'' said Jim Kaitschuk, executive
director of the Illinois Pork Producers Association.
Zhang and his research team have found that
converting manure into crude oil is possible
in small batches, but much more research is
needed to develop a continuously operating
reaction chamber that could handle large
amounts of manure. That is key to making
the process practicable and economically
viable.
Zhang predicted that one day a reactor the
size of a home furnace could process the
manure generated by 2,000 hogs at a cost of
about $10 per barrel.
In a best-case scenario, $1.5 billion in crude
oil imports could be saved each year if 50
percent of the nation's swine farms used the
technology, Zhang said. And he estimated the
value of hogs would increase $10 to $15 each
if the oil that their waste produces could be
sold for $30 per barrel.
Big oil refineries are unlikely to purchase
crude oil made from converted manure, Zhang
said, because they aren't set up to refine
it. But the oil could be used to fuel smaller
electric or heating plants, or to make plastics,
ink or asphalt, he said.
``Crude oil is our first raw material,'' he said.
``If we can make it value-added, suddenly the
whole economic picture becomes brighter.''
^ =
On the Net:
Yanhui Zhang's Web site:
http://www.age.uiuc.edu/faculty/yhz/index.htm
Aternate Energy Resource Network
resources-news sources
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Assistant Secretary Garman Dedicates
Fuel Cell at Florida School
Assistant Secretary of Energy David
Garman dedicated the nation's first joint hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen
curriculum project last week at a high school in North Port, Florida. The
dedication marks the culmination of a cooperative effort between DOE and
the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
North Point High School's 5-kilowatt fuel cell installed through a
partnership between the Florida DEP, Florida Power and Light, and
Sarasota County gives students the opportunity to see this new technology
in operation. The accompanying hydrogen energy curriculum, designed by
DOE, provides a hands-on educational experience for students interested
in energy science. North Port High School is one of ten pilot schools
implementing the hydrogen energy curriculum.
See the
DOE
press release.
State Energy Collaboration Funds Hydrogen
Learning Centers
The State Technologies Advancement Collaborative
(STAC) announced in March its award of nearly $447,000 to three projects
that will establish hydrogen technology learning centers. STAC
anticipates awarding the projects an additional $1.15 million in coming
years. The learning centers are intended to educate students, potential
hydrogen users, and the public about the envisioned hydrogen economy and
the technologies needed to support it. The projects will create learning
centers in California, Florida, and New York; establish a learning center
to serve Maryland and Virginia; and develop a regional center to serve
the Southeast. See the STAC press release
(PDF 13 KB).
Download
Acrobat Reader.
As interest in hydrogen energy technologies increases, the 15th Annual
Hydrogen Conference and Hydrogen Expo USA is sure to draw a crowd. The
National Hydrogen Association is sponsoring the event in Los Angeles,
California, from April 26th through the 30th. See the
conference Web
site.
Ford Announces Plans for Third Hybrid Vehicle
as Hybrid Escape Debuts
Ford Motor Company officially debuted its
Hybrid Escape sport utility vehicle (SUV) at the New York International
Auto Show last week, and announced plans to build a hybrid-electric
version of its Mercury Mariner compact SUV in late 2006. The
2007 Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV is the third hybrid vehicle planned by
Ford: The company has previously announced plans to build a hybrid
electric midsize sedan. Ford has also created a new company group to
develop hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles. See the
Ford
press release.
The new Ford Hybrid Escape takes on the streets of Manhattan. Credit: Ford Motor Company
Ford took advantage of the New York City location to demonstrate the range of its new Hybrid Escape, driving it non-stop around Manhattan. The vehicle traveled 576 miles on one tank of gasoline, averaging more than 38 miles per gallon in the dense city driving conditions. With several celebrity drivers taking turns at the wheel, the trip lasted 37 hours, which makes the average speed about 15 miles per hour. See the Ford press release.
California County to Add 1.11 Megawatts of Solar Power
California's Alameda County home to the city of Oakland has committed to installing six new solar power arrays that will total 1.11 megawatts in capacity. PowerLight Corporation announced in late March that the County Board of Supervisors had approved the plan and commissioned PowerLight to install the six solar energy systems. PowerLight will install the systems on six county buildings starting in late spring, and anticipates completing all the projects this year. According to PowerLight, the new systems will boost Alameda County's total solar generating capacity to 2.19 megawatts, allowing the county to draw on solar energy to meet 6 percent of its energy needs. See the PowerLight press release.
Southern California will gain more solar energy capacity by September of this year, when Kyocera Solar, Inc. intends to complete a 251-kilowatt system in the parking lot of its North American headquarters and manufacturing plant, which are collocated in San Diego. Kyocera also draws on a 3.2-megawatt natural-gas-fired cogeneration facility for its power. See the Kyocera press release.
PG&E to Launch Clean Energy Business Incubator in California
California's Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday, and as part of the company's settlement agreement, it will establish and fund a non-profit corporation to encourage businesses involved in clean energy technologies. The so-called business "incubator" will be dedicated to supporting research and investment in clean energy technologies, primarily in the PG&E service territory. PG&E will provide $15 million over five years and will work with the California Energy Commission to attract additional funding. See the PG&E press release, and for additional information, see page 16 of PG&E Corporation's settlement agreement, which is posted on the company's Web site.
The concept of clean energy business incubators is not new: In fact, DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) established the National Alliance of Clean Energy Business Incubators in 2000. See the NREL and Alliance Web sites.
Awards Recognize Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technologies
The ventilation system in MIT's new residence hall earned a top engineering award. Credit: MIT
A number of top technology awards in March included energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies among their ranks of winners. The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), for instance, presented seven "Grand Awards" and 16 "Honor Awards" for engineering excellence at an event that ACEC refers to as the "Academy Awards" of engineering. Although its top award went to a study of the World Trade Center's collapse, one of its Grand Awards went to CH2M HILL for a fish bypass at the Rocky Reach Dam in Bellevue, Washington. The bypass reduces fish injury while eliminating intentional spills of water past the dam, saving enough hydroelectric power to supply 8,000 homes, according to ACEC. In addition, Ove Arup and Partners won an Honor Award for engineering Simmons Hall at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). According to ACEC, the new residence hall is the first major U.S. building to combine a low-volume air conditioning system with the natural ventilation of open windows. The 10-story structure has 3,000 operable windows and will require 40 percent less energy than similar buildings in the Northeast. RMT, Inc. also won an Honor Award for a project that uses landfill gas to supply energy to a high school in Illinois. The project uses Capstone microturbines to generate 360 kilowatts of electricity and uses the waste heat to heat the school, saving more than $100,000 in annual energy costs, according to ACEC. See the ACEC press release (PDF 129 KB), the ACEC Grand Award (PDF 226 KB) and Honor Award (PDF 480 KB) descriptions, and the MIT Web site for Simmons Hall. Download Acrobat Reader.
Biomass products and building cooling technologies took top honors at World's Best Technologies 2004 (WBT04), a conference sponsored by the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds and the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer. Agro Management Group, Inc. earned a platinum award for developing of an engine lubricant derived from vegetable oil, which Sterling Bio-Technologies Corporation uses as the base oil for its Sterling Grade engine oil products.
Ice Energy, LLC earned the gold award for a system that uses off-peak ice energy storage to cut energy use for cooling during peak hours, and Featherfiber Corporation earned the silver award for its technology to use poultry feathers in a variety of composite materials. See the Sterling Bio-Technologies press release, as well as the Ice Energy and WBT04 Web sites.
The Geothermal Technologies Program, one of 11 energy programs in the
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), has generated a new Web site that provides simple, intuitive access to information about the program. The redesigned Web site conveys the new program organization and structure and includes program review and presentation material from the last five years. Its "Deployment" section includes information about DOE's GeoPowering the West initiative. The Web site has an updated look and feel to reflect the look of the
EERE Web site, and provides the latest news from the program. See the DOE Geothermal Technologies Program Web site.
Energy Connections
EIA: Gasoline Prices to Remain High All Summer
If you're sick of high gasoline prices, DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) has some bad news for you: Gasoline prices are expected to remain high through the summer. High crude oil costs, strong gasoline demand, low gasoline inventories, and more stringent gasoline specifications will work together to create average retail prices of about $1.76 per gallon for regular grade, a record high. And the EIA warns that things could get worse if a major refinery or pipeline is unexpectedly shut down.
The EIA's latest "Short-Term Energy Outlook" projects a 1.4 percent increase in
U.S. oil demand in 2004 and a 1.9 percent increase in electricity use. To help meet that rising electrical demand, U.S. coal production is expected to increase
2.8 percent in 2004 and 2.9 percent in 2005. See the EIA press release, the
"Short-Term Energy Outlook," and the "Summer 2004 Motor Gasoline Outlook"
(PDF 258 KB). Download Acrobat Reader.
If you have questions or comments about this newsletter, please contact the editor, Kevin Eber, at kevin_eber@....
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To do research of knowledge management in professional virtual
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Dear Jenny Niu
Thanks for considering us to send a questionnaire about the knowledge
sharing in this electronic group.
Your questionnaire it's very long!
They have ho many questions.
Near 60 different questions!?
And, really, VC is a unhappy acronymous! Maybe VG or Virtual Group will
be better.
Regards
Manuel Alonso
----------QUESTIONNAIRE FOR KNOWLEDGE SHARING
The virtual community (VC) of a professional society provides access for
engaging in common activities, sharing information, or discussing ideas
with others. To facilitate the tasks of knowledge management in such
environment, we strive to investigate the determinants of individual's
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The purpose of current survey is to collect your opinions regarding the
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This questionnaire includes six parts, which may be filled out at
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-------------
> Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2004 15:50:24 -0000
> From: "yoggletemp" <yoggletemp@...>
> Subject: Please do me a favor!
>
> We are an academic research group of National Kaohsiung First
> University of Science and Technology in TAIWAN.
> To do research of knowledge management in professional virtual
> societies like yours, we need your members to help us complete this
> survey.
>
http://163.18.22.189/survey/link/group89.htm
The members who support this survey will have a chance to get a
twenty-dollar certificate of Amazon.com
We appreciate your help. Thank you very much.
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Hello
Many Thanks for this mensage!
There is any posibility for students outside USA?
Regards
Manuel Alonso
> -----Original Message-----
> From: greenpeace_us_action [mailto:actionalerts@...]
> Sent: Friday, April 09, 2004 4:41 AM
> To: tomorrow-energy@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [tomorrow-energy] Greenpeace Organizing Academy
>
>
> Greenpeace is launching the Greenpeace Organizing Term, a Fall
> semester grassroots campaigning apprenticeship. This Fall, Greenpeace
will
> accept ten of the country's top student activists for a semester long
> training program in which the students will help run a national clean
> energy campaign, receive training from the nations best
> organizers, travel internationally for a skill share, and
> help build the global student movement for clean energy.
>
> We are looking for the best college students - primarily sophomores
> and juniors - who are passionate, bold, smart, visionary, strategic,
> savvy, eager, and who believe that peaceful protest is an effective
way to
> protect our environment.
>
> Please take a moment to click on the link below for more information
> about the Greenpeace Organizing Academy, how you can apply, and who
you can
> call for more information.
>
> Click on http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/goa for all of the details!
>
> Please also take the time to think about the most active and
> committed students in your group and your campus and make
> sure to pass this information along. The Greenpeace
> Organizing Academy promises to be a challenging and fun
> training ground for students who see themselves
> as part
> of the long-term solution to environmental problems.
>
> Applications can be submitted until April 19 and admissions are
> rolling.
>
Here's the URL of photos of an alkaline battery
(the Rezap device, from Australia) which exploded in the Rezap
battery charger recently. The manufacturer doesn't reply to
complaints about this situation.
Anybody know if this is dangerous, or whether the alkaline batteries
debris is toxic or hazardous?
http://www.geocities.com/rezap_photos/
Note that reviews of the Rezap battery chargers don't talk about
explosions, only that the resulting batteries leaked.
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