Anyone who knows Utah knows the power of wind, water and sun. You can see that power in Utah's sculpted arches of stone, in our majestic mountains capped with snow, and in the cracked earth of our deserts.
Nature's power is so obvious that you have to wonder why we've mostly ignored it as a source of energy to run our homes and businesses, and to propel our cars and trucks.
After all, if we did a little more to harness that power, we could begin to solve some of our most pressing environmental and economic challenges. In fact, creating electricity from the energy nature gives us is critical if we're going to reduce global warming pollution, protect public health with clean air and water, create jobs in Utah and ultimately bring down energy prices.
We know that burning fossil fuels is destabilizing the atmosphere and acidifying the oceans. We know that our dependence on oil shackles us to dangerous foreign regimes and to the escalating prices they'll inevitably charge as demand outstrips supply. But we also know how to break our dependence and free ourselves from this destructive cycle.
Why keep buying foreign crude when we could be making energy right here in Utah from sunlight, wind and geothermal power? Why rip up more pristine wilderness to extract dirty fuels when we could generate clean power from the energy nature delivers to our doorstep?
Dollar for dollar, investing in clean energy creates more jobs than investing in traditional energy sources like oil and gas. That really matters, especially when you consider that more than 30,000 Utah workers lost their jobs last year.
We've got tens of thousands of windy acres here in Utah, sites for geothermal energy abound, and the southern part of the state has tremendous potential for solar power. We will have to carefully pick renewable energy sites that don't endanger critical habitat and wilderness quality land, but the opportunity is vast.
So how can we jump start a home-grown clean energy economy?
Right now Congress is working on a landmark clean energy jobs plan that would boost the amount of wind, solar and other clean energy our country produces. The American Clean Energy and Security Act will also make our vehicles, appliances and buildings more efficient, and update our antiquated electricity grid.
Our investments in clean energy and efficiency today will pay dividends for generations. They will create good, family-sustaining jobs that can't be shipped overseas, and they will lower energy prices in the long run. They will reduce energy dependence and global warming pollution, and make our economy more competitive.
It's true that the economic and environmental challenges we confront are serious. But Americans have never encountered a challenge of any kind that we couldn't overcome by working together and applying our ingenuity.
That is what we need to do right now. The only missing ingredient is a spirit of innovation, cooperation and resolve amongst our political leaders. From the copper-domed Capitol in Salt Lake, to the halls of power in Washington, our leaders need to reconsider their allegiance to the dirty fuels industry, stop their bickering, and act boldly to move America towards a new energy economy.
In the coming weeks, Representative Jim Matheson (D-Utah) can lead the way. As a key member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, he'll play a pivotal role before Memorial Day in determining whether Congress even gets to vote on the clean energy jobs bill. Now is the time to let Rep. Matheson and all of our leaders know that we expect them to do what's right for our people, our economy, our land and our future.
[This piece first ran in the Salt Lake Tribune.]
Robert Redford Green Biography - The Renewable Planet Greenography
Robert Redford starts channeling 'green' - Grist Magazine- msnbc.com
From Business Week:
http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/mar2009/id2009034_875256_page_2.htm
wind can play a much bigger role in the energy revolution if they can harness the more powerful winds 1,000 to 3,000 feet up, which contain more energy per square foot than any other renewable source. They are developing wing-shaped kites to do just that. "Conventional turbines only work up to 200 feet, but capturing a small fraction of the global wind energy at higher altitudes could be sufficient to supply the current energy needs of the globe," says Griffith.
Capturing energy from high-altitude wind is far from easy. The biggest challenge is efficiently transmitting that electricity back to Earth. But Griffith, who has raised $15 million from Google.org and others for the venture, is confident, both about Makani's ability to develop a cost-effective new wind power technology and about the broader potential for meeting the challenge of climate change.
Being from the Great Lakes I'm boning up on Victor Schaumburger's water energy releasing principles, while still learning the ins and outs of wind production Gov. Granholm is introducing to the center of the lakes. I feel that we're like toddlers taking first steps, but some day we will run and jump. Thanks for sharing the spotlight with these ideas.
1. Once Solar panels are installed they require no ongoing mining or drilling for resources.
2. You only have to truck a solar panel once to its destination (once every thirty years).
3. Sunlight and wind are delivered to your home everyday for free by mother nature. No ships and trucks are required to deliver the energy to your home.
4. Solar panels do not give off harmful disease causing pollutants or stinky smoke while in use. Nothing is burned.
5. Installed renewables help stabilize the economy by stabilizing the price of energy.
6. Renewable energy will help clean the air and help health care costs go down.
7. Using renewable energy will mean fewer coal miners will be killed or trapped.
8. Renewables owned and operated by Americans means foreign governments will not be able to hold us hostage to their oil.
9. Renewable energy products made in Western Countries will not be sending money to terrorists.
10. Renewable energy will help turn around global climate change if we act quickly.
If you will answer on this question, you will never be for any source of energy-nuclear, coal, wind, solar cells, geothermal, natural gas, oil, etc, which produce energy without additional evaporation of water.
Property of water in reality is cooling the air. Trees are the best pumps in the world to evaporate water. They use sun energy and conserve that energy for hundred years.
If you agreed with Tim Flannery, The Weather Maker, 2006 that mature forest do not produce oxygen (oxygen producing by photosynthesis equal oxygen which will taken by old trees, when they are decayed), you will cut old trees and use them to produce electricity in small power plant. You will solve all GHG from that power plant and watering the same forest as the best nutrition sources together with ashes.
It will be the closest to customer and because of that the cheapest source of energy, which will really cool the atmosphere. Only in this case you can use any source of energy-nuclear, coal, wind, solar cells, geothermal, natural gas, oil, etc.
It will not only heat your butt, but also save the planet.
Please use your commom sence and basic Physics.
1. Contributes to global climate change.
2. Causes health problems such as heart disease and lung disease
3. Increases health care costs for all of us.
4. Pollutes streams, destroys forests, destroys wildlife, removes mountains.
5. Leaves the USA dependent on the whims of foreign governments that hate us.
6. Sends money back to countries that finance international terrorism.
7. Causes huge destructive fluctuations in our economy when gas goes way up.
8. Requires dangerous mining and drilling resulting in frequent deaths.
9. Requires delivery via ships and trucks that pollute and use additional resources.
10. Subject to spills which are difficult, expensive, and often impossible to clean up.
You and the rest of the environment worshipers should take your head out of the sand. Nuclear power is now SAFE, EFFECTIVE, CHEAP, AND ENVRIONMENTALLY FRIENDLY. How can the greatest nation in the world not do what France, Italy, Germany and others have successfully achieved.
WE CAN... WE JUST NEED SOME COMMON SENSE.
Without increasing the risk
Of global thermonuclear war
From proliferation: N Koreas, India, Pakistan etc...
My profile proves it.
He's just another Jane Fonda-hater, Bob. Pay no attention.
To be schilling for Nuclear power is so LAST CENTURY. It is clear we haven't been able to make it completely safe. If a Nuclear Power plant is to be built, I nominate Mosby's backyard for the project!
Keep on keeping on Bob, this generation of vipers won't be happy till they restore nuclear power and keep us hooked on oil. Luckily, there are only about 20% of them left!
If you support wild and solar, would you put your money where your mouth is and support wind or solar development in areas outside national parks in Utah?
Thought not.
I understand and completely agree with the importance of transitioning to alternative energy technologies. However, conservation interests talk a mean game, but when it comes time to actually permit renewable projects, too many environmentalists obstruct. They say they love alternative energy, but when it's time to bring electrons from wind farms in Wyoming down to communities in Vegas and LA, environmentalists litigate the transmission line projects. They say they love solar, but when there's a proposal in the Mojave Desert, they raise hell.
I’m not saying that even renewable energy projects should be designed to impact the environment as little as possible and I’m not saying that some places shouldn’t have ANY development of any kind. However, NIMBYism and obstruction from "no development" environmentalists are crippling our ability to transition away from fossil fuels. When these projects are shot down, we just fall back on old oil and gas and coal resources. These folks should have NO seat at the table in a constructive debate about energy in America.
Also we need to understand that every source of energy, wind, solar, geothermal, coal, natural gas, oil pollute not only greenhouse gases, but also and heat, which will additionally heat the air
I surprized that huffingtonpost every day published many articles from authors, which completely believed Al Gore, even do not trying to think little more, what they promote.
Of course electric heat will give off heat, which is what keeps your butt from freezing in the winter.
Of course electric heat will give off heat, which is what keeps your butt from freezing in the winter.â€
Dear Guitarsandmore, please ask yourself why in Hawaii, which closer to equator, in summer time we have temperature 70-80 F, while in Texas-90-110 F?
If you will answer on this question, you will never be for any source of energy-nuclear, coal, wind, solar cells, geothermal, natural gas, oil, etc, which produce energy without additional evaporation of water.
Property of water in reality is cooling the air. Trees are the best pumps in the world to evaporate water. They use sun energy and conserve that energy for hundred years.
If you agreed with Tim Flannery, The weathermaker, 2006 that mature forest do not produce oxygen (oxygen producing by photosynthesis equal oxygen which will taken by old trees, when they are decayed), you will cut old trees and use them to produce electricity in small power plant. You will solve all GHG from that power plant and watering the same forest as the best nutrition sources together with ashes.
It will be the closest to customer and the cheapest source of energy, which will really cool the atmosphere. Only in this case you can use any source of energy-nuclear, coal, wind, solar cells, geothermal, natural gas, oil, etc.
It will heat your butt and save the planet.
Without nature, there would be no economy. Why wipe out your supply?
I am proud of you!
Thanks for your reply. Am I correct that if I use 3,000 KWH of electricity in 12 months then at $5.60/watt, installed, it would cost me ( $5.60 X 3,000KWH ) $16,800.00 for the PV installation?
I live in northeast PA. and I checked my electric bill. I used 3,071 KWH in 12 months and paid $.13511/KWH or $414.92 for the 12 months. I ( like another poster ) am retired and on SS. so I cannot take advantage of the Federal tax credit. $16,800.00 divided by $414.92 gives me a 40 year payback period.
If my numbers are correct, the PV installation is too expensive.
Has anyone else done this kind of cost/benefit analysis?
to achieve real energy independence.
And how is this for irony. I just again watched the ROBERT REDFORD movie "THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR", based on JAMES GRADY'S book "SIX DAYS OF THE CONDOR " which was published in 1975 and forecast the invasion of the middle east to get & control the oil.
To evaporate 1 kg of water we need 339 kcal. When 1 kg of water vapor condensed to water droplet of rain they release the same amount of energy-339 kcal, but it happens on cloud level, where latent heat of condensation going to space. Water vapor helps cool the air, despite its greenhouse gas.
Atmosphere has nitrogen, oxygen, greenhouse gases, including water vapor and DROPLET OF WATER. DROPLET OF WATER, ALSO PLAYS It’s ROLE IN COOLING the air. Infrared radiation absorbed by GHG help evaporate closest droplets of water. Water vapor cool airs and goes up.
Clouds reflect to 90% of direct sun radiation.
In Hawaii summer cooler, than in Texas, because in Hawaii more evaporation.
We have convection, reflection, evaporation, cloud formation and saving sun energy in vegetation.
Using all forces of Nature we could fight melting ice in Greenland, Alaska, North Canada, Europe, Russia and Antarctic during five years, be energy independent, 100% employment and make huge profit. We no need support of all nations in the world. Canada, USA and Mexico can do it!
Following Al Gore recommendation we will fail.
I do not quite understand what you are saying. Are you saying that if we grow more plants and trees there will be more water vapor generated and therefore less global warming?
Dear JXJASON, yes, it is correct. It also will provide us with cheapest, cleanest wood energy, which will be saved in trees during hundred years without any batteries and can be used in any time, when we need, together with all kind of fossil fuel.
Al Gore explains global warming by increasing amount of carbon dioxide, which trapped infrared radiation, and heat the air. This heat evaporated additional amount of water vapors which also greenhouse gas and trapped infrared radiation, which additionally heat the air.
He misunderstands role of water vapor and simplifies explanation of global warming by carbon dioxide.
It is not only carbon dioxide.
It is winds and their direction, which send hot air to cloud level.
It is reflection, which send short wave back to space.
It is huge convection forces.
It is cloud formation.
It oceans streams.
It is properties of water and ice.
It is water evaporation, which take a lot of energy on the ground level and send vapor as lighter gas to cloud level, where infrared radiation escapes to space. We need to use all natural properties to reduce effect of global warming. Reduction of carbon dioxide is also good but by others directions, than advice Al Gore.
We shoudl build these plants in the dessert to make Hydrogen from WATER - as well as selling every car/truck/RV with a roll up solar panel and a hydrolicizer cell, so that any body of water and the shinning sun equals, eventually, a full tank of Hydrogen; then set up a network of Cryogenic Hydrogen distribution hubs, storage facilities, pipelines, etc..; all of which will have to be 'synced' so that no one losses their old 'Gas' pump-jockey, refinery worker, etc. Job for the their new 'H2' Job.
We need to start mining the Moon for more Platinum and Rubidium - which are Fuel Cell Catalysts.
Some Regolithe is ground up (vaporized on impact) M-Type Asteroid; most M-Types contain every metal known - and thus, so should some of the Regolithe! There's Valuable Metal, in that thar Moon!
I staring to think BioOil Fuels from BioChar of everything grown after we are done with it, is more than enough. It's cheap, efficient and carbon negative.