Comments for Amateur Earthling http://amateurearthling.org We're all in this together. Fri, 02 Mar 2012 03:45:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Coal Finance for Climate Activists by Zane Selvans http://amateurearthling.org/2012/01/13/coal-finance-for-climate-activists/#comment-1871 Zane Selvans Fri, 02 Mar 2012 03:45:34 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3325#comment-1871 The real holy grail for renewables integration is electrical storage -- economical, efficient, utility scale batteries. Nobody can do this yet. Solar thermal plants can do several hours of storage with molten salts, and hydroelectric stations can use off-peak generation to pump water uphill for use during peak demand times, but neither of these solutions scales up enough to support really high intermittent renewable penetration. Until someone figures out that technology, we can firm renewables with gas, and potentially dynamic demand side management programs, that let utilities shape their load curves by communicating directly with energy consuming appliances whose time of use isn't critical. <a href="http://tendrilinc.com" rel="nofollow">Tendril</a> is one company working on a kind of "energy internet" platform that would enable this strategy. The real holy grail for renewables integration is electrical storage — economical, efficient, utility scale batteries. Nobody can do this yet. Solar thermal plants can do several hours of storage with molten salts, and hydroelectric stations can use off-peak generation to pump water uphill for use during peak demand times, but neither of these solutions scales up enough to support really high intermittent renewable penetration. Until someone figures out that technology, we can firm renewables with gas, and potentially dynamic demand side management programs, that let utilities shape their load curves by communicating directly with energy consuming appliances whose time of use isn’t critical. Tendril is one company working on a kind of “energy internet” platform that would enable this strategy.

]]> Comment on Coal Finance for Climate Activists by Jocelyn Plourde http://amateurearthling.org/2012/01/13/coal-finance-for-climate-activists/#comment-1869 Jocelyn Plourde Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:49:11 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3325#comment-1869 That was incredibly educational. Thank you very much. I often hear about changes to the power grid that need to be made in order to make them more suitable to renewables. Other than having the proper backup power plant, like high efficiency dispatchable combined cycle turbines (that's a mouthful!), do you what other changes need to be made? It is subject that interests me but that I know little about. That was incredibly educational. Thank you very much.

I often hear about changes to the power grid that need to be made in order to make them more suitable to renewables. Other than having the proper backup power plant, like high efficiency dispatchable combined cycle turbines (that’s a mouthful!), do you what other changes need to be made? It is subject that interests me but that I know little about.

]]> Comment on Colorado to preempt local regulation of oil and gas industries by Jocelyn Plourde http://amateurearthling.org/2012/02/14/colorado-to-preempt-local-regulation-of-oil-and-gas-industries/#comment-1868 Jocelyn Plourde Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:25:39 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3357#comment-1868 "The oil and gas industry is striking back against these efforts, with Colorado Senate Bill SB12-088..." That one phrase so exemplifies what is wrong with our governments (I say "governments" because I am Canadian and we have similar problems up here). If they were to implement such a bill, then it should include that the state regulation needs to be equal to (or better) than the strictest policy current in place within the state. But we know that would never happen. “The oil and gas industry is striking back against these efforts, with Colorado Senate Bill SB12-088…”

That one phrase so exemplifies what is wrong with our governments (I say “governments” because I am Canadian and we have similar problems up here). If they were to implement such a bill, then it should include that the state regulation needs to be equal to (or better) than the strictest policy current in place within the state. But we know that would never happen.

]]> Comment on Think Again: Drugs by Zane Selvans http://amateurearthling.org/2012/01/24/think-again-drugs/#comment-1772 Zane Selvans Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:18:06 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3337#comment-1772 Wow, I actually didn't see the date. That's sobering. Obama (once again) nixed a top moderated question from the public after the SOTU address, related to the legalization of marijuana. The issue is still apparently not up for discussion. I suspect the mess will have to cross the border wholesale before anyone gives a crap. Either that, or states will have to openly confront the federal government with state legalization measures. Wow, I actually didn’t see the date. That’s sobering. Obama (once again) nixed a top moderated question from the public after the SOTU address, related to the legalization of marijuana. The issue is still apparently not up for discussion. I suspect the mess will have to cross the border wholesale before anyone gives a crap. Either that, or states will have to openly confront the federal government with state legalization measures.

]]> Comment on Think Again: Drugs by Bryan Keith http://amateurearthling.org/2012/01/24/think-again-drugs/#comment-1771 Bryan Keith Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:01:45 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3337#comment-1771 But that article is over four years old, and nothing has happened. Years ago I read Judge James Gray's indictment on the Ware on Drugs: http://www.amazon.com/Why-Drug-Laws-Have-Failed/dp/1566398606 and you can see from the Amazon link that there are numerous other books touting the same ideas. This "War on Drugs" has gone on since before I was born with disastrous consequences. When will it change? The violence has moved north from Colombia to Mexico, right near our border. Will it have to spill over into the US before our politicians care? But that article is over four years old, and nothing has happened. Years ago I read Judge James Gray’s indictment on the Ware on Drugs:

http://www.amazon.com/Why-Drug-Laws-Have-Failed/dp/1566398606

and you can see from the Amazon link that there are numerous other books touting the same ideas. This “War on Drugs” has gone on since before I was born with disastrous consequences. When will it change? The violence has moved north from Colombia to Mexico, right near our border. Will it have to spill over into the US before our politicians care?

]]> Comment on Boulder’s Energy Future Is Bright by Coal Finance for Climate Activists | Amateur Earthling http://amateurearthling.org/2011/07/14/boulders-energy-future-is-bright/#comment-1752 Coal Finance for Climate Activists | Amateur Earthling Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:54:12 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3121#comment-1752 [...] producers (IPPs or “merchant” producers).  The regulated utilities on the other hand often have perverse incentives, which encourage them to spend as much as possible on up-front capital expenses, since that’s [...] [...] producers (IPPs or “merchant” producers).  The regulated utilities on the other hand often have perverse incentives, which encourage them to spend as much as possible on up-front capital expenses, since that’s [...]

]]> Comment on Straight Talk on Climate Progress in California by Hanna http://amateurearthling.org/2011/11/29/straight-talk-on-climate-progress-in-california/#comment-1672 Hanna Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:35:31 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3301#comment-1672 What I think is unfortunate is that, with exception of Al Gore, we don't have national political figures advocating either approach. Everyone in Washington has their heads in the sand as far as meaningfully addressing sustainability. I've been watching Ken Burns' WWII documentary, and it is incredible to see what Americans gladly gave up in their collective effort to win the war. But they had Roosevelt on the radio all the time, reminding them that that didn't need new shoes, that they surely had some scrap metal to donate, that kitchen grease could be saved for other uses, and that patches of lawn could be dug up to grow vegetables. For the species, climate change is every bit as big an external threat as the Axis was to the US. Somehow, no one has used that threat to generate political unity or a national sense of common purpose. We need common purpose -- some collective acknowledgment of imminent threat and necessary action -- to implement Revkin's vision or yours. What I think is unfortunate is that, with exception of Al Gore, we don’t have national political figures advocating either approach. Everyone in Washington has their heads in the sand as far as meaningfully addressing sustainability. I’ve been watching Ken Burns’ WWII documentary, and it is incredible to see what Americans gladly gave up in their collective effort to win the war. But they had Roosevelt on the radio all the time, reminding them that that didn’t need new shoes, that they surely had some scrap metal to donate, that kitchen grease could be saved for other uses, and that patches of lawn could be dug up to grow vegetables. For the species, climate change is every bit as big an external threat as the Axis was to the US. Somehow, no one has used that threat to generate political unity or a national sense of common purpose. We need common purpose — some collective acknowledgment of imminent threat and necessary action — to implement Revkin’s vision or yours.

]]> Comment on Obama Delays Keystone XL Pipeline by Coal Exports a Bigger Threat Than Tar Sands | Amateur Earthling http://amateurearthling.org/2011/11/11/obama-delays-keystone-xl-pipeline/#comment-1574 Coal Exports a Bigger Threat Than Tar Sands | Amateur Earthling Sat, 19 Nov 2011 01:44:58 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3289#comment-1574 [...] coal export terminals in the Pacific Northwest will be a larger climate catastrophe than the temporarily delayed Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry Alberta tar sands bitumen to the Gulf of Mexico for refining.  A sobering [...] [...] coal export terminals in the Pacific Northwest will be a larger climate catastrophe than the temporarily delayed Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry Alberta tar sands bitumen to the Gulf of Mexico for refining.  A sobering [...]

]]> Comment on Is an Energy Transformation Afoot? by A Power Company President Ties His Future to Green Energy | Amateur Earthling http://amateurearthling.org/2011/11/09/is-an-energy-transformation-afoot/#comment-1561 A Power Company President Ties His Future to Green Energy | Amateur Earthling Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:19:18 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3279#comment-1561 [...] vehicle batteries.  Net metering policies and pricing will be key to broad adoption.  Given the lack of forecast energy demand increase, he sees different sources of energy (esp. coal, gas, solar, wind) having to compete for market [...] [...] vehicle batteries.  Net metering policies and pricing will be key to broad adoption.  Given the lack of forecast energy demand increase, he sees different sources of energy (esp. coal, gas, solar, wind) having to compete for market [...]

]]> Comment on Boulder’s Energy Future Is Bright by Is An Energy Transformation Afoot? | The Blue Line http://amateurearthling.org/2011/07/14/boulders-energy-future-is-bright/#comment-1523 Is An Energy Transformation Afoot? | The Blue Line Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:46:26 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3121#comment-1523 [...] — seems plausible, and I hope that it’s true. Certainly it’s the one that the Boulder Light and Power effort is going to be built around. It’s comforting to see that we’re not alone on the [...] [...] — seems plausible, and I hope that it’s true. Certainly it’s the one that the Boulder Light and Power effort is going to be built around. It’s comforting to see that we’re not alone on the [...]

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