Ways to Prevent Global Warming

Re “Wind Energy Bumps Into Power Grid’s Limits” (“The Energy Challenge” series, front page, Aug. In areas where the electric grid is overloaded or does not exist at all, the solar, wind or other forms of renewable energy can be stored in hydrogen. During the night or when the unit cost of electricity is high (peak periods), it can convert the stored hydrogen back into electricity. Additionally, it must now bring power from location-constrained clean energy resources like wind, solar, geothermal and biomass as well as from other low-carbon resources like additional nuclear plants and potential low-carbon coal generation. After a quarter-century of underinvestment, with national electricity demand slated to increase by one-third in the next two decades, and the grid already tested to the limits of its capabilities, we cannot start soon enough to plan to expand and upgrade these vital facilities. read more

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The state Public Service Commission voted, 4-0, to approve the merger, ending a lengthy review that led to state regulators imposing a host of conditions on the deal, including a reduction of as much as 5 percent, or $275 million, in electricity and natural gas delivery rates over five years. Those conditions also include a commitment by Iberdrola to spend $200 million on new wind power facilities in New York within roughly two years, which PSC officials would add about 100 megawatts of renewable generating capacity. Iberdrola has said it is considering up to $2 billion in investments in wind power and other renewable energy projects in New York if the deal was approved, but that pledge was not part of the merger so it was not considered as part of the debate at the PSC. The commission also imposed several conditions to limit the market power that Iberdrola would gain by owning wind energy projects at the same time that it owns electricity transmission systems within the state. Some PSC commissioners had raised concerns that Iberdrola would have too much market clout — and potentially could unfairly favor its own wind farms — if it was permitted to own substantial wind power facilities, as well as the power lines that transmit that electricity and that of competing power plants. The PSC doubled the size of the $200 million “binding commitment” it demanded that Iberdrola make for investments in new wind power projects in New York within two years of the merger taking effect. read more

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The project, called Caithness Shepherd’s Flat, will involve the installation of 303 wind turbines across 30 square miles in Gilliam and Morrow counties in north-central Oregon between 2011 and 2012. Shepherd’s Flat will generate about 2 billion kilowatt-hours per year of renewable energy, which is more than a tenth of SCE’s overall renewable portfolio. In 2007, renewable energy constituted about 16 percent of SCE’s total energy portfolio. The company currently has sufficient contracts in place that, when delivering, will meet or exceed 20 percent or more of customers’ energy needs with renewable energy. Edison International, of Rosemead, California, owns and operates about 14,000 MW of generating capacity, markets energy commodities in North America, and transmits and distributes electricity to about 4. Thomson Reuters is the world’s largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters. read more

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Bruce Ritchey, President and CEO, said, “The Company had sales of $31,330,000 for the quarter which was the highest quarter for sales in Company history. Sales were up 21% and Net Income was up 64% versus the same quarter last year. Through the first half of the year sales are up 18% and Net Income is up 63%. The Company’s sales are related to the cost and stability of electricity, fuel oil, propane and natural gas. read more

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Paul of Japan responds to Cassandra Sweet’s story “Drive For Natural Gas Vehicles Faces Big Test In California,” which covers a ballot initiative this fall that would allow California’s government to invest in the market for natural gas-fueled automobiles. Natural gas providers are spending millions of dollars on advertising to convince Californians to pass a ballot initiative allowing the state government to invest in the now-tiny market for natural gas-fueled cars and trucks. Rich Kolodziej , president of Natural Gas Vehicles for America, a Washington -based trade association for natural gas vehicles. Swapping natural gas with diesel in heavy-duty trucks cut greenhouse-gas emissions 10% to 20%, according to the study, which examined the “life cycle” of the fuels, from wellhead to gas processor, to delivery point, to combustion. She added that natural gas is best used to replace coal for power generation, and that other alternative vehicles running on solar-generated electricity, renewable diesel or fuel cells would be superior to those fueled by natural gas. read more

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In order to achieve zero net energy, which means the facility generates and utilizes its own power, the Rutgers visitors center will use multiple ZESS 50(TM) energy storage systems in order to store energy at the time of generation for later use when those generating sources, such as solar, are not available. ZBB Energy Corporation develops and manufactures distributed energy storage solutions based on the Company’s proprietary environmentally friendly, zinc rechargeable electrical energy storage technology. The unique modular construction of the Company’s core 50 kWh product enables ZBB’s fuel cell type energy storage system to be sized and packaged as products (ZESS 50(TM), ZESS 500(TM)) as well as a fully customized, large format, energy storage system. By integrating renewable energy sources with a high-capacity energy storage system and a customizable energy management system, New Age Energy has the potential to provide its clients with up to 100 percent of their renewable energy needs. read more

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Georgia Power on Friday asked the Georgia Public Service Commission to OK its plans detailing how it will meet long-term customer demand and energy requirements, including a proposal to build two more nuclear generating units near Waynesboro, Ga. Georgia Power’s portion of the cost of Vogtle units 3 and 4 will range from $2 billion to $6. The cost depends upon the company getting Construction Work in Progress (CWIP) approval, which is a regulatory treatment that would lower capital cost of the nuclear units by 30 percent. Bi-Lingual Customer Service Representative - Access Insurance Holdings, Inc. read more

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I think Al Gore really has something in his challenge to America to produce 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years (7/19, A-1, â Wind-energy dream gains altitude â). The only way the challenge can be met â” like President Kennedyâs challenge of landing Americans on the moon â” is by strong bipartisan support. Volland, (7/20, Letters) says we shouldnât switch to electric vehicles until we are producing vastly greater amounts of wind and solar power. I plan to put solar electric power on my home to power my electric truck. Some people use biodiesel to power onboard generators for their electric vehicles. To correct the issue please open Internet Explorer and go to Tools > Internet Options > Privacy and click on the Edit button near the bottom of the box, near “Web Sites”. read more

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