Genealogy of Influence - Philosophers

This is a fun one for those into such things.  Clicking on the names expands the networks.

Genealogy of Influence - Philosophers

Genealogy of Influence - Philosophers

This is a fun one for those into such things.  Clicking on the names expands the networks.

Genealogy of Influence - Philosophers

Duke Energy Grim on New Nukes

Coal is Vital for N.C., Chief Says - News & Observer

"...[Duke Energy chief executive Jim] Rogers said...the renaissance in nuclear power will likely stall amid public opposition and unrealistically low cost estimates.  Duke and Raleigh-based Progress Energy are among a dozen utilities seeking to license new nuclear reactors. But new nuclear plants are looking uncertain, Rogers said..."

"Duke officials acknowledged that the company spends virtually nothing on programs that cut energy use."

Duke Energy Head Grim on Nuclear, Urges Swift Cliffside [Coal Plants] OK - Fayetteville Observer

"Rogers said...opposition to any proposed nuclear plant makes it unlikely those facilities will be built on schedule _ if ever _ and increases the need for the Cliffside generators, which would be the first base-load plants constructed in the state since the 1970s."

"Rogers replied that even renewable power resources, such as wind farms or biofuel-burning plants, would be opposed by neighbors who would end up seeing, smelling or hearing them.  'Nobody wants any (power) plant built at any time, anywhere,' Rogers replied. 'It's just the fact.'"

Maybe serious attention, for a change, should be paid to conservation for negawatts rather than production for megawatts  if that's "just the fact".

"Negawatts" The Cleanest Energy Resource - Oak Ridge National Labs - 2004
The Negawatt Revolution -- Solving the CO-2 Problem - Green Energy Conference - Montreal 1989

The last link includes the graphs that Lovin's used for his seminal 1976 Foreign Affairs article "Energy Strategy: The Road Not Taken?" that challenged the dominant energy growth ueber alles mentality that keeps cropping up for some odd reason. The second chart includes a dot the shows where things actually turned out. An updated chart I saw presented by Lovins more recently has us still on the soft path curve he plotted all those years ago although the energy mix is not quite what he'd hoped for obviously.

The Hard Path Chart Graphic
The Soft Path Chart Graphic

Duke Energy Grim on New Nukes

Coal is Vital for N.C., Chief Says - News & Observer

"...[Duke Energy chief executive Jim] Rogers said...the renaissance in nuclear power will likely stall amid public opposition and unrealistically low cost estimates.  Duke and Raleigh-based Progress Energy are among a dozen utilities seeking to license new nuclear reactors. But new nuclear plants are looking uncertain, Rogers said..."

"Duke officials acknowledged that the company spends virtually nothing on programs that cut energy use."

Duke Energy Head Grim on Nuclear, Urges Swift Cliffside [Coal Plants] OK - Fayetteville Observer

"Rogers said...opposition to any proposed nuclear plant makes it unlikely those facilities will be built on schedule _ if ever _ and increases the need for the Cliffside generators, which would be the first base-load plants constructed in the state since the 1970s."

"Rogers replied that even renewable power resources, such as wind farms or biofuel-burning plants, would be opposed by neighbors who would end up seeing, smelling or hearing them.  'Nobody wants any (power) plant built at any time, anywhere,' Rogers replied. 'It's just the fact.'"

Maybe serious attention, for a change, should be paid to conservation for negawatts rather than production for megawatts  if that's "just the fact".

"Negawatts" The Cleanest Energy Resource - Oak Ridge National Labs - 2004
The Negawatt Revolution -- Solving the CO-2 Problem - Green Energy Conference - Montreal 1989

The last link includes the graphs that Lovin's used for his seminal 1976 Foreign Affairs article "Energy Strategy: The Road Not Taken?" that challenged the dominant energy growth ueber alles mentality that keeps cropping up for some odd reason. The second chart includes a dot the shows where things actually turned out. An updated chart I saw presented by Lovins more recently has us still on the soft path curve he plotted all those years ago although the energy mix is not quite what he'd hoped for obviously.

The Hard Path Chart Graphic
The Soft Path Chart Graphic

Zapping the Zebras, Chevy's Voltswagon

GM recently announced a new concept car called the Chevrolet Volt that indicates that they're still up to something in the EV world even if it's just greenwashing.  Being an old Chevy guy, I'm always encouraged when even small steps are taken in the right direction by that organization.  Maybe with a couple more shoves by Honda and Toyota, some variant of technological and social sanity will arise.

Electric Car: Chevrolet Volt: Chevrolet - Chevrolet.com
Detroit Auto Show: Chevrolet Volt Concept - Autoblog
Chevy's Volt Hybrid Holds Promise -- at a Price - ABC News

"If you wanted to buy this flashy concept version of the Volt today,
it would set you back several hundred thousand dollars. So the success
or failure of the Volt hinges on GM's ability to mass produce the
battery and bring its cost down — way down."

Chevy Volt Redefines EV - WIRED Blogs: Autopia

"It was odd hearing GM people saying 100 years of running vehicles on
petroleum is too long, we need change now.' Have pod people taken over
GM?"

Also there's the Chinese entry into the affordable EV market with the
$10,000 Xebras.

ZAP Xebra 100% Electric EV Sedan Car Alternative Vehicle - Zapworld.com
Xebra Electric Car has Three Wheels, No Tank - HeraldTribune.com [South Florida]
Electric Car Dealerships Appearing in Austin - American-Statesman

"Two electric car dealerships have opened in Austin in the past five months..."

"...the City of Austin has budgeted about $1 million for a campaign to
convince auto manufacturers that a market exists in the United States
for electric cars and to urge their mass production, said Ed Clark, a
spokesman for Austin Energy."

Austin Energy is right up there with SMUD for being ahead of the curve as a socially conscious utility from what little I've noticed to date. 

Zapping the Zebras, Chevy's Voltswagon

GM recently announced a new concept car called the Chevrolet Volt that indicates that they're still up to something in the EV world even if it's just greenwashing.  Being an old Chevy guy, I'm always encouraged when even small steps are taken in the right direction by that organization.  Maybe with a couple more shoves by Honda and Toyota, some variant of technological and social sanity will arise.

Electric Car: Chevrolet Volt: Chevrolet - Chevrolet.com
Detroit Auto Show: Chevrolet Volt Concept - Autoblog
Chevy's Volt Hybrid Holds Promise -- at a Price - ABC News

"If you wanted to buy this flashy concept version of the Volt today,
it would set you back several hundred thousand dollars. So the success
or failure of the Volt hinges on GM's ability to mass produce the
battery and bring its cost down — way down."

Chevy Volt Redefines EV - WIRED Blogs: Autopia

"It was odd hearing GM people saying 100 years of running vehicles on
petroleum is too long, we need change now.' Have pod people taken over
GM?"

Also there's the Chinese entry into the affordable EV market with the
$10,000 Xebras.

ZAP Xebra 100% Electric EV Sedan Car Alternative Vehicle - Zapworld.com
Xebra Electric Car has Three Wheels, No Tank - HeraldTribune.com [South Florida]
Electric Car Dealerships Appearing in Austin - American-Statesman

"Two electric car dealerships have opened in Austin in the past five months..."

"...the City of Austin has budgeted about $1 million for a campaign to
convince auto manufacturers that a market exists in the United States
for electric cars and to urge their mass production, said Ed Clark, a
spokesman for Austin Energy."

Austin Energy is right up there with SMUD for being ahead of the curve as a socially conscious utility from what little I've noticed to date.