Friday Weirdness

Finally the weather is warming up a bit. Up to an awesome 29F just before noon. This turned out to be very fortuitous.
( The sad saga of this morning follows... )

Friday Weirdness

Finally the weather is warming up a bit. Up to an awesome 29F just before noon. This turned out to be very fortuitous.
( The sad saga of this morning follows... )

Deliberative Polls Support Wind Energy - Once Again

The concept of "deliberative polling" is on the rise.  The idea is that you get a bunch of citizens as a sample of the whole and then you get them up to speed on the ins and outs of an issue.  Then, after they are informed citizens, you ask them what they think about the issue in question.  This was done a couple of years ago by Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) as part of their evaluation of future energy options.  Even though most of the customers in their area are conservative folks by any measure, they said they wanted wind systems installed.  That resulted in NPPD going for a larger wind farm at Ainsworth, Nebraska than they'd initially considered.  It has been very successful.

Now we have another deliberative poll on energy issues in Vermont.  This time it turns out that after being informed on all the basics, Vermonters are opting for wind power.  "Surprise, surprise, surprise." - Gomer Pyle, USMC

State Poll: People Like Wind Power, Not Nuclear Waste - Boston Globe - 24 Jan 08

"MONTPELIER, Vt.—A new type of polling done for the Department of Public Service found most respondents "extremely concerned' about nuclear waste and so supportive of wind power they wouldn't mind a wind farm within sight of their homes.

Intensive regional workshops and a weekend of "deliberative polling" in which people were invited to get up to speed on energy issues and then express their feelings about them produced those results.

"People place a high value on efficiency, they support renewables as a source of energy and they're very interested in in-state generation of power," David O'Brien, commissioner of the DPS, said he saw as three of the survey effort's most important findings."

Deliberative Polls Support Wind Energy - Once Again

The concept of "deliberative polling" is on the rise.  The idea is that you get a bunch of citizens as a sample of the whole and then you get them up to speed on the ins and outs of an issue.  Then, after they are informed citizens, you ask them what they think about the issue in question.  This was done a couple of years ago by Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) as part of their evaluation of future energy options.  Even though most of the customers in their area are conservative folks by any measure, they said they wanted wind systems installed.  That resulted in NPPD going for a larger wind farm at Ainsworth, Nebraska than they'd initially considered.  It has been very successful.

Now we have another deliberative poll on energy issues in Vermont.  This time it turns out that after being informed on all the basics, Vermonters are opting for wind power.  "Surprise, surprise, surprise." - Gomer Pyle, USMC

State Poll: People Like Wind Power, Not Nuclear Waste - Boston Globe - 24 Jan 08

"MONTPELIER, Vt.—A new type of polling done for the Department of Public Service found most respondents "extremely concerned' about nuclear waste and so supportive of wind power they wouldn't mind a wind farm within sight of their homes.

Intensive regional workshops and a weekend of "deliberative polling" in which people were invited to get up to speed on energy issues and then express their feelings about them produced those results.

"People place a high value on efficiency, they support renewables as a source of energy and they're very interested in in-state generation of power," David O'Brien, commissioner of the DPS, said he saw as three of the survey effort's most important findings."

Billions and Billions

GE Energy Secures $1bn Wind Turbine Order - BusinessGreen.com - 25 Jan 08

"GE Energy, the energy arm of engineering conglomerate GE, has this week closed a $1bn wind turbine deal with wind farm operator Invenergy LLC in one of the largest deals in the wind sectors' history."

"GE Energy has achieved a 500 per cent increase in wind turbine production since 2004, with wind business revenues exceeding $4bn last year. El Daief predicted growth would continue, especially given the new EU renewables targets."

Billions and Billions

GE Energy Secures $1bn Wind Turbine Order - BusinessGreen.com - 25 Jan 08

"GE Energy, the energy arm of engineering conglomerate GE, has this week closed a $1bn wind turbine deal with wind farm operator Invenergy LLC in one of the largest deals in the wind sectors' history."

"GE Energy has achieved a 500 per cent increase in wind turbine production since 2004, with wind business revenues exceeding $4bn last year. El Daief predicted growth would continue, especially given the new EU renewables targets."