Not Just for Ponies Anymore, Wind-Hydrogen Powered Shetland

Looks like quite the energy innovation in the boonies. Right on.

Shetland's Hydrogen Technology Pioneers - Telegraph (UK) - 21 Jun 08

"Windswept, remote and isolated, Shetland is a culture shock for anyone used to urban living. Throughout the main island - the size of greater London but with a population of just 17,000 - the settlements are scattered, most containing only a few houses. The main town and capital, Lerwick, where the boats from Norway and Aberdeen dock, can be sauntered around in minutes, and the liveliest entertainment is a night of fiddle-playing in a back-street pub. Yet no one sits around twiddling their thumbs. In these islands of romanticised rural life, there is a culture of self-reliance and initiative."

"Self-reliance and initiative is no better represented than in Ross Gazey, a 29-year-old resident of the Isle of Unst, the most northerly community in Britain, home to 500 inhabitants. Above Unst there is nothing but sea until the Arctic Circle. Yet this small community has recently created the first and only operational community-owned renewable hydrogen energy system in the world, which Gazey conceived and designed with a small group of local engineers.

In short, they are pioneers in groundbreaking hydrogen technology, the fuel that many energy experts predict will dominate the post-oil world. It is difficult to overestimate how important this work is for the future of energy production. As the International Energy Agency put it, 'The successful integration of wind and hydrogen technology into a working system is something that many large energy businesses are still struggling to make a reality, yet the community of Unst have already done it.'"

Not Just for Ponies Anymore, Wind-Hydrogen Powered Shetland

Looks like quite the energy innovation in the boonies. Right on.

Shetland's Hydrogen Technology Pioneers - Telegraph (UK) - 21 Jun 08

"Windswept, remote and isolated, Shetland is a culture shock for anyone used to urban living. Throughout the main island - the size of greater London but with a population of just 17,000 - the settlements are scattered, most containing only a few houses. The main town and capital, Lerwick, where the boats from Norway and Aberdeen dock, can be sauntered around in minutes, and the liveliest entertainment is a night of fiddle-playing in a back-street pub. Yet no one sits around twiddling their thumbs. In these islands of romanticised rural life, there is a culture of self-reliance and initiative."

"Self-reliance and initiative is no better represented than in Ross Gazey, a 29-year-old resident of the Isle of Unst, the most northerly community in Britain, home to 500 inhabitants. Above Unst there is nothing but sea until the Arctic Circle. Yet this small community has recently created the first and only operational community-owned renewable hydrogen energy system in the world, which Gazey conceived and designed with a small group of local engineers.

In short, they are pioneers in groundbreaking hydrogen technology, the fuel that many energy experts predict will dominate the post-oil world. It is difficult to overestimate how important this work is for the future of energy production. As the International Energy Agency put it, 'The successful integration of wind and hydrogen technology into a working system is something that many large energy businesses are still struggling to make a reality, yet the community of Unst have already done it.'"

Freeman Again

Tell us what you really think, Dave.

Former Carter Appointee Warns Against Nuclear Power, Coal, Foreign Oil - Political Affairs Magazine - 21 Jun 08

"Several dozen people arrived at The Carter Center Wednesday night, June 11, 2008, to listen to award-winning energy expert and environmentalist S. David Freeman, whose new book sheds light on America’s deadly addiction to 'three poisons': foreign oil, coal, and nuclear power." "He served on the Federal Power Commission under President John F. Kennedy and helped develop energy policies for Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. Freeman even served as the chairman of the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority under President Jimmy Carter, a fellow crusader for energy independence."

"'I think liberty is at stake,' Freeman warned. 'I don’t know whether the American people can handle a depression. The 'me now, I’m owed everything' attitude is so strong that I fear what might happen if things got to where they were in the 1930s and 40s.'"

"'I am personally disgusted with the environmental organizations at the Washington level who are sitting around participating as though they were legislators and trying to get some cockamamie cap-and-trade system passed and are not telling the Congress the truth that these poisons need to be outlawed,' he added. Congress could act by offering a $1 billion tax incentive to the first auto manufacturer that produces 100,000 plug-in hybrids and mandate auto manufacturers produce an increasing amount of electric cars each year, Freeman said. 'We need to do something other than just sit and shell out all our money and just gently crawl over the edge of the cliff,' he said."

Freeman Again

Tell us what you really think, Dave.

Former Carter Appointee Warns Against Nuclear Power, Coal, Foreign Oil - Political Affairs Magazine - 21 Jun 08

"Several dozen people arrived at The Carter Center Wednesday night, June 11, 2008, to listen to award-winning energy expert and environmentalist S. David Freeman, whose new book sheds light on America’s deadly addiction to 'three poisons': foreign oil, coal, and nuclear power." "He served on the Federal Power Commission under President John F. Kennedy and helped develop energy policies for Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. Freeman even served as the chairman of the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority under President Jimmy Carter, a fellow crusader for energy independence."

"'I think liberty is at stake,' Freeman warned. 'I don’t know whether the American people can handle a depression. The 'me now, I’m owed everything' attitude is so strong that I fear what might happen if things got to where they were in the 1930s and 40s.'"

"'I am personally disgusted with the environmental organizations at the Washington level who are sitting around participating as though they were legislators and trying to get some cockamamie cap-and-trade system passed and are not telling the Congress the truth that these poisons need to be outlawed,' he added. Congress could act by offering a $1 billion tax incentive to the first auto manufacturer that produces 100,000 plug-in hybrids and mandate auto manufacturers produce an increasing amount of electric cars each year, Freeman said. 'We need to do something other than just sit and shell out all our money and just gently crawl over the edge of the cliff,' he said."

Your Daily Nutcase Moment

Mind boggling, if true. I suspect that the CBN, Focus on the Family, et al. will be promoting this as the latest bit of Christian "persecution". Yes, the red hot iron chairs and lion-packed sports centers are just around the corner.

Teacher Accused of Branding Kid With Cross - ABC News - 20 Jun 08

"The school board of a small central Ohio community voted Friday to fire a teacher accused of preaching his Christian beliefs despite staff complaints and burning the image of a cross on students' arms, according to the Associated Press. Mount Vernon Middle School veteran science teacher John Freshwater has denies any wrongdoing, his attorney told the Mount Vernon News.

Freshwater also displayed the Ten Commandments in his classroom and taught creationism, according to an independent investigation launched after the parents of the student who was allegedly branded filed a lawsuit. The suit alleges that he regularly discussed Christianity in his science class, even 'teaching the meaning of Easter and Good Friday,' and kept at least one and sometimes several Bibles in the room."

Your Daily Nutcase Moment

Mind boggling, if true. I suspect that the CBN, Focus on the Family, et al. will be promoting this as the latest bit of Christian "persecution". Yes, the red hot iron chairs and lion-packed sports centers are just around the corner.

Teacher Accused of Branding Kid With Cross - ABC News - 20 Jun 08

"The school board of a small central Ohio community voted Friday to fire a teacher accused of preaching his Christian beliefs despite staff complaints and burning the image of a cross on students' arms, according to the Associated Press. Mount Vernon Middle School veteran science teacher John Freshwater has denies any wrongdoing, his attorney told the Mount Vernon News.

Freshwater also displayed the Ten Commandments in his classroom and taught creationism, according to an independent investigation launched after the parents of the student who was allegedly branded filed a lawsuit. The suit alleges that he regularly discussed Christianity in his science class, even 'teaching the meaning of Easter and Good Friday,' and kept at least one and sometimes several Bibles in the room."

Latest from the Evil Empire(s)

How do we hate Microsoft? Let us once again count the ways. Dell can kiss it too.

Dell's XP 'Downgrade' Plan -- An Extra 50 Bucks, Please - CNET - 19 Jun 08

"Even though Dell can't sell you a computer with just an OEM copy of XP anymore, they'll be more than happy to sell you a Vista PC, but install a copy of XP on it instead. Then they toss the copy of Vista you've already paid for into the box, so you can install it when you're ready to take the big plunge. This'll add between $50 and $100 to your purchase price, depending on which version of noninstalled Vista you get.

Dell says it's so you can 'transition when you're ready,' . . ."

Latest from the Evil Empire(s)

How do we hate Microsoft? Let us once again count the ways. Dell can kiss it too.

Dell's XP 'Downgrade' Plan -- An Extra 50 Bucks, Please - CNET - 19 Jun 08

"Even though Dell can't sell you a computer with just an OEM copy of XP anymore, they'll be more than happy to sell you a Vista PC, but install a copy of XP on it instead. Then they toss the copy of Vista you've already paid for into the box, so you can install it when you're ready to take the big plunge. This'll add between $50 and $100 to your purchase price, depending on which version of noninstalled Vista you get.

Dell says it's so you can 'transition when you're ready,' . . ."