Green Tidbits

Just think of what we could do with an administration in the White House that was serious about pushing renewables instead of looking into the rear view mirror for energy directions.

Watch Green Happen in Kansas - Renewable Energy World - 03 Sep 08

"Discovery's new Planet Green channel is documenting the small Kansas town's effort to be the greenest town in America in a television series that is attracting national attention.

One of the first people the town turned to for help was Tim Schmidt, CEO of Xtreme Homes in Oroville, CA. Here's what he has in mind for Greensburg. To begin with, there will be a new factory to manufacture ultra green modular homes. Eventually the factory, which will break ground next March, will employ 225 people, creating an employment base for a town that had virtually none."

"Schmidt says that he can turn out the nation's greenest homes for 5% to 25% less than conventional stick built homes. His company, he says, is in constant R&D mode."

"The city of Greensburg's power will be provided by four 2.5-MW wind turbines under the control of a municipal utility the town has organized."

U.S. Wind Energy Installations Top 20 Gigawatts - Renewable Energy World - 04 Sep 08

"The U.S. wind industry has pushed past the 20,000-megawatt (MW) installed capacity milestone, achieving in two years what had previously taken more than two decades, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said Wednesday. Wind now provides 20,152 MW of electricity generating capacity in the U.S.

'Wind energy installations are well ahead of the curve for contributing 20% of the U.S. electric power supply by 2030 as envisioned by the U.S. Department of Energy,' said Randall Swisher, AWEA's executive director. 'However, the looming expiration of the federal renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) less than four months from now threatens this spectacular progress.'"

Surpassing Expectations: State of the US Wind Power Market - Renewable Energy World - 04 Sep 08

"As Figure 1 shows, the country added roughly 5300 MW of new wind power capacity in 2007 – more than twice the previous record set in 2006 – bringing the cumulative total to more than 16,900 MW. This growth translates into roughly US$9 billion (real 2007 dollars) invested in wind project installation in 2007. No other country, in any single year, has added the volume of wind capacity that was added to the US electrical grid in 2007."

Green Tidbits

Just think of what we could do with an administration in the White House that was serious about pushing renewables instead of looking into the rear view mirror for energy directions.

Watch Green Happen in Kansas - Renewable Energy World - 03 Sep 08

"Discovery's new Planet Green channel is documenting the small Kansas town's effort to be the greenest town in America in a television series that is attracting national attention.

One of the first people the town turned to for help was Tim Schmidt, CEO of Xtreme Homes in Oroville, CA. Here's what he has in mind for Greensburg. To begin with, there will be a new factory to manufacture ultra green modular homes. Eventually the factory, which will break ground next March, will employ 225 people, creating an employment base for a town that had virtually none."

"Schmidt says that he can turn out the nation's greenest homes for 5% to 25% less than conventional stick built homes. His company, he says, is in constant R&D mode."

"The city of Greensburg's power will be provided by four 2.5-MW wind turbines under the control of a municipal utility the town has organized."

U.S. Wind Energy Installations Top 20 Gigawatts - Renewable Energy World - 04 Sep 08

"The U.S. wind industry has pushed past the 20,000-megawatt (MW) installed capacity milestone, achieving in two years what had previously taken more than two decades, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said Wednesday. Wind now provides 20,152 MW of electricity generating capacity in the U.S.

'Wind energy installations are well ahead of the curve for contributing 20% of the U.S. electric power supply by 2030 as envisioned by the U.S. Department of Energy,' said Randall Swisher, AWEA's executive director. 'However, the looming expiration of the federal renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) less than four months from now threatens this spectacular progress.'"

Surpassing Expectations: State of the US Wind Power Market - Renewable Energy World - 04 Sep 08

"As Figure 1 shows, the country added roughly 5300 MW of new wind power capacity in 2007 – more than twice the previous record set in 2006 – bringing the cumulative total to more than 16,900 MW. This growth translates into roughly US$9 billion (real 2007 dollars) invested in wind project installation in 2007. No other country, in any single year, has added the volume of wind capacity that was added to the US electrical grid in 2007."

Colbert on Lieberman and McCain Flip Flops

( Nuff said . . . )

Colbert on Lieberman and McCain Flip Flops

( Nuff said . . . )

When Do We Get the 24/7 Video Loops From Palin's Church?

The Wall Street Journal had several interesting to outright disturbing articles on Palin the other day. The Monty Python's holy hand grenade of Antioch skit comes to mine here. Disturbingly so.

I don't expect to see a Rev. Wright feeding frenzy among the "liberal press" on this stuff. That would be so wrong.

Palin's Faith is Seen in Church Upbringing - WSJ - 04 Sep 08

"David Gushee, a Christian ethicist at Mercer University in Atlanta, says he is troubled that a public official might presume that government action could be God's intent. 'I would never think it is appropriate to describe the actions of the United States military or the strategies of our commanders as a plan from God,' Mr. Gushee says.

Mr. Gushee says Gov. Palin should explain her beliefs concerning the inevitability of a cataclysm and the end of time. 'To me, it is highly relevant to someone who potentially has her hand on the nuclear button," he says. 'If that is her worldview, I would want to know about that.'"

And so on to the main event . . .

"The Rev. Ed Kalnins, pastor of the Pentecostal church, Wasilla Assembly of God, says he has told church members that God put President George W. Bush in office and that America is locked in a 'holy war' with terrorists."

"At Mr. Kalnins's invitation, Gov. Palin appeared on stage in June before a youth group at Wassila Assembly of God, where she reminisced fondly about getting baptized there, before asking the young people to pray for a proposed natural-gas pipeline in Alaska and for American soldiers."

"The Bible, Mr. Kalnins said in an interview, foretells world events. 'I don't think it's God's will to have a war,' he says. But in Iraq, America is fighting an enemy that has made it a war over beliefs, he said. 'I really think it is a holy war. It's a war of gods. ... When someone fights in the name of God, that becomes a holy war.'

Mr. Kalnins is an enthusiastic supporter of 'Governor Sarah,' as he calls her, and of President George W. Bush, who, he believes, was put in office by the hand of the divine. 'I believe criticisms come from hell. God has placed this man in authority. ... You criticize the authority, you're literally bringing in hell with the criticism.'

When Do We Get the 24/7 Video Loops From Palin's Church?

The Wall Street Journal had several interesting to outright disturbing articles on Palin the other day. The Monty Python's holy hand grenade of Antioch skit comes to mine here. Disturbingly so.

I don't expect to see a Rev. Wright feeding frenzy among the "liberal press" on this stuff. That would be so wrong.

Palin's Faith is Seen in Church Upbringing - WSJ - 04 Sep 08

"David Gushee, a Christian ethicist at Mercer University in Atlanta, says he is troubled that a public official might presume that government action could be God's intent. 'I would never think it is appropriate to describe the actions of the United States military or the strategies of our commanders as a plan from God,' Mr. Gushee says.

Mr. Gushee says Gov. Palin should explain her beliefs concerning the inevitability of a cataclysm and the end of time. 'To me, it is highly relevant to someone who potentially has her hand on the nuclear button," he says. 'If that is her worldview, I would want to know about that.'"

And so on to the main event . . .

"The Rev. Ed Kalnins, pastor of the Pentecostal church, Wasilla Assembly of God, says he has told church members that God put President George W. Bush in office and that America is locked in a 'holy war' with terrorists."

"At Mr. Kalnins's invitation, Gov. Palin appeared on stage in June before a youth group at Wassila Assembly of God, where she reminisced fondly about getting baptized there, before asking the young people to pray for a proposed natural-gas pipeline in Alaska and for American soldiers."

"The Bible, Mr. Kalnins said in an interview, foretells world events. 'I don't think it's God's will to have a war,' he says. But in Iraq, America is fighting an enemy that has made it a war over beliefs, he said. 'I really think it is a holy war. It's a war of gods. ... When someone fights in the name of God, that becomes a holy war.'

Mr. Kalnins is an enthusiastic supporter of 'Governor Sarah,' as he calls her, and of President George W. Bush, who, he believes, was put in office by the hand of the divine. 'I believe criticisms come from hell. God has placed this man in authority. ... You criticize the authority, you're literally bringing in hell with the criticism.'