McCain Was Being An Jerk When . . .

1. He referred to Obama as "that one". (WTF, dude?)
2. He brought up hair plugs in the insurance part. (Biden has had hair replacement.)

I guess this was all part of his get tough with Obama strategy. Cripes.

Mostly it was a snooze-fest, imo. Advantage Obama who keeps his lead.

McCain Was Being An Jerk When . . .

1. He referred to Obama as "that one". (WTF, dude?)
2. He brought up hair plugs in the insurance part. (Biden has had hair replacement.)

I guess this was all part of his get tough with Obama strategy. Cripes.

Mostly it was a snooze-fest, imo. Advantage Obama who keeps his lead.

Wisconsin Does Biogas

Latest Renewable Energy World e-mail noted that Wisconsin has quite the active renewable energy program. Much of this can be noted on the web site called Focus on Energy. The latest tidbit from that site is a new case study work on biogas.

Biogas is gas that comes from keeping manure or other organic materials of similar composition in an air-free state and at a proper temperature. Bacteria that like that kind of living then convert part of that material into a methane rich gas that can be cleaned up and burned like natural gas. Like natural gas, it can be burned to generate electricity at peak demand periods which brings and extra value to it. If you can do that in a co-generation (aka combined heat and power or CHP) plant, then you're kind of triple dipping in the use by using the "waste" heat of combustion for electrical generation for space or water heating.

Agricultural Biogas Casebook 2008 [pdf] - Focus on Energy

Wisconsin Does Biogas

Latest Renewable Energy World e-mail noted that Wisconsin has quite the active renewable energy program. Much of this can be noted on the web site called Focus on Energy. The latest tidbit from that site is a new case study work on biogas.

Biogas is gas that comes from keeping manure or other organic materials of similar composition in an air-free state and at a proper temperature. Bacteria that like that kind of living then convert part of that material into a methane rich gas that can be cleaned up and burned like natural gas. Like natural gas, it can be burned to generate electricity at peak demand periods which brings and extra value to it. If you can do that in a co-generation (aka combined heat and power or CHP) plant, then you're kind of triple dipping in the use by using the "waste" heat of combustion for electrical generation for space or water heating.

Agricultural Biogas Casebook 2008 [pdf] - Focus on Energy

Power Greenhouses

A nice article on solar updraft tower systems. Why we aren't building more is an intriguing question. Nifty illustrations!

Solar Updraft Towers: Variations and Research - Renewable Energy World - 07 Oct 08

" The idea of using solar radiation to generate air convection that can subsequently be converted to an energy source has been around since the start of the 20th century, when a Spanish Colonel called Isidoro Cabanyes proposed it in a scientific magazine.

Solar Updraft towers, also called solar wind or solar chimney plants, provide a very simple method for renewable electricity generation, with a constant and reliable output. Other renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and solar arrays suffer from high diurnal and seasonal fluctuations, or unpredictable patterns of output.

Due to the large initial investment required, unfamiliarity with the system and the solar updraft tower's relatively low capture efficiency, only one prototype was ever built, in the 1980's in Spain. This prototype however, performed above and beyond expectations, and continued to operate for almost 7 years after its designed life span of 3."

"Estimates for the cost of electricity produced range from €0.05 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) up to €0.25 [US $0.07 to 0.34 per kWh], depending on the cost of land and the financing scenario. By comparison, a normal gas operated power plant can produce electricity for as little as €0.05/kWh."

Power Greenhouses

A nice article on solar updraft tower systems. Why we aren't building more is an intriguing question. Nifty illustrations!

Solar Updraft Towers: Variations and Research - Renewable Energy World - 07 Oct 08

" The idea of using solar radiation to generate air convection that can subsequently be converted to an energy source has been around since the start of the 20th century, when a Spanish Colonel called Isidoro Cabanyes proposed it in a scientific magazine.

Solar Updraft towers, also called solar wind or solar chimney plants, provide a very simple method for renewable electricity generation, with a constant and reliable output. Other renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and solar arrays suffer from high diurnal and seasonal fluctuations, or unpredictable patterns of output.

Due to the large initial investment required, unfamiliarity with the system and the solar updraft tower's relatively low capture efficiency, only one prototype was ever built, in the 1980's in Spain. This prototype however, performed above and beyond expectations, and continued to operate for almost 7 years after its designed life span of 3."

"Estimates for the cost of electricity produced range from €0.05 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) up to €0.25 [US $0.07 to 0.34 per kWh], depending on the cost of land and the financing scenario. By comparison, a normal gas operated power plant can produce electricity for as little as €0.05/kWh."

Public Citizen on New Nukes

A nice page listing many of the goodies that the "safe and cheap" nuclear industry has received and is currently getting. Quite a few were loaded into that 2005 energy bill.

Nuclear's Fatal Flaws: Cost - Public Citizen

Federal Energy Supply R&D Expenditures, 1948-1998

Energy R&D Program	Total Federal Expenditure (2003 dollars)	Percent
Nuclear Energy	$74 billion	56%
Fossil Fuels	$30.9 billion	24%
Renewables	$14.6 billion	11%
Energy Efficiency	$11.7 billion	9%

Public Citizen on New Nukes

A nice page listing many of the goodies that the "safe and cheap" nuclear industry has received and is currently getting. Quite a few were loaded into that 2005 energy bill.

Nuclear's Fatal Flaws: Cost - Public Citizen

Federal Energy Supply R&D Expenditures, 1948-1998

Energy R&D Program	Total Federal Expenditure (2003 dollars)	Percent
Nuclear Energy	$74 billion	56%
Fossil Fuels	$30.9 billion	24%
Renewables	$14.6 billion	11%
Energy Efficiency	$11.7 billion	9%

Guaranteed Long-Term Pricing From Renewables

Folks often forget that, for example, wind farm contracts usually run for 20 years or so. Try to get a 20 year guarantee on pricing from more traditional sources of energy.

Renewable Energy Price-Stability Benefits in Utility Green Power Programs - NREL

"...for the small number of green pricing programs that offer it, an increasingly important value is a fixed-price, rate stability benefit reflecting the fixed costs of the renewable energy sources used to supply the program. Programs offering this benefit protect or exempt their participants from the portion of rate increases that stem from fuel costs. In so doing, these stable-price programs provide a hedge, a kind of insurance policy, against fossil fuel price increases.

In a period of dramatic increases and price volatility, particularly in the cost of natural gas, the draw of such a benefit is apparent. This report examines utility experiences when offering the fixed-price benefits of renewable energy in green pricing programs, including the methods utilized and the impact on program participation. It focuses primarily on utility green pricing programs in states that have not undergone electric industry restructuring."

Guaranteed Long-Term Pricing From Renewables

Folks often forget that, for example, wind farm contracts usually run for 20 years or so. Try to get a 20 year guarantee on pricing from more traditional sources of energy.

Renewable Energy Price-Stability Benefits in Utility Green Power Programs - NREL

"...for the small number of green pricing programs that offer it, an increasingly important value is a fixed-price, rate stability benefit reflecting the fixed costs of the renewable energy sources used to supply the program. Programs offering this benefit protect or exempt their participants from the portion of rate increases that stem from fuel costs. In so doing, these stable-price programs provide a hedge, a kind of insurance policy, against fossil fuel price increases.

In a period of dramatic increases and price volatility, particularly in the cost of natural gas, the draw of such a benefit is apparent. This report examines utility experiences when offering the fixed-price benefits of renewable energy in green pricing programs, including the methods utilized and the impact on program participation. It focuses primarily on utility green pricing programs in states that have not undergone electric industry restructuring."

Pot Calling Kettle Black?

Ei carumba!

The Palins' Un-American Activities - Salon - 07 Oct 08

"'My government is my worst enemy. I'm going to fight them with any means at hand.'

This was former revolutionary terrorist Bill Ayers back in his old Weather Underground days, right? Imagine what Sarah Palin is going to do with this incendiary quote as she tears into Barack Obama this week.

Only one problem. The quote is from Joe Vogler, the raging anti-American who founded the Alaska Independence Party.

Inconveniently for Palin, that's the very same secessionist party that her husband, Todd, belonged to for seven years and that she sent a shout-out to as Alaska governor earlier this year. ('Keep up the good work,' Palin told AIP members. 'And God bless you.')"

Pot Calling Kettle Black?

Ei carumba!

The Palins' Un-American Activities - Salon - 07 Oct 08

"'My government is my worst enemy. I'm going to fight them with any means at hand.'

This was former revolutionary terrorist Bill Ayers back in his old Weather Underground days, right? Imagine what Sarah Palin is going to do with this incendiary quote as she tears into Barack Obama this week.

Only one problem. The quote is from Joe Vogler, the raging anti-American who founded the Alaska Independence Party.

Inconveniently for Palin, that's the very same secessionist party that her husband, Todd, belonged to for seven years and that she sent a shout-out to as Alaska governor earlier this year. ('Keep up the good work,' Palin told AIP members. 'And God bless you.')"

Nuclear Power: The New Castor Oil

This just in from the WSJ as a follow up on the nuke talk during last night's debate. So much for the Areva Funkytown commercials. (The similar and longer "Royksopp - Remind Me" music video is way cooler, btw.)

Nuclear Option: Atomic Power Generates Energy, But Not Many Votes - WSJ - 08 Oct 08

"Harris Interactive, the polling agency, just did a survey of public attitudes toward nuclear power, to compare it with public sentiment during the 1970s. The upshot? Fewer people support building more nuclear plants today than did just a couple of months after the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, even if hardcore opposition to nuclear power has abated.

The biggest obstacle is the same now as then: 94% of people think storage of radioactive waste is a problem; 95% of respondents said that was a problem in 1979."

Nuclear Power: The New Castor Oil

This just in from the WSJ as a follow up on the nuke talk during last night's debate. So much for the Areva Funkytown commercials. (The similar and longer "Royksopp - Remind Me" music video is way cooler, btw.)

Nuclear Option: Atomic Power Generates Energy, But Not Many Votes - WSJ - 08 Oct 08

"Harris Interactive, the polling agency, just did a survey of public attitudes toward nuclear power, to compare it with public sentiment during the 1970s. The upshot? Fewer people support building more nuclear plants today than did just a couple of months after the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, even if hardcore opposition to nuclear power has abated.

The biggest obstacle is the same now as then: 94% of people think storage of radioactive waste is a problem; 95% of respondents said that was a problem in 1979."

5 Friends

5 Friends [youtube video]

5 Friends

5 Friends [youtube video]

Is Sara Palin Qualified to Be Vice Prexy?

PBS NOW Poll. I took a wild guess and said, no. I wonder if I could vote again if I cleaned out the cookie it probably set or if I used a different browser OR if it goes by IP address. Well, that would be wrong, so . . .

Update - I found a page that talks about their Internet polling security which says it's a cookies based control. So I tried running Explorer instead of my usual Firefox and found that I couldn't vote again which makes me think it's more than just a cookie at work. Likewise for Safari.

Is Sara Palin Qualified to Be Vice Prexy?

PBS NOW Poll. I took a wild guess and said, no. I wonder if I could vote again if I cleaned out the cookie it probably set or if I used a different browser OR if it goes by IP address. Well, that would be wrong, so . . .

Update - I found a page that talks about their Internet polling security which says it's a cookies based control. So I tried running Explorer instead of my usual Firefox and found that I couldn't vote again which makes me think it's more than just a cookie at work. Likewise for Safari.

More Pallin' Around With Radicals

Another interesting YouTube video for the political junkies out there. Tidbits on Sarah Palin and the secessionist Alaska Independent Party (AIP) connection. Thanks to markmc03, again.

More Pallin' Around With Radicals

Another interesting YouTube video for the political junkies out there. Tidbits on Sarah Palin and the secessionist Alaska Independent Party (AIP) connection. Thanks to markmc03, again.