Filed under: cost of solar, current events, energy policy, geothermal power, renewable energy, solar power, sustainable energy, wind power | Tags: geothermal energy, solar energy, utah renewable energy, wind energy
From our home state of Utah comes this characteristically defeatist piece of news with some nuggets of fact concerning the current renewable energy policy around these parts.
Something about a task force investigating, updating, and reporting to the government on our resources, potential, and installation and transmission costs to meet the state’s goal of generating 20% of its own power from renewable sources by 2025. IF it’s cost-effective. Plenty of wiggle room there.
The story from the Salt Lake Tribune reports the following numbers for the present renewable energy situation in Utah:
Wind:
- Utah currently has about 19 megawatts of wind power in Spanish Fork Canyon.
- PacifiCorp reports having four projects with 857 megawatts “in progress.”
- The big barriers to developing wind power are initial costs and access to transmission lines.
Solar
- Utah has considerable solar power potential, especially in the western and southwestern parts of the state.
- Southern Utah has about 300 sunny days per year.
- There is no commercial development of solar power in Utah.
- Again, cost of development and access to transmission lines are the biggest obstacles.
Geothermal
- There are limited resource areas in Utah.
- PacifiCorp reports 82.5 megawatts “in progress.”
- Geothermal is a baseload source of power, meaning it produces a steady supply of electricity.
- There are high upfront costs for drilling, transmission is an issue and projects take longer to develop.
Filed under: current events, energy policy, photovoltaic, renewable energy, solar power, sustainable energy, wind power | Tags: alaska, california, drilling, electrical grid, energy, galvin electricity initiative, gore, news, oil, photovoltaic, pickens, renewable energy, smart grid, solar, wind, yeager
Gore’s, Pickens’ Energy Challenges Need Smart Infrastructure @ MarketWatch
The Galvin Electricity Initiative’s executive director, Kurt Yeager, describes the need for building an updated electrical power system as the first step to making a switch to renewable energy become a reality. Our current grid system is based on 1950s technology which makes it an additional barrier to utilizing green sources of energy.
CPUC Approves New SoCal Edison Wind, Solar PV Contracts @ SCE.com
Two 20-year contracts for renewable energy sources have been approved in CA (a wind farm and solar photovoltaic facility.)
Alaska: Energy fix meets political pandering @ CNNMoney.com
The possibility of drilling in Alaska is discussed here, with arguments presented from both sides of the situation.
Filed under: current events, energy efficient, renewable energy, solar power, sustainable energy, wind power | Tags: club, dance, energy efficiency, europe, piezoelectricity, sustainability
A couple weeks ago, club Surya opened up in King’s Cross, London. This is a Club4Climate project which has a dance floor powered by piezoelectricity. This means it utilizes crystals which, in response to pressure created by the weight of dancers as well as their movements, supplies powers to various parts of the club! The floor handles 60% of the energy needed. The remaining needs are supplied by wind and solar power. (Private homes in the area benefit from any extra power generated.)
The first club intended to make use of such a dance floor was Sustainable Dance Club’s Club Watt in Rotterdam (in the Netherlands.)
In 2010, Club4Climate also intends to create an eco-friendly holiday island which will operate in a sustainable manner as well.
