Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The Spirit of Great Britain - Avro Vulcan



This is the result of competence and confidence from years gone by.  This is the spirit we must regain in order to build the technology that will provide us with an advanced Hydrogen energy infrastructure. Hudson’s Bay will become the greatest source of energy the world has ever seen.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

£500 on electricity bills to pay for green energy

Electricity bills will have to rise by up to £500 a year to pay for a new generation of environmentally friendly power stations, it emerged.

N.W.T. hydro proposal goes back to review board

The Taltson hydroelectric expansion proposal has faced opposition from Dene in Lutselk'e, N.W.T., who do not want power lines to cross the Lockhart River, which they consider to be a sacred area. (CBC)

A proposed major hydroelectric expansion project in the Northwest Territories is going back to a review board, after federal Indian and Northern Affairs Minister John Duncan rejected the board's recommendations.

Duncan said he is not prepared to approve Dezé Energy Corp.'s $700-million Taltson expansion project based on the assessment submitted by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, which completed its environmental assessment of the proposed work in August.
In a letter to the board, dated Dec. 10, Duncan said the scope of the board's review on the project is not complete, particularly on the issue of power lines from the Northwest Territories Power Corp.'s Taltson River dam to the territory's three diamond mines north of Yellowknife.
Duncan said the review board made its recommendations without knowing what route the power transmission lines will follow, raising major questions about the expansion project's overall environmental impact.
"The report fails to fully assess the potential impacts of a transmission line as a necessary part of the development, and therefore, the assessment of the development is incomplete," he wrote in the letter, which was obtained by CBC News on Tuesday.
Line route a contentious issue
The proposal to expand the 44-year-old Taltson dam, located about 56 kilometres northeast of the Alberta-N.W.T. border, is being spearheaded by Dezé Energy, which is a joint venture between the Northwest Territories Energy Corp., the Akaitcho First Nation and the N.W.T. Métis Nation.
The joint venture wants to supply the diamond mines with hydroelectricity from the dam, so the mines could cut down on their diesel use.
Dezé Energy initially wanted to run a 700-kilometre transmission line from the dam directly to the diamond mines, crossing the Lockhart River by the eastern arm of Great Slave Lake.
But that proposal has been strongly opposed by the Lutselk'e Dene First Nation, who say the transmission lines would run through an area considered to be sacred to them.
Dezé Energy has said alternative routes that have since come up would cost much more to execute than the Lockhart River proposal. Read more here.

Friday, December 10, 2010

The Most Dangerous Thing About the Ocean Is Sharks

The claim that sea level is rising dangerously, so that coastal cities will flood and islands will be submerged, has become a staple of global warming alarmism. Today’s Associated Press story on the Marshall Islands is a classic: “If an island state vanishes, is it still a nation?”

Read more here.

Climate models used by IPCC fail to predict past climate patterns

By Robert Zimmerman:
A recent paper published in Hydrological Sciences Journal states that climate models used by IPCC cannot even predict known past climate patterns. Key quote:

It is claimed that GCMs [General Climate Models] provide credible quantitative estimates of future climate change, particularly at continental scales and above. Examining the local performance of the models at 55 points, we found that local projections do not correlate well with observed measurements. Furthermore, we found that the correlation at a large spatial scale, i.e. the contiguous USA, is worse than at the local scale. However, we think that the most important question is not whether GCMs can produce credible estimates of future climate, but whether climate is at all predictable in deterministic terms.
Read more here.

QUESTION: Didn’t the New York Times refuse to print the Climategate emails because they said that was “wrong”

From HillBuzzs
Here’s Joe Leiberman calling for a Congressional investigation of the New York Times for publishing sensitive diplomatic cables leaked by Julian Assange and WikiLeaks…including material that identifies key targets for terrorists at US installations around the world.

I remember the New York Times making up a lame excuse for why it was not properly covering Climategate…where the Times said it was because it was “wrong” to publish “private emails” going back and forth between scientists who were concocting false results to support whatever doomsday scenario Al Gore’s Cult of Anthropogenic Global Warming came up with that day.
Do you remember this?
How can the New York Times be allowed to have it both ways?
Do they have any credibility left at all? Read more here.

ClimateGate One Year Later. Elite Media Still Lying



See more here.

Andrew Kenny: A Year After Climategate, The Corruption Of Science Persists

It is a year since the so-called Climategate e-mails were leaked. Since then, we have had freezing winters in Europe and the US, and revelations of gross misrepresentations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The lasting impression is of massive corruption of science.

Leaked from the Climate Research Unit in England, the e-mails showed the scientists behind the climate scare plotting to: hide, delete and manipulate data; to denigrate scientists presenting different views; to force journals to publish only papers promoting climate alarm; to subvert "peer review" into "pal review"; and make the reports of the IPCC nothing but alarmist propaganda. The corruption spread through governments, universities, scientific societies and journals. You have to look back to the Lysenko episode in the Soviet Union in the 1940s (when a crank persuaded the Soviet establishment that agriculture did not follow Darwinian evolution) to find such perversion of science.
The worst nonsense after the scandal was this: "Well, some climate scientists committed a few minor transgressions but the basic science is sound." In fact, the basic science is nonexistent.
Read more here.

Cancun Climate Summit Ridiculed in World Press

While United Nations global-warming dignitaries were invoking ancient Maya goddesses for help in hammering out a wealth-redistribution “climate” treaty, prominent columnists and publications around the world were heaping scorn and ridicule on the whole COP16 extravaganza currently underway in Cancun — even heralding the end of the whole “scam.”

From the United States and Canada to the United Kingdom, the amount of negative press for the climate hysterics — and their whole expensive confab in Mexico — is growing daily. And as UN leaders and climate negotiators ramp up the fear mongering and propose ever-more ridiculous scams and taxes, the barrage of ridicule will likely continue.
“Scams die hard, but eventually they die, and when they do, nobody wants to get close to the corpse,” noted Washington Times editor emeritus Wesley Pruden in an opinion piece released last week. “The global-warming caravan has moved on, bound for a destination in oblivion.” Read more here.

Creation of hydrogen research center urged

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sought Friday congressional approval of his proposal that would establish a Hydrogen Research and Development Center to pave the way for the use of hydrogen as an alternative energy source.

First zero-emission bus just the ticket to help air quality

From: London Evening Standard,
by Mark Bunden
A bus that emits water instead of ex- haust fumes was today unveiled as part of London's first non-polluting fleet.

Hydrogen fuel cell buses will be used on the RV1 tourist route from Tower Gateway to Covent Garden, passing the South Bank and London Eye.

It is hoped the UK's first zero-emission route will lessen the effects of pollution, which contributes to the deaths of more than 4,300 Londoners each year.

Mayor Boris Johnson said: "The buses are a marvel of hydrogen technology, emitting only water rather than harmful pollutants. They will run through the most city's polluted part, helping to improve London's air quality.
"This is just another way our city is harnessing low-emission, pioneering public transport to improve quality of life." The first new bus will pick up passengers from December 18, with seven more added next year. They are powered with electricity generated by the fuel cell. It combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce power and emits water as a by-product. Yet more energy is harnessed as the vehicle brakes.
David Brown, TfL's managing director for surface transport, said: "This is an exciting new chapter as we embrace new technologies to build on the work we are doing to improve air quality." Read more here.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Approaches to Boost Hydroelectric Capacity in North America

Many companies throughout North America are increasing hydro capacity by retrofitting and/or expanding existing projects, adding powerhouses at non-powered dams, and installing fish-friendly turbines. These methods are attractive because they avoid environmental concerns, and much of this work is eligible for federal funding.
By Ucilia Wang
In the U.S., a national focus on boosting renewable electricity generation has created a flood of project financing and research work.

One example is Alcoa, which has nearly 3,000 MW of capacity to provide for the needs of its smelting and refining system, as well as regional wholesale markets. Among its facilities is 122-MW Cheoah in North Carolina, which was poised to undergo a retrofit when the federal government passed the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). In August 2010, Alcoa resumed construction on the $120 million modernization after securing $12.9 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).1
Work on this project began in mid-2008 but stalled. "The economic crisis hit us hard, and we had to put it on hold," says Bill Bunker, vice president of hydropower at Alcoa Power Generating. "Thanks to the DOE money, we are back on."
Other companies have benefited from the government largesse, including Voith Hydro, supplier of the turbine-generators for Cheoah. In addition, the company is supplying the equipment needed to more than double the capacity of PPL's 108-MW Holtwood project in Pennsylvania.2 This $434 million expansion will increase plant capacity by 125 MW and improve fish passage along the Susquehanna River, said PPL. The company postponed and then restarted the project to take advantage of the ARRA programs to award tax credits and grants for renewable energy projects.
The government's interest in promoting renewable energy also creates new technology development initiatives. In March 2010, DOE, the U.S. Department of Interior, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on technologies that will increase hydroelectric generation while minimizing environmental impacts.
But the hydropower industry hasn't received nearly as much funding as other renewable technologies, notably wind and solar. Industry groups such as EPRI and the National Hydropower Association (NHA) have stepped up efforts to remind lawmakers that hydropower is a clean source of electricity worth more public investments.
In fact, untapped potential for hydropower generation in the U.S. could lead to nearly 14,000 MW added to the electricity supply by 2025, says Doug Dixon, a technical executive with EPRI. The country currently has about 75,000 MW of hydro capacity, he added. Both figures don't account for pumped storage.
NHA points to Navigant Consulting's report that estimates an added capacity of 11,250 MW to 19,900 MW during the same period, depending on whether a national mandate for renewable energy consumption exists.3
Dixon points out that the federal government has beefed up the annual budget for DOE's water power program in recent years. Funding was zero from 2005 to 2007, he says. In fiscal year 2008, $10 million materialized for the budget, which grew to $40 million in 2009 and $50 million in 2010.
"The fact is that hydro is renewable," says Bunker with Alcoa. "It's green power going into the grid. Legislators are starting to realize that."...
Canadian development spurred by feed-in tariff

In Canada, the majority of the hydroelectric development involves new greenfield projects. Developers in this country may be able to take advantage of a feed-in tariff, which offers unique incentives for hydro and other renewable electricity. Many say a feed-in tariff is one of the best ways to supercharge clean power development.
For example, Ontario's feed-in tariff policy, enacted in September 2009 as part of the Green Energy Act, sets premium prices for renewable electricity.1 This tariff has created a flood of proposed projects, notes Kaz Borovszky, business development manager for power generation at ABB. ABB provides power and automation technologies to many industries, including hydro.
Since the tariff was enacted, the government has approved 42 small hydro projects (10 MW or less), Borovszky says. Under the new tariff, hydro producers are paid 13.1 cents per kilowatt-hour for up to 10 MW and 12.2 cents for 10 to 50 MW. The cap on project size is meant to encourage eco-friendly development that doesn't involve a large reservoir or dam. Read more here.

General Motors-led consortium to deliver hydrogen infrastructure to Hawaii by 2015

A consortium of government agencies and companies led by General Motors and The Gas Company have partnered to deliver a hydrogen-powered fuelling infrastructure and vehicles to Hawaii by 2015.

The Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative aims to integrate hydrogen into efforts to reduce the state’s 90 per cent dependence on imported oil.
The consortium’s goal is to install between 20 and 25 hydrogen stations in strategic locations around the island.
‘Hydrogen, used as a fuel, will reduce our dependence on petroleum starting today,’ said The Gas Company CEO Jeff Kissel.
The plan builds on a memorandum of understanding between General Motors and The Gas Company, which is one of Hawaii’s major utilities.
While The Gas Company produces enough hydrogen to power up to 10,000 fuel cell vehicles, General Motors fields the world’s largest fuel cell demonstration fleet.
The partners are evaluating methods to distribute hydrogen through existing natural gas pipelines in order to address the long-standing problem of how to cost effectively produce and distribute hydrogen.
‘In Hawaii, we want to address the proverbial chicken or egg dilemma,’ said Charles Freese, executive director of General Motors’ fuel cell operations.
‘There has always been a looming issue over how to ensure that the vehicles and the necessary hydrogen refueling infrastructure are delivered to market at the same time.’
The hydrogen initiative in the Hawaii will pave the way for building hydrogen infrastructure within a set time frame that can be adopted by other US states, as well as in Europe and Asia, according to Freese.
‘Germany, Japan and Korea are all building hydrogen infrastructures within this same timeframe. The work in Hawaii can provide a template for other regions,’ said Freese.
The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and the US Department of Energy (DOE) are partnering on the Hawaii hydrogen initiative, together with US marine and army forces and clean energy companies such as FuelCell Energy.
Hawaii launched the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative in partnership with the US DOE in 2008, with a goal of generating 70 per cent of the state’s power from renewable or energy efficient sources. Read more here.

GM backs hydrogen fueling stations in Hawaii — setting the stage for Chevy sales?

GM announced it will join an initiative to build hydrogen car fueling infrastructure and increase hydrogen cars on the roads in Hawaii by 2015.

The initiative is called the Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative, and it aims to make hydrogen available for all one million residents on the island of Oahu by 2015 through a total of 20 to 25 hydrogen stations installed around the island. It mirrors some of the infrastructure being built nationwide, like the efforts in Norway previously reported on by VentureBeat. The initiative is led by Hawaiian utility The Gas Company and includes a total of ten companies collaborating on the project.
It looks like GM is banking on Hawaii being a good market for its Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell car, if and when the vehicle becomes commercially available. Hawaii has been the state of choice for many electric vehicle and clean energy projects. Hawaii is one of the more progressive clean energy states, banning coal plants and instituting a plan to reach 70 percent of energy use derived from renewables by 2030. That has made it an attractive market to clean energy companies like electric car startup Coda, solar financing company SunRun and electric vehicle infrastructure startup Better Place.
It’s also an interesting move for GM (albeit not a huge one) as it looks to go greener. It’s bringing out the range extender Chevrolet Volt (a partially electric car), has pledged to invest $40 million in green energy projects and, now, is investing in a small hydrogen infrastructure project. Lately, the major automakers making news for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are folks like Honda and Mercedes-Benz. Both of those companies will begin leasing hydrogen cars in California next year. Hawaii is also big on electric cars and infrastructure and will be among the first states to get the limited-release electric cars coming to market, like the Nissan Leaf and Coda sedan.
It’s also an example of how companies are building the infrastructure for a technology before it’s actually created or released — like the build-out of electric car chargers nationwide — in some cases by utilities themselves – or Google’s investment the Atlantic Wind Connection, an ambitious transmission backbone for offshore wind farms that have yet to be built (but would need transmission lines in order to become fully operational). Indeed, the supply of hydrogen outstrips the supply of cars in Hawaii at the moment. The Gas Company says it currently makes enough hydrogen to power 10,000 hydrogen cars. Read more here.

World's first hydrogen powered hybrid ferry combines hydrogen, solar, wind and diesel power

From gizmag, by Darren Quick
Hybrid vehicles are becoming more and more commonplace on our roads and now the world's first hydrogen powered hybrid ferry is set to take to the water off New York. Following on from the 2008 launch of the San Francisco Hornblower Hybrid that runs on a combination of solar, wind and diesel power, the new 1,400-hp New York Hornblower Hybrid adds another energy source to the mix with hydrogen fuel cells to complement its clean Tier 2 diesel engines, solar panels and wind turbines.
Due to be completed in April 2011, the New York Hornblower Hybrid will generate power from a proton exchange membrane fuel cell that turns hydrogen into electricity. The solar panels and wind turbines will help power the vessel, while the diesel engines will kick in to cover additional energy needs.
When completed, the 600-passenger New York Hornblower Hybrid will feature an outdoor sundeck and two interior decks, including one with glass walls. Its eco-friendly construction materials include recycled glass countertops, LEED-certified carpet and aluminum wall coverings. Additionally, LED video screens and lighting will help minimize energy use, while long-life, low VOC (volatile organic content) paints will cover the vessel's exterior.
Both the San Francisco Hornblower Hybrid, which was the first hybrid ferry in the United States, and the New York Hornblower Hybrid were created by San Francisco-based Hornblower Cruises & Events, which also operates Statue Cruises.
"By combining hydrogen, solar and wind power, Hornblower will minimize its environmental impact as we transport guests to popular national landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Our goal is to reduce emissions to the greatest extent possible, with a goal in the future to eliminate them entirely during a cruising day," says Terry MacRae, CEO of Statue Cruises and Hornblower Cruises & Events.
MacRae also says the technology used in the HornBlower Hybrid is scalable to other hybrid ferries, hybrid yachts and even hybrid tug boats.
"This is a genuinely breakthrough project, not only for us but for the U.S. marine industry. This boat will produce minimal carbon emissions and sip, rather than guzzle, diesel fuel. Along the way it will help make New York harbor a cleaner, safer and more pleasant place," said Gavin Higgins, Vice President for Business Development at Derecktor Shipyards, which is constructing the ferry in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Friday, December 3, 2010

N. Nevada hydrogen fueling station in the works

Northern Nevada will not be the first to jump on board the hydrogen fuel trend, but it could be the first for other reasons.
H2 Fuel Project Manager Dean Mottram says they are "determined to take a 100 percent roll out on our hydrogen vehicles and show how you can take alternative fuel vehicles and make them work on an everyday bases."
The H2 fuel project will use geothermal energy in northern Nevada and create hydrogen. That hydrogen will then fuel transit vehicles. RTC hopes to fuel ten of its access buses through this project initially. The total cost of the project is estimated at about $120 million.
In 2004, when the economy was in a much different state, Sen. Harry Reid helped support a $5.4 million earmark to go towards this hydrogen station. While the money is not a new expense, some people still feel there could be a better use of government dollars.
But, Mottram says the money will come from a federal grant, not local taxes. The project is still in its early stages and construction won't happen for a few more years. But Mottram believes it's a step in the right direction. And, it will not cost bus riders more to ride the hydrogen fueled buses.