We knew somebody had to say this - just in case you might stop panicking.
This is hardly news, but seeing as though residents in the Midwest will have to deal with heavy snow and wind chills as low as 50 below zero today, it bears repeating: Cold weather and global warming can go hand in hand. Even though it's tempting to wonder what about this whole global warming thing? when China has its biggest snowfall since 1951, scientists insist these types of events should be seen only as anomalies in a long-term pattern. "It's part of natural variability," one expert explained, noting that record cold temperatures will still be reached. "We'll just have fewer of them." Although scientists have said that global warming could cause more extreme hot and cold weather, experts say the current cold spell has more to do with "a big outbreak of Arctic air," as one put it. Read more.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
EnviroMission Plans Massive Solar Updraft Towers for Arizona
This type of project makes burning hydrogen fuel look so much better. (and cheaper)
Australia-based EnviroMission Ltd recently announced plans to build two solar updraft towers that span hundreds of acres in La Paz County, Arizona. Solar updraft technology sounds promising enough: generate hot air with a giant greenhouse, channel the air into a chimney-like device, and let the warm wind turn a wind turbine to produce energy. The idea isn’t new — it’s been around since the mid 1980’s — but it’s only now starting to take off.
EnviroMission Ltd’s new initiative is not a small project by any means. The towers will each have 2,400 foot chimneys over a greenhouse measuring four square miles. For some perspective, that’s nearly as tall as the recently-completed Burj Dubai structure.
There’s still plenty of work to be done before the $750 million, 200 megawatt project can begin. The Southern California Public Power Authority recently approved EnviroMission as a provider, but solar updraft hasn’t yet been proven to be commercially viable. That means EnviroMission might have trouble raising enough cash to get started. Still, we’re excited at the prospect of a new tool in our alternative energy arsenal — the more options we have, the better. Read more.
US climate change legislation Q&A: what will happen in 2010?
Even the Guardian is nowadays willing to contemplate that Cap and Trade is a Lefty pipe-dream.
The global recession, US mid-term elections and a weak deal at Copenhagen all play a part in the future of cap and trade.
Barack Obama put his reputation on the line at Copenhagen by saying America would act on climate change. Now it's up to Congress. The House of Representatives passed the Waxman-Markey bill last June which would set a price on carbon, and would put progressively tighter limits on greenhouse gas emissions with a 17% cut from 2005 levels by 2020, and 80% by 2050.
Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, passed a nearly identical version of the bill out of the Senate environment committee last November. But action in the Senate has stalled. Boxer stared down a Republican boycott to get a bill through her committee. But Democrats are deeply reluctant to throw themselves into another full-on confrontation with Republicans so soon after the bruising battle over healthcare reform.
What happens next?
US environmental organisations say there is still a good chance the Senate will move ahead on a climate change bill this year. A triumvirate of Senators — Democrat John Kerry, Republican Lindsey Graham, and Independent Joe Lieberman — are working to craft a climate change bill they think would have a good chance of getting support from Republican as well as Democratic Senators. Kerry had earlier promised a blueprint late last year. The newest deadline is at the end of this month. The Senate is then expected to begin its push in the spring. Read more.
The global recession, US mid-term elections and a weak deal at Copenhagen all play a part in the future of cap and trade.
What is the state of play for climate change legislation in America?
Barack Obama put his reputation on the line at Copenhagen by saying America would act on climate change. Now it's up to Congress. The House of Representatives passed the Waxman-Markey bill last June which would set a price on carbon, and would put progressively tighter limits on greenhouse gas emissions with a 17% cut from 2005 levels by 2020, and 80% by 2050.
Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, passed a nearly identical version of the bill out of the Senate environment committee last November. But action in the Senate has stalled. Boxer stared down a Republican boycott to get a bill through her committee. But Democrats are deeply reluctant to throw themselves into another full-on confrontation with Republicans so soon after the bruising battle over healthcare reform.
What happens next?
US environmental organisations say there is still a good chance the Senate will move ahead on a climate change bill this year. A triumvirate of Senators — Democrat John Kerry, Republican Lindsey Graham, and Independent Joe Lieberman — are working to craft a climate change bill they think would have a good chance of getting support from Republican as well as Democratic Senators. Kerry had earlier promised a blueprint late last year. The newest deadline is at the end of this month. The Senate is then expected to begin its push in the spring. Read more.
Dorgan’s retirement leaves energy void
Sen. Byron Dorgan’s (D-N.D.) surprising decision not to seek reelection means the Senate will lose one of its most prominent voices on energy policy.
Dorgan chairs the panel of the Appropriations Committee that crafts the Energy Department’s budget.
Last year he handed Energy Secretary Steven Chu a big defeat, rejecting the department’s request to end funding for development of hydrogen-powered vehicles. Read more.
Dorgan chairs the panel of the Appropriations Committee that crafts the Energy Department’s budget.
Last year he handed Energy Secretary Steven Chu a big defeat, rejecting the department’s request to end funding for development of hydrogen-powered vehicles. Read more.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Sea Shepherd anti-whaling speedboat collides with Japanese vessel
What truly amazes and shocks me is the abundance of resources that Greenpeace and other eco-emotion groups are able to put in the field. They are literally awash in cash.
Six crew members of hi-tech boat resembling stealth bomber rescued after bow sheared off in clash with whalers in Antarctica
A hi-tech anti-whaling speedboat resembling a stealth bomber had its bow sheared off and was taking on water today after it collided with a Japanese whaling ship in Antarctica.
The six crew members of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society speedboat were safely rescued.
The clash was apparently the most serious in the past several years, during which the marine conservation group has sent vessels into far southern waters to try to harass the Japanese fleet into ceasing its annual whale cull.
The society said its boat the Ady Gil was hit by the Japanese ship the Shonan Maru near Commonwealth Bay and had its bow sheared off.
"The condition of the Ady Gil now is that it is inoperable and the crew of the Ady Gil has been transferred to our other vessel, the Bob Barker," Locky Maclean, the first mate of the society's lead ship told Australian Broadcasting Corpation radio.
The Ady Gil's captain had stayed on board to try to save equipment "before it floods too severely," he said.
Clashes using hand-thrown stink bombs, ropes meant to tangle propellers and high-tech sound equipment have been common in recent years, as have collisions between ships. Read more.
A hi-tech anti-whaling speedboat resembling a stealth bomber had its bow sheared off and was taking on water today after it collided with a Japanese whaling ship in Antarctica.
The six crew members of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society speedboat were safely rescued.
The clash was apparently the most serious in the past several years, during which the marine conservation group has sent vessels into far southern waters to try to harass the Japanese fleet into ceasing its annual whale cull.
The society said its boat the Ady Gil was hit by the Japanese ship the Shonan Maru near Commonwealth Bay and had its bow sheared off.
"The condition of the Ady Gil now is that it is inoperable and the crew of the Ady Gil has been transferred to our other vessel, the Bob Barker," Locky Maclean, the first mate of the society's lead ship told Australian Broadcasting Corpation radio.
The Ady Gil's captain had stayed on board to try to save equipment "before it floods too severely," he said.
Clashes using hand-thrown stink bombs, ropes meant to tangle propellers and high-tech sound equipment have been common in recent years, as have collisions between ships. Read more.
Copenhagen's Dodged Bullet
Modern men have lived through 20 sudden global warmings.
Al Gore said the other week that climate change is "a principle in physics. It's like gravity. It exists." Sarah Palin agreed that "climate change is like gravity," but added a better conclusion: Each is "a naturally occurring phenomenon that existed long before, and will exist long after, any governmental attempts to affect it."
Over time climates do change. As author Howard Bloom wrote in The Wall Street Journal last month, in the past two million years there have been 60 ice ages, and in the 120,000 years since the development of modern man, "we've lived through 20 sudden global warmings," and of course this was before--long before--"smokestacks and tail pipes."
In our earth's history there has been both global warming and global cooling. In Roman times, from 200 B.C. to A.D. 600, it was warm; from 600 to 900 came the cold Dark Ages; more warming from 900 to 1300; and another ice age from 1300 to 1850. Within the past century, the earth has warmed by 0.6 degree Celsius, but within this period we can see marked shifts: cooling (1900-10), warming (1910-40), cooling again (1940 to nearly 1980), and since then a little warming. The Hadley Climatic Research Unit global temperature record shows that from 1980 to 2009, the world warmed by 0.16 degree Celsius per decade.
As for the impact of reducing global warming, Bjorn Lomborg, director of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, outlined in The Wall Street Journal that Oxfam concluded that if wealthy nations diverted $50 billion to climate change that "at least 4.5 million children would die and 8.6 million fewer people could have access to HIV/AIDS treatment." And if we spent it on reducing carbon emissions? It would "reduce temperatures by all of one-thousandth of one degree Fahrenheit over the next hundred years." Read more.
Al Gore said the other week that climate change is "a principle in physics. It's like gravity. It exists." Sarah Palin agreed that "climate change is like gravity," but added a better conclusion: Each is "a naturally occurring phenomenon that existed long before, and will exist long after, any governmental attempts to affect it."
Over time climates do change. As author Howard Bloom wrote in The Wall Street Journal last month, in the past two million years there have been 60 ice ages, and in the 120,000 years since the development of modern man, "we've lived through 20 sudden global warmings," and of course this was before--long before--"smokestacks and tail pipes."
In our earth's history there has been both global warming and global cooling. In Roman times, from 200 B.C. to A.D. 600, it was warm; from 600 to 900 came the cold Dark Ages; more warming from 900 to 1300; and another ice age from 1300 to 1850. Within the past century, the earth has warmed by 0.6 degree Celsius, but within this period we can see marked shifts: cooling (1900-10), warming (1910-40), cooling again (1940 to nearly 1980), and since then a little warming. The Hadley Climatic Research Unit global temperature record shows that from 1980 to 2009, the world warmed by 0.16 degree Celsius per decade.
As for the impact of reducing global warming, Bjorn Lomborg, director of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, outlined in The Wall Street Journal that Oxfam concluded that if wealthy nations diverted $50 billion to climate change that "at least 4.5 million children would die and 8.6 million fewer people could have access to HIV/AIDS treatment." And if we spent it on reducing carbon emissions? It would "reduce temperatures by all of one-thousandth of one degree Fahrenheit over the next hundred years." Read more.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Cold weather: winter is chilliest 'in many people's memory’
Where is Al Gore when you need him? He promised me palm trees in Toronto!
Cold weather across much of the East has orange growers pulling all-nighters in Florida, city workers in Atlanta scrambling to fix burst pipes, and the homeless struggling in Memphis.
Well, Americans are reliving those cold old days right now as cold weather threatens orange and strawberry growers in Florida, has social service crews working overtime in Tennessee, and fracturing old water mains in Atlanta.
Across the South, Midwest, and Eastern seaboard, a stubborn “arctic outbreak," tacked onto an already cold return to work for many Americans, augurs what meteorologist at AccuWeather.com are calling “the coldest winter in many people’s memory.” Read more.
Cold weather across much of the East has orange growers pulling all-nighters in Florida, city workers in Atlanta scrambling to fix burst pipes, and the homeless struggling in Memphis.
Remember those nasty 1970s winters?
Well, Americans are reliving those cold old days right now as cold weather threatens orange and strawberry growers in Florida, has social service crews working overtime in Tennessee, and fracturing old water mains in Atlanta.
Across the South, Midwest, and Eastern seaboard, a stubborn “arctic outbreak," tacked onto an already cold return to work for many Americans, augurs what meteorologist at AccuWeather.com are calling “the coldest winter in many people’s memory.” Read more.
Canadians are generally unhappy with the results of last month’s Climate Change Summit
It would appear from this poll that two thirds of Canadians do not believe that Global warming is man-made. Harper is caught in the middle - pleasing no one.
Copenhagen and Climate Change: An Analysis
Canadians can be roughly divided into those who believe global warming is a fact and say it is caused by human activity (1); those who think global warming is a reality but is caused by natural changes (2), and those who think global warming is an unproven theory (3).
Those in the first group express a higher degree of dissatisfaction with their Prime Minister’s performance at Copenhagen (60%) than those in the second (38%) and third groups (30%).
Amongst respondents in the first group, 73 per cent are dissatisfied with the fact that the Copenhagen Accord is not legally binding, while this is true for fewer Canadians in the second (47%) and third groups (32%).Canadians in the first category are also more likely to express dissatisfaction with the commitment to hold warming temperatures below two degrees Celsius (44%) than those in the second (35%) and third groups (26%). Read more.
Copenhagen and Climate Change: An Analysis
Canadians can be roughly divided into those who believe global warming is a fact and say it is caused by human activity (1); those who think global warming is a reality but is caused by natural changes (2), and those who think global warming is an unproven theory (3).
Those in the first group express a higher degree of dissatisfaction with their Prime Minister’s performance at Copenhagen (60%) than those in the second (38%) and third groups (30%).
Amongst respondents in the first group, 73 per cent are dissatisfied with the fact that the Copenhagen Accord is not legally binding, while this is true for fewer Canadians in the second (47%) and third groups (32%).Canadians in the first category are also more likely to express dissatisfaction with the commitment to hold warming temperatures below two degrees Celsius (44%) than those in the second (35%) and third groups (26%). Read more.
In America, promoting global warming fears is a charitable enterprise
Internews is an organization devoted to helping out people in areas not served by an independent media: Internews is an international media development organization whose mission is to empower local media worldwide to give people the news and information they need, the ability to connect, and the means to make their voices heard.
This sounds like a laudable goal, but like many roads paved with good intentions...well, you know where that goes. In particular, this group has a curious idea of what "balanced" reporting means when it comes to global warming alarmism:
Climate change could be the biggest story of the twenty first century, affecting societies, economies and individuals on a grand scale. Equally enormous are the adjustments that will have to be made to our energy and transportation systems, economies and societies, if we are to mitigate climate change.
All journalists should understand the science of climate change - its causes, its controversies and its current and projected impacts. Start by doing your own research from established sources, such as reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or from local scientific experts you trust.
Read and report on the latest research from peer-reviewed scientific journals, or at the very least from reputable popular science publications.
OK, so it seems to be a given to these people that global warming is a proven fact. I suppose that doesn't make them all that different from much of the rest of the media, but then there is this bit of advice for aspiring journalists:
Avoid false balance. Some journalists, trying to be fair and balanced, report the views of climate change sceptics as a counterweight to climate change stories. But this can be a false balance if minority views are given equal prominence to well-accepted science. For example, an overwhelming majority of climatologists believe that average global temperatures have risen compared to pre-1800s levels and that human activity is a significant factor in this.
Of course it's good to air all sorts of views if they are placed into context. So if you report climate change sceptics' views, also describe their credentials and whether theirs is a minority opinion.
Oh, so balance is not balance when it is "false" balance, that being when skeptics are given anything approaching equal time without caveats and qualifications designed to make their statements suspect.
Read more.
This sounds like a laudable goal, but like many roads paved with good intentions...well, you know where that goes. In particular, this group has a curious idea of what "balanced" reporting means when it comes to global warming alarmism:
Climate change could be the biggest story of the twenty first century, affecting societies, economies and individuals on a grand scale. Equally enormous are the adjustments that will have to be made to our energy and transportation systems, economies and societies, if we are to mitigate climate change.
All journalists should understand the science of climate change - its causes, its controversies and its current and projected impacts. Start by doing your own research from established sources, such as reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or from local scientific experts you trust.
Read and report on the latest research from peer-reviewed scientific journals, or at the very least from reputable popular science publications.
OK, so it seems to be a given to these people that global warming is a proven fact. I suppose that doesn't make them all that different from much of the rest of the media, but then there is this bit of advice for aspiring journalists:
Avoid false balance. Some journalists, trying to be fair and balanced, report the views of climate change sceptics as a counterweight to climate change stories. But this can be a false balance if minority views are given equal prominence to well-accepted science. For example, an overwhelming majority of climatologists believe that average global temperatures have risen compared to pre-1800s levels and that human activity is a significant factor in this.
Of course it's good to air all sorts of views if they are placed into context. So if you report climate change sceptics' views, also describe their credentials and whether theirs is a minority opinion.
Oh, so balance is not balance when it is "false" balance, that being when skeptics are given anything approaching equal time without caveats and qualifications designed to make their statements suspect.
Read more.
Horizon Hydrofill Home Hydrogen Fueling Station to Be Unveiled
In the movie “What About Bob?” Bill Murray talked about taking “baby steps.” An ancient Chinese proverb says, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” At the upcoming Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, NV, Horizon will unveil its HydroFill home hydrogen fueling device which may mean we are a step away from hydrogen car commercialization.
The HydroFill, when it becomes commercial is expected to be able to refuel hydrogen cars in the privacy of one’s own home. Now, I’ve talked about home hydrogen fueling stations many times in the past and this product may be just what the industry needs to jumpstart the chicken-or-the-egg syndrome when it comes to which will be built first, the cars or the fueling stations.
The Horizon Hydrofill can run off AC at night when the electricity rates are the lowest, electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen and refill their metal hydride canisters. The next day the hydrogen fuel cell car or smaller device can be refueled from the canister.
The Hydrofill may not be introduced commercially in 2010, however as development is ongoing. Horizon is already selling, however, a 20-liter hydrogen storage tank made of aluminum alloy outside and metal hydride inside.
Now, while the HydroFill is a big idea that Horizon is still working on, this same company has decided to start a bit smaller and offer a commercial line of micro-fuel cell power packs for recharging small electronic devices such a lighting products, USB devices and cell phones.
In summer 2009, I had talked about how Horizon had created the fuel cell for the economical Riversimple fuel cell city car. An affordable Riversimple plus Hydrofill home fueling station may be the ticket to sooner rather than later introduction of hydrogen cars and infrastructure into the marketplace. Read more.
eHydrogen Solutions, Inc. Announces New Technology Initiative Targeting 35.4 Million On and Off-Road Heavy Goods Vehicles as Part of International Distribution Roll-Out
eHydrogen Solutions, Inc. (eHS) (PINKSHEETS: EHYD) announced today a new engineering initiative to further integrate its systems with complementary technologies, specifically targeted at the on and off-road Heavy Goods Vehicle aftermarket. Potential candidates for technology integration include HGV systems incorporating fuel and/or oil additives, pulsing technologies, electronic fuel injection enhancer (EFIE) modules to interact with engines' Electronic Control Units (ECU).
The Company's new initiative will further enhance its already impressive fuel and emission reduction results as an aftermarket retrofit of on and off-road Heavy Goods Vehicle applications, including long-haul trucks, buses and construction and mining vehicles.
The on and off-road Heavy Vehicle aftermarket represents 35,400,000 vehicles worldwide and a projected 1.3% market share would represent $7,773,000,000 in revenue. .
eHydrogen Solutions specializes in the development of on-demand hydrogen-generating technology designed to increase the efficiency of virtually any combustion process. The technology is based on a patented technology in which hydrogen and oxygen are generated on demand via electrolysis and then introduced into the combustion process. Decades went into developing an electrolyser that is reliable, thermodynamically efficient, and capable of operating in all weather conditions. The technology is adaptable to a wide variety of internal combustion engine applications. Read more
The Company's new initiative will further enhance its already impressive fuel and emission reduction results as an aftermarket retrofit of on and off-road Heavy Goods Vehicle applications, including long-haul trucks, buses and construction and mining vehicles.
The on and off-road Heavy Vehicle aftermarket represents 35,400,000 vehicles worldwide and a projected 1.3% market share would represent $7,773,000,000 in revenue. .
eHydrogen Solutions specializes in the development of on-demand hydrogen-generating technology designed to increase the efficiency of virtually any combustion process. The technology is based on a patented technology in which hydrogen and oxygen are generated on demand via electrolysis and then introduced into the combustion process. Decades went into developing an electrolyser that is reliable, thermodynamically efficient, and capable of operating in all weather conditions. The technology is adaptable to a wide variety of internal combustion engine applications. Read more
Hydrogen Powered Vehicles: Where is the Hydrogen Economy?
Only the vast untapped potential of the great rivers that flow into Hudsons Bay can produce enough hydrogen fuel to make it affordable and sustainable.
The capacity to mass produce hydrogen powered vehicles and the fuel required to run them has been available for many years, yet industry experts still estimate that the technology is 10 to 20 years away from being a mainstream fuel supply. This is not due to a lack of experience by manufacturers in the production of Hydrogen fuel cells, or vehicles that run on them.
The first Hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle was built in the 1960s by General Motors in the United States. Hydrogen fuel cells were also used in space by NASA in the 1960s. Given the impressive pedigree and early development of this fuel, why is it not yet a commercial reality?
The facts are that Hydrogen is a very dangerous substance,* not as dangerous as gasoline and these dangers are present not just at the consumer end but all the way through production, transportation and storage * similar risk to natural gas. A tank of pressurized Hydrogen in many ways the same as a time bomb* no its not - the left really hates the possiblity of increased personal autonomy - public control would decrease - oh no!. Any damage to the structure of the vessel containing the Hydrogen could result in a powerful explosion,* this is scaremongering at its worst - please don't drop kick your propane tank. even from relatively small tanks like those that would be fitted to automobiles.
There is also the issue of using electricity to produce Hydrogen in the first place. This itself is quite energy intensive and involves losses of energy at each stage of transformation from one form to another, such as when electrical energy is converted into chemical energy to form the Hydrogen molecules.* On site Hydro-generation of hydrogen fuel is the only effective answer. Even if this electricity was generated from clean sources such as solar panels, it could be used directly to charge batteries* sorry swampy but battery technology just isnt there yet and they are very dirty to produce. or supply a grid with greater efficiency than for producing Hydrogen* I suspect these guys worked for the CRU - best to check out their claims. Read more.
The first Hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle was built in the 1960s by General Motors in the United States. Hydrogen fuel cells were also used in space by NASA in the 1960s. Given the impressive pedigree and early development of this fuel, why is it not yet a commercial reality?
The facts are that Hydrogen is a very dangerous substance,* not as dangerous as gasoline and these dangers are present not just at the consumer end but all the way through production, transportation and storage * similar risk to natural gas. A tank of pressurized Hydrogen in many ways the same as a time bomb* no its not - the left really hates the possiblity of increased personal autonomy - public control would decrease - oh no!. Any damage to the structure of the vessel containing the Hydrogen could result in a powerful explosion,* this is scaremongering at its worst - please don't drop kick your propane tank. even from relatively small tanks like those that would be fitted to automobiles.
There is also the issue of using electricity to produce Hydrogen in the first place. This itself is quite energy intensive and involves losses of energy at each stage of transformation from one form to another, such as when electrical energy is converted into chemical energy to form the Hydrogen molecules.* On site Hydro-generation of hydrogen fuel is the only effective answer. Even if this electricity was generated from clean sources such as solar panels, it could be used directly to charge batteries* sorry swampy but battery technology just isnt there yet and they are very dirty to produce. or supply a grid with greater efficiency than for producing Hydrogen* I suspect these guys worked for the CRU - best to check out their claims. Read more.
Hydrogen as Fuel
Hydrogen fuel 101
Hydrogen is a gas that is industrially produced from a number of sources but the most common is methane or other fossil fuels. Hydrogen is made up of atoms that include one proton in each of them. Stars are made primarily of hydrogen. The sun is the giant ball that includes hydrogen and helium gases. In the sun’s core the hydrogen atoms combine and thereby form helium atoms that give off radiant energy. This process is known as fusion. This energy is what sustains the life on the earth as well as giving us light and keeps our planet alive. Hydrogen is able to rise in the air since it is lighter than air and that is the main reason why it can not be found on earth and can only be found in compound form with other various elements. Read more.
Oil and Gas Drilling in Greenland to Begin This Summer
Development of the North is critical for our future - The production of Hydro-generated Hydrogen will require this level of investment.
When the 748-foot Stena Forth plows into the deep waters of Greenland’s Disko West zone next summer, the advanced drillship will be taking the first crack at what could be the world’s biggest untapped reservoir of oil and gas. The ship, built by Samsung in South Korea’s Geoje shipyard just over a year ago, can drill to 35,000 feet, in 10,000 feet of water. It is being leased by Cairn Energy, making that oil company the first to drill in Greenland’s waters since five exploratory wells were sunk in the 1970s. The company had been planning to begin drilling in 2011, but announced in December that it was moving its schedule up by a year. The United States Geologic Survey estimates the country’s offshore reserves could hold 50 billion barrels of oil and gas, or nearly one-third of the arctic total. Read more.
Frozen Britain may run short of gas
The freezing weather has raised fears that Britain could run short of gas after the National Grid issued only its second warning ever over surging consumption.
Extra gas supplies were rushed out to the liquefied natural gas importation terminal in Kent through pipelines in Belgium and Norway following the alert.
The National Grid said the risk of shortages had been temporarily averted by the influx. "Supplies of gas to the UK have increased following the issuing of a gas balancing alert today," a spokesman said.
Unusually cold weather is set to continue over the next two weeks, and the National Grid has not ruled out sending out further supply warnings. Read more.
Gas supplies may run short as Britain faces one of its coldest winters in 100 years Photo: PA
Demand for gas – the fuel used to heat about two thirds of Britain's homes – has risen to about 30 per cent above seasonal norms with Britain in the grip of one of its coldest winters for 100 years.
While it is unlikely that households will find their supplies restricted, a shortage could lead to higher bills.
The National Grid, responsible for meeting the country's energy requirements, issued a gas balancing alert on Monday to give warning that any further falls in supply could force big users like power plants to cut their consumption.
Extra gas supplies were rushed out to the liquefied natural gas importation terminal in Kent through pipelines in Belgium and Norway following the alert.
The National Grid said the risk of shortages had been temporarily averted by the influx. "Supplies of gas to the UK have increased following the issuing of a gas balancing alert today," a spokesman said.
Unusually cold weather is set to continue over the next two weeks, and the National Grid has not ruled out sending out further supply warnings. Read more.
Monday, January 4, 2010
The best of Western Culture defended by Bill Whittle
One day the spirit of men will come crashing down - but it is not this day!
What is killing American confidence and innovation? Bill Whittle takes a look at the Leftist attitudes that threaten the ideals of optimism and progress in the latest Afterburner.
A Hummer burning Hydro-generated Hydrogen is far cleaner than this "Auto Abortion"
Aptera newsletter explains search for new manufacturing facility
The Aptera newsletters continue to talk about the good while staying silent about the bad. The latest example (available after the jump) mentions an update to the Department of Energy's Advanced Vehicle Technology Manufacturing Program loan request, how the vehicle will indeed be made with composites (with partner Energetx) and a bit of confidence building opportunity thanks to participating in the Auto X Prize ("they will tell you if we are 'full of it' or not"). What's not mentioned? Any discussion about the recent personnel problems.
Oh well. At least we learn that the company is might soon be closing in on a new production facility as a result of a new application to the DOE's AVTMP. The loan application asks for a 10-year facility plan, which meant Aptera needed to actually come up with such a plan. Aptera's production schedule "calls for more than 10,000 units in the first 3 years and more than 300 employees," so it is looking for a new place to build the cars somewhere in Southern California, specifically somewhere in San Diego County. If everything goes right, of course. Read more.
On issues like global warming and evolution, scientists need to speak up
The battle over the science of global warming has long been a street fight between mainstream researchers and skeptics. But never have the scientists received such a deep wound as when, in late November, a large trove of e-mails and documents stolen from the Climatic Research Unit at Britain's University of East Anglia were released onto the Web.
In the ensuing "Climategate" scandal, scientists were accused of withholding information, suppressing dissent, manipulating data and more. But while the controversy has receded, it may have done lasting damage to science's reputation: Last month, a Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 40 percent of Americans distrust what scientists say about the environment, a considerable increase from April 2007. Meanwhile, public belief in the science of global warming is in decline.
Read more.
In the ensuing "Climategate" scandal, scientists were accused of withholding information, suppressing dissent, manipulating data and more. But while the controversy has receded, it may have done lasting damage to science's reputation: Last month, a Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 40 percent of Americans distrust what scientists say about the environment, a considerable increase from April 2007. Meanwhile, public belief in the science of global warming is in decline.
Read more.
Climategate: Michael Mann's very unhappy New Year
As I said yesterday, one of our jobs this year is to wipe the complacent smiles off the smug faces of the lobbyists, “experts”, “scientists”, politicians and activists pushing AGW.
This is why I am so glad to report that Michael Mann – creator of the incredible Hockey Stick curve and one of the scientists most heavily implicated in the Climategate scandal – is about to get a very nasty shock. When he turns up to work on Monday, he’ll find that all 27 of his colleagues at the Earth System Science Center at Penn State University have received a rather tempting email inviting them to blow the whistle on anyone they know who may have been fraudulently misusing federal grant funds for climate research.
Under US law, regardless of whether or not a prosecution results, the whistleblower stands to make very large sums of money: it is based on a percentage of the total government funds which have been misused, in this case perhaps as much as $50 million. (Hat tip: John O’Sullivan of the wonderful new campaigning site www.climategate.com) Read More.
Here’s that email in full:
Hi,
Greetings and best wishes for a prosperous New Year.
National Search
After the recent whistleblower revelations of emails between climate researchers and data from the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit, there are on-going investigations into potential fraudulent use of grant funds in Climate Research in the US. I am assisting interested parties who may have details of fraud in climate research to make contact with the proper authorities, and to share in the rewards paid when the funds are recovered.
Whistleblower Rewards Program
The federal government has established vigorous programs to identify and prosecute fraudulent grant applications and administration. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) administers the False Claims Act. It allows rewards for those who come forward with details of grant fraud to share in the recovery of federal funds. This reward can be as much as 30% of the total amount reclaimed. The program is almost completely reliant on insiders to report their knowledge of the fraud in their institutions.
Attorney Literally “Wrote the Book” on Fraud Recovery Lawsuits
Joel Hesch, Esq., of Hesch and Associates, literally wrote the book on how to report federal fraud. He has an extensive background in representing whistleblowers in all types of federal funding fraud cases, including Educational/ Research Grant Fraud. According to Mr Hesch: “Many institutions receive grants, whether for research or educational purposes. When they lie to get the grant or keep the grant or if they use the funds for purposes outside the grant, they are liable under the DOJ program. There have been many grant cases brought by whistleblowers. ”
If you know of anyone who might have details about fraudulent statements or actions by recipients of federal grant funds for climate research, please have them contact me immediately at the below email or cell phone. Alternatively, they may also contact Mr Hersch directly, and let him know that they were referred by me. All communications are completely confidential. They may want to consider using a third party email service (Yahoo, Hotmail, or other) instead of work email to communicate.
30% of $50 million is more than $12 million. Ask your friends to do the right thing, and be rewarded for doing it.
Our country, and in fact, the entire world is counting on someone to stand up and tell the truth about climate research. The effects of moving forward with taxes and policies based on fraudulent science could potentially cripple the US economy and cost lives and jobs for generations.
Look forward to hearing from you.
All the best
Kent Clizbe
Happy New Year, Climategaters.
This is why I am so glad to report that Michael Mann – creator of the incredible Hockey Stick curve and one of the scientists most heavily implicated in the Climategate scandal – is about to get a very nasty shock. When he turns up to work on Monday, he’ll find that all 27 of his colleagues at the Earth System Science Center at Penn State University have received a rather tempting email inviting them to blow the whistle on anyone they know who may have been fraudulently misusing federal grant funds for climate research.
Under US law, regardless of whether or not a prosecution results, the whistleblower stands to make very large sums of money: it is based on a percentage of the total government funds which have been misused, in this case perhaps as much as $50 million. (Hat tip: John O’Sullivan of the wonderful new campaigning site www.climategate.com) Read More.
Here’s that email in full:
Hi,
Greetings and best wishes for a prosperous New Year.
National Search
After the recent whistleblower revelations of emails between climate researchers and data from the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit, there are on-going investigations into potential fraudulent use of grant funds in Climate Research in the US. I am assisting interested parties who may have details of fraud in climate research to make contact with the proper authorities, and to share in the rewards paid when the funds are recovered.
Whistleblower Rewards Program
The federal government has established vigorous programs to identify and prosecute fraudulent grant applications and administration. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) administers the False Claims Act. It allows rewards for those who come forward with details of grant fraud to share in the recovery of federal funds. This reward can be as much as 30% of the total amount reclaimed. The program is almost completely reliant on insiders to report their knowledge of the fraud in their institutions.
Attorney Literally “Wrote the Book” on Fraud Recovery Lawsuits
Joel Hesch, Esq., of Hesch and Associates, literally wrote the book on how to report federal fraud. He has an extensive background in representing whistleblowers in all types of federal funding fraud cases, including Educational/ Research Grant Fraud. According to Mr Hesch: “Many institutions receive grants, whether for research or educational purposes. When they lie to get the grant or keep the grant or if they use the funds for purposes outside the grant, they are liable under the DOJ program. There have been many grant cases brought by whistleblowers. ”
If you know of anyone who might have details about fraudulent statements or actions by recipients of federal grant funds for climate research, please have them contact me immediately at the below email or cell phone. Alternatively, they may also contact Mr Hersch directly, and let him know that they were referred by me. All communications are completely confidential. They may want to consider using a third party email service (Yahoo, Hotmail, or other) instead of work email to communicate.
30% of $50 million is more than $12 million. Ask your friends to do the right thing, and be rewarded for doing it.
Our country, and in fact, the entire world is counting on someone to stand up and tell the truth about climate research. The effects of moving forward with taxes and policies based on fraudulent science could potentially cripple the US economy and cost lives and jobs for generations.
Look forward to hearing from you.
All the best
Kent Clizbe
Happy New Year, Climategaters.
The great debate: affordable, reliable, low-carbon
The UK is an excellent market for Canadian Hydrogen - Both clean and renewable.
This important trilemma was the topic of the recent Daily Telegraph/E.ON Talking Energy Debate. Report by Andrew Charlesworth.
This important trilemma was the topic of the recent Daily Telegraph/E.ON Talking Energy Debate. Report by Andrew Charlesworth.
On the panel: top, from left, Dr Paul Golby (E.ON chief executive), Damian Reece, (Telegraph Media Group head of business), Lord Whitty (president, Combined Heat and Power Association), Prof Tom Burke (director of E3G) and Malcolm Wicks MP, the Prime Mini
Currently, the UK’s electricity system would seem to be at a watershed. The closure of end-of-life nuclear and high-emitting coal power stations is coinciding with ambitious commitments to reduce carbon emissions and the demise of North Sea gas. And our distribution system, designed for a 20th-century centralised generating system, is currently undergoing a transformation to cope with the variable and highly distributed nature of renewable sources from which we are aiming to harvest more of our power in the near future. Indeed, in 2008, some energy market analysts were predicting rolling blackouts in Britain after 2013.
But that was before the recession, which diminished demand for power from industry and gave more time to address the power-generation challenges the country faces. And progress has been made with the Government providing strong support for renewables and moving forward on its plans for nuclear power. Yet, particularly after the disappointment of Copenhagen, much more still needs to be done. Read more.
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