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Doing the right thing, after we exhaust the alternatives
This weeks to-do list: Square up the corners of natures hypercube
July 23, 2008
Heavy investors in nuclear, coal and oil are telling us wind power can't do it all. T. Boone Pickens says it can.
Who's right?
Let's take a look at a study done by Stanford University back in 2005. They measured wind speeds at 8,000 locations around the world and found that North America had the greatest wind power potential.
The study found the measured winds around our planet would provide 72 terawatts of power. The world's energy use was under 2 terawatts back in 2000.
So, if it can't do it all, I'd say it comes pretty damn close - without having to wait 15 years for a nuclear site to come online.
And, there's no nuclear waste to store.
Two more arguments against wind: the wind isn't everywhere when you need it and birds fly into the blades.
The US and Canada is covered by an electrical grid that allows utilities to sell power to each other. They do this several times each day to adjust for peak load periods. They kiss and leave a twenty on the nightstand at the end of the month. Been doing this for decades.
Wind turbines are already connected to this grid.
The thing in the picture is a helical wind turbine. It doesn't have to turn to face into the wind, spins regardless of the winds direction and the birds have no problem seeing it in their flight path.
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:36:50
July 22, 2008
Prunella was admiring his strong limbs and rugged bark, then suddenly...
Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:36:59
July 21, 2008
Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:14:15
July 18, 2008
You're looking at the boundary where a river meets open waters. Mississippi River on the left, Gulf of Mexico on the right.
The Mississippi drains 41 percent of the North American continent, carrying historic levels of nitrogen from agriculture, urban expansion and industry.
This year, that area on the left will grow to cover around 8,800 square miles along the coastline. It'll be referred to as the "dead zone".
Each spring, a flood of nitrogen flowing downriver begets algae blooms in the Gulf that decompose and consumes oxygen. Fish, crabs and shrimp either die off or leave the area.
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:57:42
July 17, 2008
Fuzhou city in China decided to widen Main street. To do that, they have to move St Dominic Cathedral a quarter mile down the road.
Notice the brickwork. Not an easy job. They used several hundred jacks and almost 400 wheels to lift the 1,500 ton building.
It's what we need to do with the French Quarter in New Orleans. We need to move it away from the coast before we lose it for good.
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:00:08
July 16, 2008
Is there such a thing as a religion of peace? Here's some Muslim schoolgirls practicing Wushu martial arts in Hyderabad, India.
Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:42:57
July 15, 2008
Wanna go rock climbing? Yah, me too. Guess I'll have to settle for a calendar.
Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:28:51
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