Cap and Trade Legislation

The Obama administration and the Democratic party are attemtping to enact the most massive climate change bill in history. The new legislation is seeking to fundamentally alter the environmental policy landscape like never before. According to the bill, "a cap and trade system that would curb carbon emissions 20% by 2020 and a renewal energy standard that would require a certain amount of alternative energy be used every year. " The legislation has created negative feedback for many buisnesses as they would be forced to pay for their carbon emissions. Other critics claim this could lead to job losses and a slower transition to clean energy as well. Here is the outlook of each sides stance according to the article: "Democrats are in support of stonger legislation; Republicans are against the bill; Companies want to ensure that proper credits are not auctioned off; and others want to make sure their specific goals are not impacted".

I believe a cap and trade system would be an effective way to manage carbon output; however, I am not sure about the economic impacts. Its easy for companies to support this because it can cost money but more would be done to ensure that jobs are not lost. I feel some sort of system would be effective, though.

Superconductor Electricity System

South Korea is going to embark on one of the lragest superconductor electrictiy systems on the planet. This project represents a unique type of energy effecieny that is not that common. The green benefit is that these cables can carry 10 times the amount of power as regular cables. These cables can carry more electricity and do not require the same type of maintence and material as conventional lines. Accoridng to the article, South Korea only has aroud 1% of renewable energy as a result of the project.

Artic Sea Ice Change

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/04/nasa-releases-simulation-of-arctic-sea-ice-changes.php?dcitc=TH_rotator

This is the most recent video of artic sea ice change. The video illustrates the means in which information is gathered for the melting ice shelf. The changes that are occuring are very real and have dramatic impacts. Alterations in sea levels can have devastating impacts on marine ecosystems and cause sea levels to rise. An area like Chestertown would see massive flooding with sea levels rising. Watching these types of videos makes it apparent why we need to have alternative energy.

This is an example of a crabon capturing device that is up and running. This operates out of an existing gas-fired boiler at a power plant in France. The €60 million project will transport some 60,000 tonnes of CO2 every year and store it, at a depth of 4500 meters, in the nearby depleted gas field at Rousse. The CO2 will transported by reusing an existing pipeline that had been transporting natural gas from the Rousse field. The project will run for two years, to determine if the CO2 stored in the Rousse field can be safely stored inside.

New cars

Heres a look at some of the future automobils:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/04/video-recharging-transportation-green-cars-electric-cars-hybrids-america-gov.php?daylife=1&dcitc=daylife-article

Recession and Wind Power

Much of the recent activity to establish windpower throughout the country has been linked to the recession. In a recent article, many rural areas like Kansas, Utah, Illionis, Wisconsin, and Oklahama have all established programs that will bring in bidders for wind energy. In most cases, the legislation passed these bills unanimously and have been fully supportive. For these projects up to thousands of new jobs can open up as well as the powering up thousands of homes. These projects would benefit the rural areas the most hit by the recession. The stimulus bill provides numerous incentives that can help persaude people to shift their energy focus. In having a more effiecent grid with better energy, people will be less effected by energy prices.

Could be intresting

This could be an intresting program for the class...
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/04/nec-creates-online-game-to-make-monitoring-power-consumption-fun.php

Solar energy

1Bog has been created in san diego to help unite home owners for the use of solar panles throughout the region. The organization works to use collective bargaining for homeowners; meaning, the group lumps people together to negotitate a cheaper price. San Diego has adopted this for homeowners...here is a sample video

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/04/san-diego-homeowners-unite-cheaper-solar-power-one-block-off-the-grid.php

In California as well, another organization called Helio Green Energy Plan works as a creditor for no upfront costs of solar pannels. A homeowner can pay the company over time rather than any costly installation.

E-waste

The recycling of electronic waste-cell phones, computers, etc.-is a necessary action because many of these products require extend periods of time to decompose. The company Telenor is providing improving recycling action for their phones and promoting green policy. The company from Norweiga estmiated that 4 million unused phones are simply lying around and collecting dust. Joining with the red cross, the company is offereing incentives to help with people recycling their phones. The company will be planting trees in regions througout Asia and Europe. Their goal is 70,000 phones and 1.25 million tress planted (25 trees per phone). In recycling phones, the company can reuse parts and plastic and contribute less waste. This begs the question of how much e-waste exits in the world? Due to the nature of these products, what is their impact in landfills and how long do they take to decompse? Most estmiates say 10,000 years for some products. Recycling these types of products can be benefical.

Algae Electricity

In Venice, there is work being done that would capatilize on using algae as a form of alternative energy. Two types of algae would be used, Sargassum muticum and Undaria pinnafitida, both attach to ships and are accessible. The algae would be used in a 40MW power plant and supply 50% of the total electricity of the city. Ecowordly is the organization behin the research and idea. The algae would be treated and burned to turn turbines; CO2 produced can be fed in return to the algae. The Venice Port is support of reducing CO2 emissions, mainly of ships using the port. This is the first I have heard of using algae in this process. The main question I would have is how much is the cost of the process and how effective can it be? If this is successful many marine towns could be able to captilize on using this process.

Small twons vs. Big towns

In a recent trip to New York City, I realized that being "green" is actually easy when traveling. First, I used an amtrack train which was better than driving a car. The train is run through electic and does not have the same gas emissions as my car. The train cars all had recycling and the stations did as well. In arriving in New York, I took a cab. While this may seem bad, most cabs now in the city are using biodiesel fuel which is most better than unleaded gas or diesel. The cab did not say exactly how much fuel is saved but it would be more than my car. Second, the hotel I stayed in had "green" policy. Posted in the room were ways to reduce your waste and what the hotel does. This included changes in heating/cooling systems and reduction/changes in laundry. Lastly, the city was covered in "green" ideology with most stores recycling nad posting ways in which they reduce their carbon footprint. In returning to Chestertwon, I realized that this type of activity was less abundant. I know New York has a larger negative output but they are taking actions to reduce. You do not see that same type of action here. It would seem that implementing change in small towns would be easy, however, there appears to be less support. Therefore, a question of policy is raised: Do all of America's small unregulated towns have more of an impact then cities which have regulations? This would be hard to prove...but it reminds me of a quote a heard in GQ about global warming and SUVs. The author said, "blaming the few big things instead of the thousands of little things is like blaming flyes for having trash."

Plastic and Packages

The use of plastic and packaging is ubiquitous througout society as these items have invaded all aspects of life. Plastics require petroluem which is has numerous environmental impacts and enhances the dependence upon foreign oil. Packaging is used in an excess fashion and is abundant in landfills and trash cans. In a recent article, the author, a former CEO of Terracycle, describes four methods of reducing plastics and packaging. 1)Tax Non-Satndard Packaging-more standarized packaging would allow for more recycablity. 2)Outlaw landfills-this would mandate biodegrable forms. 3)Create a Bottle Bill-this would simply be a tax on different forms of plastic material. 4)Ban single use packaging.
I belive these could be done except number 2. Outlawing landfills would be tough and probaly too drastic to do without any real alternative. Perhaps a higher tax or regualtory measures on waste brought to landfills would provide a postive effect. There is not much current tax or regulation, therefore any measures taken could help reduce waste.

Energy Policy

With the recent passing of the stimulus package and the focus of alternative energy, the driving force of energy policy seems to have shifted to be more "green." The success of the administration will depend upon the economics of the situation. From the previous in class speakers, the central issue of their effectiveness was the economics. Is green living cheaper? It would seem using renewable sources, a common thread in the stimulas package would do so. All of the speakers we have heard addressed this and concluded that their various methods. As a Delaware resident, one policy that has shifted, at least in my region, is higher environmental standards on recycling and energy effeicent homes. Companies like Dupont have capitlized on this and begun seeling products to reduce energy output of homes. Other companies like wastemangement have done similar things for recycling. What this translates to, at least for me, is that energy policy is "green" becasue it reflects the economic climate of saving money. No policy with be successful, especially in the recession, if it does not save money nad provide a benefit. Maybe for grad school or for a project, I would like to do a study to see how much more people are willing to pay for alterntive energy vs. fossil fuels. Would people/companes be so encouraging and supportive if people paid more? My guess would be it depends on your income bracket.

Offshore Wind Energy

The lecture regarding offshore wind energy in Delaware essentially encapsulated the general ideas we had disscussed regarding the issue. It seems that Delaware will be the first to utilize offshore wind power as the contracts are already in place. The lecture focused essentially on examing the policy, procedure, and energy availabilty that will be utilized in Delaware. The project will occur off the shore of Rehoboth Beach and will be 12 miles out. The project will have at least 200 turbines but would like to expand to 600. Delaware is trying to sell this energy source to other states becasue it is so viable. The environmental impacts are numerous and seem to outweigh the finical burden placed on the project. With it staggering 1 billion dollar price tag, this turbines may help power 17 different states. What I found most interesting was that technology may allow turbines to be on floating platforms which will allow them to be further out in the ocean. This just seemed like a benefical innovation as different wind sources can used and other regions may be able to use this source.

Landiflls as energy

The use of landills as an energy source have appeared before in my studies. The concpet behind it involves utilizing the methane gas produced from landfills as a source of engergy. Essentially, this is an ideal situation becuase methane gas is a greenhouse gas and therefore a contributor to gloabl warming. Chemically, methane is considered to be worse for the enviornment than CO2, there is just less present in the atmosphere. Utilizing it as an alternative energy source is then, in a sense, a "perfect storm" for the environemnt because waste is used in a green manner. This concpet has become increasingly popular because it is easily attainable and productive. Unlike offshore wind power, this technolgy is being utilized. Here is an example of this being utilized and its effectiveness:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYR1XtfFqQM

Energy In the US

The use of energy is directly connected with the populace, advancement of technology, and economic ability to provide enregy. The course reading described how in thedifferent forms of energy and which types of energy are utilized for proudction. There is disconnect in AMerican society and energy, in that most people do not realize the complexity of energy. By turning on a switch people do not understand the implications or orgins of power consumption because there is an "abundance" of energy for US citizens. On the other hand, there are millions throughout the world without the same energy availabilty. The lifestyle and energy seen in the US has created much of the pollution throughout the world. Again there is a definte dispropotion with the energy created by the US and the rest of world.

Bluewater Talk

On Wednesday a spokesman from Bluewater addressed the issues and actions of his company, the one who is in charge of the projects we have been discussing. Overall, I was impressed by his presentation and what the company was doing. The previous class discussions had answered many of the issues surronding wind power today. The most remarkable item I found was how far we are behind in windpower compared to Europe. In the video he showed, Denmark's view of windpowere was extrremely different and supportive. The wind turbines were built adjacent to the city and were clearly visible. This would never last in the US which highlights the difference in perception. Also, the most limiting factor which I gathered was that economics can determine more of the direction of windpower than anything else. Yet, there are 10 projects planned and hopefully they can be successful. I live in a region in which they are building a project and I personally support its use.

Europe Wind Power

The discussion of wind power has been the central focus of our class the past week. The Bluewater wind power company has provided a modern exmple of wind power in America. Wind power in Europe provides a different model for the uNited States to follow in order to succed in the field of alternative energy. InEurope, the transfer of wind power has become a billion dollar industry. According to the European Wind Assoscation 33 new jobs are created a day in the wind sector and it is the highest growing new technology market. The market has grown 23% since 2000 and is expected continue to grow. There multiple countries in Europe making the change including Spain, Germany, France, and the UK. By 2010 the expected total wind power is tobe 10.6 and by 2020 is will be 20.6%. The wind projects will eventually provide enough power 195 million homes and avoid other costs of fossil fuels. There appears to be various postive environmental impacts including the avoidance of fossil fuels. The conversion fo wind power for the US should therefore be modeled after Europe existin plan.

Energy and Environment-Wind energy

As a Delaware resident, I support the Bluewater wind power being used. The issues regarding wind power both negative and positive have had a strong influence on the support of their installation. Wind power, for me, is a much safer and cleaner alternative to the power plants being used in Delaware. As addressed in the article, there are high instances of cancer in Delaware most of which can be attributed  to the power plants. Economically, wind power makes sense as, according to the article, it is an expanding industry and can provide sustainable jobs. Realistically, however, there is debate regarding whether or not wind power can provide enough energy to support the population. The transition of energy resources can therefore not be an easy transition. In Delaware, where the article addressed, has fluctuating seasonal crowds. I wonder how effective wind energy can be in the summer with a higher population than in the less populated winter months. Overall, I do feel that wind energy can provide a sustainable form of energy. Much of alternative energy has focused on other fields, however, it can still has its place as a viable source. I do wonder with wind power how of much of it can be effectively distributed. the article indicated that other areas will be explored as well and may be more effective. In general, it seems like over time the effectiveness and sustainability issue can be addressed with more research and use in the field.