Alternate Energy Secrets

This really upsets me!

It was reported that as much as $6 billion dollars in wind-power proposals in the province of Alberta, Canada (total population of 4 million people), have been put on hold. It would seem that the “Alberta Electric System Operator” thinks that the current 300 mega watts of wind power in the power grid should be capped at a total of 900 MW. The proposals CURRENTLY on the table call for up to 3,000 megawatts of wind power to be generated. The ratioinale is that wind power does not produce power at a reliable enough rate, (some days there is no breeze or wind), so we don’t want more than a certain percentage of our power to be solar or wind generated. So much for a deregulated market place. So what if a coal or gas fired plant needs to operate for a period of time below a certain capacity, that is the power of the Free Market. Private industry wants to build it and take the risks, so why not let them build them. If you think this position should be changed, here is a link to the office of the Premier of Alberta. Call them and complain. Ask the office of the premier to respect the de-regulated power grid that they implemented. The only wind blowing here is coming from the “Alberta Electric System Operator”. Let’s put a cap on him and fire his butt out the door! We want Green Renewable Power and finally industry is willing to build it and some Government employee bows to the lobby of big business. This is a bad day for change.

Here is the story as it appeared in the newspaper. (more…)

Google is going into the Green Energy business by turning their Corporate Headquarters into a Solar Power Generation plant. They will generate enough power to supply 1,000 homes. Even with Googles pockets flowing with cash, I bet they are taking advantage the govenment grants that are offered to corporations to make this move. See California Car Wash post for more details of the grant program. Google will save on the power and add more money to it’s coffers by taking advantage of the government funding. Watch for another button on the Google toolbar that will pull money right from your pocket.

But from another angle, maybe Google can succed in getting the attention of the corporate world. Just think if every corporation was able to generate enough environmently friendly energy for their own work force. Wouldn’t that be a noticeable impact on our world?

Here is the story as it appeared in the paper. (more…)

This building project demonstrates some creative thinking by eliminating the use of traditional energy and the energy consumed by municipal utilities to treat wastewater. Zero impact living may not be acheivable but this project comes close. Read how your next project can be built for less, operate for less and reduce the stress on the environment. (more…)