Senate Committee Conducts Hearing on Smart Grid Technology
A hearing on smart grid technology in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee took place on Tuesday. The hearing focused on how government funding is being used and what type of interoperability standards are being implemented in the roll-out of a national smart grid.
Some of the specific issues included how to address cyber security concerns that smart grid communications create and how to promote common software communications throughout the industry. Additionally, it was noted that a key to effective smart grid technology is the ability to offset inconsistent electricity generation from renewable sources such as wind and solar. An effective smart grid needs to efficiently communicate dips in power from one energy source and replace it with power from other sources.
Senate to Examine Smart Grid Technology
Even though Congress recently approved $11 billion for it in the stimulus bill, many are still unclear as to what smart grid technology really entails. As a result, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will take up this issue in a hearing on Tuesday.
“Clearly, everyone agrees we should do more,” Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) said, “but we know we have to get down to the details of what does that mean.”
Witnesses at the hearing will range from the Department of Energy to Google. As we noted recently, Google has jumped head-on into the smart grid debate by strongly advocating the use of open standards and protocols for all smart grid technologies that are funded by the government.
Stimulating Renewable Energy…
The massive $787 billion stimulus bill was signed into law on Tuesday and people are beginning to digest what was inside it. According to Recovery.gov, in general, the bill is allocated in the following manner:
- Tax Relief $288 billion
- State and Local Fiscal Relief $144 billion
- Infrastructure and Science $111 billion
- Protecting the Vulnerable $81 billion
- Health Care $59 billion
- Education and Training $53 billion
- Energy $43 billion
- Other $8 billion
Of course what is of interest to us is the $43 billion allocated for energy. With $22 billion in tax relief also going towards energy, the total investment in energy is actually $65 billion. This stimulus money allocated for energy is broken-down as follows: READ MORE
Pickens Discusses Energy Components of the Stimulus Package
T. Boone Pickens appeared on CNBC on Monday and discussed the stimulus plan. Pickens seemed to be generally enthusiastic about the energy policies the plan contains, noting “We got a lot in on wind and renewables. You’re going to have the grid in it, and that’s important to the whole system; that’s the infrastructure that we need.”
[Note: unfortunately CNBC doesn't allow this video to be embedded so you need to click through to view it.]
Obama: America will not be held hostage to dwindling resources, hostile regimes and a warming planet
President Obama delivered his expected remarks on energy and climate change today at the White House. As expected, he announced that his administration will grant California a waiver to more strictly regulate vehicle emissions, will have federal agencies increase energy efficiency in federal buildings, and will increase federal fuel efficiency rules. But most importantly, Obama articulated the reasons why we must address these issues and why his strategy will work.
Reviewing the transcript of the speech, here are some of the highlights: READ MORE
Google ‘Tea Kettle’ Rumor Quickly Refuted
A story tore around the web on Sunday claiming that performing two Google searches uses up as much energy as boiling a tea kettle. The story originated from an article in the TimesOnline. However, as Jason Kincaid at TechCrunch points out, the Times’ article was misleading, inaccurate, and poorly researched, among other things.
Google also contributed to its own defense with a quick response on its blog:
We thought it would be helpful to explain why this number is *many* times too high. Google is fast – a typical search returns results in less than 0.2 seconds. Queries vary in degree of difficulty, but for the average query, the servers it touches each work on it for just a few thousandths of a second. Together with other work performed before your search even starts (such as building the search index) this amounts to 0.0003 kWh of energy per search, or 1 kJ. For comparison, the average adult needs about 8000 kJ a day of energy from food, so a Google search uses just about the same amount of energy that your body burns in ten seconds.
In terms of greenhouse gases, one Google search is equivalent to about 0.2 grams of CO2. The current EU standard for tailpipe emissions calls for 140 grams of CO2 per kilometer driven, but most cars don’t reach that level yet. Thus, the average car driven for one kilometer (0.6 miles for those in the U.S.) produces as many greenhouse gases as a thousand Google searches.
60 Minutes Attributes Much of Recent Oil Spike to Speculators
Part 1:
Part 2:
60 Minutes has an interesting look at the recent oil boom. In its analysis, 60 Minutes attributes the massive price run-up to oil speculators at big financial firms like Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, among others. One of the most intriguing facts was that during the over 100% increase in price last year, global demand for oil actually decreased.
60 Minutes analogizes these recent market conditions to those that were manipulated by Enron during the California energy crisis of 2000-2001.
Obama: Upgrade Energy, Efficiency, Health Care, Education, Technology, Science, Accountability and Transparency
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Part 2:
President-elect Obama expanded on his ambitious proposals today.
Obama’s Change.gov concludes that:
“The plan will save or create 3 million jobs by doubling the production of alternative energy; weatherizing 75% of federal buildings and two million American homes…” computerizing America’s medical records; updating thousands of schools, community colleges, and public universities; expanding broadband; and investing in science, research, and technology.” READ MORE
Before and After Photos of TVA Coal Ash Spill at Kingston Fossil Plant
NASA has released some dramatic photos of the TVA ash spill at the Kingston Fossil Plant in Tennessee. The photos show an aerial view of the site before and after the containment pond was breached, which released over 5 million cubic yards of burnt coal waste.
NASA describes the images as:
The Thematic Mapper on NASA’s Landsat 5 satellite captured these images of the Kingston Fossil Plant and its surroundings on November 20, 2008, a month before the spill (bottom); and December 22, 2008, immediately after the spill, (top). In these false-color images, water appears blue, and sediment-laden water appears light blue. Vegetation appears green, and bare ground and urbanized areas appear pinkish-brown.
In the November image, walls visibly contain two adjacent slurry ponds at the plant-one in the northwest and one in the southeast-but in the December image, the walls of the northwestern slurry pond have given way. In this image, light blue slurry covers the ground to the north and east of the plant. Sediment also clogs the nearby Emory River, evident from the waterway’s relatively light blue color.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Hat-tip: TheDailyGreen
Ukraine Aims to Calm Fears of Natural Gas Disruption for EU
As the Russian halt of natural gas deliveries intended for Ukraine entered its second day, Ukrainian officials began touring European capitals to provide reassurances that transport of natural gas through Ukraine to the rest of Europe would continue. Since almost all natural gas delivered from Russia to EU countries must travel through Ukraine, concerns have been raised that Ukraine might divert some of that gas for its own use. This is what happened the last time Russia halted natural gas deliveries to Ukraine in 2006.
However, Ukraine asserts that it has enough natural gas reserves to last it through the winter, and regardless, will continue to permit transit of all Russian natural gas through its country to the EU. READ MORE
The Colorado River, and the Civilization Dependent Upon it, Faces Dramatic Threats
Although climate change takes most of the headlines nowadays, the environmental threats we are facing are even more widespread. While climate change will exacerbate many of these problems, there are a number of other external issues that must also be urgently addressed.
One of those environmental disasters that is being worsened by climate change, but which also is being worsened by external events, is the destruction of the Colorado River.
SignOnSanDiego expands on this crisis:
The Colorado River has endured drought, climate changes, pollution, ecological damage from dams and battles by 7 states to draw more water. Now energy companies are sucking up the river’s water to support increased development of oil, natural gas and uranium deposits. Yet, the river must provide drinking water for 1 out of 12 Americans and 15% of our crops. READ MORE
Oil and gas drilling in the U.S. falls 12% from peak
A recent report from oil services company, Baker Hughes Inc., shows that the number of oil and gas drilling rigs in the U.S. that are online has fallen by 12% from this September’s peak and is down 2% from this time last year. The total number of working drilling rigs currently sits at 1,790.
This slowdown in domestic oil and gas production (sub req) is being attributed to falling energy prices and tight credit. Higher cost wells and fields are being taken offline and less cash is available to pursue general operations. READ MORE
Key energy and environmental positions in Obama’s cabinet impress environmentalists
The key energy and environmental positions in President-elect Obama’s cabinet have been identified and are bringing praise from environmentalists.
For Energy secretary, Obama chose physicist Steven Chu. Chu won a Nobel Prize for the “development of methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light,” and is the director of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Under Chu’s leadership, the lab has focused on alternative energy research and efforts to boost energy efficiency in buildings.
For head of the EPA, Obama picked former New Jersey environmental protection commissioner Lisa Jackson. Jackson previously worked for the EPA for 16 years before she joined the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, which she has run since 2006. She also supported efforts to create a cap-and-trade system among Northeastern states. READ MORE
Gore to meet with Obama on Tuesday
Although Al Gore has made it clear that he is not interested in an Obama cabinet position, he will be meeting with the President-elect on Tuesday morning. While it doesn’t appear that Gore will be reconsidering his position, Obama has made it clear that he wants Gore to have a strong voice in shaping climate policy.
With Obama still needing to name a pick for his top energy and environmental cabinet positions, Gore could provide some valuable guidance.
‘Climate change is not the story of our time’
Andrew Revkin at Dot Earth, quotes a talk he gave to Columbia University journalism students recently, where he insightfully explains why climate change is not “the story of our time”:
Q. Obviously climate change is the biggest story on your plate right now, but looking ahead what do you see?
A. My coverage has evolved. Climate change is not the story of our time. Climate change is a subset of the story of our time, which is that we are coming of age on a finite planet and only just now recognizing that it is finite. So how we mesh infinite aspirations of a species that’s been on this explosive trajectory – not just of population growth but of consumptive appetite – how can we make a transition to a sort of stabilized and still prosperous relationship with the Earth and each other is the story of our time. READ MORE
