Here's something I don't get. Couldn't we put generators on each wheel of any vehicle to charge a battery pack "engine"? And even add mini wind turbs with air scoops wherever to augment? Why aren't we there already?
Last 5 years, US solar subsidies ~$1B. Fossil fuel got $72B. Huh. Why, America? And this is not the only why, America.
US coal-fired power plants to provide growth platform for Babcock and Wilcox's Power Generation Group for next couple of years. They build, service boilers and enviro control systems. 1H12 net income $155M v. $85 yoy, revs $1.6B v. $1.4.
Hearings on Davis-Besse (Toledo) First Energy nuke plant cracks in outer 2.5 ft-thick concrete structure discovered last year. Cracks formed in '78 blizzard. Windblown rain soaked concrete before rapid freeze caused the moisture to freeze in the concrete. First E proposing weather-proofing, monitoring any crack formation or expansion. NRC concluded that should prevent reoccurence if properly implemented. The concrete basically keeps moisture away from the steel rebar. Situation not comparable to now-shuttered Crystal River FL where improper prep for cutting access hole caused extensive problems.
NRG Energy to add 75MW NG-fired unit at Parish power plant 2 years ahead of sked. ERCOT operates with 13.75% target reserve margin. It's to be a "peaker" unit. NG-powered jet engine, basically. Can reach full capac in minutes. Cost up to $100M. In '15, it will be taken off grid to support pilot carb capture system for 1 of coal units which is to get $167M from DOE. Captured CO2 will enhance prod from aging Gulf coast oil/gas wells. NRG plans to submit permit for another large unit in next few months. They also added 1.1GW of gen to TX grid this summer from mothballed units.
After fracking, used water turns into chem-laced brine 6x saltier than ocean. >100B gal of water to be used this year. Soon to be $9B/y industry to treat it.
Obama slamming Romney's opposition to wind E tax cred. Romney says it's ill-advised and wasteful. Really. Sorry, wrong side of history. Romney campaign calls the governor a "strong supporter" of wind power. Huh. And argues the industry would benefit from less govt support. Yea, well, give that same argument to the fossil fuel industry.
Idaho PUC holding 3 days of hearings over Idaho Power curtailing Rockland Wind's turbines for over 35 hours. I think, fellow rockheads, we have reached the limits of utilities' patience for new energy. They don't like change. They like the established, entrenched system. The easy greasy.
Thousand of youngsters getting lessons in ag and clean E on a floating farm in the Hudson.
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