Burner Trouble » emissions

Can geothermal power be cheaper than coal?

martin — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:51:25 +0000

Apparently, according to Scientific American.

Once you’ve built the plant you don’t need to refuel it. Ever. And there are zero emissions. And they run 24 hours a day forever (no storage problem). And they can’t blow up or leak dangerous radiation.

So what are we waiting for?

Trying a new format to get blogging again

martin — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:37:02 +0000

Going to try Kottke style…

Simple device increases diesel engine efficiency by 19% for less than $200.

We’re trading carbon credits in NY now. Going for $3.07 per ton….

Solar power breakthrough funded by Rochester entrepreneur

martin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:04:54 +0000

Scientists at MIT have unveiled what many consider to be the Holy Grail of alternative energy research. They have discovered a simple and inexpensive way to store the energy generated from solar systems. Storage is critical because it solves the night/clouds problem and the battery problem. Their method splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using the electricity generated by the solar source. The hydrogen can be stored and used in fuel cells for virtually any kind of power generation. Until now cracking hydrogen from water has cost more in power than the energy value of the hydrogen. Now, with this system, which the inventors claim is only a few years away from commercial viability, we could have an inexhaustible source of clean energy that can be used anywhere, at any time. It should be noted that the only byproduct of using hydrogen fuel cells is pure water.

While time will tell whether this is the huge breakthrough it appears to be, the reception among informed scientists and engineers is more positive than we usually see when someone makes these kinds of claims.

For me the really interesting local angle of this story is that this research was funded by a ten million dollar donation from a foundation created by Rochester entrepreneur Arunis Chaesonis, founder of Paetec, a very successful telecom based here. Wouldn’t it be great if a breakthrough energy story came out of innovative thinking in Rochester?

One other thing: GM has long had their fuel cell hydrogen car project based in Rochester at a skunkworks operation in Honeoye Falls. The only thing holding back their technology has been a lack of efficient hydrogen production and delivery infrastructure. So this is a double win for Rochester.

Bush-Cheney Successfully Defies Supreme Court on EPA Emissions Policy

martin — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:59:41 +0000

They believe they are totally above the law. And are completely willing to sacrifice the future of the planet and their own grandchildren for their own short term gain.

Criminal- I hope I see both of them in prison in my lifetime.