We SO need a change in leadership.

U.S. freezes solar projects citing need for assessments.

"Faced with a surge in the number of proposed solar power plants, the federal government has placed a moratorium on new solar projects on public land until it studies their environmental impact, which is expected to take about two years."

(Ooops. There goes SDGEs Sunrise Powerlink Superhighway justification. There are still those coal fired plants in Mexico, though.)

U.S. Dept of Energy to invest $90 million in advanced geothermal research.

"The US Department of Energy (DOE) is trying to do something about that with a $90 million "Funding Opportunity Announcement"; it plans to award 26 grants to both industry and academia. "A minimum of 20% private sector cost share is required for R&D projects and funding for the awards is subject to Congressional appropriations." Hopefully, this new investment by the DOE, along with private sector funds, will help geothermal (not to be confused with residential ground source heat pumps) move forward into the spotlight. As we said before, geothermal energy has a huge potential and could be used alongside intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar."

(Why don't they just take a vacation in Iceland, take a few tours and ask some questions?)

L.A. gas station gets hydrogen fuel pump.

Yeah. But how many eletrical refueling stations are being put in?

There was a spot on the news just last night about a company in North County that will convert your junker into an EV. Cost dependent on the batteries you choose. And Abran is still offering that conversion class every summer. Looks like this summer is full, but they're taking reservations for next year. If you're interested, I wouldn't wait as I expect interest is only going to grow and space is limited.

Commuter Conversion Electric Car Class for Teachers 2008

THE CLASS IS FULL

Next class will be Summer 2009.

From 28 July 2008 to 8 August 2008 there will be the 2008 class where participants will learn how to convert a stick-shift gasoline powered car into an electric vehicle. The class will cover both theory of how electric vehicles are designed, and the actual hands-on installation of motor, batteries, controller, and all the other components necessary for a working and fully functional [freeway legal] electric vehicle.
Workshop Coordinators are Jon Karanopoulos & Abrán Quevedo (Mr. Q). Tuition cost is $300 per workshop participant. Class begins on Monday, July 28 and ends on Friday, August 8 2008. Each class runs from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. daily. Professional Growth Units (PGU) may be available at time of registration. Class at the San Diego Community College District's San Diego High School, 1405 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101. For registration and motel accommodations or questions contact [email protected] or [email protected] or phone (619) 744-3821.


And hey, look what I found. LOL. For $30,000 I would have bought one.

 

I believe geothermal is usually based around existing hot springs. We have several in the So. Cal area. And the technology has been used for years in France and Iceland. Instead of investing $90 million to reinvent the wheel, perhaps we should be pumping them for info and technology? Why does the U.S. have to assume we're the only ones that know anything, know the most, do it the best. (If this were true, Germany wouldn't be #1 in Solar PV and it looks like will remain so for at least 2 years.)

 

I have to agree with those saying using geothermal is a blip that will never register with the core temp of the earth.

That said....I'm tired of hearing every suggestion shot down with it won't replace the oil we're using. That's right. It won't. And neither will....the oil we're using since we're running out of that and sooner than we think.

That said....there is no ONE solution to replacing oil...but there are half a dozen or more. We have to approach the problem from many different directions with many different solutions. Depending on where you are in the country, it may be solar PV, wind, geothermal, tides, methane from landfills and animal poo, who knows? But to just sit around doing nothing hoping for some miracle isn't going to do it either. We can't just continue business as usual and just hope 1. and infinite supply of oil will magically be found 2. there will be no consequences for the continued use of and expansion of use of oil 3. we won't have to make any changes at all in the way we live. That isn't going to happen. So we can start now and make the change as painless as possible. Or we can wait and make it as painful as possible.

I personally think the U.S. is STUPID to delay solar for two years.

And where is our EV superhighway infrastructure?