GREETINGS FROM OUR SOLAR POWERED OFFICE

Last summer in the northern Rockies was
pretty
strange….July was cool and spring-like and many folks’
gardens were delayed by the lack of heat. But the mild warm
autumn made up for it, and it was another bumper haul from
the Oasis garden and orchard. We couldn’t keep up with the
plums and apples, again! Who planted all those trees,
anyway? It seemed like a good idea at the time…..And this
winter has certainly been the real deal. La Nina, they say...
For those of you who aren’t “on line”, or are beginning
your project, we have an extremely informative Product
Catalog on disc for $10 ($18 out of country)—essential for
your energy library! Products, system sizing, pricing,
components, importance of energy efficient appliances,
battery care, and wind turbines are just some of the topics covered.
If you are on-line, you can see example systems at
www.oasismontana.com/systems.html.
To assist your information input, we’ve tried to develop as much
on-line information as we can. For solar water pumping, see
www.PVsolarpumps.com; for utility-tied photovoltaic systems, visit
www.grid-tie.com; for efficient AC appliances, DC ’fridges, coolers
and freezers see www.eco-fridge.com; for natural and LP gas
appliances, see www.LPappliances.com. Our main index page is
www.oasismontana.com and we now offer composting toilets at
www.eco-potty.com. Visit our web pages and stay a while!
Late Winter - February 2011 Newsletter Index:
NORTHWESTERN ENERGY offers grants to help
qualified Montanans afford grid tied PV systems!
At this writing, this year we’ve been able to install four separate
grid-tied PV systems that have qualified for NWE’s grants of $3/watt
(up to two kilowatts) in our installation area. Our first system was
for Gary and Karen Pelkey (of ‘Wild About Pets’ in Hamilton, MT).
They put an 8.2KW system on their brand new pole barn at their dog
boarding facility near Corvallis, MT (Daly Dog Care). The
decision to buy solar modules was a no-brainer for Karen & Gary.
“The numbers are tremendous,” Gary explained. “You’d have to be
crazy not to do it now.” With the $6000 grant from Northwest Energy,
combined with the 30% federal and $500 state tax credits, the
installed cost of solar power is coming down significantly.
“It’s going to cover about 68% of the power used on the property on
average,” Gary explained. And for Gary and Karen, the decision to
switch to the sun offers more than financial benefits. “Energy costs
are going to rise, so becoming self-sufficient is important”, says
Gary. “The
environmental aspect is important to us as well.”
Barb and Justin Stewart, of Hamilton, MT,
(below left) put their ten modules on a pole mount that is easy to
adjust seasonally. After the NWE $6000 grant, the 30% federal tax
incentive and the $500 state tax credit, these two kilowatt systems,
installed, cost their owners less than $7000. Kudos to our
green-thinking neighbors in western Montana!
 |
 The 2 KW roof mounted system, above, is for June
Russell of Hamilton, MT. “It’s just the right thing to do”, she
says, “and also a hedge against utility inflation”
|
Oasis Montana pricing as of Jan. 2011 - call for current prices
SOLAR MODULE PRICING—call for availability,
freight costs, and quantities (# of modules) on pallets for the best
deal. You can’t get less than a pallet quantity to get the pallet
‘deal’. For larger modules, pallet quantity generally runs between
20 and 40 modules, and oft times there are significant additional
charges for less than pallet quantities.
Solar Module Description
Sharp NT-175UI, 175W, 4.95A, 35.4V (62.01” X 32.52”)
Sharp ND-130UJF, 130W, 17.4V, 7.5A (26.1” X 59.0”)
Sharp NE80EJEA, 80W, 4.63A, 17.3V (47.28” X 21.14”)
SANYO HIT195, 195W, 3.53A, 55.3V (51.9” X 34.6”)
Sanyo HIT190, 190W, 3.47A, 54.8V (51.9” X 34.6”)
Sanyo HIT Double 200W, 3.56A, 56.2V (53.2”X35”)
Sanyo HIT 205W SALE!, 5.05A, 40.7V (62.2” X 31.4”)
(while supplies last)
SAMSUNG LPC235, 235W, 6.21A, 29.9V (64.2” X 38.7”)
SOLON Black 225W 225W, 7.76A, 29.0V (64.5” X 39.37”)
TRINA SOLAR
TSM220PA05 220W, 7.39A, 29.80V (64.96” X 39.05”)
SUNTECH stp175/24, 175W, 4.95A, 35.2V (62.20” X 31.81”)
CANADIAN SOLAR 230W, 7.7V, 29.8A (64.48” X 38.66”)
Canadian Solar 220W
EVERGREEN 210W, 11.48A, 18.3V (65.0” X 37.5”)
SOLTECH
SOL-1012 10W, .58A, 17.2V (14.49” X 12.2”)
SOLARWORLD 230W, 6.18A, 26.6V (39.4” X 65.94”)
KYOCERA
KD215GX-LPU 215W, 8.09A, 26.6V (59.1” X 39.0”)
KD210GX 210W, 7.90A, 26.6V (59.1” X 39.0”)
KD205GX-LP 205W, 7.71A, 26.6V (59.1” X 39”)
KD185GX 185W, 7.84A, 23.6V (52.7” X 39.0”)
KD135GX 135W, 7.63A, 17.7V (59.1 X 26.3”)
(Some Kyocera modules may have a 2-3 month lead time)
Kyocera KC85T 87W, 17.4V, 5.02A (39.6” X 25.7”)
Kyocera KC50T,
Kyocera KC40T, 43W, 17.4”, 2.48” (20.7” X 25.7”)
Kyocera KS20, 20W, 16.9V, 1.20 A (20.47” X 13.85”)
Kyocera KS10, 10W, 16.9V, 0.60A (11.96” X 13.85”)
Kyocera KS5, 5W, 16.9V, 0.29A (8.07” X 13.85”) $77 $64
LUMOS LS185, 185W, 35.8V, 5.17A (31.8” x 62.2) Pallet
(ONLY) of 28
|
Unit price
$583
$527
$369
$1085
$1042
$1289
$879
$711
$713
$583
$549
$707
$676
$702
$109
$795
$690
$655
$637
$575
$460
$465
$293
$240
$198
$119
$77
$485 |
Pallet price
$560
$507
$339
$954
$939
$198
$829
$682
$685$560
$525
$670
$635
$675
$775
$661
$588
$574
$518
$449
$455
$283
$229
$174
$105
$64 |
In Europe they have taken half the cigarette packet
to tell you smoking kills. I’m going to insist it should
also say on the back, “Death awaits you whether you
smoke or not.”
—David Hockney |
GAS APPLIANCES: Propane refrigerators, freezers,
ranges, cooktops - www.LPappliances.com for information.
Servel propane refrigerator, 8 cu.ft.
capacity
Crystal Cold 11 cu.ft. capacity propane ’fridge
Crystal Cold 15 cu.ft. capacity
Crystal Cold 18 cu.ft. capacity
Stainless 18 cu.ft. capacity (w/ black textured sides)
Crystal Cold 19 cu.ft. (white, black or bisque)
Stainless 19 cu.ft. (w/ black sides)
NEW 21 cu.ft. capacity Crystal Cold ‘Fridge
(Now available in white, black or bisque)
NEW 21 cu.ft. capacity stainless gas ‘fridge
Blizzard 15 cu.ft. capacity upright freezer
Blizzard 18 cu.ft. capacity upright freezer
Blizzard 22 cu.ft. capacity upright freezer |
$1369
$1749
$1999
$2199
$2299
$2299
$2350
$2399
$2450
$2099
$2375
$2875
|
The Servel propane refrigerator can be converted
to use natural gas for $200 (includes re-crating). The Crystal
Cold refrigerators and Blizzard 10 to 18 cu.ft. freezers can be
converted to natural gas for $50; the Blizzard 22 cu.ft. freezer
can be converted to natural gas for $100 (more costly as this
model has two gas absorption units on it). No power is no
problem with these gas ‘fridges and freezers! We also offer
propane & natural gas cooktops, Italian made by Verona; these
professional cooking appliances are available in a wide variety
of finishes (stainless, black, bisque and black glass), with
two, four and five burner models. Visit www.LPappliances.com for
pictures and specifications.
CONTROLLERS & REGULATORS are essential
for complete battery charging while preventing overcharging.
Sizing a charge controller is based on the input amperage and
voltage of the solar array. Sungard 4 (4.5A by Morningstar) $32
Sunsaver 6 (handles up to 6.5A) $48 (with low voltage disconnect
option $59) Sunsaver 10 (handles up to 10A) $55 (with LVD
option, $70) also available in 24V NEWSunsaver Duo 12V 25A
(charges two batteries,w/ display & LCD) $188 - -great for RVs!
Prostar PS15 $112; PS15M (with meter) $179; PS 30 $152; PS 30M
$219 Tristar Charge Controller, 60A, 12 to 48V, multiple
settings & screens, $218; 45A, $169,Tristar Digital Meter for
their 45A or 60A charge controller $99 5 yr. warranty on
Morningstar products Outback Power 60A Controller (MPPT, 60A
with varying voltage input) $619 We can provide most brands of
solar charge controllers, from Blue Sky Energy (formerly RV
Power Products) to Specialty Concepts. Call us for availability
and your pricing.
WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THE PLUMS: It was yet
another bumper crop of European type plums this past year. This
recipe for plum torte has been around for a while, but if you
haven't seen it, it’s a great way to deal with too much fruit
(and also works with raspberries, peaches and apricots).
Ingredients:

1/4 lb (1 stick) butter, softened 3/4 cup plus 1-2 tblspns.
sugar
1 cup unbleached flour
1 tsp. baking powder
2 eggs pinch salt
24-28 pitted plum halves
4 to 8 tblspns. lemon juice
1 tsp. cinnamon or more, to taste.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream butter and
3/4 cup of sugar; add flour, baking powder, eggs, salt and mix
well. Spoon the thick batter into a greased 9 or 10 inch spring
form pan (or 9 inch round cake pan). Cover the top with plums,
skin sides up. Drizzle lemon juice over the top. Mix the
cinnamon with the remaining 1-2 tablespoons of sugar and
sprinkle over the top. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a cake
tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven
and let cool; refrigerate or freeze, wrapped double in foil if
desired. To reheat, you can thaw it, or just pop the whole thing
into a 350 degree oven for a half hour. Serve plain or with
vanilla ice cream, whipped cream (or brandy). Mmmmm, it’s a
great way to enjoy a good harvest!
New Marine Grade Solar Modules by
Eco-Energy: GANZ Eco-Energy’s fully weatherproof solar modules
are designed to provide clean, quiet and reliable power in 6W,
12Wand 30Wmodels for rugged marine and other outdoor
applications. An unbreakable plastic film surface with
semi-flexible aluminum backing make these panels ideal for
mounting on flat or gently curved decks. These solar cells have
a very high conversion efficiency, providing maximum power while
taking up less space on deck or in your backpack. Each panel has
4 grommet finished holes for mounting along with 10 ft. of 12
gauge outdoor rated cable that connects directly to your battery
or a charge controller.

Specifications:
Maximum Output |
CPV30
30 watts |
CPV12
12 watts |
CPV6
6 watts |
Max Output Current |
1.74A |
.78A |
.39A |
Max Output Voltage |
17.2V |
15.3V |
15.3V |
Short Circuit Current |
1.93A |
.86A |
.42A |
Open Circuit Voltage |
21.6V |
19.3V |
19.2V |
Length |
22.1" |
15.8" |
11.8" |
Width |
20.5" |
14.1" |
10" |
Weight |
4.4 lbs |
2.3 lbs |
1.4 lbs |
Price |
$299 |
$130 |
$65 |
As a guideline, a charge controller should be
used when the solar panel to battery ratio exceeds 10Wto 100Ah.
These modules offer a 20 year power output warranty (1-10 Years
90%; 11-20 Years 80%); 2 year materials limited warranty; made
in China, very similar to the former Solarex “MSX Lite” product
line. These are built to give you years of economic power and
portability for RVs, boats, traffic signals, marine environment,
wherever you need portable & reliable power.
Hello folks: For those of you who've received
our paper flier, you will not be seeing information about the
new Unique brand of stoves in our e-newsletter; unfortunately
these are no longer available to us as they have been
discontinued from our supplier. BUT, the Peerless Premier line
of stoves will still be available (at least until later in the
year) as a non-electric gas piloted model, and also as an
electronic ignition model (where you can light the oven and
burners with a match in the absence of AC power). And in the
meanwhile, the Peerless Premier manufacturers are working on a
non-electric model that will work off of a small battery pack,
basically making a DC electronic ignition model. So stand by as
more changes are in the works! These are still available without
a heating element or glow-bar. We have a nice brochure on these
we can pop into the mail, if you'd like a hard copy, or visit
http://www.LPappliances.com/stovemodels.html for more
information. And one other thing--the price of steel worldwide
has really gone up in the past four months, so we are looking at
what may be a significant price increase come April 1st. No
foolin!
Kill-A-Watt Meter: This electricity detector and monitor can
educate you about your monthly electric bill and help you save a
lot of money. You can now be a ’detective’ and ascertain what
appliances are actually worth keeping plugged in. Simply plug in
the Kill-A-Watt meter, connect your appliances to it and
Kill-a-Watt will assess how efficient it really is, showing you
the instantaneous power used, and also cumulative energy or
kilowatt-hours used. Kill-a-Watt, with an easy-to-read LCD
display, will count consumption by the kilowatt-hour, same as
your local utility. With the help of Kill-a-Watt you can figure
out your electrical expenses by the day, week, month or year on
a given device. Kill-a-Watt can check the quality of
your power by monitoring Voltage, Line Frequency, and Power
Factor. Still just $29. Now you'll know if it is time to
install a power strip on your entertainment center instead of
feeding those ghosts loads while you are sleeping or away from
home. Or, is that laptop really cheaper to power than a desktop
PC? And how much power does that HD TV use?
Operating Voltage: 115VAC
Max Voltage: 125VAC,
Max Current: 15A Max Power: 1875W
Dimensions: 5 1/8” x 1 5/8” x 2 3/8”
$29 plus shipping or two for $56
Check out this nice Kill-A-Watt article:
http://blog.oregonlive.com/pdxgreen/2010/12/kill_a_watt_success_based_on_m.html
One kind word can warm three winter months.
--Japanese Proverb |
The patented Zep System enables rapid coupling
and automatic grounding of solar module arrays. The Zep System
(U.S. Patent #7,592,537, U.S. & Int'l Patents Pending) works
with all solar modules that include a Zep Groove on the outside
surface of an otherwise conventional solar module frame. The
system requires no rails, making it easier to ship, warehouse
and most importantly, install.
The heart of the Zep System is a specialized stainless steel
fastener called the Zep. This quarter-turn coupling rapidly
locks
into the Zep Groove, enabling a drop-in installation action for
one side of each PV module. The Zep also cuts through the
module frame's anodization to secure a solid ground path while
simultaneously allowing for real-world factors like tolerance
take-up and thermal expansion. The Zep coupling is integrated
into our two core components: the Interlock and the Leveling
Foot.
Zep mount system features
include: · Dramatically reduced installation time
· Eliminates mounting rails and clip hardware
· Eliminates separate grounding hardware
· Ultra reliable hyper-bonded grounding matrix
· Rapid, top-accessible precision array leveling
· Ultra low parts count - 3 parts for entire array
· Enhanced aesthetics - low-profile, straight & level |
May there always be work for your
hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or
two;
May the sun always shine on your
windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each
rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near
you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to
cheer you. And may you be in
heaven half an hour before the devil
knows your dead. (Irish Blessing) |
|
Huge Cost Savings combined with the substantial PV module price reductions of
2010, Zep technology is opening the door to unprecedented solar
pricing levels. With far less material and a rapid method of
installation, the Zep System can realize savings of over $0.50
per Watt or more – that’s up to $2,000 in savings on a typical 4
kW system! And because the Zep System installs faster than
conventional systems, solar installation companies can install
more kWs per crew each day, allowing for better margins on
labor and a significant increase in the deployment of solar
energy.

2.3kW Zep roof mounted system:
This system will utilize 10
Canadian Solar 230 watt solar
modules and a PV Powered
string inverter.
Typical cost breakdown:
Equipment total = $10,850
Installation Estimate = $1,980
Project base cost = $12,830
Minus 30% federal tax credit
=
$3849
*Total Project cost = $8981
(cost may not include your site
specifics, racking options or destination
costs which vary place to place)
On average, this system will produce
~8.6 per day or ~249kW
per month with the array oriented
due south and mounted flush on
a 6/12 roof with un-obstructed
sunlight and 5 hours of full sun.
Note: there may be more solar incentives for you! Visit http://www.dsireusa.org
for more info.
NEW PRODUCT FROM OUTBACK POWER!
Battery based inverter for grid-tie PV systems, SmartRE
SmartRE is the revolutionary Smart Renewable Energy solution
from OutBack Power,
bringing you simplified grid-tie solar with back-up power for
residential and small commercial
applications. Designed with an emphasis on ease of installation,
a SmartRE solution
installs and operates similarly to basic grid-tie solar
inverters but with the unique
additional benefit of providing UPS quality battery back-up
during utility outages. An
integrated ultra-fast AC transfer switch guarantees that even
sensitive back-up loads,
like computers, never know when a utility outage occurs.
Recommended AGM batteries
are maintained and charged by an innovative OutBack multi-stage
charging process.
This valuable feature assists in providing reliable back-up
power and will help extend
your battery life up to 10 years.
The SmartRE is a versatile product and can be installed both
indoors and outdoors.
Available in power levels up to 3kW and capable of providing as
much as 69 kWh of
back-up power during outages, there is a SmartRE solution for
your application. With
matching type 3R rainproof power electronics and battery
enclosures constructed of aluminum,
a SmartRE solution can be either wall or pad mounted, making
this the most
versatile grid-tie with battery backup solution on the market.
This solution is designed
and manufactured by OutBack Power to ensure that a SmartRE
solution works reliably
for years to come. A standard 5-year warranty, with an option to
add an additional five
year warranty, provides peace of mind.
Ease of installation, UPS quality battery back-up, and solutions
as large as 3kW along
with proven OutBack engineering makes the SmartRE system the
Smart choice for a
premium Grid-Interactive solar power system. Now available from
Outback Power, you
can view specifications on this new product at
http://www.outbackpower.com/docman/1401107071220SmartRE_Spec_Sheet.pdf
Note: there may be more solar incentives for you! Visit
http://www.dsireusa.org
for more info.
Call or e-mail us for availability or
additional information as needed! 406-777-4321 or
info@oasismontana.com
Energy Efficient SunDanzer Upright Combination
Refrigerator and Freezer
Save on energy costs with the SunDanzer DCRF134 DC
Refrigerator/Freezer Combination unit. This single door upright
unit is perfect for remote cabins and situations where a chest
style is just not practical. Even with its small footprint, it
still has food storage capacity of 4.7 cubic feet. The built-in
freezer compartment is perfect for making ice and storing small
frozen items.
High quality construction provides excellent reliability and a
long life. The powder coated galvanized steel exterior is easy
to clean. The zero maintenance, brushless,
thermostatically controlled DC compressor operates on 12 or 24
VDC.
With the added insulation and a refrigeration system optimized
for off-grid applications, this newest addition to the SunDanzer
family of energy efficient refrigeration appliances will provide
the same outstanding economical and reliable operation as the
popular chest style units.
Low energy consumption is the key that allows SunDanzer
refrigerators and freezers to be the most cost effective for use
with power from solar, wind, fuel cells or batteries. This
technology allows refrigeration in remote locations where it was
previously unavailable or prohibitively expensive.
Features:
• Reversible door and handle
• Dairy compartment and vegetable crisper
• Adjustable legs for leveling
• Scratch resistant top doubles as work surface
• Two adjustable safety glass shelves
• Internal control thermostat & temperature gauge
• 12 or 24 VDC, or 120 VAC with 12/24 VDC backup
• Environmentally friendly CFC-free refrigerant |
Applications:
• Remote homes & Eco-resorts
• Remote Stores & Beverage Vending
• Disaster Preparedness
• Churches & Schools
• Micro-enterprises
• Medical Clinics & Missionaries
• Markets & Farms
• Boats & Marine |
Specifications:
- Voltage: 10-31 VDC
- Array Size Suggested: 300 Watts
- Average Energy Use at 12VDC:
70 F – 460Whrs/day, 38 AH/day
90 F – 720 Whrs/day, 60 AH/day 110 F – 1050 Whrs/day, 88 AH/day
- Gross Capacity: 134 L / 4.7 cubic feet
- Refrigeration: 115 L / 4 cubic feet
- Freezer: 19 L / .7 cubic feet
- Exterior Dimensions (WxDxH) 23.5 x 26 x 33 in
- Shipping Dimensions (WxDxH) 26 x 28 x 40 in
- Weight: 75 lbs including packaging, ships via LTL truck
- $1099 plus
freight.
|
 |
"Corporation: An ingenious device for obtaining
individual profit without individual responsibility." —Ambrose
Bierce
Just what is the value of a solar electric power
system? We get many calls from solar wannabees, asking “What is
the
payback?’, “How much money will I save?”, and the ever popular
“How much will my utility pay me for my power?” The answers
depend on several variables, including your utility rates (and
your utility’s net metering program), your average sun resource,
incentives, and your degree of household efficiency (or lack of
it). If you live in a sunny or windy state with expensive power
costs, your rate of return or payback will be quicker than if
you live in a state where it’s cloudier, or where the utility
power is already very cheap. And first, of course, you should
endeavor to become as efficient as possible, so your power
system investment will go even further. When your utility rates
are quite high, if your location is generally sunny, and there
are decent financial incentives, you may find that investing in
a solar electric system to be a worthwhile and cost-effective
endeavor.
From a strict property value point of view, it is generally
considered that you can add $20K to your home’s value for every
$1000 reductions in annual energy costs from the installation of
a PV system. And, solar power systems actually appreciate over
time, because they increase your annual energy savings as energy
costs rise. We rate the lifespan of a solar array at ~30 years
(and many of those early NASA modules built in the 70s are still
quite functional). Solar (photovoltaic or PV) modules are
generally warranted for 20 to 25 years to make at least ~80% of
their rated power, so figuring resale value should take this
de-rating into account. GENERALLY SPEAKING, the least
expensive way to buy a solar electric system is to pay cash up
front—but those costs may be daunting. The next option may be to
add the purchase to an existing mortgage or home equity loan.
Banks no longer find the investment of PV to be an esoteric
technology, and are generally willing to work with your purchase
plans.
Incentive programs vary from state to state and neighboring
utilities may have very different (or no) incentives. In
Montana, for example, some of the co-ops and major utilities
like Northwestern Energy are quite progressive, and some we are
still trying to bring into the 21st century. You can check
http://www.dsireusa.org for information on the incentives
available in your state (this site is updated weekly).
Of course, another long term ‘incentive’ is the solid knowledge
of utilizing power with a device that is benign as a window,
with clean energy from the sun—and no contributions to fouled
salmon runs, mountaintop removal or strip mining, and no power
plant emissions for land and water and future generations!
Renewable Energy and Alternative News Bites:
Oil
and Renewables: Slicing up the Subsidy Pie...Even though
governments throughout the world are vowing to expand green
energy, they continue to give far more subsidies to fossil fuels
than renewable – 10 to 12 times more....
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/12/oil-and-renewables-slicing-up-the-subsidy-pie?cmpid=SolarNL-Tuesday-December28-2010
Report Ranks States Most Vulnerable to Oil Price Hikes: Natural
Resources Defense Council, November 4, 2010
http://www.nrdc.org/media/2010/101104.asp. According
to the 2010 edition of the annual report, "Fighting Oil
Addiction: Ranking States' Oil Vulnerability and Solutions for
Change,” the 10 states most vulnerable to oil price increases
are: #1 Mississippi, #2 Montana, #3 Louisiana, #4 Oklahoma, #5
South Carolina, #6 Texas, #7 Kentucky, #8 Utah, #9 Idaho, and
#10 Arkansas. The 10 states that are doing the most to
promote clean energy technologies and reduce their dependence on
oil are: #1 California, #2 Oregon, #3 Massachusetts, #4 New York
, #5 Connecticut, #6 Washington, #7 Pennsylvania, #8 Minnesota ,
#9 New Mexico, and #10 Hawaii. Meanwhile, the 10 states doing
the least to reduce their oil dependence are: #50 Alaska, # 49
Wyoming, #48 Nebraska, #47 Ohio, #46 West Virginia, #45
Oklahoma, #44 Mississippi, #43 Kansas, #42 Alabama, and #41
North Dakota.
Complaints about the supposedly high costs of renewable energy
by political pundits and candidates around the state of Montana
are vastly misleading and need correction. Let's set the record
straight:
http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/columnists/article_90fc5a02-dd1b-11df-bc6d-001cc4c03286.html
Solar Power Now
Cheaper Than New Nuclear in North Carolina: According to a new
report by Dr. John Blackburn, the former chancellor of Duke
University, solar electricity has become cheaper than that from
new nuclear power plants in North Carolina, and will be far less
expensive before nukes could be built. Solar photovoltaic and
hot water system costs have fallen steadily for years, and are
projected to fall even more over the
next 10 years due to manufacturing and installation advances.
The report explains that states with open competition for
electricity sales are rejecting the nuclear gamble in favor of
the combined economic and environmental benefits of solar, wind,
cogeneration and energy efficiency; at least 20 states are ahead
of North Carolina in developing clean energy. By contrast, the
report shows, states with monopoly power markets are the ones
still proposing to build new nuclear plants – with each project
absorbing billions of public dollars. Visit
http://www.ncwarn.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/NR-7-8-10-Solar-nuke-rept.pdf
for the report.
- - - - -Empire State Building retrofitted for efficiency:
http://ase.org/efficiencynews/empire-state-building-american-icon-saves-energy-money
for the story.
- - - - -Nuclear Energy Loses Cost Advantage:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/27/business/global/27iht-renuke.html?_r=1&src=busln
— In a “historic crossover,” the costs of solar photovoltaic
systems have declined to the point where they are lower than the
rising projected costs of new nuclear plants, according to a
paper “Solar and Nuclear Costs— The Historic Crossover”
published this month by John O. Blackburn, a professor of
economics at Duke University and Sam
Cunningham, a graduate student. This crossover occurred at 16
cents per kilowatt hour, they said. Similarly, another report,
“All Risk, No Reward for Taxpayers and Ratepayers,” by Mark
Cooper, senior fellow for economic analysis at the University of
Vermont Law School’s Institute for Energy and Environment notes
that while solar power costs have been declining, the costs of
nuclear power have been rising inexorably over the past eight
years.
- - - - -US continues to fall behind China in clean energy:
http://2greenenergy.com/us-renewable-portfolio-standard/6598/
- - - - -Let's see how much energy the American lifestyle
needs....
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?5402
- - - - -The US Military Is One of the Biggest Supporters of
Renewable Energy in the U.S.:
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/09/the-usmilitarys-two-pronged-renewable-energy-initiative
—Clean air mandates pushed the U.S. Department of Defense to
start developing renewable energy technologies.
But the benefits of energy security and independence are what
finally converted many military leaders into believers. In
combat zones, the Army is exploring mobile solar and wind
generators to replace fuel trucks, which are frequent targets
for insurgent attacks. More than 1,000 Americans have been
killed while delivering fuel in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent
years. Congress in 2007 gave the DoD marching orders to draw 25
percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2025.
- - - - -Dog poop powers gas street light:
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/011628.html
- - - - -Wind turbine manufacturing plant opening in Arkansas:
http://nacleanenergy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3854&Itemid=999
- - - - -IEA SaysWorld Should Eradicate Fossil Fuel Subsidies:
http://www.firstenercastfinancial.com/e_news.php?cont=40373
Referring to a pledge made earlier by G20 countries, the
International Energy Agency says abolishing fossil fuel
subsidies would boost the world's economy, environment and
energy security. In its annual "World Energy Outlook," EIA
estimated such subsidies at $312 billion in 2009, mostly in
developing countries, compared with $57 billion in subsidies for
renewable energy. Fossil fuel subsidies were on course to reach
$600 billion by 2015, and renewables subsidies more than $100
billion. Eliminating fossil fuel consumption subsidies by 2020
would cut global energy demand by 5 percent, compared with no
action, and reduce carbon emissions by nearly 6 percent by then.
World leaders had committed in Pittsburgh in 2009 to phase out
fossil fuel subsidies which encouraged wasteful consumption.
Cars and People
Compete for Grain:
http://www.earth-policy.org/index.php?/book_bytes/2010/pb4ch02_ss6
The emerging competition between the owners of the world’s 910
million automobiles and the 2 billion poorest people is taking
the world into uncharted territory. Suddenly the world is facing
an epic moral and political issue: Should grain be used to fuel
cars or feed people? The average income of the world’s
automobile owners is roughly $30,000 (or more) a year; the 2
billion poorest people earn on average less than $3,000 a year.
The market says, let’s fuel the cars. From an agricultural
vantage point, the world’s appetite for crop-based fuels is
insatiable. The grain required to fill an SUV’s 25-gallon tank
with ethanol just once will feed one person for a whole year. If
the entire U.S. grain harvest were to be converted to ethanol,
it would satisfy at most 18 percent of U.S. automotive fuel
needs. The price of grain is now tied to the price of oil….
QUOTABLE QUOTES: In the depth of winter, I
finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.
--Albert Camus
- - - -
I believe I have found the missing link between animal and
civilized man. It is us. --Konrad Lorenz
- - - -
Horse sense is the thing that horses have which keeps them from
betting on people. --W. C. Fields
- - --
Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as
warm as in the summer, when they complained about the heat.
--Unknown
- - - -
If you talk to God, you are praying; if God talks to you, you
are schizophrenic. --Thomas Szasz
- - - -
It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no
distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.
--Mark Twain
- - - -
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the
support of Paul. --George Bernard Shaw
- - --
When the snow is still blowing against the window pane in
January and February and the wild winds are howling without,
what a pleasure it is to plan for summer that is to be! --Celia
Thaxter
- - - -
Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a
miracle…a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb straining to unfurl.
And the anticipation nurtures our dream. --Barbara Winkler
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