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I don’t think the certificates are designed to save you money. My utility company has a program called greeen energy that cost me about 1/2 of 1%, so about $10 in the summer. They will buy electricity from renewable/clean sources in the amount that the participants in the program use. This helps build the demand for renewable energy and fund new projects. Part of the program also helps with the rebates offered for homes and businesses to install solar systems.

I know you can buy credits to offset travel and a variety of other things, but again I don’t think they are designed to save money. It is a way for people who want to do their part to reduce carbon emissions to help fund programs that will help reduce CO2 in other ways.

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You could invest the money in a variety of renewable enrgy projects and sell the carbon credits on the Chicago Climate Exchange or some other carbon trading market. The offset receipts could be applied towards additional investments in renewable energy, which would generate more offsets for sale, and so on. Given enough returns, those wishing to sell thier offsets to our non-profit could do so at a certain percentage above the market price based on the type of offset as an incentive at the organization’s expense (granted, it would take the hit). Those wanting to buy carbon offsets from our non-profit could do so at market price BUT commission-free as an incentive.

Of course, this is hypothetical. I’m not an economist and I’m not sure if selling credits off the Climate Exchange would constitute market manipulation.

For the record, some of the members of the VOLUNTARY Chicago Climate Exchange include:
Ford Motor Company
DuPont
Sacremento County, CA
Eastman Kodak Company (Kodak Film)
Bayer Corporation
Motorola

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It’s a term for putting a plan into action that will look after the current generation now, (in terms of energy) but makes sure that the needs of future generations will be met as well.

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A. No Pollution – Wind turbines, solar panels, and hydro turbines emit no pollutants during operation. However, if they are manufactured in a non-green manner, they will create pollutants during the manufacturing and construction process. This answer could use a qualifier, which makes me think it is NOT the correct answer.

B. Saves Money – Wind turbines, solar panels, and hydro turbines technically have no operating costs. But, they do not begin to save money until the initial cost of production is less than the cost of using an alternative source of energy up to that same future date. In other words, renewable energy sources do not save money until they are used for a long period of time, but they theoretically will save money if they are used properly. This could be the correct answer, but let’s still look at the other.

C. Clean Fuel – Wind, the sun, and water are clean fuel sources. Collecting wind, the sun, and most water sources does not require mining, or extracting like natural gas, oil, and coal. Renewable energy sources are clean and usually free. I think this is the BEST answer.

D. Sustainable energy – This is NOT the answer, as you said.

— This question could use more details, but I think the best answer is “C”.

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Let’s wait to see what they’ll have to say in a few decades when one of their lives is saved by gene therapy or a stem-cell derived treatment.

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I don’t know any web sites but I can tell you why I don’t like the idea of tax credits for alternative energy. Tax credits are a penalty against conventional energy sources. If the alternatives are so great they shouldn’t need tax credits to make them competitive. Using tax credits to make alternative energy able to compete with conventional sources doesn’t encourage the companies that make alternatives from improving their products to compete in a free market. The tax credits have to be replaced with some other source of revenue or savings. The term “savings” is not known to the government so they raise taxes or increase the deficit. Their is also the administrative cost of monitoring the tax credits. That means more government. Let the laws of supply and demand work without government interference

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Well, first off, if anyone knew the exact answer to your question, they would be a bazillionaire. That being said, I’m going to make a feeble attempt to predict:

I think that the national security/defense/military sector, while always a big market, may slow down in the next ten years. Despite the explosion of the national security market since Sept. 11, it will begin to slow, especially if a Democrat gets elected president in 2008, and the US pulls out of Iraq.

RFIDs, and related technologies, will be growing, and people who really get creative about marketing new applications for this technology will make it big.

The internet, despite the dotcom “bust”, is always evolving and growing. Blogging, podcasting, collaborative and social networks, and all of the other new developments will be big players. However, be wary of “e-fads” which will come and go quickly.

China is going to be HUGE. Experts are predicting that China will replace the US as the major world economic power. China’s massive population and the outsourcing trends from the US and Japan have come together to create massive economic growth in China. Their use and applications of technology are head and shoulders above the US. For example, in Asia you can wave your cell phone in front of a Coke machine and it will automatically dispense a drink and charge your checking account or credit card.

Sustainable energy and alternative fuels could be big, but there will have to be a LOT more investment in research and development, and consumer acceptance will have to grow dramatically. The major automakers have rolled out several hybrid vehicles, but sales have been slow due to lagging performance, increased cost, and the fact that they are marketed to the super-progressive ecowarriors instead of the average Joe Autobuyer.

Finally, despite talk of a real estate bust, there is always a need for housing and office space. There is a huge trend of urban revitalization, and outdoor shopping malls called “lifestyle centers” are leading the way. Case Study: Atlanta’s Atlantic Station. The developers replaced an abandoned steel mill with a massive shopping center, movie theatre, and enough housing for 100,000 people.

Nanotech and biomed will continue to grow, but super high-tech industries such as these can have large barriers to entry for the entrepreneur.

Hope this helps.

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If we switch from oil-based energy reliance to a local resource like biomass it would bring $ to the US that would have gone to the middle east or elsewhere, boosting the US economy. HOWEVER, the real opportunity is not just sustainable energy but a sustainable society – one where we reduce consumption dramatically and insist on renewable natural resources. One where we embrace abundant living (wind and sun, gardens, music, friends) and minimize economic living (oil, steel, walmart, plastic). If that happens, we won’t even think to ask about “economic impact” as a primary concern. But don’t bet your Prius on it!

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I would not get hung up on the renewable energy piece in terms of a degree. It’s not an industry in itself, but a competing service against coal, oil, water and nuclear. Figure out the energy part before focusing on the renewable.

You should look to figuring out what aspect of renewable energy you like then go with that. While you are studying, you can then seek faculty guidance and concentrate on renewable energy there.

Example – Become a civil engineer to build buildings and structures. Then focus on what you learned to do a senior project about hydroelectric dams.

Example – Study organic chemistry and develop an organic compound that can compete against silicon for solar generation. You don’t need to know about renewable energy to do organic chemistry, but you need organic chemistry to make the technology work.

Learn the basics, then make it better.

Good luck!

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Renewable energy can supply a significant proportion of the United States’ energy needs, creating many public benefits for the nation and for states and regions, including environmental improvement, increased fuel diversity and national security, and regional economic development benefits.

It provides environmental benefits such as cleaning air pollution. It can also be a good sources of sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

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* The European Energy and Climate Policy:
————————————————————–
=> Proposed by the Directorate General of Environment (DG ENV) and the Directorate for Energy (both part of the Commission)
=> Based on approaches and recommandations/inputs from independant private consultants
=> Input from the civil society (industry lobbies and NGOs as well)
=> Final legislative package decided by the directorates
=> Vote by the EU Parliament
=> Once a directive has been implemented by the parliament it is mandated that national states translate it into their national law.

* National laws of EU countries:
————————————————————–
* For example, garuanteed purchase price for renewable electricity (as first implemented in Germany), known as “feed-in tariff
* Based on EU aggregated goal for renewable energy (20% by 2020) and the split of the effort into national goals
* Put in national legislations

Some US states and even developing countries (total of 50 countries) have adopted equivalents of the european concept of feed-in tariff for renewable power generation

Low chances of similar sustainable development goals in the US as a result of MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND SLOW POLICY MAKING. The reasons are: dogma of parties, low consensus, low interest and off course the lobbying of established industries which prefer to fight change than to adapt.

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Http://www.garretthardinsociety.org/articles/art_tragedy_of_the_commons.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability
http://dieoff.org/page110.htm
http://www.energybulletin.net/node/3834
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_intensity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complexity,_Problem_Solving,_and_Sustainable_Societies
http://greedgreengrains.blogspot.com/2009/10/ifpri-report-on-climate-change-and-food.html

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Financially the most profitable for an individual that would have to be sales.

Personally I find more satisfaction in using my mind and my hands over the use of my mouth in making a living and a contribution to the world.

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Consider God’s divine hand and how he has the the four seasons to give different stages for life. In spring life spouts up from the old, among the decayed matter which it uses for growth – food, in summer it grows and blooms, in Autumn it begins the dying or hibernation process and shed the growth – such as leaves on the tree which insulate the ground to keep the tree roots warmer and to nourish the earth. Then in spring those decayed leaves have formed a rich layer of peat or black dirt from which the plants must grow.

Now do you see how recycling is part of God’s own plan?

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Every president for the past 40+ years has said that we will become independent of imported fuel within 10 years….. Sadly, that has not happened yet.

The problems are many, but, in my opinion, primarily one of politics. The people in congress are more concerned with fund raising and being reelected than with <> addressing energy issues. One administration may start up some very forward looking programs and policies, then when the presidency changes parties, or the congress does, the other side defunds or cancels those programs and mocks the attempts to help develop sustainable energy policies.

Then it reverses the next time. There has never been a consistent, rational, long term approach from the government towards the issues of energy.

Pretty sad, if you ask me, and has been an absolutely terrible waste of energy.

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Conservatives aren’t wrong about war and tragedies stimulating economies as the need to supply the effects of those occurrences. However the recent natural disasters too did cause economic stimulation however government supply as much capital as some desired. When reconstruction from this disaster began insurance companies paid out for damages to their customers. This capital was not being used in the economy before and now it is, therefore more capital in those regional economies means economic stimulation in those areas. As to why the same energy systems were put in place is because joule for joule there is no more effective and efficient system in existence. Alternative energies are currently not anymore economically more sensible than conventional energies. When individuals decide to rebuild they choose the most economically sensible choice to maximize their reimbursement from insurance. I’m sure there are some individuals that decided that using more green technology as it may be economic feasible.
As to why it may be ideal for the government not to be directly involved in introducing green tech in to the effected areas may be that rushing in and not Analyze the economic structure of an area may not make economical sense. An example of something like this occurring is an ethanol plant near my house. Several years ago the government rushed in and subsidized for a plant to be build, However economic reasons the plant was shut down within a year. (Is now used as a water draw point for frac water). Point being in a situation as such it may not be economically sustainable for government to offer when it comes to certain systems.
As our climate changes (not necessarily due to human related causes) humans will do as they have been for centuries when the climate and environment change: Adapt and overcome. In these adaptions, economic stimulation can occur as it becomes more economical to change.

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Hi, This is a good question and I have your answer, This is a very simple thing to do you can buy all your materials in any store as simple as using a 6″ PVC Tube to make the blades for your wind generator. E-bay has a lot of DC Generators that are good to use as a wind generator. I bought a guide named earth4energy and they show how to make a wind generator in 3 simple steps. You can find this guide at : www.greenproductsolutionpr.com and also a lot of information about renewable energy.

Steps to make a wind generator :

Definitions:

Generator:
This wind turbine transforms wind power into electricity, with the use of an A DC Motor that generates the power to spin the blades,
Options include:
 Electric lawn mower motors that have been recycled.
 All motors made by Ametek.
 Alternators with a permanent magnet (car alternators).

In order to find a DC motor you can check eBay, or look for inexpensive power tools. Drills, screwdrivers and other tools are a great way to find inexpensive DC motors although they do not generate much energy they are great for smaller projects. A great DC motor/generator is the Ametek 30VDC as pictured below. I purchased this DC motor for about $50 from ebay.

Http://www.earth4energy.com/recommends/ebay-ametekwindgenerators.php

Blades:

building PVC blades from an old pipe please watch our instruction video from the members page.
 Acquire a 6-inch wide, 24-inch long PVC pipe.
 Quarter the piece of pipe around its circumference, cutting it lengthwise into four pieces (diagram on the next page).

This is only a preview of the step-step guide that they include in their package for more information please visit : www.greenproductsolutionpr.com

I can share with you more information because is a copyright information

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The theory is that all the tax revenue would then be put towards developing new renewable sources of electricity.

The flaw in this agruement is that the government does a horrible job at investing money where it will make any real impact. In addition to that it has been proven that raising taxes is a sure fire way to collect less revenue.

Energy development should be left in the private sector. Time and time again the free market system has done the job of filling the need of the consumers. Not the government.

Oboma is using logic that is flawed from the start. While he may have good intentions as do most politicians when they first start out they often find themselves in way over thier heads once the buracracy takes hold.

History in this country is more or less forgotten at the expense of the greater population. It is like saying that you have 20 years of experience doing something, but making the same mistakes for all 20 years. You end up with 1 year experience 20 times in a row. We need to put more time into learning from the past instead of simply repeating it.

Doing the same thing over and over again expecting diffrent results each time is the definition of insanity.

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Effects: hunger, lack of water, wars for the water, new diseases.

Solutions:
-Alternative energy sources affordables.
-Less weapons and more food technology
-More walking less driving
-Prepare each one a more balanced life…
-Doing more sport
-Watch less tv and internet addiction.
-Share the things that we dont use with someone who needs them.

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I must agree that for many of the Celebs it is more of a marketing ploy than a real lifestyle choice. However, there is an increasing number of people with money who are willing to really make a difference.

Larry Hagman, (from I dream of Jeannie and Dallas fame) has a very eco friendly home, he has a huge solar array which feeds enough back into the grid to supply energy for a couple other homes, he has worked it out with the utility company to give the extra to low income families.

That is just one example, many others are doing the right thing. I think we need to learn how to consume less energy and other resources without giving up our lifestyle. If a person becomes aware of how their spending impacts the environment they are more likely to reduce their impact by purchasing less and when they do buy, they will look for a sustainable solution. For those that are doing it for PR, who cares they were going to buy things any way, at least they are buying sustainable things this time.

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I assume you’re from the UK or US?

In the US: Look up wind’s ‘Production Tax Credit’ or ‘PTC’. This isn’t a US gov’t site but it might give you an idea where to look:
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/production-tax-credit-for.html

In the UK: Look up the ‘Renewables Obligation Certificate’ or ‘ROC’.
Http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/policy/renewables-obligation/page15630.html

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You must have:

•Your electricity supply with the company to which you wish to sell back electricity (in most cases).
•A renewable generator installed with annual generation greater than 500kWh (a 1.4kW domestic wind turbine could have an annual output of 2000kWh) and accredited by OFGEM to receive ROCs (Renewable Obligation Certificates) See www.ofgem.gov.uk
•Compliance from your local distribution company for connection of the renewable generator to the national grid.
•An OFGEM approved gross generation meter that measures all the output of your system,
•An export meter to register the amount of electricity you feed into the electricity network. (£75 plus VAT)
•A special inverter (called a Windy Boy) to synchronise the varying voltage from your wind turbine to the stable grid supply. This is individually programmed on-site to optimise power exported to the grid and to ensure network safety by disconnecting if the grid fails.

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President Bush thought this process was some sort of answer.

Wrong!!

It does a number of things that make it impractical.

1. It prevents people from being fed. Every acre that you put into corn production for inefficient SUV’s is 1 acre that cannot be used for feeding starving people, including some Americans.

2. It takes a huge amount of energy to change either of those two hydrocarbons into a simple chemical like CH4 is frightening to calculate. 700o is about 500oC which is hotter than a kitchen oven gets and that is not a trivial consideration.

3. Can you imagine 330 million people all running around to get wasted cooking oil? I can’t either.

4. Not 100% efficient?? My, what is the efficiency?

OK I’m done with my rant. Sorry. I can’t see how you can do this problem without knowing some Chemistry. I think I’m in the math section. I would say we have to balance the equation and proceed, but it scares me to think you may not know enough to go on. There are an infinite number of ways to balance this thing. Here’s one.

HC18H31O2(l) + 12.5O2(g)  6CH4(g) + 12CO2(g) + 3H2O(g) + H2(g) If this is the actual process, it means that 1 mole of linoleic acid produces 6 moles of Methane.

So the mass of the methane is 580 kg * 0.65 = 377 kg
The number of moles of methane = 377000/16 = 23562 moles of methane.
That means that you need 3927 moles of linoleic acid. Just how many grams is that?

1+18*12 + 31 +2*16 = 280 grams per mole

3927 * 280 = 1099560 grams
1099560 / 0.9 = 1221733 cc I take you are using US gallons in this.

1000 cc = 1 L
1221733 cc = x Liters = 1221 L

There are 3.78 L in a US gallon

1221L/3.78 L/gal = 323 gallons

1 barrel = 75 gallons
x barrels = 323 gallons

x = 4.31 barrels.

I’ll give you the second equation balanced. You can work out the rest of it for yourself. Just follow my numbers.

HC18H33O2(l) + 11O2(g) ==> 6CH4(g) + 12CO2(g) + 4H2O(g) + H2(g)

Edit
===
Sorry, I thought you were posting from the United States. My rant holds true for any country that produces corn.

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1.) A & B
2.) A
3.) I am not sure. The answer may be C or D even though A gets the most publicity.
4.) C – Actually the Alaskan pipeline is on legs to prevent the hot oil from melting the permafrost of the tundra.
5.) D
6.) B
7.) B
8.) B
9.) C or D
10.) C

Do check my answers against your text and class notes, because I may not be completely right, according to your class.

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From a practical standpoint, may I suggest finding the highest return on investment on some common home upgrades. These may not be true, but will give you an idea, IE if I spend 15 years in my home and have solar panels installed on day one, I will see x thousands saved. Or say if I had blown in insulation in the attic improving my R factor by x on day 1 and I stay in the home for x years I will see a return on investment of yyyy.

From the engineering perspective this project could be really simple because its just looking up data, but from the actual applicable perspective it could be amazing. The true value will be taking these data points, comparing them, and then providing PRACTICAL REAL WORLD advice. Set up a website. Depending where you are located you could correct for climate, IE for the US, up North Solar Panels ROI wont be as high, as if you were in the Florida Keys

There isn’t that much physically you could do with this concept, but the data should be out there to provide useful results. Bonus points from me for providing home owners with actual useful data.

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The grants given for businesses are for those who seek to research and discover renewable energy sources — not for simply using environmentally friendly appliances and solar panel energy

It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for starting a for-profit business.

One possible exception is for companies developing or exporting agricultural goods, including food and forest product. Another exception could be the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbir/index.html , which fund the research and development of technological innovation that meets specific government needs.

Your best bet actually will be from the states if they offer grant programs for women (or any other special interest groups — minorities, women, disabled, veterans, etc). Or check with non profit organizations, particularly women organizations if they offer grants. Examples include

Iowa Women’s Foundation http://www.iawf.org/
New Mexico Women’s Foundation http://www.nmwf.org/guidelines.html

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/mostrequesteditems/CON_FAQ2.html

“The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments.”

Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov – these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.

Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business — THERE’S NONE.
Http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show

Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. Minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT – Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women’s Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women’s business center that will train women entrepreneurs

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All accredited engineering schools teach everything you need to know about renewable energy. Focus on either chemical (ChE), mechanical (ME) or electrical (EE). EEs will tend to do more in solar electric, MEs in wind turbines, nuclear and passive solar, and ChEs in portable fuels (such as gasoline substitutes) and nuclear, so it depends on what most interests you. Don’t count on getting a job in renewables right off – just get a job.

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Be a bureaucrat. You won’t be expected to produce anything. All you’ll need to do is harass the people who are actually trying to run a business.

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There are several different terms that are commonly used without lots of definition.1 “Green” energy gets its name from plants that use photosynthesis and as a result are “green.” Fuel made from biomass: wood, alcohol, and bio-gas are all good examples. Because it is in the nature of biomass to grow and renew itself anything associated with the term “green” also tends to suggest what is sustainable and renewable. From there anything that is sustainable or renewable sometimes gets the “green” label though this is exactly true.

The problem with using a term like “Green” is that it tends to commonly be used in all sorts of ways that may not be particularly accurate. This is very close to the difference between the denotative meanings of words and the connotative meanings: The dictionary definitions and the way words are used and make us feel when they are used. For proponents “green” is associated with loving, caring, environmental responsibility, concern and attention. For detractors “green” is a pejorative that means many of these things overdone or done irresponsibly so that especially in the political section here you will see references to “greenies” and where the term is also associated with democrats, socialists, and left leaning politics.

We might talk about the “greening” of nuclear energy as rhetoric increasingly speaks to the facts that nuclear energy is not a fossil fuel, it does not use combustion as a source of energy and does not emit any exhaust into the atmosphere in its normal operation. Detractors will point out that nuclear fuel is in limited supply and is not renewable. Present reactors are therefore not sustainable and the only “green” aspect is that their use is an “alternative to and may offset using fossil fuels that are clearly not green, “sustainable” or “renewable”

Green energy by itself is neither advantageous or disadvantageous. It only becomes so relative to particular goals. As we do when describing a “knife” or “fire” green energy can be described as neither good or bad but from the use it is put to. While it may be advantageous to an environmental agenda it becomes disadvantageous to a fossil fuel industrial agenda. It tends to be more “of the people and bottom up rather than a leadership, top down solution.

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A definitive list of “alternative fuel sources” first would require a definition. Coal is an alternative to Oil and Gas. Nuclear is an alternative to them all but is not sustainable, renewable, or non polluting. Bio fuels are renewable but may not be sustainable or even sufficient. All “thermal” forms of energy create heat that one theory suggests is the real cause of global warming and not strictly greenhouse gasses. Solar is not usually a good “alternative” at night and wind is not a good “alternative” in all locations.

The “best” alternative will always be the one where you can find the easiest and cheapest resources locally. In some places that may be geothermal. In another place that may be solar. In another it may be wind generation. Hydro for another. And maybe even coal, oil, or gas for some places. What is “cheapest” however should include all externalities and subsidies.

Ultimately, as a general rule all generated power derrives from nuclear fusion on the Sun except nuclear fission, some geothermal and tidal energy.

Peswiki and powerpedia present a fairly exhaustive list of possibilities see all sites below. Because this is “community based there are even subjects that are not considered possible by mainstream physics (zero point energy…)

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There are many different ways these may be compared and contrasted.

You referred specifically to the US dependency on gasoline. This dependency is important because gasoline is refined from crude oil. Crude oil is both a finite mineral produced from ground supplies and it is a mostly foreign resource. Because it is a limited resource demand that is larger than the available supply will likely continue until the supply is exhausted. Because it is a foreign resource the resulting in-balance creats huge US trade deficits.

Ethanol is a renewable product but is more efficiently produced from plants with a higher sugar content like sugarcane. Sugarcane is more easily produced outside of the continental US.

There are many other issues but you seemed to be focusing on these.

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I was in Zambia this summer, and I noticed that many of the people were using solar power. I thought it was interesting.

Well, from what I know…

Solar power is renewable
Solar power is capable of being stored
Solar power can be accessed just about anywhere with sunlight
Solar power is pretty cheap in comparison to other fuels

There is a large tower, if I am not mistaken, in Australia that is covered in glass. Scientists are hoping that the power recieved from the sun onto this tower might be able to power a couple cities. Some other countries are trying it out as well.
I think this is the main website: http://www.enviromission.com.au/EVM/content/home.html
This page also has more information on solar power: http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/solar-power/

I personly find solar power interesting due to its cheap price and efficincy. There is one drawback; solar power does not work at night unless it gets stored and used from storage. In Zambia, we had a blackout service due to there not being enough power (which explains why they did not use it much during the day: they saved it for night).

Hoped this helped! God be with you on your project!

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Consider James Madison University’s degree in Integrated Science & Technology.

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What is Sustainable Energy Management? Last year a did three wind farms. Today I started on a scada project for a hydro. If I don’t know what your major is, no one else will.

There are a lot of environmental jobs in the industry. Every power plant has EPA reports to file for particulates, tons of CO2. I built a substation and had to file an environmental impact statement. I had to hire a bug hunter to make sure no rare bugs were there. And a second guy to fill out the paperwork.

Solar cell manufactures have a major problem with hazardous waste. Tons of paperwork that has to be correctly filed.

Most of these jobs require a background in science, and being able to handle the paperwork.

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The most common forms of electricity generation used today burn lots of fossil fuels, which contributes to global warming and adds pollution to the atmosphere, causing things like acid rain and smog, which worsens (and may even cause, indirectly) conditions such as chronic bronchitis and asthma.

From a purely human-centered perspective also, the more fossil fuel-generated energy we waste, the sooner we run out of fossil fuels. In the end, it may not matter, if we are able to transition to renewable forms of energy in time, but there is a long, long way to go before the US and other developed countries will be able to meet its energy needs from renewable sources, and if we don’t make the transition in time the consequences could be very bad.

Http://www.peakoil.com/
http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/
http://www.relocalize.net/about/relocalization

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Saving the planet doesn’t usually cost much. In the long run, as I’m sure you’re already aware, being environmentally conscious and practicing sustainability is more of an INVESTMENT than any thing else.

As I’ve said in earlier answers to environmental questions, societies should be going backwards rather than forwards. Instead of using pesticides (and paying for them), use bugs that are natural predators to those bugs (lady bugs, for instance, are good for your yard). Instead of spending millions and often billions of dollars to chop off the tops of mountains to mine coal, causing rapid water-run off that’s poisonous and contaminates our drinking water, we should find other resources, like our own damn arms and legs!

Joking, but seriously enough, let’s learn from history and use the sustainable practices of the peoples before us. The thing is: our “natural resources” are running out!!! Even our blue gold (water) is highly contaminated (I detracted H Paloi from my tap water, a disease that causes you to throw up everything you drink/eat. They’ve only found the cure a couple years back. More than 40% of people get it…some without even knowing it). Check out the book, Blue Gold, so see what I’m talking about.

PV (Photo Voltaics–solar panels) and wind energy are great investments in energy BECAUSE IT’S RENEWABLE!! Unlike coal, we will never (at least for a very long time) run out of the sun or the wind).

admin answers:

Since we have addressed most of the harmful pollution issues we are left with the byproducts of the energy-matter cycle. Our Environmental issues have been boiled down to their most basic elements, there is too much Carbon in the air, it needs to be in the ground, and there is too much Nitrogen in the water, it should be in the air. It really is that simple.
Excessive Carbon in the air is the byproduct of burning fuels that once were plants & animals. We are releasing it into the air at alarming rates that are measurable globally and has the potential to drastically change our world.
Excessive Nitrogen in the water is from poor agricultural practices & artificially fixed Nitrogen that, when washed into open waterways, promote the excessive growth of algae. This alters the food chain of local environments worldwide.
The best way to fix this is first to understand the what & why, this is where assignments like yours are so important. Taken this opportunity to teach people about the problems, their causes & cures.
One interesting factoid I came across during the recent 100 year anniversary of chemical ammonia & fertilizer, was that 50% of the Nitrogen in our bodies has come from artificially fixed ammonia!

Here is the Cycle in a Snapshot……

#1 is the Sun

Mix Water (Hydrogen & Oxygen) with Nitrogen & Carbon. Through Photosynthesis, plants make sugars, carbohydrates, starches, and cellulose.

Animal metabolize these for food.

As Plants and animals die & decay the Nitrogen is released & taken back into plants, as well as some of the carbon.

What is left in the ground after a long time are hydrocarbons and over the eons, this has changed Earths atmosphere into the low Carbon, high Oxygen Environment we know today.

Mankind has through innovation found we can do work with the energy locked in the Hydrocarbons, and over the past 150 years have become so efficient at doing so, that we are releasing more Carbon into the air than Earth’s systems can consume back. We have also overflowed the capacity of Plants by over fertilizing the soil to produce ever growing amounts of food. This excess finds it way into waterways and thus the problems it causes.

We must find ways to work in the confines of the Environment around us. Low Carbon energy, and sustainable food production are key. The answers are out there, we just need to find them & implement them.

Good Luck on your report!

admin answers:

The costs would start at a trillion dollars just to build the infrastructure required to do this. Then you could probably count on about 100 billion a year to sustain the programs.

Due to the language issues (the majority of the people in Haita only speak a dialect that is unique to the island and French is the language spoken in business and govrenment) it will take over 20 years to create a generation who are educated to modren standards. It would then take another 20 years for these people to become expierenced middle and senior managers capible of managing a government and govrenment agencies.

admin answers:

The Politics of Power!

Edit”

On Brians answer… Humans call it clean and renewable…while trying to ignore that they are burying Nuclear waste under the earths crust calling it safe. Actually it gives the problem to the next generation of humans and the environment.

Earthquake happen underground all the time.only sometimes generating havoc on the surface.
If this waste were to ever leak into the underground water system…the epic radiation of spent fuel rods will pollute more than just an area on top of the earth.

admin answers:

Although I am not a doubter of Global Warming, there is a limit to how much extra I would be willing to pay for renewable energy, even though I am a fan of renewable energy..

Fortunately the cost of production for electricity produced by wind is approximately 4 cents per kilowatt hour which makes it very competitive with energy produced by fossil fuels.

However for electricity produced by solar photovoltaic cells the cost of production is over 10 times that largely because of the huge capital costs for a system that produces relatively small amounts of electricity.

The cost of production of electricity produced by solar photovoltaic cells is over 40 cents per kilowatt thour.

The maximum amount of money that I am willing to pay for ecectricity is approximately 15 cents per kilowatt hour which makes electricity produced by wind possible, but not electricity produced by solar photovoltaic cells.

I also am not willing to go along with a subsidy for electricity produced by solar photovoltaic cells.

Any method of electricity production must stand on its own economically without subsidies.