California Eye » Energy

Drill, Baby, Drill

Featheriver — Mon, 31 May 2010 15:14:40 +0000

Photo: A view of the oil slick from space by NASA on May 24, 2010.

The Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill is the biggest environmental disaster in U.S. history. It is an oil gusher from the sea floor of the Gulf of Mexico that started April 20, 2010 about 40 miles southeast of the Louisiana coast in the Macondo Prospect oil field.

The explosion killed 11 platform workers and injured 17 others. Ninety-eight workers survived.

The gusher originates 5,000 feet below the ocean surface. British Petroleum estimates over 5,000 barrels to 100,000 barrels of crude oil is being infused into the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally an unknown amount of natural gas is in the mixture.

The oil slick covers 2,500 square miles. Immense underwater plumes of oil, not visible, lie below the water’s surface.

From 12,000 to 19,000 barrels of oil continue to flow into the gulf per day. As of May 27 it is estimated between 440,000 and 700,000 barrels as of that date have poured into the gulf.

It is predicted the oil will be picked up by the Gulf Stream and carried around Florida and up the eastern coastline of the United States.

How long will the oil spill last?

Nobody knows. Samantha Joye of the University of Georgia has said it could take the ecosystem years, possibly decades, to recover from the infusion of oil and gas. CNN reports that BP is not expected to contain the spill until August, if then.

The fishing industry along the gulf has been closed down. Losses from tourism have been estimated at $3 billion. Five corporations connected to the spill have lost $21 billion in market capitalization since the explosion.

BP argued against new, stricter safety rules proposed last September by Minerals Management Service saying additional regulation of the oil industry was unnecessary; that the voluntary system of safety procedures was adequate, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Hurricanes

The hurricane season officially started June 2 causing the worry that “a hurricane might turn the millions of gallons of floating crude into a crashing back surf,” according to the Associated Press. It is feared that the combination of damaging winds and large waves will push the oil deeper into the Louisiana estuaries and wetlands leaving miles of debris-littered coastline. The furthering damage to the coast line will weaken as future tropical storms and hurricanes arrive in the years ahead.

Regulate, Baby, Regulate

Over the years the federal government has been deregulating corporate industry. You’ve heard the arguments about big government’s intrusion into private enterprise.

Around 80 “oil spills” have occurred across the globe since 1937, according to Wikipedia. The most recent occurred in the Singapore Strait resulting from a collision of two marine vessels.

We Must Get Off Oil

T. Boone Pickens says the United States today imports 65% of the oil we use. That is up from 24% in 1970. “Every day 85 million barrels of oil are produced around the world. And 21 million of those are used here in the United States.” That’s 25% of the world’s oil demand. Used by just 4% of the world’s population. America imports 12 million barrels a day, and Saudi Arabia only produces 9 million a day.

Pickens adds, “In additional to putting our security in the hands of potentially unfriendly and unstable foreign nations, we spent $475 billion on foreign oil in 2008 alone. That’s money taken out of our economy and sent to foreign nations, and it will continue to drain the life from our economy for as long as we fail to stop the bleeding.”

Giant Plumes of Oil Forming Under the Gulf

Power of Energy

Featheriver — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:02:29 +0000

Photo of a lightening storm in Martinez, California. Photo by Toni Irwin.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce is losing members

Featheriver — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:15:26 +0000

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has lost two of its members: Exelon and New Mexico’s Public Service Company and Pacific Gas and Electric.

Exelon, the nation’s largest nuclear power generator, says “inaction on climate is not an option.”

They quit the Chamber citing the Chamber’s stance on climate change legislation.

The Chamber doesn’t like doing anything about climate change. [Huffington Post]

It boils down to money—again. Anything to protect profits of business. Profits aren’t going to matter if we destroy the planet in the process.

Your chance to support a Clean Energy Plan

Featheriver — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:02:08 +0000

Show your support for a Clean Energy Plan

Let our elected officials know we need green jobs.

Host: Nevada State Democratic Party

Type: Meetings – Informational Meeting

Date: Monday, August 10, 2009

Time: 8:30am – 10:00am

Location: Steps of the Cox Pavilion of the UNLV campus

Street: UNLV campus at Tropicana and Swenson

City/Town: Las Vegas, NV

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Email: kirsten@nvgreenvote.org

Description

Friends,

Last year, Americans voted overwhelmingly for change, including an energy policy for the 21st Century.

Members of Congress are working to jumpstart our economy and create new, green jobs in Nevada by passing a historic Clean Energy Plan. Unfortunately, big oil and gas companies are using scare tactics to stall this work and are organizing a protest Monday against any sensible reform to our nation’s outdated energy policy.

PLEASE JOIN US — Monday, August 10, at 8:30 a.m. on the steps of the Cox Pavilion of the UNLV campus — to let our elected officials know we need green jobs and a Clean Energy Plan now! It’s important that we show our support for a Clean Energy Plan.

Join other Nevadans to send a public “thank you” to Sen. Harry Reid for the work he is doing to support a Clean Energy Plan in Congress and call on other senators to vote in favor of jobs that can’t be exported overseas. Sen. Reid recognizes that we must harness Nevada’s vast solar, wind and geothermal energy potential to stabilize our energy costs and create much-needed jobs!

Free parking is available in the Cox Pavilion parking lot on the UNLV campus at Swenson and Tropicana. For more information, please go to www.rebuildnevada.org. To RSVP, please email kirsten@nvgreenvote.org.

Anyone think that perhaps the Nye County Democratic Party ought to hold a Rally in Pahrump? After all Nye County is a perfect spot for “green jobs” rooted in alternative energy sources of wind, solar and geothermic. Why not ask your Nye County Democratic Central Committee to put on a rally here in Pahrump.

National Clean Energy Summit 2.0

Featheriver — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:29:03 +0000

Jobs and the New Economy

Host: U.S. Senator Harry Reid, UNLV, and Center for American Progress Action Fund

Type: Meetings – Convention

Network: Global

Date: Monday, August 10, 2009

Time: 10:00am – 6:00pm

Location: UNLV – Cox Pavilion

Street: 4505 S. Maryland Parkway (corner of Tropicana Ave. & Swenson Ave.)

City/Town: Las Vegas, NV

View Map

Description

JUST ADDED: Former PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON!

PENDING: Keynote Address by GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

WHAT: High-level industry leaders, scientists, policy experts, and public officials, along with citizens and the media, will gather in Nevada for a day-long summit hosted by the Center for American Progress Action Fund, U.S. Senate Majority Leader HARRY REID (D-NV), and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

This year’s summit will bring together the nation’s top minds, including former Vice President AL GORE, Secretary of Energy STEVEN CHU, energy executive T. BOONE PICKENS, White House Council on Environmental Quality Special Advisor VAN JONES, Nevada State AFL-CIO executive DANNY THOMPSON, and many others to chart a course for our nation’s clean energy future.

WHY: 2009 provides a pivotal opportunity for our nation to come together to define a policy agenda that accelerates the deployment of clean energy and energy efficiency, creates good jobs, advances energy independence, and ensures long term economic prosperity for Nevada, the nation, and the world. We hope you will join the conversation.

For more information on the summit and to register online, visit: http://www.cleanenergysummit.org

$25 discounted admission price for students!!!

Want to participate in a different way? Volunteer at the event by applying at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=SS_2fKOgcDwWwNwh6armDwVw_3d_3d

Pickens Plan Talking Points

Featheriver — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 03:15:07 +0000

– Today is Energy Independence Day and the One-Year Anniversary of the Pickens Plan.

- The goal of the Pickens Plan is to make us safer here at home and create millions of high paying new jobs by ending our country’s dependence on foreign oil.

- I believe this is critical to the future of our country and future generations.

- The basics of the Plan are for 20% of our nation’s electricity to come from wind power and to divert excess natural gas to the transportation grid. We currently import nearly 70% of our oil from overseas.

- HR 1835 or the ‘NAT GAS Act of 2009’ is in front of Congress right now with over 70 bi-partisan Co-Sponsors in the House. It would provide incentives for natural gas to become a viable transportation fuel alternative to foreign oil.

- The Senate version of HR 1835 is being introduced today and Boone is in Washington for the announcement.

- Call your congressman and senator today to ask for their support of this bill, HR 1835 that will help get us off of foreign oil.

- This bill stands to create a number of new jobs at a time we need it most.

- Boone is dead on with this plan! We do have enough natural gas. In fact the Potential Gas Agency says there’s enough natural gas in the U.S. for every man, woman and child to drive a car for the next 120 years.

- This plan is also the right choice for the environment. Natural gas burns 23% cleaner than gasoline and 60% more than diesel fuel plus it’s ¼ the cost of foreign oil.

- And if you took just one 18 wheeler off the road and replaced with a natural gas rig, it’s the environmental equivalent of taking 325 cars off the road.

- Learn more and sign up at www.pickensplan.com.

President Obama’s Listening Tour in Pahrump

Featheriver — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:10:38 +0000

President Barack Obama

Organizing for America (OFA) has officially landed in Nevada. Organizing for America is dedicated to forwarding President Obama’s agenda through grassroots action, and to creating a progressive, grassroots movement in the State of Nevada.

In order to best serve Nevada, OFA will visit cities throughout the state to re-engage and mobilize the grassroots movement in support of President Obama.

For Organizing for America to succeed, we need to hear from you – your effort and commitment are the backbone of this movement, and your input will help guide our action in Nevada.

At this meeting, we will provide an overview of what the President has accomplished, describe the mission statement of our organization, let you know how you can get involved, and ask for your thoughts on how we can best organize Nevada going forward. Your ideas will be used to write a Nevada-specific plan for Organizing for America in 2009 and beyond.

Come, and make your voice heard. All are welcome. We look forward to meeting new people and seeing familiar faces. Help us build a progressive movement to improve Nevada and our country!
Time: Thursday, July 16 from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Host: Evan Sutton
Location:
Rudd Community Center (Pahrump, NV)
150 N Highway 160
Pahrump, NV 89060
Maps:

* Google Maps
* MapQuest
* Yahoo! Maps

Directions: Join us in Room B at the Rudd Community Center, just north of E Basin Ave.
Associated Groups: Nevada Students for Obama, Southern Nevada for Obama

Heller and Cap and Trade

Featheriver — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:39:53 +0000

Republicans in Congress will spend the Memorial Day recess attacking Democrats for pushing a cap-and-trade bill that could raise Americans’ transportation and energy costs wrote The Hill on May 23, 2009.

“Democrats and the Obama administration have said that putting a price on carbon emissions is the best way to wean the country off of foreign oil and stem global warming while also creating new jobs.”

“The attacks on the Democratic energy proposals is part of a larger GOP effort to paint the Democrat-led Congress as big spenders who backed a $787 billion stimulus plan and are now pushing an energy tax and a “government takeover of healthcare,” according to House GOP talking points.”

Not much new about any of this. Republicans just naturally call anything the Democrats do as too expensive, socialistic, and an expansion of government. All the same things the Republicans did while they controlled the White House and Congress.

One of those Republicans who took off during the Memorial Day recess to attack the “cap-and-trade bill” was our own Republican Congressman for Nevada’s District 2, Dean Heller.

He went to Elko to deliver the Republican Talking Points on the subject of “cap and trade.”

He said “his constituents are overwhelmingly against President Obama’s ‘cap and trade’ proposal, which he said would cost the average family of four about $3,200 more a year on their electric bills.”

Heller said at one of his teleconferences 400 people polled were opposed to the cap and trade proposal and 32 supported it, indicating that from other polls there was quadruple that number.

Columnist Dennis Myers takes issue with Heller. See the Pahrump Valley Times when today’s issue goes online. He under took to check Heller’s assertion out. In Carson City, Heller’s hometown, of 30 people asked by Myer, “Not one of them was familiar with the term” cap and trade. Myers wondered how Heller could find 400 people in one conference call that recognized the term? Myers was told by Republican friend of his “that those who participate are screened to be ‘like minded’ (to Heller).” In short it wasn’t a valid poll. Myers’ friend said “poll questions are asked in language that seems designed to elicit certain responses.”

Myers’ asked Heller’s office for the wording of the “cap and trade” question, but got no response.

How about you. Can you explain just what “cap and trade” means and what it is about? Neither can I. [Wikipedia] Nor, I daresay, does Dean Heller. Try reading the Wikipedia coverage of cap and trade and tell me you understand it.

Sonoma County’s Energy Efficiency Program

Featheriver — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:32:00 +0000

Just read a tweet from Paul Reeves which, in turn, provided me a link to the Sonoma Press Democrat in California.

Looks like Sonoma is far ahead of Nye County. Property owners in Sonoma County will be able to borrow money from their county government for energy-efficient improvements, the pay it back in installments on their tax bills over 20 years at 7% interest. The loans will be for things such as solar panels, double-paned windows voltaic units, solar thermal devices, tankless water heaters, attic and wall insulation. Water efficient technologies to conserve water (i.e., low-flush toilets) are also eligible.

Their program will create energy improvements, jobs and kick their economy into gear. People can apply for loans this coming Wednesday.

More than half of homeowners found it “motivating” to participate, along with an equal number of commercial property owners.

Property owners will also be eligible for additional rebates, as well as state or federal tax credits once they make the improvements.

The energy-saving measures are intended to help achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and cut water consumption during the drought.

Shouldn’t Nye County Commissioners be taking a look at the Sonoma County program?

More information is at www.sonomacountyenergy.org.

Solar Power coming to Amargosa Valley by 2013

Featheriver — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:59:00 +0000

Here is some good news for a change:

NV Energy, Las Vegas, has teamed up with two companies, Solar Millennium, LLC, and MAN Ferrostaal Inc., to develop a solar facility in Nye County. [Pahrump Mirror, Thursday, March 5, 2009, page 3]

It will be a 250-megawatt “solar trough technology plant” somewhere in Nye County, expected to be within the Amargosa Valley.

It will include a thermal storage capability which will enable it to generate energy beyond daylight hours during the summer months.

It is hoped construction can begin no later than 2010 and completed by 2013-2014.

The Public Utilities Commission must approve the project first.

“The 250-megawatt output will generate enough electricity to service between 150,000 and 250,000 homes, depending on seasonal variations in weather conditions.

The project should give a significant boost to Nye County, including Pahrump. Keep your fingers crossed.