Energy

Cold Reality – Empire Center for Public Policy

|

Cold Reality – Empire Center for Public Policy

This is an interesting propaganda piece and research paper sponsored by the state's propane industry. It really shows how fossil fuel interests are facing dire consequences, at least over time, from the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act -- and how modest the costs of upgrading to heat pumps really is. While they make the numbers seem alarming, a $50k upgrade to a house isn't much when you consider the savings over time, and how much houses cost these days. Definitely read this article.

Warren Generating Station 1993

|

Warren Generating power station is a retired 84-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station in Warren, the state of Pennsylvania, United States.

The current use of the Site includes the Warren Combustion Turbine (CT) facility owned by Warren Generation LLC.  The CT is a 57-megawatt natural gas- and distillate fuel oil-fired electric generating station, which consists of one operational simple-cycle CT and ancillary equipment and systems. Fuel for the CT is delivered by pipeline (natural gas) and tanker truck (oil). 

The Site previously had housed two coal-fired 42-megawatt steam electric generation units (Units 1 and 2), which were installed in 1948 and 1949, respectively, and retired in September 2002. Since the units’ retirement in 2002, all coal has been removed from the Site. 

Historically two on-site landfills were utilized: the North Disposal area, located northwest of the power generation facilities, was closed in 1984 via capping with native soils; and the South Disposal area, located west of the power generation facilities, was closed 2003 via capping with native soils. Waste materials placed in these landfills consisted of fly ash, bottom ash, and pyrites.  The South Disposal Area was operated under Solid Waste Permit No. 300858.  The Ash Pond Nos. 1 & 2 were closed in 2002-200 3. 

https://www.dep.pa.gov/About/Regional/NorthwestRegion/Community-Information/Pages/Warren-Generating-Station.aspx

One of the greatest threats of climate change is the power vacuum it creates …

|

… how it enables unscrupulous politicians enormous powers to operate the state as will benefit themselves and their in-group.

Martial law is hardly an unfamiliar concept to a country at war. During every active war, civil liberties and rights – even those delimited in the constitution are limited. Climate change destroys infrastructure with massive floods and fires, puts human life at risk. It brings out the military to restore order and rebuild destroyed infrastructure.

There is an enormous need to build climate friendly and hardened infrastructure in a short period of time. If it’s not built proactively, it will be built reactively after the existing infrastructure is destroyed by climate change induced storms. Areas that aren’t taking serious action now will be taking more action faster later on.

Rushed action by government means curtailed civil liberties, environmental protection undermined, corruption and waste. There is going to be a lot of that when we address climate change – not just the modeling but climate change effects to infrastructure and economy as a whole.

We must do more not only to slow emissions growth and reduce it but also harden our infrastructure now while it’s still cheaper to do and avoid more costly emergency damage repairs. Climate change is going to be really bad – they’re no stopping the serious damage we’ve done to the planet already – but we can take steps to limit the pain and protect our democracy and necessary infrastructure.

NPR

|

Efforts to control climate change are falling short : NPR

The hottest year on record is coming to a close, emissions of planet-warming gases are still rising globally, and the most ambitious climate goal set by world leaders is all but impossible to meet, according to a new analysis by the United Nations.

The annual report from the U.N. Environment Programme lays out how far behind the world is on controlling planet-warming pollution, most of which comes from burning oil, gas and coal.

In a nutshell an inverter motor works like this …

|

1) Grid power supplies single phase, 120 or 240 volt AC power at 60 hz

2) That power is run through diodes to create 120 volt or 240 volt direct current

3) A microprocessor connected to three sets of IGBTs (essentially high power transistors) switches them on an off to create three phase power at a variable frequency

4) The three phase, variable frequency AC electricity drives a three phase motor – no losses from shaded poles or starting coils – or coasting between the two poles

5) By varying the frequency of the AC, you vary the speed of the AC motor efficiently

6) Also, you can have smaller coils if you drive the motor at a higher frequency then gear the motor down for power and speed desired