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On Keystone XL: Pyrrhic Victory Ahead?
Geoff, another motivation for BC to consider the proposition -B.C. owes California millions, energy agency says
On Keystone XL: Pyrrhic Victory Ahead?
Geoffrey, perhaps two pipelines are a win/win for both countries and at the same time go a long way to meeting the environmental/energy concerns of both - Canada and the US: Sea-Level Rise vs. Keystone XL
On Obama Aims for Nuclear Breakthroughs
Howard, the efficiency is low but the potential is high. Virtually the same delta T powers hurricanes; one of the most powerful forces in Nature. OTEC using a heat pipe inverts this process to condense the fluid at depth as opposed to the stratsophere. It is the phase changes of the working fluid that allow for the rapid movement of large volumes of heat and the vapor movement converts to mechanical energy. A diagram of the Physics is shown in a January 19 comment at Wind Power Isn’t Perfect, But It’s a Hell of a Lot Better than the Alternatives. Numerous previous efforts are outlined in Wikipedia, which does not cover the heat pipe which addresses most of the methods previous drawbacks.
OTECPOWER. INC, Houston, will build you a 100 MW OTECPOWER plant based a heat pipe for $400 million USD.
On Canada and the US: Sea-Level Rise vs. Keystone XL
We can sleep better though Rick for having made the effort.
On Canada and the US: Sea-Level Rise vs. Keystone XL
Steven, at the right time I would love to discuss this with you. I am also interested in Philip Kithil's ideas. There are also interesting ideas for moving hydrogen safely along these lines.
On Obama Aims for Nuclear Breakthroughs
Dennis, odd you overlook the locally developed alternative that addresses the cause as well as effect of climate change.
http://theenergycollective.com/jim-baird/184496/ocean-thermal-energy-conversion
Fission produces twice as much waste heat as power and thus exacerbates the ocean warming problem.
On New Carbon Capture Catalyst Discovered
Robert perhaps you could check out the Carbon Cycle. Photosynthesis takes up 110 gigatons of carbon from the atmosphere each year. Soil organic matter oxidation/erosion gives back 61-62.
On $188 Billion Price Tag: Extreme Weather From 2011 To 2012
A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon your talking real money. Like to see these numbers reflected on BP, Chevron, Shell, Exxon etc. PL statements and Balance Sheets as current liabilities owing.
On New Carbon Capture Catalyst Discovered
Steve and Bill, all well and good if this was the only, let alone the best solution. Sequestering this excess carbon in plant life instead provides food, fuel and fibre for the 10 billion expected on the planet in 40 years. I don't see much ancillary benefit from calcium carbonate or sea urchins.
A study lead by Yadu Pohkrel determined “The drawing of water from deep wells has caused the sea to rise by an average of .77 millimetres every year since 1961,” which is about 42 percent of the total.
A recent BC study co-authored by Diana Allen, a professor of earth sciences at SimonFraserUniversity, confirmed Dr Pohkrel’s finding and notes low lying crop lands in B.C. are at risk as a consequence. It further notes, “about half of British Columbia’s food supply is imported, much of it from California, which has suffered from drought and is projected to become even more reliant on groundwater as precipitation declines due to climate change.”
The province of British Columbia needs to revisited its policy prohibiting bulk water sales because; as the Allen study notes, mining’ groundwater could help fuel climate change, the outflow from Link Lake (the average annual rainfall of 33 feet there sends enough water into the Pacific Ocean to meet all of California's water needs for the next 20 years) to say nothing of other provincial sources contributes to sea level rise at the same time as California suffers drought, the pumping of aquifers to counteract the drought compounds the sea level problem, local food supplies are at risk due to this miss match, sequestering water that would otherwise produce sea level rise in depleted aquifers and crops saves us from having to spend as much to mitigate the sea level problem - a provincial report says Metro Vancouver alones needs to spend $9.5 billion by the end of the century - and exporting our excess would provide a significant revenue stream to the province.
It makes little sense to be drowning while the source of much of your food supply is dessicating.
Besides these two benefits, I have patent applications in the works for four other ways to mitigate the sea level and carbon problem.
On Oil Sands: The Resources, The Technologies, The Consequences
As am I for fresh, old or new, real solutions and opinions.
On Oil Sands: The Resources, The Technologies, The Consequences
Rick, don't sell yourself short. I have gained much from reading your opinions and doubt that we are all that much different in age. Young guys like Mark might benefit from some sage advice.
On Senators Push for LNG Exports
"The idea that the United States might be exporting 12 per cent of its natural gas from shale is just a pipe dream," J. David Hughes, geoscientist, 32 years Geological Survey of Canada, Drill Baby Drill - Report Post Carbon Institute. Conclusion, the U.S. "is highly unlikely to achieve energy independence unless energy consumption declines substantially."