According to a new report release October 17, 2011 by The Solar Foundation, as of August 2011 the USA has 100,237 people employed in solar jobs. This represents a 6.8% growth year-over-year, whereas the overall job growth for the country was a slim 0.7%. Highlights of the report include:
- 100,237 jobs as of August 2011
- 6.8% growth from August 2010 to August 2011 – growing nearly ten times faster than the overall economy
- 6,735 new solar jobs created between August 2010 and August 2011
- Employers expect to increase their workforce by 24% next year, creating 24,000 net new solar jobs
Wind, Solar, Biomass, Hydro-electric will be cheaper alternatives to coal, gas and nuclear power generation in the long term. Many countries, states and provinces continue to build-out their renewable power generation infrastructure. Germany for example, produces over 20% of it’s electricity from renewables, with plans for 35% in the future.
Once you consider the full cost to build nuclear plants, the cost of CO2 and pollutants created by coal and gas generating plants and the continuing reductions in price for renewables, the equation becomes a no-brainer. Yet big industry and the general public continues to push back.
Ontario, Canada has one of the best feed-in tariff structures in the world, for renewable energy production. Their system adds just a few pennies per month to the average consumer’s electricity bill. Thousands of high-end jobs have been created. But this may come to a crashing halt in October 2011 as a provincial election looms. The challenging party has campaigned on a promise to kill the existing feed-in tariffs and cancel existing contracts to open new green manufacturing plants. Citing high feed-in tariff rates for small personal solar systems (home rooftops), compared to the flat-rate paid in the past, has given the general public the misconception that renewable energy is expensive. Doing the right thing is great, so long as it doesn’t cost me a penny more TODAY.
American Electric Power cancelled their plans to build a full-scale carbon-capture plant at Mountaineer, a 31-year-old coal-fired plant in West Virginia, where the company has captured and buried carbon dioxide in a small pilot program for two years, per a report from The New York Times.
So much for work on “clean coal” in North America. Without regulations from the government, forcing the electricity industry to reduce CO2 production, cheap dirty coal will continue to be used, dumping greenhouse gases and pollution into the air as if it was one large toilet.
Time to make an impact on climate change is limited. Without regulations in place by the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases, the planet does not stand a chance.
In the first 6 months of sales in the USA, Nissan has sold 3,875 Leafs vs 2,745 Volts by Chevrolet. And nearly half of the Nissan Leaf’s year to date total, came in June – 1,708 units vs 561 Chevy Volts. While the Volt can recharge it’s battery in-transit, the Volt has a significant range advantage on pure electric power.
Mitsubishi with join the group later this year, when they introduce the i-MiEV plug-in electric vehicle to North America.
Three cars in one! The 2012 Volvo V60 will travel up to 30 miles in Electric-Only mode, and can be switched to Hybrid and Diesel at the push of a button. If you need a surge of power, both the front wheel drive Diesel and rear wheel drive electric motors can be engaged at the same time – all wheel drive and 285 horsepower. In extended mode, the V60 can travel up to 745 miles – well beyond the 350 mile range of the Volt. The batteries recharge in 4 hours, at 240v, 16 amps.
Volvo has maintained it’s list of premium features, with air conditioning and pre-heated interior, etc.
Features:
2.4 litre Diesel – front wheel drive
52 kW Electric – rear wheel drive
6 speed automatic transmission
30 miles on electric only, 62 mph max in electric mode
Enbridge and First Solar Complete the Largest Photovoltaic Facility in the World
October 4, 2010
Enbridge Inc. and First Solar, Inc. have achieved commercial operation of the 80-megawatt (MW) Sarnia Solar Project, making it the largest operating photovoltaic facility in the world.
First Solar, a leading manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and provider of solar solutions, will operate and maintain the Sarnia Solar Project for Enbridge under a long-term contract. In addition to generating about 120,000 MWh per year of emissions-free power, the Sarnia Solar Project produces no waste and uses PV technology that was designed to create the smallest carbon footprint of any PV technology available. Enbridge expects the facility to generate enough power to meet the needs of about 12,800 homes.
Enbridge will sell the power output of the facility to the Ontario Power Authority pursuant to 20-year Power Purchase Agreements under the terms of the Ontario government’s Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program.
“The Sarnia Solar Project is an example of the kinds of renewable energy projects that have been developed under the Government of Ontario’s Green Energy Act,” said the Honourable Brad Duguid, Ontario Minister of Energy. “Ontario can now boast the largest solar farm in North America – it is projects like this one that are making us a leader in renewable energy and helping us all move towards a cleaner energy future.”
Capacity peak: about 80 MW of emissions-free power
Power purchaser: Ontario Power Authority
Facility size: Located on 950 acres
Panel surface area: about 966,000 square metres, which is about 1.3 million
thin film panels
Annual yield: about 120,000 MWh
CO2 saving: over 39,000 tonnes per year
Jobs created: About 800 jobs created at construction peak, as well as
indirect benefits to dozens of businesses in the Sarnia area, including
engineering and design firms, construction subcontractors, suppliers and
service providers.
Video of Site: Click Here
In the news recently, it was pointed out that a municipality was using Google Earth to easily locate backyard pools and issue (250) fines to people who had installed their pools without a building permit. After wide exposure to the media, this municipality told it’s by-law enforcement group to stop using Google Earth for this purpose.
In a similar case, Italy’s Financial Police used Google Earth to determine that a person was committing fraud – sold a million dollar home for a fraction of it’s worth.
Is Google Earth a tool for “Big Brother”? Does Google Earth represent an invasion of privacy for the ordinary citizen? Should Google Earth be shutdown? Do we all need camouflage tarps covering our homes, backyards, property?
I say no! If Google Earth is used to find people who are breaking laws and bylaws, that’s a good thing. These laws were put in place for a valid reason, be that fairness to all, safety, etc. If a municipality can determine that someone has installed a pool or addition without a permit, using Google Earth and it costs next to nothing to determine that fact….all the better. The alternative is to spend a small fortune with physical inspections and most likely not uncover a large percentage of unlawful and possibly unsafe installations.
Yes, people will also find ways to use Google Earth for illegal activities, like swimming pool invasions, but let’s not through out the baby with the bath water. Those illegal activities already have laws that cover what’s taking place.
Google Earth, you don’t have to use it, but don’t shut it down.
Three teams share a $10 million dollar X-Prize award for vehicles that achieve over 100 Miles Per Gallon(MPG).
Mainstream 4 Passenger
Edison 2 - over 100 MPG
Winner of the 2010 X-Prize for a Mainstream vehicle (4 passenger) obtaining over 100 MPG! Prize value = $5 Million.
The Edison 2 runs on a 250cc modified motorcycle engine burning E85. The design team originally figured a hybrid or electric car would be required to break the 100MPG barrier, thus the name. Their research however, indicated WEIGHT as the biggest factor – result equals the Light Weight Vehicle.
Edison 2 X-Prize from Johnny St.Ours on Vimeo.
The overall design of this vehicle can be applied to “mainstream” production – producing 4 passenger vehicles with a very good MPG rating. Hopefully we’ll see this design in production very soon.
Weight = 377 kg
Range = 482 km on E85
Fuel Efficiency = 102.5 MPGe
Winner of the 2010 X-Prize for a 2 passenger, side-by-side, obtaining over 100 MPG! Prize value = $2.5 Million.
The WAVE II, affordable all-electric, transportation for the next generation. The WAVE II will recharge in eight hours or less depending upon current used and has a range of up to 170 miles per charge.
This vehicle has all the creature comforts we have grown used to such as heating, air conditioning, power windows, GPS etc. and can still transport a week’s worth of groceries and more in the rear of the vehicle. The Wave II was designed with practical everyday use in mind.
Weight = 987 kg
Range = 161 miles
Fuel Efficiency = 187 MGPe
Website: www.Li-ionmotors.com
In-line 2 Passenger
E-tracer – by Team X-tracer
Winner of the 2010 X-Prize for a 2 passenger in-line, obtaining over 100 MPG! Prize value = $2.5 Million.
This innovative tandem two seat vehicle uses an all-American powertrain composed of a 150 kW electric drive system made by AC Propulsion and a 19.4 kWh lithium polymer battery system from NeuEnergy in San Diego. The Kelvar/carbon fiber monocoque chassis makes this roomy vehicle with such a low weight possible. This clever design has two extra wheels that deploy at low speed to stabilize the vehicle.
Weight = 651 kg
Range = 161 km
Fuel Efficiency = 197 MPGe
Drive type: Battery electric, rear-wheel-drive
Power source: 20 kwh lithium-ion batteries, 150kW electric drive system
Website: X-tracer Blog
