Four the Future - October 8

An energetic Four the Future! Solar, wind, and stimulating efficiency.

• Courthouse, post office getting energy upgrades
  Source: Spokesman-Review; September 17, 2010
  Summary: Spokane's Federal courthouse and downtown post office are getting energy upgrades courtesy of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA or "the stimulus"). The goal is to reach silver LEED status with a 30 percent energy savings. The upgrades cost $45.9 million over the course of 20 months.
  Opinion: It would have been nice to know how much money that 30% energy savings is. What's wrong with this town that they don't seem to understand investment? All investments include cost and benefit.
  
• Here comes the sun: White House to go solar
  Source: Yahoo! News; October 5, 2010
  Summary: The White House will be fitted with solar panels over the living quarters. Former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush installed solar energy collectors previously. The photovoltaic cells will generate approximately 19,700 kilowatt hours, saving an estimated $2,300, per year. The solar hot water heater will save about $1,000 per year.
  Opinion: Carter’s photovoltaic panels were removed by President Reagan. It was there making free energy, and it was taken down. Any comments about attitude here or the mind-set which contributed to Reagan's deficit? I'd love to hear any rational justification.
  
• Missoula may allow urban wind turbines
  Source: Spokesman-Review; October 4, 2010
  Summary: Missoula is considering allowing wind turbines in the city limits, provided they are not taller than the maximum height for the zone. To get a taller tower, a special use permit would be necessary.
  Opinion: We talked about this story in Dr. Zovanyi's class on Tuesday. The types of issues that come up for these kinds of issues include aesthetics, public safety (proper installation to make sure it can’t fall or shed pieces), and noise. Also, it was noted that it would be unusual to require a special use permit (which allows an activity at a place that wouldn't normally be allowed, but the use is already allowed). Normally, a variance procedure is used (which allows construction outside the normal regulations because of unusual conditions of the particular lot).
  
• 1,000 megawatts of solar power approved for California desert
  Source: Los Angeles Times; September 29, 2010
  Summary: The California Energy Commission approved two new solar power stations, one of 250 megawatts, and one of 709 megawatts. In just a little more than a month, the commission has approved the construction of 3,000 megawatts worth of projects. California has a goal of 20% of its energy from renewable sources by the end of this year, and 33% by 2020. The projects will generate 2,000 construction jobs and 200 permanent jobs. Some of the solar projects have been approved despite environmental attempting to protect the flat-tailed horned lizard and the desert tortoise. One project was changed to avoid dry creek beds which flood periodically.
  Opinion: The solution of our energy issues will be a combination of strategies. Efficiency is the most important, but beyond that, there are the simple reduction in energy use (waste not, want not), and alternative energy sources. My other thought, though, was: why did someone have to get a concession out of a company to not put their equipment in the path of a flood? Do the people designing these things really lack common sense, or did they purposefully propose putting it in the creek so that they could say they made concessions?