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POPSFuture of wind power - will be HUGE! I think it's incredibly exciting to be living during a time of such change. We are talking about a massive change in global dynamics that has already begun. The next few decades should be amazing.
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POPSKites could provide electricity for 100,000 homes Several other scientists are investigating the use of kites to harness energy from the wind - which some researchers estimate provides more than 100 times the amount required to power the entire planet. In 2007, Google´s philanthropic arm invested about $10 million in a US kite company called Makani. An Italian company called Kitegen has a multi-kite scheme that could generate a gigawatt of power, as much as a standard coal plant.
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POPS0.3% of Saharan Sun Enough To Power Europe The visionary proposal comes as the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission released its strategic energy technology plan which highlighted photovoltaic cells as one of the eight technologies that need to be developed in the future. The plan also includes fuel cells, hydrogen, clean coal, second generation biofuels, nuclear fusion, wind and smart grids.
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POPSThe key to oil independence is a new electrical grid It seems that with alternative sources of energy, such as wind and solar, the United States has the potential means to substantially reduce our dependence on oil - especially once plug-in cars are on the market. But until we substantially upgrade our nation's electrical grid with modern technology that will enable the energy created by these sources to be transmitted intelligently around the county, their impact will be limited. It's going to take a greater commitment from Congress to jump start this. Making it happen will provide a huge boost to our economy, environment and political leverage with the Middle East, Russia, Venezuela and more.
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POPSCan we harness energy from outer space? While nuclear fusion has already been tested with the hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium, those reactions give off the majority of their energy as radioactive neutrons, raising both safety and production concerns. Helium-3, on the other hand, is perfectly safe. It doesn't give off any pollution or radioactive waste and poses no danger to surrounding areas. helium-3 has two protons but only one neutron. When it's heated to very high temperatures and combined with deuterium, the reaction releases incredible amounts of energy. Just 2.2 pounds (one kilogram) of helium-3 combined with 1.5 pounds (0.67 kilograms) of deuterium produces 19 megawatt-years of energy Roughly 25 tons of the stuff could power the United States for an entire year.
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POPSWhy can't the U.S. be more like Varese? If this town in Italy can be 100% dependent on renewable power, why can't towns/cities in the U.S. do the same? It really makes me angry to live in a country that holds itself out as a world leader, yet we need to look at small towns in Italy to see examples of the Power Revolution. It frightens me that Big Oil stands in the way of the U.S. leading the Revolution.
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POPSPolice Atrocities Define The Bush Police State
"If you've ever publicly opposed Bush's war of naked aggression in Iraq, you can bet you're in NSA's database, called TALON. War protesters, naturally, were the first to wind up in Big Bro's TALON, or database. This practice most certainly goes far beyond Nixon's 'enemies list'. Bush's database, methods, scope and ruthlessness plops us in Orwellian territory." Well, it's too late now. I'm probably already screwed and plopped and TALON'ed and monitored... END THE OCCUPATIONS! ------------------------- talon: \ˈta-lən\ Middle English taloun heel, hind claw of a bird of prey , from Anglo-French talun, from Vulgar Latin *talon-, *talo, from Latin talus ankle, anklebone 1 a: the claw of an animal and especially of a bird of prey b: a finger or hand of a human being 2: a part or object shaped like or suggestive of a heel or claw: b: the shoulder of the bolt of a lock on which the key acts to shoot the bolt 3 a: cards laid aside in a pile in solitaire
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POPSFilling up your car with ELECTRICITY!! When we can fill up our cars with electricity instead of gasoline - and generate electricity through wind and solar power - and transmit more electricity over the grid - we will have truly changed global dynamics. The amazing thing is that it may not be more than a few years away! Any additional help we can get from Washington will make a huge difference. I hope to see this be a central issue in the upcoming election.
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POPSThe Energy Technology Revolution Tom Friedman is so right (shocker) about this. I find it to be insane that this is not THE ISSUE of the presidential election. T. Boone Pickens gets it. Tom Friedman gets it. Europe and Asia seem to get it. When will Washington get it???
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POPSThe Relationship Between the Media and Society The result is a society dotted with a few people that feel they are capable and worthy and large numbers of people who feel that they do not measure up, believing themselves to be too much or too little of one thing or another; too fat, too thin; too short, too tall; not smart enough or not pretty enough; too different from what is considered acceptable. In the process, worthwhile individuals with much to offer, people who may hold ideas and suggestions for improving the world for all, become silenced, and society becomes the ultimate loser. For many years, the media has been telling people what is socially acceptable, what is valuable, encouraging some and limiting others; perhaps it's time the people begin telling the media that more positive, life-affirming messages are warranted.
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POPSWhen will Congress act to promote alternative energy? They talk a good game, but the tax credits needed to boost the industry in a massive way are being held up. If and when Congress gets serious about removing our dependence on foreign oil we'll know it...they'll extend the tax credits that are set to expire this year. This would not only be a major shot in the arm for the industry, but for our entire economy as well!!!
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POPSDisaster Gives Birth to Greenest Town in America To leverage environmentalism to rebuild and sustain itself in the wake of near total destruction, it just may unwittingly be writing a modern survival guide for rural America. Currently, the town has completed town houses for working class families that are LEED gold certified. Gold certification means these places will be almost twice as efficient as they used to be. A lot of what's happening in Greensburg is some of the first in the country.
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POPSA $45T Clean Energy Revolution Oh yeah....this is huge! Bigger than the internet and telecommunications revolution...the energy revolution seems poised to be the defining innovation of this century. In addition to creating a much more stable source of energy and helping the environment, the opportunity for investment and new jobs makes this the most exciting opportunity i've ever seen.
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POPSNew Mexico: Land of Enchantment , Clean Energy State. Although 25 states have approved their own RPS, a national standard has stalled in the face of resistance from traditional coal-powered utilities and their allies in Congress. Wind and biomass are popular in New Mexico, but the desert sun that draws millions of tourists here also makes its solar power potential the second largest in America. So it is that the Clean Energy State's future just may lie in the south corner of the capital city, at the end of a dry road marked by a mile-long sculpture of a snake with jewelled eyes. ... Guardian