Dozens of personal, pointed stories like this one helped to put a stop to coal plant construction, from Four Corners New Mexico to the four corners of North America, in 2008.
As I write this comment, almost every fossil-fueled station like Desert Rock in the U.S. is on hold -- and to some degree so are the coal mining practices that accompany them.
The same phenomenon that stopped the irresponsible expansion of nuclear power after Three Mile Island is the same one that is halting coal in its tracks today: An enlightened American public simply says, "No."
Keep up the good work!
For updates on Desert Rock:
http://www.desertrockenergyproject.com/news.htm
Three years, a new Administration, and the stimulus bill have changed many aspects of the energy conundrum. Still, many of these technologies face the same technical and policy challenges that Barbara Bogaev outlined so clearly in this program in 2007.
"After Oil" is an excellent survey of petroleum substitute technologies, explained in sober and realistic terms. It will warrant an update when Congress passes its next energy legislation. That policy package will answer Barbara's question:
"We have the tools. But do we have the will? Do we have the determination?"
Waste heat recovery is a key concept in Europe, sadly lost here in the U.S.
In Copenhagen they've integrated their energy generation, waste management, and the heat supply for all of the city's buildings.
It's hard to imagine any city in the U.S. embracing the idea of waste-incineration plant smokestacks in their neighborhoods. But that's what they've done all over Denmark, in the interest of capturing waste heat, reducing CO2, eliminating fossil fuels -- and reaching nearly total energy efficiency.
Novel ideas, too new and risky for American cities? Hardly. Copenhagen has been doing this since 1903.
Fascinating integration of concepts! Expanding vocabulary and deepening thought are indeed interdependent. None of us remember being languageless. (Except perhaps Jill Bolte Taylor.)
Like a lot of us, I work with words. I wish all adolescents -- young people just forming their ability to write about ideas -- would hear this program. Some of the themes might be a little mature for them, but the pace and entertaining delivery are perfect.
Hearing Jill's story again reminded me of enjoying another TED Talk, by author James Geary. He says, "Metaphor is a way of thought before it is a way with words."
Interesting to hear Jones "AWH" (After White House). I interviewed him "BWH" in 1/2009, just before the Inauguration, when he was very charged up about what lay ahead. That was before I started producing for radio, but it's online as a podcast - http://bit.ly/ckWniQ
Comments by Denis Du Bois
Comment for "New Coal Plants on the Drawing Board"
Denis Du Bois
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 05:14 PM | Permalink
Nail in the coffin
Dozens of personal, pointed stories like this one helped to put a stop to coal plant construction, from Four Corners New Mexico to the four corners of North America, in 2008.
As I write this comment, almost every fossil-fueled station like Desert Rock in the U.S. is on hold -- and to some degree so are the coal mining practices that accompany them.
The same phenomenon that stopped the irresponsible expansion of nuclear power after Three Mile Island is the same one that is halting coal in its tracks today: An enlightened American public simply says, "No."
Keep up the good work!
For updates on Desert Rock:
http://www.desertrockenergyproject.com/news.htm
Comment for "After Oil"
Denis Du Bois
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 01:12 AM | Permalink
The more things change, the more they stay the same
Three years, a new Administration, and the stimulus bill have changed many aspects of the energy conundrum. Still, many of these technologies face the same technical and policy challenges that Barbara Bogaev outlined so clearly in this program in 2007.
"After Oil" is an excellent survey of petroleum substitute technologies, explained in sober and realistic terms. It will warrant an update when Congress passes its next energy legislation. That policy package will answer Barbara's question:
"We have the tools. But do we have the will? Do we have the determination?"
Comment for "Power Plants & efficiency"
Denis Du Bois
Posted on October 10, 2010 at 08:48 PM | Permalink
Great summary
Waste heat recovery is a key concept in Europe, sadly lost here in the U.S.
In Copenhagen they've integrated their energy generation, waste management, and the heat supply for all of the city's buildings.
It's hard to imagine any city in the U.S. embracing the idea of waste-incineration plant smokestacks in their neighborhoods. But that's what they've done all over Denmark, in the interest of capturing waste heat, reducing CO2, eliminating fossil fuels -- and reaching nearly total energy efficiency.
Novel ideas, too new and risky for American cities? Hardly. Copenhagen has been doing this since 1903.
Comment for "Radiolab, Show 802: Words"
Denis Du Bois
Posted on October 10, 2010 at 08:20 PM | Permalink
Metaphorically speaking
Fascinating integration of concepts! Expanding vocabulary and deepening thought are indeed interdependent. None of us remember being languageless. (Except perhaps Jill Bolte Taylor.)
Like a lot of us, I work with words. I wish all adolescents -- young people just forming their ability to write about ideas -- would hear this program. Some of the themes might be a little mature for them, but the pace and entertaining delivery are perfect.
Hearing Jill's story again reminded me of enjoying another TED Talk, by author James Geary. He says, "Metaphor is a way of thought before it is a way with words."
Comment for "Humankind: The Green Economy"
Denis Du Bois
Posted on March 16, 2010 at 04:57 PM | Permalink
Before & After White House
Interesting to hear Jones "AWH" (After White House). I interviewed him "BWH" in 1/2009, just before the Inauguration, when he was very charged up about what lay ahead. That was before I started producing for radio, but it's online as a podcast - http://bit.ly/ckWniQ