The Renewable Energy Blog

• @joannapaterson time to de-glaze? in reply to joannapaterson #
• @joannapaterson De-glazing with wine, beer or scotch? in reply to joannapaterson #
• When the Gulf Oil spill is set and done will BP decide it was better to pre-plan for a disaster in the future or continue to be reactionary? #

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On occasion the MTA has some bright ideas. Adding solar panels to the roof of the Coney Island NYC Transit maintenance barn will not only cut costs in the long term, it cuts back on the amount of fossil fuel needed to help clean and maintain the subway cars. 

NYPA President Richard Kessel stated at a press conference recently that this can actually help reduce the need to increase fares and it will keep the MTA’s costs down. That’s great news for NYC residents and everyone in the NY Metro Area that have been affected by rate hikes and unnecessary payroll taxes added to keep the MTA afloat due to poor financial management. 

The 50 solar panels are expected to save the MTA $5.5 million annually, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 34,000 tons! Not bad. 

In case you’re wondering, the solar panels heat water up to 240 degrees and is used to clean and maintain the ends of the subway cars, called bonnets. Additionally, the heated water is also used by employee facilities in the complex.

• CNN is looking into BP’s Alaska pipeline management. I don’t even want to think about an oil disaster in Alaska again… #

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I know it’s fiendish to look at it this way, but it’s "nice" to see that the United States is not the only country or area of the world dealing with poor management of our petroleum resources.

It’s just plain sad, really. Farmer’s, wildlife and countless others are affected by oil spills all over the world, with new spills occurring on a monthly basis if not more frequently. Consumers can give a sigh of relief that the oil spills here in the Gulf of Mexico and in China in the Yellow Sea near the Port of Dalian, haven’t affected gasoline prices. Yet.

The Dalian pipeline explosion occurred on July 16, 2010. Fortunately, it was easier to stop the oil flow because the pipeline wasn’t a mile below the surface of the ocean. China National Television reported the cleanup is underway with more than 100,000 gallons of the estimated 400,000 spilled oil having been collected. 

To keep this oil spill in perspective, the BP leak has allowed an estimated 94 million to 184 million gallons to escape into the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Associated Press.

Researchers from the China Environmental Science Research Institute estimate that the ecological harm from the Dalian spill is likely to last a decade. At this time, the damage to the Gulf of Mexico is too large to estimate.

For both spills, the effects will take 10-20 years or more to fully be felt as the contamination of oil carcinogens passes up through the food chain, from animals to humans.

Greenpeace China estimated that over 10,000 shellfish farms have been contaminated, and fishing has been banned around the Port of Dalian until the end of August.

The Dalian spill covers a 165 square mile stretch of the Yellow Sea.

How many oil spills will it take for us as a civilization to really get serious about cleaner, renewable, alternative energy sources?

• Do you like soda? Don’t buy it from the grocery store, make it at home. http://bit.ly/a9aCQk No bottles to store-no deposits to return! #
• RT “It’s too early to determine conclusively why U.S. creativity scores are declining.” Maybe there is too much sensory input? Net, Phone… #
• RT @calristein1: Bigotry and free speech don’t go hand-in-hand. But at least we know where the bigots stand! #
• RT @Dragon_Stars Save FlashForward call Starz 866-888-4010. Provide your name and cable provider! #

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• Imagine, our whole existence can be broken down into energy. Without energy, life would not exist. Energy IS the ultimate currency. #
• Is the Deepwater Horizon - BP disaster the final catalyst to wake up our civilization’s need for clean, renewable energy? #

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