Posts by — lindam

Could be anywhere - country or city

The literal definition of living off-grid (or offgrid or living off the grid) is living without Utility power or water or waste disposal.

It can go further than this, to include being disconnected from the infrastructures that make life convenient, including roads, banks, schooling, doctors and so on. Even the Internet is a grid of sorts. Wikipedia has an extended discussion

In the absence of Utility electricity, energy needs are often supplied by solar, water or wind energy. (more…)

Carlson: "public is wrong"

Only the rich will be able to afford energy for heating/cooling when the Smart Grid goes nationwide. At least, that is the logical conclusion to be drawn from an early example of the Smart Grid – in Colorado, where the budget has tripled in two years.

Xcel Energy has begun charging customers across the state to recoup some of the skyrocketing costs the company has incurred building its smart grid project in Boulder,according to local media. (more…)

Ayodele – pushing for people power Nigerian States, and local governments are close to agreement on a way  to operate  a series of independent grids in order to solve long-standing energy shortages. Its unintended consequence could be the eventual break-up of the Nigerian State.
When implemented, power generated in the individual States will no longer have to go through the nation’s distribution network, the national grid. It will also mean that power distribution will no longer be managed by the Federal Government only. (more…)

The head of Britain’s National Grid has admitted the company cannot guarantee an uninterrupted energy supply, and blamed the government for this failure. But he has not explained why private power companies or The National Grid are not investing more, especially since its profits were up to GBP 1 billion.

When huge new wind farms are built, it can sometimes take years to connect them to the grid, even if massive pylons are only a few yards away. (more…)

Winderwoman turbine testing

If you are in the right location, wind power can meet your energy needs. It can be very cheap, and recoup startup costs in 2-3 years. But you have to make sure you have the right kind of wind. Local buildings or tall trees can disturb the airflow and mess up any turbine, however advanced. On the other hand, you might be able to solve that problem with a taller tower.

First thing is to buy an Anemometer, which measures the wind and makes sure you have enough of it. You can either make one, or buy it from Amazon (recommended).

Once you have decided that you have wind, the next thing is to choose the turbine. You have three choices:

A small yet perfectly formed Generator for under $500. Providing up to 400 watts of power, this model is relatively easy to install and can be powering your laptop just minutes after you take it out of the box. Compare that to a Solio which would set you back $80 with just enough power to run your night light.

A higher-powered Turbine for around $2,100. This one gives you up to 900 watts, and that’s enough power to run many of the gadgets and appliances in your home (although not all at the same time).

The most powerful Turbine that you should consider buying off the internet – for $5,500. (more…)

Chen confirms China’s eco-policy

China will increase the proportion of renewables to 15 percent of its total energy consumption in 2020 from 7.5 percent today in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pursue sustainable economic growth, according to a national plan published on Tuesday.

By 2020, about 300 million rural Chinese will use biogas as their main fuel, reports Xinhua, (more…)

Stoate: fear of frying

Britain edged closer to a ban on house building near high voltage power lines THREE YEARS after it was first announced by the government that this could cause health risks to children.

• Call for immediate 60-metre limit
• Committee accepts link with childhood leukaemia

A committee of MPs is the latest to come out saying that new homes and schools should not be built within 60 metres of high voltage power lines until the link with childhood cancers is better understood by scientists. A UK government agency acknowledged in 2004 that adults can suffer nausea, headaches and muscle pains when exposed to electromagnetic fields from electricity pylons.

(more…)

Paran-oil-a.

Bush supporter and peak oil believer, T. Boone Pickens plans to construct the world’s largest windfarm in the Texas Panhandle, officials from his Mesa Group company said at a meeting Tuesday.
The project, which could cost up to $6 billion, would put as many as 2,000 turbines on nearly 200,000 acres in four counties. A spokesman for the legendary Dallas oilman said the project would be able to generate between 2,000 and 4,000 megawatts. (more…)

In the Pittsburgh area, a man went to jail rather than let the local power company run an electric line through his property.

And even though he’s repeatedly lost in criminal court, William Williams, 76, of Cecil, vows to continue removing the guy wire and its anchor in his yard each time the power company replaces them. For Mr. Williams, it’s all a matter of civil disobedience. He said he refuses to surrender his property rights to the utilities.

“I don’t owe [Allegheny Power] anything, and I’m not going to pay,” he said. “They were on my property, and their right of way ends right here.” (more…)