THIN FILM SOLAR PANELS

Archive for June, 2010

With eighty wildfires raging across Alaska due to hot dry weather, lightning and erratic winds and smoke from the fires spreading across the state – but there is no climate change, oh no, it’s never climate change; it’s always going to be “unprecedented” – Senator Begich(D-AK) made some comments in favor of moving forward on the American Power Act, over the Memorial Day recess.

He told Alaska public radio listeners that he was one of those pressing for energy to be considered as soon as congress returns after the Memorial Day break. (It actually couldn’t have been be considered till late June, anyway, after the CBO and the EPA have finished the six week review of the bill which was sent to them May 13th) and had positive words for the new bill. (more…)

One of the biggest baddest bogeymen of environmentalists may be about to bite the dust.  No I don’t mean BP, much as some would wish it, and nor do I mean all the burger munching junkies whose dependence on flatulent cows is pushing climate change over the edge.

I’m talking about  Monsanto, creator of the super weed and screwer of every last cent out of the poor and malnourished.  Sadly though, they’ve always had a point: if we could somehow boost agricultural yields it would halt escalating food prices, lift millions out of poverty and “eradicate” (but use the word advisedly) starvation.

The debate rages around Monsanto’s claims.  Is this really improved yields, asks one camp, or just reduced crop loss?  Crop loss say some, pointing out pesticides aren’t, um, fertilisers.  Real yield gains, says Monsanto, pointing to studies showing yield increases of up to 50%.

50%? Pffft .. child’s play! For up has popped Ali Zum Mazhar and his revolutionary natural fertilizer, which trials show can increase yields by between 200 and 350%. Yeah.. stick that in your combine harvester and smoke it you gene-splicing, poison spreading goblins!

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Here in California, now that it is possible to pay-as-you-go for solar and switch to solar power with a lease or a PPA, which is the best way to get solar? (In many other states, pay-as-you-go plans are not an option because utilities in those states won’t allow the competition, but in California, three companies offer residential PPAs or solar leases – Solar City, SunRun and Sungevity).

For us in California, there are good reasons for or against both ways to go solar: both buying and pay-as-you-go. It all depends on your circumstances.

For most people, there is no choice (because buying is just ruled out, for financial reasons) but here is what to consider if you can buy, and thus in California, have a choice.
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Derek Lovley, that is. The University of Massachusetts researcher has already introduced a revved-up species of electricity-generating microbes to the world, and now he and a team of scientists are experimenting with microbes that can convert solar energy into chemicals.  As part of the growing trend in bioplastics, biofuels and green chemistry, the finding could help lead the way out of the fossil fuel mess.

The U.S. and other countries are still racing to exploit fossil fuel riches, but as British Petroleum’s catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico clearly illustrates, it’s a race into an increasingly oppressive future.  As Lovley and many other researchers are demonstrating, a safer and healthier alternative is in sight.

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