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Zaph Mann's comments:
on The Switch: Biogas
Is there a substantial difference between cattle and livestock in general? And are these beasts problematic only when they are industrialised?
Here we have free range chickens and goats and are growing non GMO, non-patated organic soy.
Is it the animals or the practices of industrialisation where a few very rich owners who never step on the farmland reap profits at cost to the earth and food quality?
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on The Switch: Biogas
This is a very smart idea. I use goats, but they take a lot of fencing in.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on The Switch: Biomass
Good to see the program participants contributing clarifications on the blog - thank you.
Notice how difficult it is to track responses to questions without a framework from which to talk. The assertion that it is better to at least capture enrgy from wood piles from forest cuts that would otherwise be burnt, seems to make sense - provided it doesn't require more energy to move it to the energy recapture (that's the heading this should go under) facility, than is gained... AND that the assumption that it needs to be burnt is correct (digging pits and filling with bio-debris creates decades lasting 'hot' growing beds) AND ignores the aspect that the facility Kyle Freres operates requires an additional 40% of bio-waste from cities... which seems OK because it would 'just go into landfill' - BUT is that aspect clear? Is Biomass needed in landfills to counteract the amount of toxins. plastics, etc? Could city biomass be better used locally in communual growing areas for food, water and transit conservation?
Naturally Kevin Boston couldn't be expected to answer with every nuance on each point. For instance, he did a fair job of trying to answer in context to private/federal lands, but the fact that we cannot resolve things without systematic framing of the options, issues and full spectrum impacts is inescapable.
How about a dedicated 6 month task force to clarify the whole energy picture using a consistent criteria that everyone can follow?
Zaph Mann
The Energy Framework
posted 3 years, 11 months ago
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on The Switch: Biomass
This could be an interesting debate. I was recently discussing a different biomass technology breakthrough with Joseph Dahmen (Bodega Algae) and he brought to my attention a tactic being used by oil/gas lobbyists to have 'Alternative Land Use" included in costs for proposed 'green' energy proposals.
I pointed out that such a thing might be fine if 'true costs' of any energy production across the board were factored in.
In this case, I wonder what your guests think of not only the alternative land use matter, but also the alternative waste use. Biomass, is after all, what's needed to create sustaining topsoils for our food.
Zaph Mann
The Energy Framework
PS:The New Fuels Alliance (NEFA) is the organisation tackling the alt land use obstacles in California.
posted 3 years, 11 months ago
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on Judge a Book by Its Pixels
Coincidentally I recieved my first request for one of my novels for Kindle yesterday. Having got the digital files from the publisher already I set out to upload it to Amazon.
The process was surprisingly easy although it helps to know some html basics.
I'm delighted, many of the types of people who buy my type of fiction are more likely to be commuters or travellers with high-tech gadgets like a Kindle, and once it's there I have no overhead.
posted 4 years ago
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on Powerful Combination
I'm looking forward to this show as the economics of electrical energy generation & capacity are difficult to grasp. At face value mixed energy supply (wind+solar), (hydro+wind) seem to be win-win, but I know it's not as simple as that. I hope you guests can clarify the issues.
I'm assuming that given these issues with Wind power...
- resources are uncertain, generation can be analyzed statistically, but not predicted precisely.
- long distance transmission reduces end power delivered,
- the unpredictability complicates 'bidding' in the market
...that the combination with hydro is looked at to produce mutual gain.
What are the potential impacts on hydroelectric system operation?
How does the actual, physical and operational integration occur?
What are the economic impacts for Hydro?
Further, it should be remembered that hydro is also not a constant supply (there are high/med/low water supply periods), and, keeping perspective, rivers and reservoirs need to be 'tapped' for a myriad of other uses - farming, flood control, etc - which determine how much water moves where and when.
During low hydro production times, additional wind generated power would mean power suppliers wouldn't have to buy from elsewhere to meet demand. During high hydro there would be excess, but overall a combined system would surely provide more flexibility, no?
Some aspects I'd like to know more about:
Why is excess power such an issue - are the transfer or storage costs too high, why not sell on?
What is network congestion? (cited as an objection to the combo)
If the combination produces a lower price level is this resisted by power companies?
Zaph Mann
The Energy Framework
posted 4 years ago
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on Local Lunch
Given the future conflicts that are likely to occur over potable water, food and energy, teaching children to grow and process food, and experience the issues therein, seems essential.
School food should be 'de-capitalized' and based on sustainability whereever possible - this includes teacher's rooms, Corricula should include food production as a basic lesson throughout the school years and demand that teachers (many overweight themselves) stop doing the brithday cake thing and are not allowed to 'excuse' outdoor activity because of apathy.
posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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