A View From This Morning

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”  - Annie Dillard

Thanks, Kashoan, for the photo!

  

Nebraska Tree Stands + Co-firing = Electricity

Last year, the Nebraska State Forest Service approached the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) with the idea of utilizing dead standing trees for electricity production. A series of different invasive insects and diseases such as emerald ash borer and thousands of cankers disease are threatening ash and black walnut trees in Nebraska. Those tree stands could produce a significant woody fuel source considering that Nebraska has 1.2 million acres of forestland producing a net 1.47 million air-dry tons of biomass every year; non-forest land with trees produce an estimated 597,000 dry tons, and an additional 270,000 green tons of wood waste are generated through smaller woody biomass processes in the state. Dead and diseased trees left standing pose an increased fire hazard, and it’s pretty clear we’ve got biomass to burn.

The Forest Service's question was whether Nebraska could burn woody biomass in a co-firing configuration at electrical generating stations designed to run solely on coal. While co-firing is less flashy in the renewable circles than research and testing of biomass electrical generating plants, the benefits associated with co-firing could include lower operating costs, reductions of harmful emissions like sulfur and mercury, greater energy security and, with the use of beneficial biomass, lower carbon emissions. Co-firing is also one of the more economically viable ways to increase biomass power generation today, since it can be done with modifications to existing facilities.

So, the State Forest Service worked with NPPD to send samples of different infected tree species to the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC ) in Grand Forks, N.D for a month-long test to see how woody biomass  would affect heat rate, boiler fouling and slagging when blended at different ratios with coal. The EERC tested different wood types and co-firing ratios with 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 percent biomass.

Several of the tree species appeared generally favorable for blending, especially at co-firing levels below 20%. From an operational perspective, the co-firing scenario looks possible. The trick is the logistics. The diseased trees are available, but unfortunately they’re not located right next to the power plant, or in concentrated areas generally. The dead trees spot the landscape, so harvesting, gathering, storing, and transporting the material will cost money.

With energy demands increasing, fossil fuel prices rising, and regulatory restrictions tightening, the economics might sort themselves out.  Cost-sharing could also take the biomass co-firing concept off Nebraska's drawing board and closer to reality

Green Tuesday

This holiday season, not-for-profit organization Green America floats the idea of "Green Tuesday" in the spirit of Black Friday or Small Business Saturday. It's an effort to inspire people to consider the environment as part of their gift giving traditions.

Following the thought of holiday giving I hope you'll consider making a donation to an organization I admire a great deal called Water for People. Water for People is the nonprofit arm of the American Water Works Association and they're tasked with helping developing countries improve their quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities and health and hygiene education programs.

Around the world, 884 million people do not have access to safe drinking water and 2.6 billion are without adequate sanitation facilities. Dotting the landscape are broken water pumps, filled latrines, and reminders of well-meaning solutions that didn't last. At the end of the day, any technical solution - whether it's digging a well, putting in a pump or installing a latrine - is only as good as its lasting impact. If it breaks and can't be fixed the effort is wasted.

Long lasting solutions are at the forefront of how Water For People plans, creates, monitors and follows up on our programs. In each of their program countries, Water for People activities are concentrated in specific regions, which enable them to create a climate of energy, synergy and motivation that fuels future success for the communities within that region. Water for People works in collaboration with local partners - the local government, local private sector, local civil society, and the communities to develop a strategy and priority plan. And finally the organization works to keep solutions local so that the tools and resources needed for maintenance and repair are never too far away.

Sweetness Follows

Shackleton Crater

Namesake

“Remember that you and I made this journey together to a place where there was nowhere left to go.” ― Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake

Happy Thanksgiving

I thought I'd provide a little food for thought as everyone sits down to their tables today. According to NPR Tofurkys will served at about 350,000 family and friendly occasions this holiday season.

I have a great deal to be thankful for. Thank you to everyone who has loved, supported, or otherwise helped prop me up this year. From any angle a person looks at it: I'm an exceptionally lucky person. Thank you.

Solyndra

I went to a pretty exciting conference last week. One that pushed past the guessing game of a “Carbon Constrained Future” we’ve had for the past fifteen years. The features of that future have begun to take shape through regulation and permit limits. The conference was focused on maneuvering within that future and still providing electricity reliably. 

It tackled the nuts and bolts of carbon sequestration and cleaner coal paradigms, and I also got to listen in on presentations about biomass systems, methane generators, and compressed-air energy storage systems.

It was hard to grab a coffee at break or make small talk with your conference table neighbor without the word Solyndra popping up. The conference occurred at the same time that Secretary of Energy Steven Chu was summoned to the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations subcommittee to explain the details behind the $535 million in loan guarantees to the now bankrupt solar panel manufacturer Solyndra.

Clean energy technologies are more of an emerging market by comparison to the fossil fuel and coal plant technologies. Testing of these innovative clean energy systems is supported by Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantees. The DOE supports 38 clean energy project through this type of loan program, which are expected to employ more than 60,000 Americans, generate enough clean electricity to power nearly 3 million homes, and displace the use of more than 300 million gallons of gasoline annually.

And that's the bright shiny future of clean energy the loan guarantee program propels. However, with Solyndra out of business and American taxpayers out of $535 million, the House Subcommittee held the unenviable task of figuring out what went wrong. The question of what happened is the jumping off point for a pretty hefty blame game. 

House Republicans were hoping to paint the administration with careless misuse of money. Secretary Chu and some of the clean energy supporters were careful to point out that Congress approved the loan guarantee program that benefitted Solyandra under the Bush administration, and that $10 billion was even set aside to cover losses.

The testimony certainly provided high points for partisans on both sides of the political spectrum. Each side of this issue have their own message and captive audience with whom their stance resonates. The National Review, for example, chortled when Chu said that the only solar power he personally used was a solar powered flashlight. The left leaning Guardian applauded Chu for being “unflappable” in his testimony. 

In my opinion, the Solyndra bankruptcy inspires nobody to change their opinion of clean energy projects. The people who support renewable energy will see this as an isolated, unfortunate, and costly event – a bump in the road to a better future. On the other side of the coin, supporters of the current energy mix will see this $535 million loss as an inexcusable error never to be repeated. 

With venture capital perennially shy of investing in clean energy and the Obama administration standing by its resolve to promote fossil fuel alternatives, the clean energy field is put into a precarious position. 

Regulation and permit limits are bringing the features of a “Carbon Constrained Future” into focus. But that’s the side that tells us what we can’t use – the alternatives or paradigms that are only acceptable within some kind of constraints. Without loan guarantees or some cash to fuel the possibilities, we have created an energy policy that says “no” to all of the available technologies without providing any alternatives. Without fuelling the possibilities. 

We’ll bring Secretary Chu in for a House Subcommittee grilling, and he’ll be resolute in his stance and everybody will cheer for their side of the aisle and boo at the other side. But nobody addresses what would fuel innovation if DOE loan guarantees fall out of favor. 

With private investors perennially shy of clean energy investments, where would cash-starved project developers go for funding? Without DOE loan guarantees I don’t see how the United States gets from our current energy mix to a cleaner future.

Kitchen Talk

I like to hang out in kitchens. Always have. If I've ever walked into your house then I've probably wandered into your kitchen, grabbed a towel or a knife and invited myself to help out and generally hang around. It's a little presumptuous, probably, if not outright annoying. But, like I said, I like kitchens.

Aside from the vapor that rises from a boiling pot, or the spicy smell of food being prepared I like the idle jabbering that happens in the kitchen. I don't know anybody who's inclined to grate that or stir this in silence.

I would say that most, if not all, family gossip travels through somebody's kitchen at least once. Standing at somebody's counter you're equally likely to hear about babies being born or people getting married as you are to hear about job loss or money trouble or illness. Juicy details of the story get flung around when you're in the kitchen. Even if I were to hear the same story in another space it wouldn't be told the same way. The kitchen provides a different rendering of the same events. It's a more intimate or less rehearsed narrative. It's a story more likely to breathe than be a set of well-practiced monologues.

Obviously the food is eventually served and we take our place at a table. By that time, though, everything is in a pretty bowl, neatly served onto plates or laced up in linen napkins.

When you think about it the dinner table is less than 1/3 of any gathering. There's something that happens in the kitchen over cutting boards and dish-soapsuds in the sink. Even with a good meal, maybe ~especially~ with a good meal, I like to hang out in kitchens. Always have.

After The Show

After attending the Prescott Talent Show last night we went for ice cream to celebrate. I learned several things:

1.  Ivanna Cone's Hazelnut Shortbread is more of a life experience than an ice cream really.
2. N has a rather elaborate plan to assemble a dream team of Hogwarts students from Harry Potter and Jedi rebels from Star Wars to battle the dark forces of the universe.
3. This song by Pink Martini adds just the right zing to the end of a lovely evening.

Go Yoda or Go Home

N performs the Star Wars theme song on her viola as part of the Prescott Talent Show tonight. We were selecting a dress for the occasion and she was hoping to find one that was Yoda-esque. 

After some careful deliberation she went with the thematically appropriate sparkly dress. It was more of a conceptual nod to outer space. Yoda is just one of those iconic figures that requires a proper homage to go all-in or not at all. Altering N's ears was the deal breaker for the all-in option.

Leonid Meteor Shower, 2011

This is tomorrow's apology in advance for being sleepy. If the skies are clear I'll be up early to check out the Leonid meteor shower which will make me an exceptionally sleepy office dweller. I'll be the office mate who sucks down half the pot of coffee to keep propped upright.

The Leonids are made up of cosmic litter, the legacy of the Tempel-Tuttle comet that will occasionally pass between the Earth and the sun on its orbit. The comet litters a stream of dust particles and debris - typically no larger than a pea on your dinner plate -  in its wake. Each November the Earth side-swipes this stream of comet rubble and the particles become luminous as they hit our atmosphere.

Meteor showers are commonly called "shooting stars" and "falling stars" but they're not stars at all, really, just space stuff burning up in the Earth's atmosphere. The Leonid shower is known for its occasional swings of stunning skies. The sort of stargazing that doesn't require a telescope just an affinity for pleasing aesthetics.


“Some years, the Leonids brighten the sky with storms of shooting stars,” says Astronomy Magazine Senior Editor Richard Talcott. “Other years, like this one, astronomers expect the event to be muted, with observers under a dark sky seeing up to 10 meteors per hour.”

I'm optimistic though. While meteors might not be prolific this year Astronomy Magazine posits that a few of these meteors could leave bright streaks of ionized atoms hanging in the sky for several seconds — or possibly minutes.

So, I'm good to go. My apologies for being unproductive at work tomorrow have been made in advance. My alarm is set for some ungodly early hour. I have a pack of stuff (warm blankets, a lawn chair, wooly socks...it's like packing for a fireworks display only better) by the back door and the coffeepot is programmed to kick out a thermos of coffee in the predawn hours of tomorrow morning.

Viewing should peak sometime between 2:30 and 4:30 a.m. Central Standard time. If you're awake, you should check out the dark southeastern sky.

75% National Recycling Rate = 1.5 Million Jobs

I consider myself in the pleasant company of about 33-37% of Americans who currently recycle. I'm sure I have heartfelt blog post in me about the environmental and ethical reasons to recycle.

This time, though, I want to focus on the findings of a recent report that the United States could create 1.5 million jobs if the national recycling rate reached 75%.

The text juxtaposes a Base Case analysis characterized basically by a continuation of the current recycling participation trends and practices over the next two decades with a Green Economy scenario based on enhancing national recycling and composting practices to an overall diversion rate of 75% away from landfilling by 2030. 

Landfilling materials is a process that isn't labor intensive and it creates fewer jobs per ton of waste (0.1 job per 1,000 tons) for its management.

Processing recycleables (1 to 2 jobs per 1,000 tons) and organics (0.5 jobs per 1,000 tons) is somewhat intensive. A manufacturing process which uses recycled materials is where the numbers open up a wider margin.

The report ends by throwing the Lorax in me a nod and finding that the 75% national recycling rate scenario would reduce CO2 emissions by 276 million metric tons by 2030.

40 Miles; 1 Station

TransCanada said Monday the company will work with the State Department and Nebraska’s Department of Environmental Quality to determine a new pipeline route.

“I am pleased to tell you that the positive conversations we have had with Nebraska leaders have resulted in legislation that respects the concerns of Nebraskans and supports the development of the Keystone XL pipeline,” Alex Pourbaix, TransCanada’s president of energy and oil pipelines, said in a statement. “I can confirm the route will be changed and Nebraskans will play an important role in determining the final route.”

A new environmental review will be required as well, which the State Department said last week could take until early 2013.

Rerouting the Keystone XL line will likely require 30 to 40 additional miles of pipe and an additional pumping station. The exact route has not yet been determined, so those numbers are still soft. 

I considered the weight of 1700 people attending the State Department’s public meetings last month, Bill McKibben’s weeklong protest at the White House, I Stand With Randy signs in store fronts and on yard signs on every corner in Lincoln, and political pressure from a state and national scene to get 40 miles of pipe and one pumping station.

When you have people on one side and oil or money on the other I think the Kestone pipeline is an example of how people can win. But it takes  a strong, steady push from the peoples’ side to get there. In my lifetime that strong and steady push hasn’t happened all that often. It’s a sort of awe-inspiring sight when it does.

Astronomy Fair

Thanks, guys, for making N's Astronomy Fair so much fun!

Skinny Legs

This past summer N asked if I might teach her how to shave her legs.

I tried my best to maintain a cool exterior, and continued to peel potatoes at the sink. If she never shaved her legs the hair would stay soft and blonde. It would never feel stubbly or coarse. Hasn't everyone's mother made this case? Mine did. It's a compelling argument and when I was ten I nodded in agreement, looked at my feet, and then the next time I was in the bathtub I promptly shaved my legs. It was a razor that had rusted so my legs were all sliced up by the time I was "done".

N was still staring at me in the kitchen. This whole leg-shaving thing was obviously something that required me to muster a response. Darn. I took a deep breath and agreed that some guidance on this matter was a good plan since razorblades were involved. I further reasoned that fall or winter would be the best time to learn since some nicks and cuts were part of learning. Long pants could cover up her learning curve over the winter months. She nodded and I crossed my fingers this the topic would disappear into the abyss never to raise it's sharp head again. 

Nope. She meant it and asked again once the weather turned cold. I meant it too when I said it was a good idea to get some guidance. I thought it was obvious, though, that her mother wasn't the best source of support there. You know, ~razorblades~ were involved for goodness sake! This is my kid we're talking about. Huh. 

So last night we perched ourselves on the side of the tub, lathered up with shaving cream, and started at the ankle. She has these skinny legs that I don't often notice. They're elegant and awkward with knobby knees and perfect, porcelain skin. I coached her about taking long strokes with the razor rather than short swipes. Rinse off the blades and don't apply too much pressure. She caught on pretty quickly,  only nicked her knee once. And I only cried for a little bit. 

Holiday Craftacular

If you live close to Lincoln don't miss out the Holiday Craftacular Sale& Cocktail Party at Chez Hay tonight from 5-7pm. Pictures with Santa, handmade gifts, and over thirty local artists will show their arts and crafts at the event.

2005 YU55

I found out two things about this second Tuesday in November. 

1. Lancaster County will not hold an election today. You can show up to the polls but there's nobody there. No "I VOTED TODAY" stickers just hanging around either.
2. A large asteroid (2005 YU55) will perform a close fly-by of the planet earth tonight. The asteroid isn't on a collision course, at it's closest point the object is still 202,000 miles away. But that closest point occurs tonight at approximately 5:30pm Central Standard Time.

No election. Big asteroid. Isn't that just just begging to become the plot of my next great sci-fi novel?

Weekend Trip

In a fit of late-fall restlessness we took an overnight trip to Nebraska City last weekend. Packed girlie shoes, dresses, paperback novels and hiking boots. We stayed at Arbor Day Foundation's Lied Lodge.

I love this time of year. It can inspire me to curl up by the fireplace with a good book, or bundle up and go for a hike. The morning air is cold and light and clean. The autumn weather changes its mind several times a day.

XL

This is my friend, Pat, reading from a statement from Nebraska State Senator Bill Avery about TransCanada and the Keystone XL pipeline. 

The demand for oil is too high for me to support stopping the pipeline all together. I'm not opposed to pipelines. We have 1.8 million miles of natural gas lines connected to most homes and businesses in Canada and the United States. Petroleum product pipelines occupy around 200,000 miles of North America. Most of these pipelines are operated safely and without environmental incident. When properly located and installed pipelines are about the safest transportation method available for petroleum products. 

What I don't like is the 65 mile stretch of pipeline which endangers the Ogallala Aquifer. What I don't like is TransCanada's environmental record. 

The attached clip was from the public meeting in Lincoln a couple of weeks ago. I voted for Senator Bill Avery and I'm proud to be his constituent.

Movie Night

I spent last evening curled up on the couch with popcorn and hot cider. Each Friday night N and I have a movie date. We watched How To Train Your Dragon which was sort of lovely and thrilling. The young Viking character reminded me very much of my dad. He was clever, loyal, quirky, and surprised by his own acts of bravery.

Wonkish Instincts

It can’t come as much of a surprise that I’m a boringly studious policy wonk, right? At one point, when N was an infant, I hired a babysitter so I could attend a public works meeting. Not dinner. Not a movie. A public works meeting. Here’s the kicker: it was a ~really~ good meeting. One I still recall with freakish clarity and an odd amount of fondness. Huh, I digress. 

My wonkish leanings don’t often come in handy but this past week they did. I was brought into a transmission route planning process at work which afforded the opportunity to geek out over Lincoln’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan. I drew up their GIS maps. I created charts and spreadsheets. I was just giddy with glee. 

At the other end of the public policy or the Comp Plan is a battery of services that affect people’s lives. Policies and public meetings lead to roads, bridges, schools, fire stations and social services. I have an affinity for the sort of lofty goals outlined in policies that guide staffing levels, public programs and budget decisions.

I spent the whole week wrapped up in Lincoln’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan and I was reminded of why I love Lincoln. I was reminded of how this community defines itself and how that identity plays out in terms of physical geography and an offering of programs or services. 

My inner geek, the one I’ve fostered for as long as I can remember, the one I spend a lot of time trying to downplay or apologize for, provided the speaking points. It was pretty darned cool.

modcloth.com

The New Dress I Bought

Homemade Cake

N and I recently went to the playground. She's at an age where she'll peel off from my side almost immediately. I plant myself on a park bench with my book and, on this particular occasion, I eavesdroped on the following conversation between two boys.

Boy 1: The only  best things in life is friends and money.
Boy 2: Friends, money, and CAKE. HOMEADE CAKE!!

[Boy 2, at this point, breaks it down with an awesome and over the top CAKE dance]

Rough Night

Before

After