Renewable Energy

January 1, 2018

Friend Dean Spader writes, ...

"[take this] chance to inform you of how we got off fossil fuels for our electrical needs (and Jim asked me to report back on how the solar panels are working).

First, we installed 11 panels that have generated c. 600 Kwh's a month (or about 20-30 Kwh a day), of which we have on average used c. 350-400 Kwh a month for our house.  Next we purchased the Prius Prime Hybrid that gets 30 miles solely on the battery and a full charge takes c. 6 Kwh.  Thus we are able to live in our house and drive around town almost solely on electricity generated by the panels.

An added bonus is that the Prime regenerates electricity and charges the battery anytime we brake or take our foot off the accelerator.  Thus this car makes a lot of sense in a hilly country like the Appalachians because so much energy is wasted climbing hills then braking down the hills.  Likewise, we waste far less energy setting at long stop lights or in traffic here in the East where there are so many cars.  (The feedback systems on the Prime really makes one aware of the massive wastes of gas vehicles.)

Overall, if one can afford them, solar panels and electric hybrid cars are no brainers here, especially for short commutes every day on hills, and soon, for longer trips when their ranges will be 300-400 miles. (The Bolt is up to 230 miles and the Tesla up to over 300.) So on this sunny New Year's day, we are "celebrating the sun" by filling our electrical gas tank (battery) in our garage with locally produced electricity from roof panels that are about 15 feet above the car.

Here comes the sun has new meaning!

Dean

P.S.  We would have done all this years ago if SD had a net metering law; thus SD has lost all the money we spent here in VA supporting local solar installers and a local car dealer, not too mention local governments with sales, licensing, and other taxes.  Sad!"

I agree. It is sad that our government protect the utility monopoly from the interests of the people they are supposed to serve.

Thank you for keeping in touch Dean!

December 6, 2017

The David Pakman Show Courtesy of Youtube

"Our national security depends on America's ability to reduce our single-source dependence  on oil and cut the harmful emissions that cause climate change.

The solution is to secure America with clean energy. By developing new technologies, fuels, and renewable sources of power, we can protect our troops while they carry out the mission abroad - and provide security to our citizens here at home."

- Operation Free

It would seem so.

Imagine my surprise upon opening an email from our Treasurer to find this message.

Mark,

Thought you may enjoy this story  and consider it as a website story. http://operationfree.net/

Dana

I wasn't expecting an image of a soldier working on a solar panel but there he was bigger than life on the splash page. Wow! This got my attention.

I understood the military has been investing in renewable energy for some time and for good reasons but I wasn't expecting this. So, I wondered, who is behind this? It's the Truman National Security Project and they are all about energy independence. Good enough for me!

Hold on!

Is Donald Trump still President? Is Scott Pruitt still administrating the EPA? Am I in an alternate reality? Yes, Yes, and No. 

In a daze I went to Youtube for confirmation and discovered the interview above with Roger Sorkin who, among other things, is a fellow at the Truman National Security Project as well as executive producer at Sorkin Strategic Communications. Source confimed!

Now let's hope the people at the Truman Center can pursuade the Trump administration to invest in renewable energy infrastructure for the test of America. After all, the are named in honor of a real war president. Maybe he'll listen to them.

Thanks Dana!

December 3, 2017

The Executive Committee met this afternoon and voted unanimously to explore building a solar power coalition to promote the use of solar in Indian Country and non-profit organizations thereby reducing or, in some cases, eliminating electrical utility bills. The cost of installing solar plants has reached the cost point where it is highly practical to pursue this effort.

Treasurer Dana Loseke said there are some funds in our foundation account we may be able to dedicate.

Chairman Mark Winegar said this project is our highest priority and contacts will be made this week with potential coalition partners. 

December 20, 2017

Our trains could be much safer if Congress would to require the use of PTC (Positive Train Control).

Call Senators Thune and Rounds and Representative Noem at (202) 224-3121 to ask them to act now!

We all want a better life for our families including great schools, good health, and opportunity. These are things we look to government to provide but that takes money that the State simply doesn’t have. In fact, South Dakota is a welfare state. 

The fact is our state is the 7th most dependent on federal dollars (https://wallethub.com/edu/states-most-least-dependent-on-the-federal-government/2700/). We simply cannot do more with our current tax revenues and raising taxes on the middle-class is the wrong answer. 

We need to expand our economy.

My vision is a diversified economy in which we import dollars through commerce rather than federal charity. We can do that by becoming a major producer of clean renewable energy.

The Union of Concerned Scientists rank South Dakota #2 in production potential for wind and solar but grade us an “F” for our lack of effort (http://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/legacy/assets/documents/clean_energy/plugging_in_renewable_energy.pdf). The report was published in 2003 and we have made some progress since then but we need to do much more.

From: John H. Davidson

EIA Map Shows South Dakota Wind Farm Desert

The U.S. Energy Information Agency provides a remarkable interactive map showing the location of American energy resources, production facilities, and transmission infrastructure. This map shows wind power potential (brown is poor, light blue is good, dark blue is superb) and the locations of wind power plants in South Dakota:

 

West River is rich with windy ridges, as is a good slice of the state between the Missouri and James River valleys. The eastern slope of the Coteau des Prairies offers another windy blue zone running from Veblen to Elkton. But dense wind tower developments don’t crop up until you roll on to Minnesota and Iowa:

South Dakota has the fourth best wind energy potential in the country. The map below outlines the areas of the United States with the greatest wind energy potential.

Development of wind energy presents an economic opportunity for South Dakota. Farmers and ranchers can gain a much needed source of income without danger to their land and water offered by fossil fuel pipeline spills. The wind energy industry provides both manufacturing jobs and maintenance jobs within our state. The tax base is expanded with the addition of wind farms for rural counties who desperately need expanded tax revenues.

Wind Farm Environmental Benefits

If you ever visited a wind farm site you will notice:

• There is no odor.
• The air is clean and fresh.
• The wind turbines are quiet.
• They don’t leak any oil or gas.
• Very little land is lost for access.
• The lease paid to the farmer for siting the turbine on their land is far greater than the money made on raising a crop.
• Bird kills are far less from wind turbines than birds killed in oil refinery settling ponds, and large electrical transmission lines. New wind farm sites and the turbines are designed to reduce potential bird kills.

In South Dakota it is important that our state leaders focus on maximizing the economic benefits of wind on behalf of the people of this State. The South Dakota Sierra Club supports the development of wind energy as a sustainable, economic, and environmentally friendly resource for all of South Dakota.

Lincoln County Wind Farm

A large privately funded wind farm is being developed in Lincoln County. Please click here to read more about the benefits of this renewable energy resource.

The wind farm planned for Lincoln County is on hold due to pubic resistance. We have work to do educating the people on the benefits of wind power.