NO LIES RADIO » Solar Power

Over Half of Germany’s Renewable Energy Owned By Citizens & Farmers, Not Utility Companies

teri — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:16:33 +0000

Treehugger by Matthew McDermott
Jan. 6, 2012

Germany’s promotion of renewable energy rightly gets singled out for its effectiveness, most often by me as an example of how to do things well versus the fits and starts method of promotion common in the US. Over at Wind-Works, Paul Gipe points out another interesting facet of the German renewable energy saga: 51% of all renewable energy in Germany is owned by individual citizens or farms, totaling $100 billion worth of private investment in clean energy.

Breaking that down into solar power and wind power, 50% of Germany’s solar PV is owned by individuals and farms, while 54% of its wind power is held by the same groups.

In total there’s roughly 17 GW of solar PV installed in Germany—versus roughly 3.6 GW in the US (based on SEIA’s figures for new installations though the third quarter of 2011 plus the 2.6 GW installed going into the year).

Remember, Germany now produces slightly over 20% of all its electricity from renewable sources.

The thing that got me though, other than the huge lead in solar PV installations Germany has over the US, thanks to good policy, and the fact that so much wind power isn’t owned by utilities, is what slightly over half of renewable energy being owned not by corporations but by actual biological people means—obviously a democratic shift in control of resources and a break from the way electricity and energy has been produced over the past century.

Read entire article here

Getting off the Grid — Home power without fossil fuels _ on Ecoshock

noliesradio — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:06:27 +0000

This show was broadcast December 23, 2011.
It is now archived here — Use Player

Coming up today and every Friday at 7:00pm Pacific * 10:00pm Eastern * 02:00 GMT

ECOSHOCK — Getting off the Grid — Home power without fossil fuels

Get energy independence (and help the climate too!) Two interviews with off-grid authors who have walked the walk, living outside the power grid, with a minimum of fossil fuels. Where to start with solar, heat pumps, hot water heat, wind or wood. Cam Mather from aztext.com, living in comfort – off grid 14 years. From the UK, Nick Rosen author of “Off the Grid” at off-grid.net. Plus short clips from latest Noam Chomsky and Bill McKibben on climate crisis.

In this show, you will learn how to slash your carbon emissions, while gaining energy independence – hearing from people who do it now.

As climate, peak oil, and economy crash into a perfect storm, get ready to keep going, get off fossil fuels, and get off the grid.

Cam Mather is the publisher of “The Renewable Energy Handbook” He also sells organic produce from his rural home, living with his family – off the electricity grid for 14 years. Mather describes the tech leading to a comfortable home off-grid, with ultra-low fossil fuel use.

Most of us won’t be leaving the city any time soon. Let’s see what energy solutions we can use right now. We go to the UK, for our second interview with Nick Rosen, the author of “How To Live Off Grid” now updated with a new American version.

More people are going off-grid because:
* they want energy independence
* fear of higher energy bills future
* desire to reduce their carbon footprint to help save the climate
* distrust of the system
* weariness of consumerism
* they see Peak Oil coming
* a Libertarian frame of mind

Full of resources and tools anyone can apply. If the government can’t/won’t act on climate change or peak oil, we can.

Ends with two short new clips from Noam Chomsky and Bill McKibben about the climate crisis.
Visit Ecoshock here.

This is a transition show from Earthbeat to Radio Ecoshock. It explains the change to regular listeners. Earthbeat host Daphne Wysham is off the air, while she reorganizes for a possible return. By agreement, Alex Smith is providing environment news and analysis via the Radio Ecoshock show. You can help Earthbeat to return by visiting their website here.

FROM OCCUPIED TERRITORY_on Ecoshock

noliesradio — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:50:38 +0000

This show was broadcast October 28, 2011.
It is now archived here — Use Player

Coming up today and every Friday at 7:00pm Pacific * 10:00pm Eastern * 02:00 GMT

ECOSHOCK — FROM OCCUPIED TERRITORY

Begins with “Battle of Wall St” music by Dissovl. Robert Walker of the Population institute on his new report “From 6 Billion to 7 Billion”. In 1999, at 6 billion, the economy & hopes for climate action was much brighter. Educating & empowering women is the answer. Rest of program is home energy workshop with Bill Kemp, author of “The Renewable Energy Handbook”. How you can do it. Visit Ecoshock here.

Gerald Celente: Internet nuke bomb waiting to go off

noliesradio — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:41:02 +0000

Uploaded by RussiaToday on Jan 10, 2011
Gerald Celente, the founder of the Trends Research Institute, believes that the Internet will empower the youth of the world to unite to start a revolution that will overthrow the existing deadlocked elitist establishment. He predicts that in 2011 every citizen is going to realize that the Great Recession the world has been living through is actually a Great Depression, because the American establishment is “running out of schemes.”

Transition: West Coast Scene _ on Ecoshock

noliesradio — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:08:24 +0000

This show was broadcast August 26, 2011.
It is now archived here — Use Player

Coming up today and every Friday at 7:00pm Pacific * 10:00pm Eastern * 02:00 GMT

ECOSHOCK —Transition: West Coast Scene

The Transition Movement – West Coast style. Toward an oil-free self-sustaining economy. From Rob Hopkins in Totnes, UK, how it evolves in North America. Reports from Michael Brownlee, Boulder Colorado, Joanne Poyourow Village Los Angeles, Vandy Savage, Canada. Plus recording of Ann Pacey & Ross Moster at Village Vancouver meet-up.

Visit Ecoshock here.

These broadcasts are transition shows from Earthbeat to Radio Ecoshock. Earthbeat host Daphne Wysham is off the air, while she reorganizes for a possible return. By agreement, Alex Smith is providing environment news and analysis via the Radio Ecoshock show. You can help Earthbeat to return by visiting their website here.

Radiation from Japan Detected in American Milk & Water, Update on Fukushima, EPA Under Attack & Germany to Phase Out Nuclear Power _on Earthbeat

noliesradio — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:50:02 +0000

This show was broadcast April 22, 2011.
It is now archived here — Use Player

Coming up today and every Friday at 7:00pm Pacific * 10:00pm Eastern * 03:00 GMT

EARTHBEAT — Radiation from Japan Detected in American Milk & Water, Update on Fukushima, EPA Under Attack & Germany to Phase Out Nuclear Power

Radioactive fallout from Japan’s damaged Fukushima nuclear reactor has been detected in milk in Vermont and water in U.S. cities.

Joining host Daphne Wysham to discuss the contamination and why it is that the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Environmental Protection Agency are giving conflicting and confusing advice on “safe” levels of exposure to radiation is Dr. Jeff Patterson, the past president of the Physicians for Social Responsibility and Carl Grossman, a prolific writer on nuclear power and professor of journalism at the State University of New York – College at Old Westbury.

The EPA remains a target of budget cuts by some members of Congress. Kieran Suckling says the recent fight was only the first skirmish in what will be a longer war against the agency. Kieran is the executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has changed the Fukushima disaster to a 7, on a par with the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown 25 years ago. Philip White in Japan provides us with an update. Philip is the International Liaison Officer at the Citizen’s Nuclear Information Center. And Jim Riccio, Greenpeace’s nuclear policy expert, discusses Greenpeace’s role in monitoring radiation in Japan, and why they the IAEA has been slow to state the obvious.

Then, a soon-to-be nuclear free Germany. We hear from Arne Jungjohann of the Henrich Boll Foundation. Visit Earthbeat Radio website here.

IT WAS AND IS POSSIBLE TO STOP NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS _On Anti-War Progressive Teach-in

noliesradio — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:41:58 +0000

This show was broadcast April 23, 2011.
It is now archived here — Use Player

Every Saturday – Anti-War – Progressive Truth Teach-in
Coming up at 9:00am Pacific * 12 noon Eastern * 17:00 GMT
Will be archived here after the broadcast by Monday.

IT WAS AND IS POSSIBLE TO STOP NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
Kay Drey speaks on Routine Releases by nuclear reactors. They emit dangerous gases and fission products during their day to day operations. Drey is former board member of Beyond Nuclear and the Nuclear Information & Resource Service. Now retired, she has worked for 30 years as an advocate for the protection of the general public, workers and the environment from the hazards of nuclear power and radioactive waste.

David Freeman states that no nuclear power plants should be built since they are dangerous, cost prohibitive, and can easily be replaced with renewable energy. He also says that we need a police state to live with them.

He closed down 8 nuclear reactors during his tenure as Chief Executive at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and one more when he was General Manager of the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD). From A TUC Radio Presentation

The Anti-war Progressive Teach-in broaches upon some of the most highly charged subjects of our day—War & Peace, national healthcare, women’s rights, human rights, civil rights, torture, vets against the war, freedom, democracy, protest, demonstrations, etc. We scour the world to find and gather debates and presentations that are extremely informative and educational. Related subjects are also discussed. It provides key information for the uninitiated and the initiated alike.

We Could Make Our Roads Into Solar and Piezo-Electric Generators

noliesradio — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 06:03:47 +0000

georgewashington2.blogspot.com 4-22-2011

I wrote yesterday:
Another use of a free, wasted byproduct to generate electricity is piezo-electric energy. “Piezo” means pressure. Anything that produces pressure can produce energy.
For example, a train station in Japan installed piezo-electric equipment in the ground, so that the foot traffic of those walking through the train station generates electricity (turnstiles at train, subway and ferry stations, ballparks and amusement parks can also generate electricity).

Similarly, all exercise machines at the gym or at home can be hooked up to produce electricity.

But perhaps the greatest untapped sources of piezo-electric energy are freeways and busy roads. If piezo-electric mats were installed under the busiest sections [a little ways under the surface], the thousands of tons of vehicles passing over each day would generate massive amounts of electricity for the city’s use.
A couple of readers thought that sounded nuts.

But as TreeHugger notes today:

Copyright TNO 2011

The Dutch are well known for their ubiquitous bike lanes, to the point where Amsterdam is neck and neck with Copenhagen for the title of most bike-loving capital in Europe. Now, Denmark will have to come up with something big to match the latest plan from the Netherlands – the installation of solar panels in roads, starting with bike lanes.

Talk about the efficient use of space: if you’re going to have roads (and hopefully you’ll have bike lanes), why not put that space to work producing energy? Called the Solaroad, the project is the brainchild of Dutch research firm TNO. The idea is pretty straightforward: a layer of concrete forms the road itself. A centimeter thick layer of crystalline silicon solar cells is laid on top, and covered by a layer of toughened glass. The energy potential: 50kWh per square meter per year, which can then be used to power street lighting, traffic systems and households.

But it’s still an idea in development, which is why TNO, working with the Province of North Holland, the consulting firm Ooms Averhorn Group and the tech firm Intech, is starting with a small-scale pilot program in the town of Krommenie, outside of Amsterdam. Scheduled for installation next year, the first Solaroad will hopefully allow its developers better implement many more throughout the country.
Now why not put a piezo-electric mat under the crystalline silicon solar cells, under the layer of toughened glass?

We’d get two different forms of energy generation at once…

READ FULL STORY HERE

Germany’s solar panels produce more power than Japan’s entire Fukushima complex

teri — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:40:54 +0000

grist

by Christopher Mims

22 Mar 2011 11:48 AM

Germany is the world leader in installed solar photovoltaic panels — and they also just shut down seven of their oldest nuclear reactors. Coincidence? Maaaaybe … Anyway, it’s worth noting that just today, total power output of Germany’s installed solar PV panels hit 12.1 GW — greater than the total power output (10 GW) of Japan’s entire 6-reactor nuclear power plant.

Now before the trolls come out, let me just note that 12.1 GW is max power (the output whose name you’d love to touch). The panels generated that much at one instant in time — when the sun was at its apex — but of course solar power production varies with the weather and the time of day. To find out how much energy those panels generated today in total, you’d have to calculate the area under that curve in the lower right hand corner. (Which, come to think of it, we should probably use as the CAPTCHA on the comment field on this post.)

Regardless, Japan’s facing rolling blackouts until next Winter, and it’s undeniable that if the country had more distributed power generation like Germany’s roof-based solar PV system, the entire country would be much more resilient in the face of catastrophe.

Read entire story here

EXPLOSION CONFIRMED AT FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR PLANT JAPAN 8.9 Earthquake Tsunami

teri — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 18:11:12 +0000

March 12, 2011

EXPLOSION AT FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR PLANT JAPAN.8.8 Earthquake Tsunami
Source www.youtube.com

Disrupting Oil Auctions, A Republican on Climate Change & The Electric Car Revolution_on Earthbeat

noliesradio — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:17:37 +0000

This show was broadcast on November 26, 2010.
It is now archived here – Use Player

Coming up today and every Friday at 7:00pm Pacific * 10:00pm Eastern * 03:00 GMT

EARTHBEAT — Disrupting Oil Auctions, A Republican on Climate Change & The Electric Car Revolution

In 2008, a University of Utah economics student created chaos when he took part in an auction of oil and gas drilling leases in the state. Tim De Christopher bid up parcels of land by hundreds of thousands of dollars – ultimately halting the auction. Tim won the bidding on 13 parcels and drove up the prices on several other pieces of land. Before the bogus bids were discovered, the thousands of acres of oil and gas leases were purchased for $7-point-2 (M) million dollars. Of course Tim did not have the money to pay for his bids – and never had the intention paying. His goal, which he achieved, was to disrupt the entire process. Earthbeat host Daphne Wysham interviewed Tim De Christopher while attending the “Pricing Carbon Conference” held at Wesleyan University. We spoke about the auction and his pending criminal charges, as well as his new target – America’s Tar Sands.

South Carolina Representative Bob Inglis was one of the many legislators replaced by upstart candidates during the 2010 Midterm Election. But what sets Inglis apart is that he’s one of the few Republicans who support action against climate change. Daphne met up with Bob at the recent “Pricing Carbon Conference” – and asked him about his being the rare Republican who supports action on climate change.

Shai Agassi stunned the software industry in 2007 by resigning from the software world and decided to focus his vision on breaking the world’s fossil fuel habit. At a recent TED Conference, Shai explained exactly how he’s hoping to solve the puzzle of electric automobiles.

Music in this episode of Earthbeat is ‘Joe Hill’ by the album Fellow Workers by Ani DiFranco and Utah Phillips

Image by Slack pics – used under the Creative Commons license

More about Oil and our Earth’s Environment – show that you care, listen and share

noliesradio — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:33:49 +0000

JimUFO | July 03, 2010

Please Copy. Please Share. Show The World !!!

Best Biggest Viral Video Ever !!!

Share this video and you will have more power
than all the greedy heartless selfish corporate oil barons.

Never give up on your future and planet Earth.
Please get creative and caring and show the world how powerful you are.

Source www.youtube.com

The Movie BP & Big Oil Companies Don’t Want You to See

noliesradio — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:38:50 +0000

The Movie BP & Big Oil Companies Don’t Want You to See
Source www.youtube.com

Windows that Work as Solar Cells

noliesradio — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 14:47:01 +0000

READ FULL STORY HERE