<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Senators prod DOE pick Chu for his thoughts on various energy sources]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Tasermons Partner http://www.grist.org/article/Heres-looking-at-Chu-kid/ Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:09:21 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Heres-looking-at-Chu-kid/1 That's right...lure 'em in...lower their guard...

]]> That's right...lure 'em in...lower their guard...

]]> Comment #2 by CCC Web Editor http://www.grist.org/article/Heres-looking-at-Chu-kid/ Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:32:58 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Heres-looking-at-Chu-kid/2 Chu's Bold Statements on Climate Change

If you want more complete look at Steve Chu's thoughts on climate beyond what Kate Sheppard quotes from the confirmation hearing, read the interview published at the website of the Copenhagen Climate Council where he said that climate change threatens the planet with "sudden, unpredictable, and irreversible disaster." http://www.copenhagenclimatecouncil.com/get-informed/news ...

And, for a more personal look at how Chu feels about the climate change threat, watch this video where he likens the danger of global warming to "Titanic the sequel":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA10n3Mdwcs


]]> Chu's Bold Statements on Climate Change

If you want more complete look at Steve Chu's thoughts on climate beyond what Kate Sheppard quotes from the confirmation hearing, read the interview published at the website of the Copenhagen Climate Council where he said that climate change threatens the planet with "sudden, unpredictable, and irreversible disaster." http://www.copenhagenclimatecouncil.com/get-informed/news ...

And, for a more personal look at how Chu feels about the climate change threat, watch this video where he likens the danger of global warming to "Titanic the sequel":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA10n3Mdwcs


]]> Comment #3 by vbstenswick http://www.grist.org/article/Heres-looking-at-Chu-kid/ Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:35:52 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Heres-looking-at-Chu-kid/3 No new coal plants

Until carbon sequestration is reality, there should be no new coal plants built.  WOW Energies of Sugarland, TX claims to be able to upgrade existing plants for $1800/kw, versus $2500/kw for a new power plant.  They are easily the low cost option since they use waste heat as their fuel.  Also, a large number of homes in the US that currently burn fossil fuels to heat their houses could be heated with geothermal heat pumps, freeing up natural gas for electricity generation.  If the COP of the heat pump is 3.7, and the natural gas was burned in a 60% efficient combined cycle power plant, and 7% line losses, natural gas consumption would be 46% of what a 95% efficient natural gas furnace or boiler would use.  That is assuming none of the electricity comes from renewable source such as wind or solar.  I buy all of my electricity from our local 'WindSource' program.  The cost of installing a geothermal system can be kept down by following the Canadian Office of Energy Efficiency guidelines, what state that you should size it to be 60%-70% of maximum load.  I do not believe this is common practice, but I believe it to be correct after analyzing weather data from a local airport.

]]> No new coal plants

Until carbon sequestration is reality, there should be no new coal plants built.  WOW Energies of Sugarland, TX claims to be able to upgrade existing plants for $1800/kw, versus $2500/kw for a new power plant.  They are easily the low cost option since they use waste heat as their fuel.  Also, a large number of homes in the US that currently burn fossil fuels to heat their houses could be heated with geothermal heat pumps, freeing up natural gas for electricity generation.  If the COP of the heat pump is 3.7, and the natural gas was burned in a 60% efficient combined cycle power plant, and 7% line losses, natural gas consumption would be 46% of what a 95% efficient natural gas furnace or boiler would use.  That is assuming none of the electricity comes from renewable source such as wind or solar.  I buy all of my electricity from our local 'WindSource' program.  The cost of installing a geothermal system can be kept down by following the Canadian Office of Energy Efficiency guidelines, what state that you should size it to be 60%-70% of maximum load.  I do not believe this is common practice, but I believe it to be correct after analyzing weather data from a local airport.

]]> Comment #4 by archigeek http://www.grist.org/article/Heres-looking-at-Chu-kid/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:46:23 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Heres-looking-at-Chu-kid/4 So...

Coal 'til we find something else that the energy cos. can monopolise and dominate the markets and more subsidies for all of the old energy generating cos. I don't know, that's what I read into much of the quotes attributed to Mr. Chu. Well, I had to read between the lines. Obviously, in the minds of most of the Senators and the Obama administration there is no emergency and humanity (in addition to millions of other species) isn't in danger of extinction. So long, it's been good to know ya'...

The mellotron is your friend.

]]> So...

Coal 'til we find something else that the energy cos. can monopolise and dominate the markets and more subsidies for all of the old energy generating cos. I don't know, that's what I read into much of the quotes attributed to Mr. Chu. Well, I had to read between the lines. Obviously, in the minds of most of the Senators and the Obama administration there is no emergency and humanity (in addition to millions of other species) isn't in danger of extinction. So long, it's been good to know ya'...

The mellotron is your friend.

]]> Comment #5 by tmullins http://www.grist.org/article/Heres-looking-at-Chu-kid/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:01:38 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Heres-looking-at-Chu-kid/5 Whoa !!!!

Coal isn't the whole problem here.  We know coal will be used as an energy source, but the real sin here is how the coal is extracted.  Appalachia has been bombed, blasted and bulldozed right into Third World America.

http://www.wisecountyissues.com

Hannity shut the fuck up !


]]> Whoa !!!!

Coal isn't the whole problem here.  We know coal will be used as an energy source, but the real sin here is how the coal is extracted.  Appalachia has been bombed, blasted and bulldozed right into Third World America.

http://www.wisecountyissues.com

Hannity shut the fuck up !


]]> Comment #6 by JMG http://www.grist.org/article/Heres-looking-at-Chu-kid/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:30:05 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Heres-looking-at-Chu-kid/6 Nice point here

POGO notes that the comically misnamed "Department of Energy" (which would be properly known as "Department of Nuclear Weaponry" if honesty were the rule) is the elephant-that-must-not-be-named in official Washington:


Project on Government Oversight - The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, tasked with the confirmation hearing for Steven Chu to be Secretary of the Department of Energy, provided no information regarding Chu's plans on over two-thirds of his department's budget. According to a report by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, at least 67 percent of DOE's budget goes to nuclear weapons and weapons-related programs. This is 14 times what DOE spends on all energy-related research and development, which was the main focus of today's questions from the Committee. Dr. Chu was not asked what actions he would take to redirect DOE's $52 billion for nuclear weapons and weapons-related programs to DOE's other responsibilities: energy-related R&D; general science, space, and technology programming; nuclear security; and nonproliferation efforts. "How can the Senate confirm Dr. Chu without having heard a single thing about how he plans to run the vast majority of the Department of Energy? This is a case where the Senate has left some pretty important questions unanswered," said POGO's Executive Director Danielle Brian.

The 5% Project Let's live on the planet as if we intend to stay.


]]> Nice point here

POGO notes that the comically misnamed "Department of Energy" (which would be properly known as "Department of Nuclear Weaponry" if honesty were the rule) is the elephant-that-must-not-be-named in official Washington:


Project on Government Oversight - The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, tasked with the confirmation hearing for Steven Chu to be Secretary of the Department of Energy, provided no information regarding Chu's plans on over two-thirds of his department's budget. According to a report by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, at least 67 percent of DOE's budget goes to nuclear weapons and weapons-related programs. This is 14 times what DOE spends on all energy-related research and development, which was the main focus of today's questions from the Committee. Dr. Chu was not asked what actions he would take to redirect DOE's $52 billion for nuclear weapons and weapons-related programs to DOE's other responsibilities: energy-related R&D; general science, space, and technology programming; nuclear security; and nonproliferation efforts. "How can the Senate confirm Dr. Chu without having heard a single thing about how he plans to run the vast majority of the Department of Energy? This is a case where the Senate has left some pretty important questions unanswered," said POGO's Executive Director Danielle Brian.

The 5% Project Let's live on the planet as if we intend to stay.


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