Clearly Bob Blog
Twenty years ago NASA scientist James Hanson brought global warming to the American discourse when he testified that the earth was heating up and with a high probability caused by human activity. Now, in a new report "Twenty Years Later: Tipping Points Near," Hanson says we must act very soon to avoid catastrophic feedback loops that will result in rapid climate change.
Hanson, who is the head of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, is not your typical Federal employee. He has been an outspoken critic of the government, both Democratic and Republican, in their response to global warming.
Last year Hanson says there was an attempt by the White House to censor his message on the urgent need to address global warming, as well as edit his documents to make the threat of global warming less threatening. This effort backfired on the White House when Hanson went public with this allegation and the resulting media coverage, such as this interview on "Democracy Now!".
In recent testimony to congress, Hanson went so far as to call for the trial of top oil executives for high crimes against humanity and nature, charging that oil companies were part of a concerted campaign to mislead the public about global warming. Clearly, Hanson isn't afraid to let his opinions be known.
And now, twenty years since he first broke the NEWS on global warming, Hanson says we've used up all our slack to defuse what he calls the "global warming time bomb," and global warming may soon spiral out of humanity's control.
How does this happen? Read More »
Hanson, who is the head of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, is not your typical Federal employee. He has been an outspoken critic of the government, both Democratic and Republican, in their response to global warming.
Last year Hanson says there was an attempt by the White House to censor his message on the urgent need to address global warming, as well as edit his documents to make the threat of global warming less threatening. This effort backfired on the White House when Hanson went public with this allegation and the resulting media coverage, such as this interview on "Democracy Now!".
In recent testimony to congress, Hanson went so far as to call for the trial of top oil executives for high crimes against humanity and nature, charging that oil companies were part of a concerted campaign to mislead the public about global warming. Clearly, Hanson isn't afraid to let his opinions be known.
And now, twenty years since he first broke the NEWS on global warming, Hanson says we've used up all our slack to defuse what he calls the "global warming time bomb," and global warming may soon spiral out of humanity's control.
How does this happen? Read More »
With less than one percent of New Mexico's energy production coming from renewable sources, concentrated solar power (CSP) and other solar technologies present us with an opportunity to produce clean and renewable energy from a very abundant state source, the sun.
On July 2nd a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing was held at Sandia Labs to discuss the future of, and some of the impediments to, developing renewable sources of energy, primarily CSP, in the U.S., Southwest, and New Mexico. Senator Jeff Bingaman and Senator Pete Domenici, Chairman and Ranking Member respectively of the committee, headed the hearing. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who claims the title Solar Power Senator on his homepage, joined the New Mexico Senators to speak and ask questions. Testifying at the hearing were representatives from PNM, Sandia National Labs, Mesa del Sol, Abengoa Solar, Schott Solar, and Pacific Gas & Electric.
CSP is a type of solar thermal energy, the process of using solar radiation to heat a source.
This technology is different from photovoltaics, which generate electricity directly when photons from the sun knock electrons loose in solar cells. CSP systems use mirrors that track the sun to concentrate solar radiation on a focal point (thermal receiver). The heat produced is then used to generate electricity through conventional methods such as a steam turbine.
There are a number of CSP systems but only three are widely used today; the parabolic trough, parabolic dish and solar power tower.
Read More »
On July 2nd a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing was held at Sandia Labs to discuss the future of, and some of the impediments to, developing renewable sources of energy, primarily CSP, in the U.S., Southwest, and New Mexico. Senator Jeff Bingaman and Senator Pete Domenici, Chairman and Ranking Member respectively of the committee, headed the hearing. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who claims the title Solar Power Senator on his homepage, joined the New Mexico Senators to speak and ask questions. Testifying at the hearing were representatives from PNM, Sandia National Labs, Mesa del Sol, Abengoa Solar, Schott Solar, and Pacific Gas & Electric.
CSP is a type of solar thermal energy, the process of using solar radiation to heat a source.
This technology is different from photovoltaics, which generate electricity directly when photons from the sun knock electrons loose in solar cells. CSP systems use mirrors that track the sun to concentrate solar radiation on a focal point (thermal receiver). The heat produced is then used to generate electricity through conventional methods such as a steam turbine.
There are a number of CSP systems but only three are widely used today; the parabolic trough, parabolic dish and solar power tower.
Read More »
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