Year of Energy 2009

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James C. Townsend, Ph.D., World Harmony Organization; Genei, Inc.; Sigma Xi; DrJCTown@cox.net

Francis C. W. Fung, Ph.D., World Harmony Organization; Genei, Inc.; francis@worldharmonyorg.net

posted October 29, 2009

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Abstract: This paper describes innovations which are aimed at “overcoming the implementation lag” in solar energy commercialization within the utility industry. Existing sustainable solar energy technologies have been shown to be “good enough” for electrical utility generation; however, to promote their widespread adoption, they must be made more economical than non-sustainable fossil-fuel generators. New advances in solar thermal concentration for generation by Stirling engine technology, perhaps combined with thin-film photovoltaic (PV) technology, promise to reduce the cost of electrical power generation below that from natural gas powered generators. The solar concentrator is a large parabolic dish made up of a number of mirror panels, as in previous technology. The innovation is that the panels consist of many identical, interlocking, metallic flat-plate reflector elements. This construction provides many advantages. The recent advent of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) technology gives rise to a new “see-through” application — the combination of concentrator and PV technologies. This white paper discusses the possibilities and advantages to be gained through these innovations.

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I’ve been compiling Sigma Xi’s Science in the News newsletters lately, and was struck by the fact that, in the last few days, there have been two articles about Native American objections to emerging sources of energy–in totally different parts of the country, and about totally different sources of energy.

On Sunday, the Washington Post covered the Indigenous Uranium Forum, which took place in New Mexico over the weekend. Attendees opposed renewed uranium mining for nuclear energy, recalling the health problems such mining caused to their communities in the past. Plus there are objections to mining on sacred land.

Over on the East Coast, two tribes are opposing Cape Wind, an offshore windfarm proposed for Nantucket Sound. They say the sound should be listed as a traditional cultural property on the National Register of Historic Places, and that desecrating the site with wind turbines would be detrimental to their spiritual well-being. The Boston Globe had that story.

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David W. Emerson, Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV); Corresponding author
Jacimaria R. Batista, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, UNLV
Samir F. Moujaes, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UNLV
Thomas A. Nartker, School of Computer Science, UNLV
Spencer M. Steinberg, Department of Chemistry, UNLV

Posted October 23, 2009

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Abstract: Autoclaving (pressure cooking) municipal solid waste (MSW), and sieving the sterile product produces separable organic material, a substantial fraction of the original waste. This fraction contains most of the biodegradable material in MSW and can be treated to produce ethanol, a methane-rich gas, and other valuable components. The biodegradable material need not be put in a landfill but can be processed to make fuels such as ethanol and methane. This reduces release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from a landfill. After removing missed recyclables, on average 40% of the original waste, landfill diversion can be increased from 20% up to 80% in volume. The remaining waste, now mainly free of gas producing material, can be put in a landfill, thus reducing hauling costs and extending the lifetime of the landfill. Research on many aspects of this treatment protocol is needed to estimate the economic potential.

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Marilyn Waite, Sigma Xi Member
Posted October 23, 2009

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Abstract: The global society is faced with a dilemma of increasing energy demand and the need to decrease harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Nuclear energy has been proposed as a part of an ‘energy mix’ necessary to address the climate-energy nexus. The following paper addresses waste by-products from the nuclear power industry. Using the cradle-to-cradle theory, in which “waste” equals “food,” the paper explains how a closed-loop nuclear industry should form part of the solution to our energy problem. The cradle-to-cradle concept, technical closed-loop options for used nuclear fuel, benefits and limitations to closed-loop processes, as well as key figures for a cradle-to-grave versus cradle-to-cradle nuclear industry are provided.

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American Scientist magazine (which is published by Sigma Xi) hosts informal lunchtime lectures–with pizza–throughout the academic year. On September 24, Thomas Meyer came over from Chapel Hill to talk about the world’s energy supply, including solar fuels. Here’s an audio slideshow of his presentation.

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Norman D. Meadow, Ph.D., Doctor of the University, Department of Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. and First Vice President, Maryland Conservation Council
meadownd@jhu.edu

William H. Biggley, Senior Researcher, retired, Department of Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. and Vice President, Maryland Conservation Council

Ajax Eastman
Vice President, Maryland Conservation Council

posted October 9, 2009

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Abstract: We attempt to show that global ecology is unnecessarily threatened by the construction of large-scale installations of wind and solar energy sources as well as the use of biomass grown specifically to fire boilers. We believe that this situation has developed because many scientists, most germanely biologists, are unaware of the size of the renewable installations that will be necessary and which are being planned, and are also unaware of the quantitative health data from historic radiological events, whose harm has been badly exaggerated. We conclude that commercial nuclear reactors will adversely affect far less habitat than the renewable energy sources and are also highly unlikely to cause measurable harm to health. Nuclear power is a very acceptable compromise that has been criticized and overlooked with little scientific justification.

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