EPA says 12 environmental sites could be wind farms

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Excerpt: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are evaluating the feasibility of developing renewable energy production on Superfund, brownfields, and former landfill or mining sites. Superfund sites are the most co …

Here’s what I think, Feb 2010

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Excerpt: Economic conditions don’t look good right now. Our nation is at war, businesses struggle to get sales going, and the future feels uncertain. To make matters worse, baby boomers, the most experienced people in your company, are thinking about retirement and some will take advantage of it. If there …

Pump-power calculation? There’s an app for that

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Excerpt: The $avings Predictor application, now available on Apple iTunes for iPhone (OS 3.1.2 or later) and iPod touch, provides estimates of energy savings when using a variable frequency drive instead of conventional volume control methods. The application comes from Yaskawa Electric America, Waukegan …

Gas and oil execs see more employment in 2010

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Excerpt: Half of U.S. oil and gas senior executives expect to increase employment this year and two-thirds believe the recession that burdened 2009 will end in 2010, according to the eighth annual Survey of Upstream U.S. Energy Companies, from Grant Thornton LLP, Houston, Texas, issued Feb 1, 2010. Reed Wood …

Developer says 20% blade weight reduction possible

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Excerpt: Increasing rotor blade length increases its swept area, thereby increasing the amount of captured energy. But larger blades add significant weight to a turbine. So reducing wind-structure weights through composite materials is essential to improving overall efficiency. HyperSizer Structural Sizi …

Lithium battery could store wind generated power

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Excerpt: Toshiba International Corp. says it has established a U.S.-based sales and support for its recent Super Charge Ion Battery, SCiB. This nano-based lithium technology is noteworthy for a rapid-charging capability of 90% in less than 5 min., according to the company, a life of more than 1 …

Small power transformers handle 5 to 15 MVA

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Excerpt: The recent line of small power transformers is customized for use in municipal power substations. The utility-focused smaller power transformers, from Pacific Crest Transformers, Medford, Oregon, are rated from 5 to 15 megavolt-amperes. They are ruggedly built, using disk-wound coils with cruciform …

Wind-turbine manufacturer adds solar interest, changes name

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Excerpt: Earth Turbines Inc, Williston, Vermont, the state's only manufacturer of small scale grid-connected wind and solar tracking systems, announces a corporate name change to AllEarth Renewables Inc. "Our company is dedicated to developing new wind and solar technologies," says David Blittersdor …

Alternative Energy Expo set for Maryland in May

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Excerpt: The first annual Solar and Wind Expo (thesolarandwindexpo.com) will convene at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium this May 7 to 9. The indoor and outdoor event will be the first consumer show in the state devoted to renewable energy. “Never has there been a better time for this kind of …

Can an air leak give turbine rotors an efficiency boost?

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Excerpt: An idea originally developed to increase lift in slow moving aircraft wings and simplify helicopter rotors may soon improve the efficiency of wind turbine rotors and possibly reduce their cost of manufacturing. This "circulation control" aerodynamic technology could let wind turbines produce signifi …