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Politics : Rat's Nest - Chronicles of Collapse -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (3321)	12/5/2005 3:59:11 PM
From: SiouxPal	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 24207

Published on Monday, December 5, 2005 by Reuters More of Third World Fit for Wind Power: UN Study by Alister Doyle Windmills have far bigger than expected potential for generating electricity in the Third World, according to new U.N. wind maps of countries from China to Nicaragua. "Our studies show about 13 percent of the land area has potential for development," Tom Hamlin of the U.N. Environment Program told Reuters on the fringes of a U.N. climate conference. Previously, he said, maybe just 1 percent of developing nations was judged sufficiently windy, discouraging governments and investors from considering the nonpolluting source as an alternative to burning oil, coal or natural gas. The new maps, part of a $9.3 million study, use data from satellites, balloons and other sources to model winds in 19 developing nations. In the past, wind potential was based on data from meteorological stations that were often built in Third World countries too close to trees or buildings which braked winds. Or winds were typically gauged at airports -- not built in the windiest locations. "It's very consistent," Hamlin said. "The weather data was not reliable and generally low." Among the nations surveyed, Nicaragua, Mongolia and Vietnam had the greatest potential with about 40 percent of the land area suitable for windmills. Least promising was Bangladesh, with just 0.2 percent of the land area suited to windmills, along with countries including Cuba and Ghana. Hamlin said the U.N. maps, part of the Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment, could help poor nations facing high bills for oil imports. "A lot of what's really driving investments is the price of oil," he said. In Nicaragua, for instance, the government in the 1980s estimated the nation's wind power potential at just 200 megawatts. The U.N. map estimates its potential at 40,000 megawatts, a rough equivalent of 40 nuclear power plants. The study defines suitable areas as those that could generate 300 watts per square meter (10.8 square feet), needing winds of at least 6.4-7.0 meters (21-23 feet) per second at 50 meters (164 feet) above the ground. The U.N. talks, from November 28 to December 9, are looking at ways to step up a fight against global warming, widely blamed on a buildup of heat-trapping gases released by burning fossil fuels. Copyright © 2005 Reuters Limited

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (3321)	12/7/2005 2:47:12 PM
From: Clappy	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 24207

SolarDude, I haven't watched CNBC in a few years now. However, yesterday I was surfing up the channels and I was mysteriously drawn in by the idiocy of Jim Cramer ranting and raving on that stupid show of his called Mad Money. It was like watching a freak show or a car wreck. Anyhow what kept me tuned in was when he mentioned something about solar panel producers and how their stock may or may not get a boost in the next week on Dec 15th. He mentioned how the California Public Utility Commission is set to vote on an initiative that would give 10-year incentives for the home installation of solar panels. It could create a large boost in demand for solar panels. Have you created any sort of alternative energy portfolio for this here board? The ones he mentioned (actually hollered about) were ESLR and SPWR. (These could easily sell on the news of the vote regardless.) I dunt know much about them. Wondering if there are some others you might have heard about. -SunnyBoy