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Technology Stocks : The *NEW* Frank Coluccio Technology Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: axial who wrote (26275)	4/22/2008 2:29:01 AM
From: Frank A. Coluccio	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 46821

Hi Jim. I found your observations and ensuing question concerning the accounting for the interactions of disparate asset classifications supporting both inter-networking and power generation interesting: "The point: How do we perform the accounting for all this complex interaction?" I suppose we should be grateful that these domains are not provisioned and funded by individual vertically integrated behemoths, while acknowledging, on the other hand, that their constituent parts are sometimes comprised of verticals. In other words, there is no single accounting called for, since the parts function independently under market dynamics, unless, of course, one were charged with performing a macro analysis covering all of the related ecosystems - which pretty much sounds like what you are addressing. Beats me, if that's the case. It's difficult enough to trace who pays for what when a simple download is performed, never mind having to extract pertinent information from principals who regard everything they do as top secret. -- You stated: "Upstream, you've posted on the fact that server farms are increasingly being located in "power friendly" geography. When businesses migrate to areas where power is relatively cheap and abundant - but doing so quickly erases that region's advantage, to the detriment of local users." Agreed. Most 'advantages' that one might think of, other than those protected by patents and copyrights, sooner or later prove to be ephemeral, at best. As you've suggested, once whatever it was that provided the advantage reaches the mainstream and becomes a commodity, it becomes merely an expense, or another of a long list of drags on production, to continue supporting through extended maintenance contracts, annual software licenses, and so on. I'm glad you brought up the "power friendly" issue. You might have noticed that I referred to this observation of yours in the preceding post to Rob S. I was referring to a less-talked-about, but increasingly serious problem facing power generation these days, as described in the following article from the April 2008 issue of Power Magazine: -- Special Report - Water Management: New coal plant technologies will demand more water By Dr. Robert Peltier, PE Worldwide, competition for water resources is forcing power plant developers and owners to minimize water use. We look at some of the technical, regulatory, and political issues that shape the water-electricity debate. Population shifts, growing electricity demand, and greater competition for water resources have heightened interest in the link between energy and water. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects a 22% increase in U.S. installed generating capacity by 2030. Of the 259 GW of new capacity expected to have come on-line by then, more than 192 GW will be thermoelectric and thus require some water for cooling. Our challenge will become balancing people’s needs for power and for water. Drought conditions across the Southeast have begun affecting power plant operations. According to the Associated Press, 24 of America’s 104 nuclear reactors are in areas now experiencing the most severe levels of drought, and 22 of those plants draw their cooling water from rivers and lakes. Recently, the level of several of those lakes nearly fell to the minimum necessary to continue reactor operation. Last August, for example, Tennessee Valley Authority said that higher inlet water temperatures caused by lower water levels had forced load curtailments or plant shutdowns at its Browns Ferry, Gallatin, and Cumberland plants. Reduced hydro generation has been another consequence of the drought. See: Water's role in generation: [______] [FAC: In the space immediately above should be a link to a sidebar discussion that is highly informative (I have a hard copy) but doesn't appear to be working at the moment; if it doesn't "fix itself" soon I'll nudge the publisher or pump it out manually at anyone's request; the remainder of the article is long and informative, although some readers may wish to skim it first due to its depth and length.] Cont.: powermag.com ------

To: axial who wrote (26275)	4/23/2008 4:08:15 PM
From: Frank A. Coluccio	Respond to of 46821

The business of issuing credits based on environmental concerns could get even more complicated than it already is in terms of addressing your question: "How do we perform the accounting for all this complex interaction? -- From: The Market Force of Nature, by Maywa Montenegro April 21, 2008 [ with thanks going to poster pltodms ] Snippet: "The solution [fac: to deforestation, in this case] they settled upon, though clunky in name (Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation), is elegant in concept: REDD mechanisms will assign a carbon storage value to forests, and nations that forego razing their trees will receive credits, which can then be sold on the carbon market." Complete article: seedmagazine.com ------