Adapting the Texas Energy Grid to Wind

Managing the power grids for variability in wind power generation continues to be an area of opportunity for the new energy economy. Texas is leading the way in adjusting to that variability because of its dominance in the industry. The article linked below discusses some of the things being done to handle the variability.

Texas Adjusts Its Grid for Wind

Natural Gas Hydrates in Alaska

Any wagers on the Democrat controlled Congress and White House of the next administration allowing the development of this resource?


Gas Hydrates on Alaska’s North Slope Hold One of Nation’s Largest Deposits of Technically Recoverable Natural Gas

Secretary Kempthorne Releases USGS Assessment, Says Gas Hydrates Could Significantly Add to U.S. Energy Mix

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne and U.S. Geological Survey Director Mark Myers today released a USGS assessment estimating that there are 85.4 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, technically recoverable gas from natural gas hydrates on the Alaskan North Slope. This would be enough natural gas to heat more than 100 million average homes for 10 years, according to current usage rates provided by the Energy Information Administration. However, further research, including long-term production tests, still is needed to demonstrate gas hydrates as an economically producible resource.

“The assessment points to a...(complete article here).

The Reason Wild Horses are a Problem

The real problem is the horse slaughter ban passed by Congress. The BLM is being overrun by feral horses -- horses that people have released into the wild because they no longer wanted to care for them. Our country has a serious problem with these feral horses -- and that's just what they are -- the glamorous "wild mustang" of the Old West is a fiction today. Most of the horses running wild across our country were from poor stock to begin with. The better animals are kept and the worthless ones released into the wild because there is NO MARKET for them! To fix this problem we MUST allow domestic horse slaughter plants to operate.

Nevada: Costs Threaten Wild Horses

Steve Kopperud Speaks to CattleNetwork

The animal rights activists are well-armed and well-funded, but agriculture has its advocates as well. One that I had the privilege of hearing last week is Steve Kopperud of the consulting firm, Policy Directions, Inc. He had some very straight-forward things to say to the Texas Cattle Feeders about those animal activists. The article linked below will give you a taste.

Jolley: Five Minutes with Steve Kopperud, Senior V.P., Policy Directions

Achieving Energy Independence Overestimated

In the Houston Chronicle is a great article about energy independence titled "Energy `independence' is easier said than done" (click on the link to view it.) It discusses the global nature of the oil business and how energy flows around the planet. It also points out some issues regarding energy security that are relevant to the discussion. I highly recommend the article.

Until we truly have alternative energy sources that can replace oil, we will not be energy independent. We must look beyond fuels like ethanol and biodiesel to radically new technologies. We need to be thinking "science-fiction-like" technology, not a re-hash of the same old thing. The future will belong to the engineers and scientists who develop the new "power pack" that will power the future.

The Cost of Greening California

Someone else is finally seeing the big picture of renewables. California is "broke" already. Now, they will ask their taxpayers to make the "Green Moguls" wealthier.

California study shows high cost of renewable power

New EPA Requirements for Livestock Operations

Most confined animal feeding operations do an excellent job of controlling manure and wastewater. State permitting processes require management plans that protect water resources. Now, the EPA has joined the process making it even more expensive for livestock operations to become permitted.

New Requirements for Controlling Manure, Wastewater from Large Animal Feeding Operations

Fiscal Issues Week Focus of Senator Cornyn

With the current economic turmoil faced by our nation being prominent in the news, U.S. Senator John Cornyn has focused his website on fiscal issues for our nation. I am privileged to have a guest post on the Senator's site which can be viewed here. I appreciate the Senator's efforts to bring these vital issues to the public's attention during this election season. He has been a strong advocate for fiscal conservatism and I believe will continue to bring that message to the Senate as we send him back for a second term. Thank you Senator for your efforts!

Better Air and Consistent Growth Through Partnership

Texas often gets a bad rap from other parts of the nation due to the stereotypical image of oil-guzzling rednecks that is often associated with the state. In reality, Texas is leading the nation in development of alternative energy technology and in reducing pollutants in our atmosphere. The free-enterprise, private-initiative attitude of the state in which private industry and government entities can partner to achieve common goals is a model that should be emulated by the rest of the nation. Cooperative efforts, rather than burdensome regulation, are key to the successes.

As North Texas grows, air becomes cleaner

Release date: 10/28/2008
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

(Dallas, Texas – October 28, 2008) As the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s economy has grown to one of the nation’s most vibrant, its citizens have also enjoyed improvements in air quality. This summer saw the lowest levels of ozone in three decades, thanks to a campaign to reduce air pollution led by the...(complete news release here).

Highe Cost Infrastructure Impacts Wind Generation

As we gain new information with the passage of time, we often learn that our best laid plans are more costly than anticipated. Such seems to be the case in Texas according to a new study of the costs of building high-capacity wind generation infrastructure within the state.

Texas study cites high cost of harnessing wind

DOI's Bison Conservation Initiative

The American Buffalo or Bison is an important species native to much of the North American continent and is an icon of the nation. I enjoy seeing them in various places as I travel around the country. Most of them are in small herds on private lands. I would not like to see them restored at the expense of private property rights or at the expense of the important use of some federal and state lands for cattle and sheep, however, a balanced approach that includes conservation of the species is important. They also make for pretty good eating....

Secretary Kempthorne Launches Bison Conservation Initiative

New Jersey: Garbage to Fuel Source

Good for New Jersey. All of the large metropolitan areas need to be utilizing their decomposing garbage for fuel.

Green Garbage: Trash Becoming Key Power Source in New Jersey

From Aggie Carrots to Tomatoes

At first glance, one would think that maroon carrots at A&M were just a gimmick based on the school colors. The fact is that the maroon carrots are high in a specific antioxidant that has been shown to be life-prolonging in laboratory mice. The work done there has now been utilized by others to produce maroon tomatoes. Who knows, maybe the world of food will slowly become maroon and white, demonstrating the real impact of Texas A&M's role in feeding the world. Gig 'em!!



A&M's maroon carrot branches out
Based on research at school in the '80s, scientists are starting to develop purplish tomatoes with a life-prolonging antioxidant

Increasing Deer Numbers Provide Surprising Benefits

The article linked below discusses some surprising new findings regarding high deer populations and their effect on other creatures within their ecosystem. It provides more evidence that we don't know what we think we know....

High deer population may benefit forest critters

Deer are often blamed for damaging forest habitats by overgrazing

Wind Development Continues to Challenge Power Grid

As I traveled across Texas this week I was amazed at the dramatic increase in the number of wind generators. The stretch from north of Snyder, Texas, to Abilene, Texas, is becoming one continuous wind power generating field. The grid still is not able to fully utilize all of that power -- and there is more being built -- especially futher north into the Texas Panhandle and on up through the High Plains of Kansas and Nebraska. The article linked below discusses some of the grid issues.

Wind development seen biggest challenge for power grid

Reproductive Issues Impact Bottom Line of Dairies

Reproductive efficiency and health are critical to profitability in all livestock operations but critically so to dairies. One contibutor to both reproductive and health issues is the presence of cattle persistently infected with BVD. Eliminating those animals from the herd can have very positive results for the bottom line.

Reproductive inefficiency eats at dairy producers' wallets

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Now that many producers are unable to utilize rBST, maximizing the dairy operation's reproductive efficiency is more critical than ever, said a Purdue University expert.

Allen Bridges, expert in reproductive management, said with the loss of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) - which increased milk production by 10 percent to 15 percent, and, in some cases, was demonstrated to...(complete article here).

Biofuel Waste to Riches

Potential new bi-products from biofuel waste may revolutionize the biofuel industry.

Adding Value to Biofuel Waste

What do you get when you cross E. coli with biofuel waste products? A new process that may revolutionize the economic development of the growing biofuel industry.

Biofuels represent the best sustainable, secure, and renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Unfortunately, biofuel production is beset by the same problem as traditional petroleum refining – excess waste. In traditional refining, only about...(complete article here).

Ethanol Subsidy Market Distortions

Iowa State takes a different look at the impact of ethanol.

Ethanol: A Welfare-Increasing Market Distortion?

Xiaodong Du, Dermot J. Hayes, Mindy L. BakerOctober 2008 [08-WP 480]

This study estimates the welfare changes for consumers and producers resulting from ethanol production and related support polices in 2007. The results suggest a positive welfare gain from the support policies; this is possible because ethanol subsidies effectively replaced a market distortion that had a larger deadweight loss. Previous farm subsidies created overproduction, which then depressed market prices and increased the cost of maintaining target-price supports. Ethanol polices resulted in additional ethanol production, but because this additional ethanol was sold in price elastic energy markets, the price depressing impact of the government supports was less than before. This resulted in lower government spending and a net welfare gain of $2.65 billion for given market parameters. The results are...(complete news release and link to study here).

Green Refinery?

New technology is coming quickly that will revolutionize the way we manufacture fuel. Here is another example.

'Green refinery' would be a first

Plant's aim is to capture carbon emissions

Offshore Texas Wind Power Delayed

Wind power development in the Gulf of Mexico is facing a different set of challenges than onshore developments in Texas. To its advantage, it would have much fewer miles for transmitting the power to population centers. On the downside, it is much more expensive to develop and infrastructure to transmit it is more expensive. There is also the threat of hurricanes.

A Few Snags, But Hopes Are Still High for Offshore Wind in Texas

The word on the street is that the Lehman failure has put a halt to T. Boone Pickens wind development plans as well. It's just a rumor -- don't quote me on it.