By Roy L Hales
While many Cortes Islanders associate them with emergency communications, there is a great deal more to Barry & Amanda Glickman’s story.
Continue reading Barry & Amanda GlickmanTag Archives: San Diego
Supervisor Dianne Jacob Defends Rooftop Solar
By Roy L Hales
Many hoped California’s net-metering war was ending two years ago, when Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 327. The state’s Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) was given to the end of this year to create a new tariff that will kick in once the state’s big three investor owned utilities (PG&E, SCE and SDG&E) reach 5% nameplate generation capacity under net metering. With the deadline approaching, the “big three” went on the offensive. One of the California Public Utilities Commission hearings was in San Diego, on Oct. 28, 2015. That was where County Supervisor Dianne Jacob Defends Rooftop Solar.
Continue reading Supervisor Dianne Jacob Defends Rooftop Solar
Nine States Report Record Low Snowpacks
Nine states report record low snowpacks. A report from the US Department of Agriculture states, “the largest snowpack deficits are in record territory for many basins,especially in the Cascades and Sierra Nevada where single – digit percent of normal conditions prevail. Very low snowpacks are reported in most of Washington, all of Oregon, Nevada, California, parts of Arizona, much of Idaho, parts of New Mexico, three basins in Wyoming, one basin in Montana, and most of Utah.” This region is undergoing the warmest winter temperatures since record keeping began in 1895.
Continue reading Nine States Report Record Low Snowpacks
Transmission Grid Loss
By Roy L Hales
The world’s transmission lines are believed to have dropped approximately 1.4 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity last year. That’s around 1.2 trillion metric tons of CO2 dumped into the atmosphere. Though it is unlikely these loses can be eliminated in the near future, there are ways to reduce them.
Losses of 5-7% or so are the norm today in the United States, BC and Ontario.
Driving on 100% Sunshine
By Roy L Hales
Peder Norby’s interest in renewable energy goes back to his wind powered home in Denmark. Even then, Peder knew that someday he would drive an electric vehicle. In 2005, he and Julie built a 4,600 square house, overlooking the Agua Hedionda Lagoon in Carlsbad. Peder wanted a cheaper form of transportation, powered by sunshine. Julie was more concerned that it be dependable, comfortable and fun to drive. They installed 21 solar panels on the roof and a year later bought their first EV. Like most first time EV owners, they assumed it would be necessary to hang on to their “gas car.” That proved to be true until 2009, when Peder bought a BMW Mini E. As a County of San Diego Planning Commissioner, he drives all over the county, but found the Mini E was taking care of all his needs. His gas car just sat in the garage. So he sold it.
Continue reading Driving on 100% Sunshine