CPS - Build Nuclear Power Plant NOW

Part 1 - I want lower rate !! For the next 40 years

Part 2 - Get real - overly Hyped "Green Technology

Why Green Technology Doesn't Work .. Part 2 of 2

By Joe Gokaho 2009.09.30 D3

I don’t think a City of San Antonio should bet on the green technology yet because,

1. Solar, Wind technology – is heavily subsided and provided by the federal government (funding is no problem there – our senators and representative are not bounded by the deficit spending).
   
   No state and local government is spending money on these technology, because – local/state government can’t just print money – “bang of the buck” still rules.
   
   Sad to say, we are already paying higher utility rate because of the green technology. Why no one complaint yet? –Because it doesn’t show up in your monthly utility bill, it’s all paid by your children, and many other rich people.
   
   Accelerating this green technology adaptation through government heavy subsidy is a very stupid policy; money can be better spend on improving conservation technology. Or something else.
   
   
2. Solar and Wind power generation are not only unpredictable and they are typically producing out of phase usage cycle. For example, most of the wind power is generated during night time, where the electricity consumption is at least.
   
   If the solar and wind are to be the primary source of electrical power producing source, then the secondary system -” non-green/nuclear power will have to be “big, capacity wise” to do double duty – pickup where the “green technology” is out of season - "NO SHOW".

My take on the energy solution should go in the following order: The backbone of power generating source, should be controllable, somewhat; The uncontrollable power generating source, like solar, winds should be acted as alternative.

Primary Source – Nuclear power, Fire/steam (may be burring switch grass pellets (instead of coals), Hydro (somewhat controllable), thermo (like Iceland)

Secondary Backup – Wind, solar generating, conservation, oil/natural gas.

New Electrical Power Plant for Texas Part 1 of 2

By Joe Gokaho 2009.09.30 D3

My utility company is a non-profit – city owned. Currently the electric rate is about 25%-30% cheaper than the neighboring cities with privately owned providers (for profit). I have come to enjoy having dry and cool air conditioned rooms during the long and hot Texas summers. One last thing on my mind would be that spike in electricity bill in the summer time.

The population growth for the State of Texas is faster than rest of the country, the long and hot summer seasons, and ever larger new home constructions also play a great demand on electrical power generation requirement on all Texas utility providers.
City of Houston (once called Houston Light and Power), asks residence to participate a rolling black out program –in hope to cut down power consumption enough to avoid either brown out scenario or building new power generating plants. Other cities also have tried that idea. I bet in a few years, new power plants have to come online, somewhere on the grid to fill in increasing demands. The “green movement” and newly yet to be approved carbon tax – once can only image the great financial burden imposed on Texan in a few short years.

City of San Antonio is the process proposing, building new nuclear power plants. The new facility will be an expanding of existing South Texas Nuclear Power Plant. The price tag is steep, it projects to raise the electric rate by significant amount, but yet it’s still far less than the market rate in the nearby cities like Dallas, Austin and Houston. One would argue, why not spending the money now on the project, when the project is complete, city of San Antonio will be able to enjoy the same electric rate, where other cities (for profit providers) will continue to pay even higher rate, and buying extra power from the open market.

Strong opposition came out , against the nuclear power plant. Everyone says – we should go green, think of solar, wind. The opponents argue, even though the current technology is high, but the cost of these green technology are go down, it’s better for our children and environment.

I hate to use the line from Clinton era, "It's economy, stupid". If we spend money on the green technology without the heavy government subsidy, everyone will shocked to find how expensive it is to go green now, or just in the next decade.

Overrated Toyota Hybrid – It Still Burns Fossil Fuel

Joe Gokaho, 2009.09.24 d4

I was waiting for friends in front of a local popular Mexican restaurant, and over heard a conversation about their “hybrid” family car to friends whom they had dinner with. The intrigued friends kept referring to the Prius as an electric car, but the owner went on the entire “computer logic” flow how the vehicle switches between gasoline engine, and electricity, the condition of which the vehicle would operate as an electric car etc. The intrigued friends was lost in the conversation, but the inquirers were interested in about “green” aspect of the Prius.

Wake up! It’s still a fossil fuel power vehicle, the electricity is just by product from burning fossil fuel. The owner implied they own a “green” vehicle, in this case the Toyota Prius, was a bit stretch.

Nearly all of our current fossil fuel sources are not “renewable”, so Prius is not a “green” car. Even the future plug-in 100% electric car like Volt – isn’t green unless the it doesn't charge it with power generated from coal, or natural gas or even nuclear power plants.

# # # #

Well, you can get a pretty fuel efficient car without the use of expensive electric motor/battery pack, like the Prius. 3 basic attributes makes the car efficient – weight of the vehicle, aerodynamic drag/resistance of the tires friction, and the efficiency of the power plant (engine). Except the "tax incentives - kick starts the "hybrid scheme"..

Just for comparison

Toyota Prius

Weight – 2,965lbs

Aerodynamic Cd, drag – 0.27

Engine – 1.3 Liter & electric

City 34 mpg

Highway 47 mpg

- Source Consumer Reports

(say a 2006 Honda Civic 4 dr)

Weight – 2,900 lbs

Aerodynamic Cd =

Engine 1.8 Liter

City 18mpg

Highway 43mpg

- Source Consumer Reports

The highway driving, both cars have pretty similar fuel economy; Prius is better at managing power at city driving (stop and go situation), less energy is wasted by “shutting down engine” and use electric power to assist acceleration, avoid over revving engines.

If you commute, less of the Washington DC stop & go driving, save yourself a few dollars, just get an aerodynamic car with small engine displacement. It's hard to come up $3,500 worth of fuel saving.

Highway Tractors

I made 6-connective weekend trips to a neighboring city. I came across many 18-wheelers on the interstate highways. Some were old, boxy Peterbilts, some were very aerodynamic looking Freightliners and Volvos. Regardless of the boxy cabs, or aerodynamic cabs, they all have some kinds of "add-on" to improve the aerodynamic of overall setup. Without out a doubt, the raised wind deflector over the trailer was every one I have came across.

Another interesting observation about the trucks - there are only a few brands of truck cab integrators:

Freightliner

Volvo

Peterbilt

Kenworth

International

Ford

Mack

Further more - Detroit Diesel, Cummins are popular engine choices for truck manufactures that don't have their own branded engines.

The Original Bexar County

Joe Gokaho/2009.09.14 D2

I found Texas history is quiet interesting. My latest fascination is about the original Bexar County, before formation of the Republic and joining the Unions.

The Texas Republic - encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S. state of Texas, and parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming. There was only county, Bexar County, that encompasses the current west Texas (1/2 of Texas, and New Mexico Colorado and Wyoming. Image, the you're the one - Bexar County Sheriff, overseeing an area larger than the state of California ..

Pushing Shopping Carts Over Curb

Joe Gokaho 2009.09.09 d3

I was at the local Costco store over the weekend. I had my vehicle parked close to a near by “raised curb island”. There were couple shopping carts parked on the “curb island” – that was nice, at least, I, as the next shopper won’t run into the run-away shopping carts.

I though it would be nice to bring one of the cart back to the store, may be I will help out the Costco associates collecting the carts back to the store front. I drag the cart off the island, somehow the carts lost footing, one of wheel stuck on the grassy island, the other wheels ran off the curb. The cart was in a awkward position – lost its balance and tumbled down and landed on the side. I didn’t realize how much “force” was needed to just bring the cart off the curb, despite I wasn’t successful at it. I can only wonder how much force is needed to lift the oversized shopping cart on the curb, and park it on a narrow strip of “Curb Island”.

There was a “return cart” slot – 5 parking spaces over from the “curb island”. I would think it is a lot easier to push the cart over 5 parking spaces than lifting the shopping cart on the island. Why would people do that? Not only has it taken more effort to lift the cart onto the “curb island”, it also blocking someone entering from the passenger side of the vehicle.

I though Costco stores have pretty good parking lot layout, “shopping carts return slots” are will strategically positioned – there is no reason not to return the carts to designated area, that makes everyone “safe” and their cars “safe’ from shopping carts.

US Military and CIA are Already Exercising Moral Superiority

Joe Gokaho 2009.09.02 D3
So2pp.blogspot.com

I would argue, any rational person will agree that US is already exercising higher moral superiority than our enemies. Because we don’t do what enemies do to captives.

Americans have not:
1. Decapitate captives
2. Allowing remains of the captives to be mutilated, dragging captives on the streets
3. Using captives for propaganda purpose
4. Using captive as human shields
5. Killing captives without trials

I will reconsider the “moral superiority” argument when our enemies stop doing immoral acts.