July 2008 - Sustainability - list.sfgreens.org

Re: [Sustain] [Fwd: RE: [Fwd: Compressed air car]]
by David F 18 Jul '08

18 Jul '08

Don, The heat issue is with the compression and storage of the air itself, not the operation of the motor. When a gas is compressed, it heats up, and either this heat is retained in something like metal or molten salt, or it has to be rejected to the atmosphere through heat exchanges, where its usefulness is lost. If the heat is ejected (which is the only technically feasible process we have now), then when the compressed gas is released, it has to be heated up because gas that is decompressing gets much colder, and motors or turbines can't take being frozen (you've probably seen frost at the nozzle when you've used those small cans of compressed air for cleaning electronics). So in the compressed air energy storage projects that exist today (Iowa, Germany, Alabama), natural gas is used to heat the compressed air up before it reaches the turbines. Even with the heating, the overall process is more efficient than burning natural gas directly. High pressure storage vessels are also a problem, since they have catastrophic consequences when they fail and thus the engineering requirements are severe. It's the storage vessels that make the cost of such systems more expensive than batteries. Underground storage in airtight caverns is best, and geologically, old salt dome formations (such as the ones we use to store natural gas in) are very suitable. They are very stable geologically. It seems unless small scale adiabatic (that is, no heat loss) storage could be figured out, the efficiency of a small system for power generation would likely be very low. First the PV or wind would have to drive a compressor to compress the air, the engineering of the pressure vessel would require some dealing with heat ejection, then energy would be needed to heat the air up again before driving a small motor to generate DC power, then pass through an inverter to AC. Manufacturing of the compressor, pressure vessel and motor entail environment impacts beyond the boundary of the compressed air system, so to weigh the tradeoffs with batteries, this would have to be considered as well. Storage of intermittent energy sources is indeed going to be a major challenge to bringing true renewables into play for a 24/7 economy. David -----Original Message----- From: Don Eichelberger [mailto:done7777@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 1:51 PM To: Jeanne; david-fridley.net Cc: sustainability(a)sfgreens.org Subject: Re: [Fwd: RE: [Fwd: Compressed air car]] Thanks, Jeanne and David- I found this very interesting, thank you. I do have some questions. I am more interested in the compressed air motor as a decentralized stationary energy source that can act as an emergency back-up, like a battery but without the toxins. It seems that, as a stationary source, some type of heat exchanger technology could be devised that could provide hot water as a byproduct. Either submerge the motor in water or through use of cooling coils, it seems the heat could be made useable. Heat sources would be from motor friction and compression of air molecules, right? Couldn't such a motor be made to operate more coolly by using the air to cushion moving parts? I don't understand the part about heat ejection having to heat the air up again on decompression, can that be explained in lay terms? It seems if there is already a less efficient (50%) design that can deliver energy density equivalent to lead batteries, but without the toxins, is making huge steps. I would be interested in checking out the midwest studies you referred to. As for geologic storage, could such geological formations be made seismically unstable storing air at pressures of 2500 psi or more? I am thinking more smaller, less centralized storage unit, say at a local market, that can be fed with a small windmill or solar panel powered pump for emergency power back-up for lights and refrigeration. I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Thanks again, Don At 10:15 PM 7/16/2008, you wrote: >Don, > >Here's David Fridley's response to my query on compressed air energy >storage. Thought you might be interested. > >Jeanne > > >-------- Original Message -------- >Subject: RE: [Fwd: Compressed air car] >Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:39:41 -0700 >From: David F <mailto:david@fridley.net><david(a)fridley.net> >To: 'Jeanne' <mailto:greengal@netvista.net><greengal(a)netvista.net> >References: ><mailto:487BA2C6.9060200@netvista.net><487BA2C6.9060200(a)netvista.net> > > >Jeanne, > >Yes, but there are technical challenges of course. The main problem >is how to deal with the heat. The best way would be to store the >heat with the compressed air, but that hasn't been worked out on >large scale. What has been worked out is storage with heat ejection >(meaning having to heat the air up again on decompression), which >lowers the efficiency to about 50%. This method has about the same >energy density as a lead-acid battery, so it's good, but not as good >as advanced batteries. But you don't need the same toxic materials >as you do for batteries. There's some trials of wind/compressed air >storage in the Midwest I've read about, so it's definitely >progressed to the demonstration levels. As long as there are >appropriate storage conditions (underground caverns being best for >large scale storage), then it's a good option. > >As for the cars, the compressed air storage mechanism works best >with slow release, which is why these cars run on the air only up to >35 mph, then rely on the alternative energy source. Since >decompressing air cools it, you have built in air conditioning. > >David > > >From: Jeanne [<mailto:greengal@netvista.net>mailto:greengal@netvista.net] >Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 12:03 PM >To: Fridley, David >Subject: [Fwd: Compressed air car] > >David, > >Don has an interesting question. Suppose we forget about this as a >car, but consider it as a way to store intermittent sources of >energy. Does it make any sense? > >Jeanne > >-------- Original Message -------- >Subject: >Compressed air car >Date: >Tue, 06 May 2008 22:47:13 -0700 >From: >Don Eichelberger <mailto:done7777@sbcglobal.net><done7777(a)sbcglobal.net> >To: ><mailto:ber8832@aol.com>ber8832(a)aol.com, ><mailto:richard@katznip.com>richard(a)katznip.com, ><mailto:greengal@netvista.net>greengal(a)netvista.net > > >Here are links I said I would send on the compressed air car being >developed in France. I am most interested in the motor as an energy >storage device that's cleaner than batteries. > >I'd be interested to hear what you think, > >Don > ><http://zeropollutionmotors.us/?page_id=43>http://zeropollutionmotors.us/?p age_id=43 > >http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4251491.html?series=19 > > > >Don Eichelberger >DJ Fix Independent Productions > >Green Uprising Blog ><http://www.greenuprising.blogspot.com>www.greenuprising.blogspot.com > >My You Tube > ><http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctRp5rGJoUc>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= ctRp5rGJoUc >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iySwwyZfDgE ><http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r9rK8nPREA>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= 8r9rK8nPREA >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5UbnJ0kUqo ><http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SktIYTyC1U>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= 4SktIYTyC1U > >My Space > ><http://www.myspace.com/donnyfix>http://www.myspace.com/donnyfix > >Donny Fix del.icio.us book marks > ><http://del.icio.us/donnyfix>http://del.icio.us/donnyfix > >The Hegelian/Marxist goal is emancipation. Marx said it best in 1843: > >"Human emancipation wll only be complete when the real, individual >man (sic) is absorbed into himself the abstract citizen; when as an >individual man, in his every day life, in his work and in his >relationships, he has become a species-being (politically accountabe >to the whole); and when he recognizes and realizes his own power as >social powers, so that he no longer separates this social power from >himself as political power." > > > > >-- >Jeanne Rosenmeier >415 751-0901 > >-- >Jeanne Rosenmeier >415 751-0901 Don Eichelberger DJ Fix Independent Productions My Blog www.greenuprising.blogspot.com My You Tube <http://www.youtube.com/DonnyFix>http://www.youtube.com/DonnyFix My Space http://www.myspace.com/donnyfix Donny Fix del.icio.us book marks http://del.icio.us/donnyfix The Hegelian/Marxist goal is emancipation. Marx said it best in 1843: "Human emancipation wll only be complete when the real, individual man (sic) is absorbed into himself the abstract citizen; when as an individual man, in his every day life, in his work and in his relationships, he has become a species-being (politically accountabe to the whole); and when he recognizes and realizes his own power as social powers, so that he no longer separates this social power from himself as political power."

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Re: [Sustain] Join Rally For 100 Percent Clean Renewable Electricity In San Francisco!
by Eric Brooks 18 Jul '08

18 Jul '08

Rather than attend Board of Supes, instead attend SFPUC Rm 400 City Hall. see http://sfwater.org/detail.cfm/MC_ID/18/MSC_ID/113/MTO_ID/340/C_ID/4090 Item 19. Because the Supes have tried to keep the peaker deal alive we need to show up in -big- numbers to get the SFPUC to rescind their approval resolutions for the peakers. peace Eric asumchai(a)sfbayview.com wrote: >> I can't attend the rally because I am in a clinic until 2pm but I cleared >> > my schedule to attend the BOS hearing and am trying to gather troops. > Ahimsa > > > > > Join Rally To Support Ballot Measure Bringing 100% Clean Electricity To > >> San Francisco! >> >> WHEN/WHERE: Tuesday, July 22, 11am, San Francisco City Hall, Polk Street >> Steps (From Civic Center Muni/BART cross United Nations Plaza to City >> Hall steps.) >> >> WHAT: Join Sierra Club, ACORN, the San Francisco Green Party, Our City, >> State Assemblymember Mark Leno, and Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi to support >> the Board of Supervisors placing the San Francisco Clean Energy Act on >> the November 2008 ballot. >> >> The Clean Energy Act will enable San Francisco to take community control >> of its own energy future and adopt clean electricity mandates for the >> City of 51% by 2017, 75% by 2030, and 100% by 2040. This measure will >> set groundbreaking new clean energy standards for the nation, and the >> planet. >> >> Thanks for your action and support! >> >> Eric Brooks >> Campaign Coordinator >> Our City >> http://our-city.org >> >> ### >> >> This alert sent by: >> >> Our City >> 1028-A Howard St. >> San Francisco, CA 94103 >> 415-756-8844 >> >> For more information about Our City campaigns go to: >> http://www.our-city.org >> info(a)our-city.org >> >> -- >> "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate >> themselves." -- Che Guevara >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sustainability mailing list >> Sustainability(a)sfgreens.org >> https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sustainability >> >> > > >

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Re: [Sustain] [Fwd: RE: [Fwd: Compressed air car]]
by Don Eichelberger 18 Jul '08

18 Jul '08

Thanks, Jeanne and David- I found this very interesting, thank you. I do have some questions. I am more interested in the compressed air motor as a decentralized stationary energy source that can act as an emergency back-up, like a battery but without the toxins. It seems that, as a stationary source, some type of heat exchanger technology could be devised that could provide hot water as a byproduct. Either submerge the motor in water or through use of cooling coils, it seems the heat could be made useable. Heat sources would be from motor friction and compression of air molecules, right? Couldn't such a motor be made to operate more coolly by using the air to cushion moving parts? I don't understand the part about heat ejection having to heat the air up again on decompression, can that be explained in lay terms? It seems if there is already a less efficient (50%) design that can deliver energy density equivalent to lead batteries, but without the toxins, is making huge steps. I would be interested in checking out the midwest studies you referred to. As for geologic storage, could such geological formations be made seismically unstable storing air at pressures of 2500 psi or more? I am thinking more smaller, less centralized storage unit, say at a local market, that can be fed with a small windmill or solar panel powered pump for emergency power back-up for lights and refrigeration. I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Thanks again, Don At 10:15 PM 7/16/2008, you wrote: >Don, > >Here's David Fridley's response to my query on compressed air energy >storage. Thought you might be interested. > >Jeanne > > >-------- Original Message -------- >Subject: RE: [Fwd: Compressed air car] >Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:39:41 -0700 >From: David F <mailto:david@fridley.net><david(a)fridley.net> >To: 'Jeanne' <mailto:greengal@netvista.net><greengal(a)netvista.net> >References: ><mailto:487BA2C6.9060200@netvista.net><487BA2C6.9060200(a)netvista.net> > > >Jeanne, > >Yes, but there are technical challenges of course. The main problem >is how to deal with the heat. The best way would be to store the >heat with the compressed air, but that hasn't been worked out on >large scale. What has been worked out is storage with heat ejection >(meaning having to heat the air up again on decompression), which >lowers the efficiency to about 50%. This method has about the same >energy density as a lead-acid battery, so it's good, but not as good >as advanced batteries. But you don't need the same toxic materials >as you do for batteries. There's some trials of wind/compressed air >storage in the Midwest I've read about, so it's definitely >progressed to the demonstration levels. As long as there are >appropriate storage conditions (underground caverns being best for >large scale storage), then it's a good option. > >As for the cars, the compressed air storage mechanism works best >with slow release, which is why these cars run on the air only up to >35 mph, then rely on the alternative energy source. Since >decompressing air cools it, you have built in air conditioning. > >David > > >From: Jeanne [<mailto:greengal@netvista.net>mailto:greengal@netvista.net] >Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 12:03 PM >To: Fridley, David >Subject: [Fwd: Compressed air car] > >David, > >Don has an interesting question. Suppose we forget about this as a >car, but consider it as a way to store intermittent sources of >energy. Does it make any sense? > >Jeanne > >-------- Original Message -------- >Subject: >Compressed air car >Date: >Tue, 06 May 2008 22:47:13 -0700 >From: >Don Eichelberger <mailto:done7777@sbcglobal.net><done7777(a)sbcglobal.net> >To: ><mailto:ber8832@aol.com>ber8832(a)aol.com, ><mailto:richard@katznip.com>richard(a)katznip.com, ><mailto:greengal@netvista.net>greengal(a)netvista.net > > >Here are links I said I would send on the compressed air car being >developed in France. I am most interested in the motor as an energy >storage device that's cleaner than batteries. > >I'd be interested to hear what you think, > >Don > ><http://zeropollutionmotors.us/?page_id=43>http://zeropollutionmotors.us/?page_id=43 > >http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4251491.html?series=19 > > > >Don Eichelberger >DJ Fix Independent Productions > >Green Uprising Blog ><http://www.greenuprising.blogspot.com>www.greenuprising.blogspot.com > >My You Tube > ><http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctRp5rGJoUc>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctRp5rGJoUc >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iySwwyZfDgE ><http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r9rK8nPREA>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r9rK8nPREA >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5UbnJ0kUqo ><http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SktIYTyC1U>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SktIYTyC1U > >My Space > ><http://www.myspace.com/donnyfix>http://www.myspace.com/donnyfix > >Donny Fix del.icio.us book marks > ><http://del.icio.us/donnyfix>http://del.icio.us/donnyfix > >The Hegelian/Marxist goal is emancipation. Marx said it best in 1843: > >"Human emancipation wll only be complete when the real, individual >man (sic) is absorbed into himself the abstract citizen; when as an >individual man, in his every day life, in his work and in his >relationships, he has become a species-being (politically accountabe >to the whole); and when he recognizes and realizes his own power as >social powers, so that he no longer separates this social power from >himself as political power." > > > > >-- >Jeanne Rosenmeier >415 751-0901 > >-- >Jeanne Rosenmeier >415 751-0901 Don Eichelberger DJ Fix Independent Productions My Blog www.greenuprising.blogspot.com My You Tube <http://www.youtube.com/DonnyFix>http://www.youtube.com/DonnyFix My Space http://www.myspace.com/donnyfix Donny Fix del.icio.us book marks http://del.icio.us/donnyfix The Hegelian/Marxist goal is emancipation. Marx said it best in 1843: "Human emancipation wll only be complete when the real, individual man (sic) is absorbed into himself the abstract citizen; when as an individual man, in his every day life, in his work and in his relationships, he has become a species-being (politically accountabe to the whole); and when he recognizes and realizes his own power as social powers, so that he no longer separates this social power from himself as political power."

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[Sustain] Join Rally For 100 Percent Clean Renewable Electricity In San Francisco!
by Eric Brooks 18 Jul '08

18 Jul '08

Join Rally To Support Ballot Measure Bringing 100% Clean Electricity To San Francisco! WHEN/WHERE: Tuesday, July 22, 11am, San Francisco City Hall, Polk Street Steps (From Civic Center Muni/BART cross United Nations Plaza to City Hall steps.) WHAT: Join Sierra Club, ACORN, the San Francisco Green Party, Our City, State Assemblymember Mark Leno, and Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi to support the Board of Supervisors placing the San Francisco Clean Energy Act on the November 2008 ballot. The Clean Energy Act will enable San Francisco to take community control of its own energy future and adopt clean electricity mandates for the City of 51% by 2017, 75% by 2030, and 100% by 2040. This measure will set groundbreaking new clean energy standards for the nation, and the planet. Thanks for your action and support! Eric Brooks Campaign Coordinator Our City http://our-city.org ### This alert sent by: Our City 1028-A Howard St. San Francisco, CA 94103 415-756-8844 For more information about Our City campaigns go to: http://www.our-city.org info(a)our-city.org -- "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." – Che Guevara

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[Sustain] FW: [CWP_ENews] Desalination ~ Journal focus on water ~ Groundwater and climate change ~ Regional reports
by Mato Ska 17 Jul '08

17 Jul '08

Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:17:07 -0700 From: wpenews(a)water.ca.gov To: cwp_enews(a)water.ca.gov Subject: [CWP_ENews] Desalination ~ Journal focus on water ~ Groundwater and climate change ~ Regional reports This week's California Water Plan E-news http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/docs/enews/2008/cwp_e-news071608.pdf includes: * Desalination findings * Journal's focus on water * Climate change and groundwater * Regional reports online

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[Sustain] FW: 1000 Friends e-Update: July 17
by Mato Ska 17 Jul '08

17 Jul '08

Week of July 13, 2008 IN THIS DISPATCH: Court Ruling on Water Wells a Victory for Water Protection; Smart Growth on the Front Cover; Upcoming Events Latest News http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs4O3WP_YHb3Wk2VqS7GgO1JhPMDMqNNn3b9dtzr… Court Ruling on Water Wells a Victory for Water Protection http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs5arPx1Hw9irX4QXNcR55fWFRrL5QNNBatSDNvc… A highly-anticipated state court decision came out late last week that overturns the practice of automatically granting permits for new domestic wells regardless of harmful impacts. The 1000 Friends NM Water Project has for years challenged the "domestic well statute" based on the understanding that too many domestic wells in an area can affect the long-term ability of groundwater to provide adequate water into the future as well as water availability for existing users. » more http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs6fFNW8U6ytQjPUKI3Q0QBoj2aHo4Jewx8YA0zS… Smart Growth on the Front Cover http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs7iQ3bFQva2cVpXUsSArv7zE1Bfz73H8KeCynHe… Note: Joanne McEntire, our Program Director, is a member of the Public Involvement Committee at the Mid Region Council of Governments and serves on the City of Albuquerque's 21st Century Transportation Task Force. When the Wall Street Journal covers a Smart Growth innovation on its front page, we at 1000 Friends get a little excited. Gas prices have sure helped to raise the media's attention to the link between sprawl and driving cars. Article after article has noted the increase in transit ridership, the growing market for housing close to town centers, and the complaints (or willing adjustments) that we Americans have been making. 1000 Friends has been noticing this, thinking that maybe our message over the last 12 years is sinking in, thanks to peak oil. The Journal's article "When Gas is Over $4, Cities Explore Whether It's Smart to Be Dense http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs4rZ7Oj9g9i4Y7KzgOX53GJKstOTMn2wzi1hZuJ… ," describes how the Sacramento region has provided a working model for integrating transportation and land use. (The website offers a video and photos too http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs4mhKo7aFisgtFzgkseas91o-RyS-sz4e7R7YZw… .) The state of California supported the region with developing scenarios called the Blueprint several years ago, and over time, the preferred regional plan has been used by the local communities - as well as many land developers! (Note the initial opposition of the Building Industry Association - sound familiar?) » more http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs5B_nlpwAeaa2X1XQjFQEr-UdmG1pOmAtUTjoga… Upcoming Events July 24: Form-Based Code Hearing August 7: Sustainable Transportation: Paying Our Way From Here to There, with NMDOT http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001CKHWXisifs4pqzgP8K0CVq-rKqdoivCI_pZa10mDeOzgtGrG… -know of an event or important meeting? - let us know! Get to Know 1000 Friends of New Mexico

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[Sustain] Real Estate Interests Tainted Taskforce Peaker Decisions
by Eric Brooks 16 Jul '08

16 Jul '08

Written to the Board of Supervisors on July 15, 2008: Dear Supervisors, On July 1, 2008 in a meeting of the SF Public Utilities Commission Citizens' Advisory Subcommittee on Energy, it was revealed by a member of the Power Plant Taskforce, Mr. Joe Boss, that property values affecting real estate values in Potrero Hill and at Pier 70 were a big factor in the Taskforce's decision to push for the Combustion Turbine 'Peaker' Project. There are landholders and developers who would be enriched by the rapid closure of the existing Mirant facility, which would raise property values in the area. Mr. Boss is a private real estate consultant himself with personal financial interests of his own in that area and said openly that real estate values were involved in the Taskforce power plant decisions. This is the first open confirmation that Taskforce members unconscionably weighed property values against the health and survival of residents in the Bayview Hunters Point who would be heavily impacted by pollution from the proposed Peaker project. The Subcommittee meeting was recorded, and Mr. Boss can be heard making his comments about property values in the following section: http://www.brightlinedefense.org/files/mp3/july_1_cac_joe_boss_discusses_re… This is not the only time that Mr. Boss has been found to be inappropriately using a position of authority to enrich real estate interests, and even his own family and friends. The November 2007 edition of the Potrero View newspaper, on pages 1 and 20, reveals Boss's direct involvement in other highly unethical real estate shenanigans surrounding a redevelopment project in exactly the same geographical area of town. You can read the Potrero View edition in question by going to http://www.potreroview.net/archive.html and clicking on the November 2007 link: http://www.potreroview.net/Archives/PV_Nov_2007.pdf Finally, it was also revealed in the same Subcommittee meeting that both SFPUC GM Harrington, and SFPUC Deputy GM for Power Barbara Hale have now stated openly that a proposed Mirant diesel turbine retrofit would be -less- polluting than the proposed combustion turbine project. A section of the meeting audio in which Hale and others discuss this is at: http://www.brightlinedefense.org/files/mp3/july_1_2008_sfpuc_cac_comparativ… In light of these new facts, I would strongly urge you to finally and permanently reject the ICC Combustion Turbine project and any other such project that would use the Williams Combustion Turbines to build any new power plants in San Francisco. Thank you, Eric Brooks SF Green Party & STOPPP Coalition

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[Sustain] Sugar for Biofuel to Displace Kenya Delta Wildlife
by Eric Brooks 15 Jul '08

15 Jul '08

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2008/2008-06-26-03.asp *Sugar for Biofuel to Displace Kenya's Tana Delta Wildlife* *NAIROBI, Kenya*, June 26, 2008 (ENS) - Kenya's Tana River Delta, inhabited by 350 species of birds, lions, elephants, rare sharks and reptiles, is about to be converted to sugar cane production over the objections of conservationists and local communities. Kenya's National Environment Management Authority, NEMA, has approved a proposal by the Mumias Sugar Company, a publicly traded company based in Nairobi, to covert 2,000 square kilometers of the pristine delta into irrigated sugarcane plantations. A view over the Tana River Delta (Photo by Zuc123 <http://www.flickr.com/photos/zuc123/>) The government is behind the project, with President Mwai Kibaki expressing his personal approval at a public rally in Garsen last year. But conservationists and villagers living in the delta believe the decision is illegal and are determined to block the development. The groups are considering what action they might take. Paul Matiku, executive director of Nature Kenya said, "This decision is a national disaster and will devastate the delta. The Tana's ecology will be destroyed yet the economic gains will be pitiful. It will seriously damage our priceless national assets and will put the livelihoods of the people living in the Delta in jeopardy." "The environmental assessment for the scheme was poor yet the government has defied even those very modest recommendations," said Matiku, whose 99-year-old organization is the Kenyan affiliate of BirdLife International. The National Environment Management Authority put 14 conditions on the sugarcane plan. But Matiku says the conditions are weak and ignore the environmental assessment, which showed that irrigation of crops would cause severe drainage of the Delta. NEMA's decision also overlooks an ongoing dispute over compensation for farmers and fishermen who would lose their land and fishing rights. "This is the only dry-season grazing area for hundreds of miles and its loss will leave many hundreds of farmers with nowhere to take their cattle," Matiku explained. "We refuse to accept that this decision is final," he said. "The development must be stopped at all costs." The Tana is the largest river in Kenya. It flows from the central highlands down to the Indian Ocean where it enters the sea at Kipini with a delta 40 kilometers wide. A herd of topi, a savannah antelope, on the Tana River Delta. (Photo courtesy Tana Delta Camp <http://www.tanadelta.com>) The district is generally dry and prone to drought, but this week at least 15,000 residents of the Tana Delta are coping with the destruction of their crops by floods. After touring the flooded communities, their elected representative MP Danson Mungatana is asking the Ministry of Agriculture to give farmers seed for replanting and urged Mumias Sugar to start their Sh24 billion (US$373 million) project, saying all requirements have been met. "They have a license and everything else has been finalized, let them start the project immediately so that the youth can get jobs," he told "The Nation" newspaper Tuesday. But the economic benefits of the conversion of the Tana Delta to sugar cane are not clear. A report commissioned in May by Nature Kenya and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds found deficiences in the calculation of benefits presented by Mumias. The company says the income from sugar cane cultivation will be US$2.45 million over 20 years. But the conservationists' report shows that the revenue from fishing, farming, tourism and other lost livelihoods would be US$59 million over the same period. The report found that Mumias has overestimated profits, ignored fees for water use and pollution from the sugarcane plant, and has disregarded the loss of income from wildlife tourists to the delta. The study said the delta's ecological benefits "defied valuation" and that the proposal would cause the "irreversible loss of ecosystem services," benefits such as flood prevention, the storage of greenhouse gases and the provision of medicines and food. Mumias Sugar grows some sugar cane; its own estates provide up to seven percent of its annual output, but its primary source is over 50,000 registered "out growers" with a total of more than 400 square kilometers under cultivation. African fish eagles breed on the Tana River Delta. (Photo by Michel Laplace-Toulouse of African Latitude <http://www.africanlatitude.com> courtesy BirdLife International <http://www.birdlife.org>) The Tana Delta land conversion covers an area nearly five times larger than the area currently farmed by all the company's out growers. Sugar cane grown on the Tana Delta is likely to fuel ethanol production. In 2005, Mumias Sugar Managing Director Evans Kidero announced plans to expand into the production of ethanol to take advantage of the high cost of fuel. "Until now, Kenya's support for global agreements to protect wildlife has been excellent but this development could severely damage Kenya's reputation for caring for its environment," said Paul Buckley, an Africa specialist with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which is the BirdLife affiliate in the UK. Conservationists say that an integrated management plan for the entire Tana River basin should precede any development considerations. The lack of project design documents, required by Kenyan environmental law, has been a critical omission in the whole Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, process, Matiku points out. "The current EIA was hurriedly produced and lacks vital information. NEMA should reject it and request for a new EIA study for the new project site," said Matiku. "The government's decision to approve the Tana River sugarcane and biofuels project will not only destroy biodiversity but also threaten rural livelihoods." Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved. -- "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." -- Che Guevara

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[Sustain] FW: [sfbayoil] Fw: Attached Infrastructure section (Draft) Peak Oil Rept.
by Mato Ska 14 Jul '08

14 Jul '08

From: Monica.Fish(a)sfgov.org Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:35:56 -0700 Subject: [sfbayoil] Fw: Attached Infrastructure section (Draft) Peak Oil Rept. Attached is a copy of the Draft of the Infrastructure Section of the Peak Oil Report for your review before the meeting.

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[Sustain] Looming Natural Gas Attack On NY Catskills
by Eric Brooks 14 Jul '08

14 Jul '08

http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/28284 http://catskillmountainkeeper.org/ Marcellus Shale - The Impact of Natural Gas Drilling <http://catskillmountainkeeper.org/node/80> *Catskill Mountainkeeper Co-Sponsored Two Educational Forums* *with experts from the Sullivan County Division of Planning and Environmental Management, Oil and Gas Accountability Project as well as experts on law and community organizing* <http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/June08/28/SC_natgas-28Jun08.html>The pace of gas drilling in New York State and its potential in the Upper Delaware Region has many property owners and municipal officials asking questions about the impacts of drilling on the environment, how gas leases should be written to protect the interests of property owners, and what regulations and land use approaches are available to protect the health and safety of local residents. The Forums took place on Thursday, June 26 at the Walton Theater in Walton, NY, Delaware County and June 27th at the Liberty Highschool in Liberty, NY in Sullivan County. The purpose of these educational forums was to cover these issues and offer case examples. To view the panelists, please click here. <http://catskillmountainkeeper.org/node/529> *Read Peter Applebome's two part series about the Walton Forum in the New York Times * *Part 1 <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/nyregion/29towns.html?em&ex=1214884800&en…>: *June 29, 2008, "Gas Drillers in Race for Hearts and Land."* **Part 2 <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/nyregion/03towns.html?em&ex=1215230400&en…>: *July 3, 2008, "A Land Rush is Likely, so a Lawyer Gets Ready."* * * * Click here for a detailed overview on natural gas drilling in the Catskills <http://catskillmountainkeeper.org/node/290>** -- "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." -- Che Guevara

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