. White House sees compromise with Republicans on some energy issues
May 26, 2011 Platts
The White House believes an energy package that supports development of electric vehicles, energy efficiency and energy research and development could attract the bipartisan support needed to pass in the current Congress, a presidential adviser said Wednesday.
"We have a tremendous opportunity with electrification of the fleet and energy efficiency at large," said Heather Zichal, deputy assistant to the president for energy and climate change. "There is bipartisan support."
Speaking at an energy event moderated by National Journal, Zichal said provisions supporting EVs and efficiency could serve as the base for additional bipartisan provisions approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to advance domestic energy production and research and development.
"We've been focused on finding those areas where there is a history of bipartisan support," Zichal said. "The administration has been working very closely with both sides of the aisle [in] both the House and Senate to answer that question -- what is doable -- because it is an imperative."
Rather than the large comprehensive energy bills of the past, lawmakers focused on high gasoline prices appear to be "coalescing around a smaller package" that includes research and development, efficiency and can attract the bipartisan support necessary to get through Congress, she said.
A bill (S. 948) by Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley and Tennessee Republican Lamar Alexander to advance electric vehicle deployment "has a lot of great ideas" and the White House has included components from the bill its in budget proposal, Zichal said.
"We are hopeful it can serve as the unpinning for [moving] a broader package through Congress," she said.
A bill in the House of Representatives to expand the use of natural gas vehicles through tax breaks has not been "specifically embraced" by the White House, but the administration is "open to working with Congress" on the legislation, she said.
That Republican bill (H.R. 1380) has some Democrats among its 188 cosponsors and is expected to pass the House. But whether legislation from the Senate geared toward EV development could gain support in the Republican-controlled House remains in question.
On Thursday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is expected to vote on bills that would create an agency to provide financial assistance to develop and deploy low-emission energy technologies, to amend the Federal Power Act to protect the grid from cyber attacks and other threats, and to authorize the Department of Energy to demonstrate long-term geological storage of carbon dioxide from power plants.
The committee is expected to debate and vote on Merkley and Alexander's EV bill in June.
In a separate discussion with National Journal, Alexander said he believed the best way to deal with high gasoline prices "is to create an environment for electric vehicles to succeed."
Alexander said that his bill with Merkley is aimed at creating a five-year "jumpstart" for putting EVs on the road nationwide. The plan would require about a $3-billion commitment from the federal government, he said. The bill would create a program under DOE for communities to compete for federal grants to help deploy EVs and provide other incentives to get EVs on the road.
Electricity that goes unused overnight across the country equates to generation from 60 nuclear power plants and could fuel 40% of the nation?s cars and light trucks, according to Alexander. "All we have to do is plug it in at night," he said. "And we get a cheaper fuel than oil."
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Energy management
Retailers need to save money to make money
Apr 26, 2011 Guardian
The spike in oil prices undoubtedly has piqued consumers' interest in energy-efficient products. When they visit retailers to make such purchases, however, the venues in which they shop are notorious for their energy waste. Lights are often left on 24 hours a day; refrigerators do a good of a job chilling shoppers as well as products; and packaging is often excessive. Furthermore, most consumers simply do not have an appreciation for how much energy is used transporting products from factory to warehouse to store. Yet, as the retail sector becomes even more competitive, thin margins make it incumbent on these companies to invest in initiatives that can both reduce energy consumption and maximise profits.
Walmart has won plenty of recognition for its energy efficiency initiatives. The world's largest retailer's trucking fleet delivered 77 million more cases in 2009 while driving 100 million less miles (161 million kilometres) in 2008. More stores boast everything from white roofs (which reflect sunlight), LED lighting installations, and additional energy-saving features that are specific to local climate conditions. Walmart's success, however, has not gone unnoticed by its competitors.
Minnesota-based Target also has aggressively worked on reducing its carbon footprint. Like Walmart, the chain partners with the US government's "Energy Star" coalition, and 150 of Target's stores and facilities have met the program's strict standards for energy efficiency. Low-wattage light fixtures illuminate most stores' floors, and enclosed refrigerated cases have sensors that only light them up when shoppers traipse by them. In addition, Target reduces its overall energy consumption by boosting recycling efforts at stores, which decreases the amount of waste sent to landfill. Meanwhile, at its headquarters, the central office has done its share to save electricity by installing an automated system that nudges computers into standby mode after business hours.
Just as Walmart's focuses on energy efficiency in its stores abroad, European retail chains with extensive global operations work on reducing their utility bills, too. Ahold, the Dutch conglomerate that operates both the omnipresent Albert Heijn in the Netherlands and Giant supermarkets along America's east coast, has incrementally reduced its CO2 emissions per square metre of sales area in the last few years. Design is a large part of Ahold's energy efficiency agenda. At Albert Heijn stores, integrated heating and cooling systems use wasted energy from cooling systems to heat the stores, eliminating the need for natural gas for heat. Across the pond, Ahold removed many unnecessary lighting fixtures in its Giant and Stop & Shop stores, reducing energy waste. Other stores benefit from daylight harvesting, a system in which photosensors reduce light fixtures' illuminance during daylight hours, which not only make the stores appear more airy, but reduces energy consumption. Finally, Ahold has given its stores the flexibility needed to experiment with alternative energy systems, from fuel cells to solar arrays to the purchase of renewable energy credits in places where renewable energy technologies are not feasible.
The investment in energy efficiency goals is not cheap. France-based Carrefour, for example, spends 30M euros (US$42.3M or GDP£26.4M) annually on energy efficiency programs, a tiny sum compared to its worldwide revenues (90 billion euros) but 3% of its net profit. But just as making small changes within a home can reduce consumers' energy bills, retailers' can reap sizeable dividends by attaching freezer doors, streamlining trucking fleets' delivery routes, and installing cost-effective lighting systems. Automation also can add to the bottom line by the quick detection of refrigerant leaks and shutting down information and communication systems when they are not needed.
While solar panel and wind turbine installations make for great public relations campaigns, they are at a pilot stage. Not only is this large equipment expensive to install, but retail stores face numerous constraints when they attempt to do so, including the fact that they often lease, not own, the land and buildings on which the equipment operates. With their vendors already supplying them with consumer products at the thinnest of margins, retailers will continue to invest in energy efficiency programs and experiment with renewable energy pilot projects. Cutting energy use is not only about good public relations, but – while economies are still weak and as energy prices are on the rise – about staying competitive
Apr 26, 2011 Guardian
The spike in oil prices undoubtedly has piqued consumers' interest in energy-efficient products. When they visit retailers to make such purchases, however, the venues in which they shop are notorious for their energy waste. Lights are often left on 24 hours a day; refrigerators do a good of a job chilling shoppers as well as products; and packaging is often excessive. Furthermore, most consumers simply do not have an appreciation for how much energy is used transporting products from factory to warehouse to store. Yet, as the retail sector becomes even more competitive, thin margins make it incumbent on these companies to invest in initiatives that can both reduce energy consumption and maximise profits.
Walmart has won plenty of recognition for its energy efficiency initiatives. The world's largest retailer's trucking fleet delivered 77 million more cases in 2009 while driving 100 million less miles (161 million kilometres) in 2008. More stores boast everything from white roofs (which reflect sunlight), LED lighting installations, and additional energy-saving features that are specific to local climate conditions. Walmart's success, however, has not gone unnoticed by its competitors.
Minnesota-based Target also has aggressively worked on reducing its carbon footprint. Like Walmart, the chain partners with the US government's "Energy Star" coalition, and 150 of Target's stores and facilities have met the program's strict standards for energy efficiency. Low-wattage light fixtures illuminate most stores' floors, and enclosed refrigerated cases have sensors that only light them up when shoppers traipse by them. In addition, Target reduces its overall energy consumption by boosting recycling efforts at stores, which decreases the amount of waste sent to landfill. Meanwhile, at its headquarters, the central office has done its share to save electricity by installing an automated system that nudges computers into standby mode after business hours.
Just as Walmart's focuses on energy efficiency in its stores abroad, European retail chains with extensive global operations work on reducing their utility bills, too. Ahold, the Dutch conglomerate that operates both the omnipresent Albert Heijn in the Netherlands and Giant supermarkets along America's east coast, has incrementally reduced its CO2 emissions per square metre of sales area in the last few years. Design is a large part of Ahold's energy efficiency agenda. At Albert Heijn stores, integrated heating and cooling systems use wasted energy from cooling systems to heat the stores, eliminating the need for natural gas for heat. Across the pond, Ahold removed many unnecessary lighting fixtures in its Giant and Stop & Shop stores, reducing energy waste. Other stores benefit from daylight harvesting, a system in which photosensors reduce light fixtures' illuminance during daylight hours, which not only make the stores appear more airy, but reduces energy consumption. Finally, Ahold has given its stores the flexibility needed to experiment with alternative energy systems, from fuel cells to solar arrays to the purchase of renewable energy credits in places where renewable energy technologies are not feasible.
The investment in energy efficiency goals is not cheap. France-based Carrefour, for example, spends 30M euros (US$42.3M or GDP£26.4M) annually on energy efficiency programs, a tiny sum compared to its worldwide revenues (90 billion euros) but 3% of its net profit. But just as making small changes within a home can reduce consumers' energy bills, retailers' can reap sizeable dividends by attaching freezer doors, streamlining trucking fleets' delivery routes, and installing cost-effective lighting systems. Automation also can add to the bottom line by the quick detection of refrigerant leaks and shutting down information and communication systems when they are not needed.
While solar panel and wind turbine installations make for great public relations campaigns, they are at a pilot stage. Not only is this large equipment expensive to install, but retail stores face numerous constraints when they attempt to do so, including the fact that they often lease, not own, the land and buildings on which the equipment operates. With their vendors already supplying them with consumer products at the thinnest of margins, retailers will continue to invest in energy efficiency programs and experiment with renewable energy pilot projects. Cutting energy use is not only about good public relations, but – while economies are still weak and as energy prices are on the rise – about staying competitive
Monday, April 11, 2011
Electricity no longer a cheap commodity
Wasteful energy consumption isn’t what it used to be. Once merely an act of inattentiveness that held little consequence, gluttonous energy consumption practices now significantly impact the bottom line of both individuals and businesses. As energy costs continue to skyrocket and environmental concerns move to the fore, running an energy-efficient business becomes a mission-critical practice that not only saves significant money, but also helps create a positive identity that attracts publicity and ongoing business
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Green Energy Alternative Energy
Take that!
This is the content of a short speech given on Friday night in Cape Town by Lewis Gordon Pugh OIG (a.k.a. the Human Polar Bear) about the proposed fracking for gas in the Karoo, by Shell. He received a sustained standing ovation !
Please read it to the end and pass it on if it matters to you….
Ladies and gentlemen, thank for the opportunity to address you. My name is Lewis Pugh.
This evening, I want to take you back to the early 1990's in this country. You may remember them well.
Nelson Mandela had been released. There was euphoria in the air. However, there was also widespread violence and deep fear. This country teetered on the brink of a civil war. But somehow, somehow, we averted it. It was a miracle!
And it happened because we had incredible leaders. Leaders who sought calm... Leaders who had vision. So in spite of all the violence, they sat down and negotiated a New Constitution.
I will never forget holding the Constitution in my hands for the first time..
I was a young law student at the University of Cape Town. This was the cement that brought peace to our land. This was the document, which held our country together. The rights contained herein, made us one.
I remember thinking to myself - never again will the Rights of South Africans be trampled upon.
Now every one of us - every man and every women - black, white, coloured, Indian, believer and non believer - has the right to vote. We all have the Right to Life. And our children have the right to a basic education. These rights are enshrined in our Constitution.
These rights were the dreams of Oliver Tambo. These rights were the dreams of Nelson Mandela. These rights were the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi, of Desmond Tutu and of Molly Blackburn. These rights were our dreams.
People fought – and died – so that we could enjoy these rights today.
Also enshrined in our Constitution, is the Right to a Healthy Environment and the Right to Water. Our Constitution states that we have the Right to have our environment protected for the benefit of our generation and for the benefit of future generations.
Fellow South Africans, let us not dishonour these rights. Let us not dishonour those men and women who fought and died for these rights. Let us not allow corporate greed to disrespect our Constitution and desecrate our environment.
Never, ever did I think that there would be a debate in this arid country about which was more important – gas or water. We can survive without gas.... We cannot live without water.
If we damage our limited water supply – and fracking will do just that we will have conflict again here in South Africa. Look around the world. Wherever you damage the environment you have conflict.
Fellow South Africans, we have had enough conflict in this land – now is the time for peace.
A few months ago I gave a speech with former President of Costa Rica. Afterwards I asked him "Mr President, how do you balance the demands of development against the need to protect the environment?"
He looked at me and said : "It is not a balancing act. It is a simple business decision. If we cut down our forests in Costa Rica to satisfy a timber company, what will be left for our future?"
But he pointed out : "It is also a moral decision. It would be morally wrong to chop down our forests and leave nothing for my children and my grandchildren."
Ladies and gentlemen, that is what is at stake here today: Our children's future. And that of our children s children.
There may be gas beneath our ground in the Karoo. But are we prepared to destroy our environment for 5 to 10 years worth of fossil fuel and further damage our climate?
Yes, people will be employed – but for a short while. And when the drilling is over, and Shell have packed their bags and disappeared, then what? Who will be there to clean up? And what jobs will our children be able to eke out?
Now Shell will tell you that their intentions are honourable. That fracking in the Karoo will not damage our environment. That they will not contaminate our precious water. That they will bring jobs to South Africa.
That gas is clean and green. And that they will help secure our energy supplies.
When I hear this – I have one burning question. Why should we trust them? Africa is to Shell what the Gulf of Mexico is to BP.
Shell, you have a shocking record here in Africa. Just look at your operations in Nigeria. You have spilt more than 9 million barrels of crude oil into the Niger Delta. That's twice the amount of oil that BP spilt into the Gulf of Mexico.
You were found guilty of bribing Nigerian officials – and to make the case go away in America - you paid an admission of guilt fine of US$48 million.
And to top it all, you stand accused of being complicit in the execution of Nigeria's leading environmental campaigner – Ken Saro-Wira and 8 other activists.
If you were innocent, why did you pay US$15.5 million to the widows and children to settle the case out of Court?
Shell, the path you want us to take us down is not sustainable. I have visited the Arctic for 7 summers in a row. I have seen the tundra thawing.
I have seen the retreating glaciers. And I have seen the melting sea ice. And I have seen the impact of global warming from the Himalayas all the way down to the low-lying Maldive Islands. Wherever I go – I see it.
Now is the time for change. We cannot drill our way out of the energy crisis. The era of fossil fuels is over. We must invest in renewable energy. And we must not delay!
Shell, we look to the north of our continent and we see how people got tired of political tyranny. We have watched as despots, who have ruled ruthlessly year after year, have been toppled in a matter of weeks.
We too are tired. Tired of corporate tyranny. Tired of your short term, unsustainable practices.
We watched as Dr Ian Player, a game ranger from Natal, and his friends, took on Rio Tinto (one of the biggest mining companies in the world) and won.
And we watched as young activists from across Europe, brought you down to your knees, when you tried to dump an enormous oil rig into the North Sea.
Shell, we do not want our Karoo to become another Niger Delta.
Do not underestimate us. Goliath can be brought down. We are proud of what we have achieved in this young democracy – and we are not about to let your company come in and destroy it.
So let this be a Call to Arms to everyone across South Africa, who is sitting in the shadow of Goliath: Stand up and demand these fundamental human rights promised to you by our Constitution. Use your voices - tweet, blog, petition, rally the weight of your neighbours and of people in power.
Let us speak out from every hilltop. Let us not go quietly into this bleak future.
Let me end off by saying this - You have lit a fire in our bellies, which no man or woman can extinguish. And if we need to, we will take this fight all the way from your petrol pumps to the very highest Court in this land. We will take this fight from the farms and towns of the Karoo to the streets of London and Amsterdam. And we will take this fight to every one of your shareholders. And I have no doubt, that in the end, good will triumph over evil.
This is the content of a short speech given on Friday night in Cape Town by Lewis Gordon Pugh OIG (a.k.a. the Human Polar Bear) about the proposed fracking for gas in the Karoo, by Shell. He received a sustained standing ovation !
Please read it to the end and pass it on if it matters to you….
Ladies and gentlemen, thank for the opportunity to address you. My name is Lewis Pugh.
This evening, I want to take you back to the early 1990's in this country. You may remember them well.
Nelson Mandela had been released. There was euphoria in the air. However, there was also widespread violence and deep fear. This country teetered on the brink of a civil war. But somehow, somehow, we averted it. It was a miracle!
And it happened because we had incredible leaders. Leaders who sought calm... Leaders who had vision. So in spite of all the violence, they sat down and negotiated a New Constitution.
I will never forget holding the Constitution in my hands for the first time..
I was a young law student at the University of Cape Town. This was the cement that brought peace to our land. This was the document, which held our country together. The rights contained herein, made us one.
I remember thinking to myself - never again will the Rights of South Africans be trampled upon.
Now every one of us - every man and every women - black, white, coloured, Indian, believer and non believer - has the right to vote. We all have the Right to Life. And our children have the right to a basic education. These rights are enshrined in our Constitution.
These rights were the dreams of Oliver Tambo. These rights were the dreams of Nelson Mandela. These rights were the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi, of Desmond Tutu and of Molly Blackburn. These rights were our dreams.
People fought – and died – so that we could enjoy these rights today.
Also enshrined in our Constitution, is the Right to a Healthy Environment and the Right to Water. Our Constitution states that we have the Right to have our environment protected for the benefit of our generation and for the benefit of future generations.
Fellow South Africans, let us not dishonour these rights. Let us not dishonour those men and women who fought and died for these rights. Let us not allow corporate greed to disrespect our Constitution and desecrate our environment.
Never, ever did I think that there would be a debate in this arid country about which was more important – gas or water. We can survive without gas.... We cannot live without water.
If we damage our limited water supply – and fracking will do just that we will have conflict again here in South Africa. Look around the world. Wherever you damage the environment you have conflict.
Fellow South Africans, we have had enough conflict in this land – now is the time for peace.
A few months ago I gave a speech with former President of Costa Rica. Afterwards I asked him "Mr President, how do you balance the demands of development against the need to protect the environment?"
He looked at me and said : "It is not a balancing act. It is a simple business decision. If we cut down our forests in Costa Rica to satisfy a timber company, what will be left for our future?"
But he pointed out : "It is also a moral decision. It would be morally wrong to chop down our forests and leave nothing for my children and my grandchildren."
Ladies and gentlemen, that is what is at stake here today: Our children's future. And that of our children s children.
There may be gas beneath our ground in the Karoo. But are we prepared to destroy our environment for 5 to 10 years worth of fossil fuel and further damage our climate?
Yes, people will be employed – but for a short while. And when the drilling is over, and Shell have packed their bags and disappeared, then what? Who will be there to clean up? And what jobs will our children be able to eke out?
Now Shell will tell you that their intentions are honourable. That fracking in the Karoo will not damage our environment. That they will not contaminate our precious water. That they will bring jobs to South Africa.
That gas is clean and green. And that they will help secure our energy supplies.
When I hear this – I have one burning question. Why should we trust them? Africa is to Shell what the Gulf of Mexico is to BP.
Shell, you have a shocking record here in Africa. Just look at your operations in Nigeria. You have spilt more than 9 million barrels of crude oil into the Niger Delta. That's twice the amount of oil that BP spilt into the Gulf of Mexico.
You were found guilty of bribing Nigerian officials – and to make the case go away in America - you paid an admission of guilt fine of US$48 million.
And to top it all, you stand accused of being complicit in the execution of Nigeria's leading environmental campaigner – Ken Saro-Wira and 8 other activists.
If you were innocent, why did you pay US$15.5 million to the widows and children to settle the case out of Court?
Shell, the path you want us to take us down is not sustainable. I have visited the Arctic for 7 summers in a row. I have seen the tundra thawing.
I have seen the retreating glaciers. And I have seen the melting sea ice. And I have seen the impact of global warming from the Himalayas all the way down to the low-lying Maldive Islands. Wherever I go – I see it.
Now is the time for change. We cannot drill our way out of the energy crisis. The era of fossil fuels is over. We must invest in renewable energy. And we must not delay!
Shell, we look to the north of our continent and we see how people got tired of political tyranny. We have watched as despots, who have ruled ruthlessly year after year, have been toppled in a matter of weeks.
We too are tired. Tired of corporate tyranny. Tired of your short term, unsustainable practices.
We watched as Dr Ian Player, a game ranger from Natal, and his friends, took on Rio Tinto (one of the biggest mining companies in the world) and won.
And we watched as young activists from across Europe, brought you down to your knees, when you tried to dump an enormous oil rig into the North Sea.
Shell, we do not want our Karoo to become another Niger Delta.
Do not underestimate us. Goliath can be brought down. We are proud of what we have achieved in this young democracy – and we are not about to let your company come in and destroy it.
So let this be a Call to Arms to everyone across South Africa, who is sitting in the shadow of Goliath: Stand up and demand these fundamental human rights promised to you by our Constitution. Use your voices - tweet, blog, petition, rally the weight of your neighbours and of people in power.
Let us speak out from every hilltop. Let us not go quietly into this bleak future.
Let me end off by saying this - You have lit a fire in our bellies, which no man or woman can extinguish. And if we need to, we will take this fight all the way from your petrol pumps to the very highest Court in this land. We will take this fight from the farms and towns of the Karoo to the streets of London and Amsterdam. And we will take this fight to every one of your shareholders. And I have no doubt, that in the end, good will triumph over evil.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Energy Management
BOUT EARTH HOUR
Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries/territories participating. Global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, CN Tower in Toronto, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.
In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries/territories officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.
On Saturday 27 March, Earth Hour 2010 became the biggest Earth Hour ever. A record 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off. People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.
Earth Hour 2011 will take place on Saturday 26 March at 8.30PM (local time). This Earth Hour we want you to go beyond the hour, so after the lights go back on think about what else you can do to make a difference. Together our actions add up.
Visit our Beyond the Hour platform to share your stories and to get inspiration from the actions our supporters have shared with us already.
Earth Hour by WWF
Earth Hour is organized by WWF. With almost 5 million supporters and a global network in over 100 countries/territories, it’s one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and build a future where people live in harmony with nature.
Earth Hour timeline
Turn back the clock on Earth Hour and discover why, how, where and when it all started.
Why get involved?
Put simply, because our future depends on it!
Earth Hour has done a lot to raise awareness of sustainability issues. But there’s more to it than switching off lights for one hour once a year. It’s all about giving people a voice and working together to create a better future for our planet.
Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries/territories participating. Global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, CN Tower in Toronto, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.
In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries/territories officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.
On Saturday 27 March, Earth Hour 2010 became the biggest Earth Hour ever. A record 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off. People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.
Earth Hour 2011 will take place on Saturday 26 March at 8.30PM (local time). This Earth Hour we want you to go beyond the hour, so after the lights go back on think about what else you can do to make a difference. Together our actions add up.
Visit our Beyond the Hour platform to share your stories and to get inspiration from the actions our supporters have shared with us already.
Earth Hour by WWF
Earth Hour is organized by WWF. With almost 5 million supporters and a global network in over 100 countries/territories, it’s one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and build a future where people live in harmony with nature.
Earth Hour timeline
Turn back the clock on Earth Hour and discover why, how, where and when it all started.
Why get involved?
Put simply, because our future depends on it!
Earth Hour has done a lot to raise awareness of sustainability issues. But there’s more to it than switching off lights for one hour once a year. It’s all about giving people a voice and working together to create a better future for our planet.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
lighting control and energy management
Wireless Lighting Controls Offer Flexibility And Cost Savings in Commercial Buildings
BY CRAIG DILOUIE, ON MARCH 11, 2011
Image courtesy of Leviton.
Radio-frequency (RF) wireless communication is a significant emerging lighting control technology. In a typical hardwired lighting control system, control signals are sent using communication wires. In a wireless RF system, control devices communicate through the air using radio waves, eliminating the need for control wiring. The resulting advantages enable advanced lighting control with greater installation flexibility and lower labor installation cost, ideal for hard-to-wire applications non-accessible ceilings, hard ceilings, asbestos abasement issues, and brick and mortar existing buildings.
Wireless RF lighting control first became popularized in residential applications, with typical applications including home theater, kitchens and other common areas, master bedrooms and exterior and security lighting. In recent years, however, wireless RF lighting control has emerged as a viable alternative to hardwired controls in commercial building applications. What benefits does RF wireless communication provide?
The first benefit is flexibility. Wireless control devices can be placed where they are needed without limitation imposed by wiring, including areas that are difficult to wire. More flexibility is provided in unique applications. Electrical planning may be shortened. After installation, devices can be moved and the system expanded with relative ease.
The second benefit is labor and material cost savings, which may result in net installation savings after the typically higher product cost is figured. Wireless control eliminates the need for dedicated control wiring and associated switch legs, traveler wires and other raw materials. The system installs more quickly, producing labor savings. With no damage to walls or ceilings, and little to no disruption to business operations, wireless control lends itself well to existing building applications demanding the benefits of advanced lighting control.
Image courtesy of Leviton.
The advantages of wireless control make these solutions particularly suitable for commercial building applications where the cost of running control wires is too costly or simply not possible, such as outdoor lighting, parking garages, warehouses and retrofits.
RF Control Systems
Wireless RF control devices for commercial applications include occupancy sensors, photosensors, low-voltage relay switches, line-voltage controls, plug controls, hotel card switches, shade controls, HVAC and valve controllers, door/window sensors. Despite similarities between products, various manufacturers may take significantly different approaches.
In the simplest wireless RF system, a sensor, such as an occupancy sensor, communicates to a controller that controls the load, such as a wall switch with embedded RF receiver, using radio waves instead of wiring. The level of communication is pier to pier—two devices communicating within range. To extend the range, a repeater is required.
Wireless control devices may be powered by batteries or through energy harvested from the operating environment. High-quality batteries offer a rated life of 10 years. Self-powered devices are available using EnOcean’s wireless RF technology. For example, the simple motion of pressing a light switch harvests a sufficient amount of energy to send a control signal to a receiver. Sensors are powered by ambient light or via temperature differences. Hotel key card systems are powered by the motion of the placement of the card into the device.
Image courtesy of Ledalite.
Image courtesy of Ledalite.
Mesh Networking
More sophisticated control needs, involving a greater complexity of loads and integration of multiple control strategies, will involve larger systems such as mesh networks. In a mesh network, control signals are passed along, or routed among, all of the wireless devices that make up the system, or network nodes, providing multiple, redundant pathways for signals to get to their intended receiver(s). As such, repeaters are not necessary. In a typical system, each device is connected via at least two pathways. If two-way communication is enabled, devices can acknowledge receipt and request retransmission of data, enhancing reliability.
Image courtesy of Zensys.
Communication of a robust control signal is therefore enabled via the most efficient path between devices that have no direct path to each other or are out of range. This approach makes it possible for devices with relatively low transmitting power to communicate reliably over long distances. Mesh networks are “self healing,” meaning if one of the devices is not functioning, the signal simply routes through another functioning device. This type of configuration is easily scalable. Note that configuring a mesh network is more difficult than a non-mesh network. And the selected solution should include a method for locating and identifying devices for installation, operations and maintenance.
Protocols
For wireless RF control devices to be interoperable within a given control system, they must be compatible with the same protocol. Today, there are four main types of RF communication protocols: ZigBee, Z-Wave, EnOcean and proprietary.
ZigBee is an open-source protocol (IEEE 802.15.4) that is supported by the ZigBee Alliance of manufacturers. Vendors offering products based on the 2.4 GHz ZigBee platform include Sensor Switch, Crestron and Control4. ZigBee enables complex control functions and mesh and star networking configurations.
Z-Wave was developed by Zensys, a home controls manufacturer, and is shared with partnering companies through the Z-Wave Alliance, making this protocol a de facto open standard. Vendors offering products on the 900 MHz Z-Wave platform include Leviton, Cooper Wiring Devices and Intermatic.
EnOcean technology was developed by EnOcean and is shared with partnering companies through the EnOcean Alliance, making this protocol another de facto open standard. Manufacturers offering self-powered products based on the 315 MHz EnOcean platform include Leviton, Ledalite Architectural Products, Illumra and Zumtobel.
Some manufacturers develop proprietary protocols unique to their products operating as part of an engineered system. Manufacturers include Vantage Controls (900 MHz), WattStopper (900 MHz) and Lutron Electronics (400 MHz).
Image courtesy of Leviton.
Range
Wireless RF control devices in a network communicate with a radio range of 30-100 ft., more or less depending on whether the signal must travel through open space or obstacles such as dense walls. Range can be extended by adding devices, either repeaters or additional control devices in a network. Passing the signal through obstructions can impact range; the range given by a manufacturer as “open air” distance is not the same as what will occur in a structure.
Not just physical obstructions such as walls, but the type of material in the obstruction—steel, wood, brick, cement, etc.—will affect range. Installation in metal enclosures such as a metal junction box with a stainless steel faceplate will similarly affect range. Finally, range may be dependent on what protocol is used; the EnOcean Alliance, for example, claims a range of 50-150 ft. (through walls and ceilings). A device such as an RF signal strength meter (“sniffer”) should be used to check locations for these devices prior to installation.
Startup
Control devices in a wireless lighting control system work together in much the same way they would in a wired system. What is different is the way in which the devices interact and the level of intelligence required. In a hardwired system, the devices intended to work together can be simply wired. In a wireless system, the devices must be programmed or mapped to each other so they know to which control signals they should be responsive, and how they should respond. Additional intelligence is not new; it has been deployed in networked lighting systems for some time.
Along with the flexibility of wireless lighting controls comes some added complexity. Important questions to ask include how the devices are set up and commissioned, and by whom. It is recommended that programming be performed prior to physical installation, as the operating range is reduced during programming. It is further recommended that the wired receiver device be installed first and then the wireless device programmed within 10 ft. to ensure mapping.
Integration
While wireless RF control systems may be standalone, wireless devices may also supplement, expand or otherwise interface with an existing control system.
The wireless RF solution may be required to integrate with the hardwired lighting control system as well as other building monitoring and control systems such as BACnet, LONworks, Modbus, DALI and TCP/IP (Internet). Additionally, it may also be required to operate with other wireless control devices. Selected devices should not interfere with each other, should be FCC certified, and should be secure from intrusion. EnOcean modules, for example, contain a unique 32-bit ID number to prevent overlap with other wireless controls. Additionally, some wireless controls also use 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) security for communications.
Wireless Expands Lighting Control
RF wireless lighting controls are growing in popularity both as a more flexible alternative to hardwired systems in new construction and as an economical way to retrofit existing spaces with minimal cost and disruption.
More information:
See LCA’s new online course on wireless lighting controls here.
See Lutron’s offering of wireless controls here.
See Leviton’s offering of wireless controls here.
See WattStopper’s offering of wireless controls here.
BY CRAIG DILOUIE, ON MARCH 11, 2011
Image courtesy of Leviton.
Radio-frequency (RF) wireless communication is a significant emerging lighting control technology. In a typical hardwired lighting control system, control signals are sent using communication wires. In a wireless RF system, control devices communicate through the air using radio waves, eliminating the need for control wiring. The resulting advantages enable advanced lighting control with greater installation flexibility and lower labor installation cost, ideal for hard-to-wire applications non-accessible ceilings, hard ceilings, asbestos abasement issues, and brick and mortar existing buildings.
Wireless RF lighting control first became popularized in residential applications, with typical applications including home theater, kitchens and other common areas, master bedrooms and exterior and security lighting. In recent years, however, wireless RF lighting control has emerged as a viable alternative to hardwired controls in commercial building applications. What benefits does RF wireless communication provide?
The first benefit is flexibility. Wireless control devices can be placed where they are needed without limitation imposed by wiring, including areas that are difficult to wire. More flexibility is provided in unique applications. Electrical planning may be shortened. After installation, devices can be moved and the system expanded with relative ease.
The second benefit is labor and material cost savings, which may result in net installation savings after the typically higher product cost is figured. Wireless control eliminates the need for dedicated control wiring and associated switch legs, traveler wires and other raw materials. The system installs more quickly, producing labor savings. With no damage to walls or ceilings, and little to no disruption to business operations, wireless control lends itself well to existing building applications demanding the benefits of advanced lighting control.
Image courtesy of Leviton.
The advantages of wireless control make these solutions particularly suitable for commercial building applications where the cost of running control wires is too costly or simply not possible, such as outdoor lighting, parking garages, warehouses and retrofits.
RF Control Systems
Wireless RF control devices for commercial applications include occupancy sensors, photosensors, low-voltage relay switches, line-voltage controls, plug controls, hotel card switches, shade controls, HVAC and valve controllers, door/window sensors. Despite similarities between products, various manufacturers may take significantly different approaches.
In the simplest wireless RF system, a sensor, such as an occupancy sensor, communicates to a controller that controls the load, such as a wall switch with embedded RF receiver, using radio waves instead of wiring. The level of communication is pier to pier—two devices communicating within range. To extend the range, a repeater is required.
Wireless control devices may be powered by batteries or through energy harvested from the operating environment. High-quality batteries offer a rated life of 10 years. Self-powered devices are available using EnOcean’s wireless RF technology. For example, the simple motion of pressing a light switch harvests a sufficient amount of energy to send a control signal to a receiver. Sensors are powered by ambient light or via temperature differences. Hotel key card systems are powered by the motion of the placement of the card into the device.
Image courtesy of Ledalite.
Image courtesy of Ledalite.
Mesh Networking
More sophisticated control needs, involving a greater complexity of loads and integration of multiple control strategies, will involve larger systems such as mesh networks. In a mesh network, control signals are passed along, or routed among, all of the wireless devices that make up the system, or network nodes, providing multiple, redundant pathways for signals to get to their intended receiver(s). As such, repeaters are not necessary. In a typical system, each device is connected via at least two pathways. If two-way communication is enabled, devices can acknowledge receipt and request retransmission of data, enhancing reliability.
Image courtesy of Zensys.
Communication of a robust control signal is therefore enabled via the most efficient path between devices that have no direct path to each other or are out of range. This approach makes it possible for devices with relatively low transmitting power to communicate reliably over long distances. Mesh networks are “self healing,” meaning if one of the devices is not functioning, the signal simply routes through another functioning device. This type of configuration is easily scalable. Note that configuring a mesh network is more difficult than a non-mesh network. And the selected solution should include a method for locating and identifying devices for installation, operations and maintenance.
Protocols
For wireless RF control devices to be interoperable within a given control system, they must be compatible with the same protocol. Today, there are four main types of RF communication protocols: ZigBee, Z-Wave, EnOcean and proprietary.
ZigBee is an open-source protocol (IEEE 802.15.4) that is supported by the ZigBee Alliance of manufacturers. Vendors offering products based on the 2.4 GHz ZigBee platform include Sensor Switch, Crestron and Control4. ZigBee enables complex control functions and mesh and star networking configurations.
Z-Wave was developed by Zensys, a home controls manufacturer, and is shared with partnering companies through the Z-Wave Alliance, making this protocol a de facto open standard. Vendors offering products on the 900 MHz Z-Wave platform include Leviton, Cooper Wiring Devices and Intermatic.
EnOcean technology was developed by EnOcean and is shared with partnering companies through the EnOcean Alliance, making this protocol another de facto open standard. Manufacturers offering self-powered products based on the 315 MHz EnOcean platform include Leviton, Ledalite Architectural Products, Illumra and Zumtobel.
Some manufacturers develop proprietary protocols unique to their products operating as part of an engineered system. Manufacturers include Vantage Controls (900 MHz), WattStopper (900 MHz) and Lutron Electronics (400 MHz).
Image courtesy of Leviton.
Range
Wireless RF control devices in a network communicate with a radio range of 30-100 ft., more or less depending on whether the signal must travel through open space or obstacles such as dense walls. Range can be extended by adding devices, either repeaters or additional control devices in a network. Passing the signal through obstructions can impact range; the range given by a manufacturer as “open air” distance is not the same as what will occur in a structure.
Not just physical obstructions such as walls, but the type of material in the obstruction—steel, wood, brick, cement, etc.—will affect range. Installation in metal enclosures such as a metal junction box with a stainless steel faceplate will similarly affect range. Finally, range may be dependent on what protocol is used; the EnOcean Alliance, for example, claims a range of 50-150 ft. (through walls and ceilings). A device such as an RF signal strength meter (“sniffer”) should be used to check locations for these devices prior to installation.
Startup
Control devices in a wireless lighting control system work together in much the same way they would in a wired system. What is different is the way in which the devices interact and the level of intelligence required. In a hardwired system, the devices intended to work together can be simply wired. In a wireless system, the devices must be programmed or mapped to each other so they know to which control signals they should be responsive, and how they should respond. Additional intelligence is not new; it has been deployed in networked lighting systems for some time.
Along with the flexibility of wireless lighting controls comes some added complexity. Important questions to ask include how the devices are set up and commissioned, and by whom. It is recommended that programming be performed prior to physical installation, as the operating range is reduced during programming. It is further recommended that the wired receiver device be installed first and then the wireless device programmed within 10 ft. to ensure mapping.
Integration
While wireless RF control systems may be standalone, wireless devices may also supplement, expand or otherwise interface with an existing control system.
The wireless RF solution may be required to integrate with the hardwired lighting control system as well as other building monitoring and control systems such as BACnet, LONworks, Modbus, DALI and TCP/IP (Internet). Additionally, it may also be required to operate with other wireless control devices. Selected devices should not interfere with each other, should be FCC certified, and should be secure from intrusion. EnOcean modules, for example, contain a unique 32-bit ID number to prevent overlap with other wireless controls. Additionally, some wireless controls also use 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) security for communications.
Wireless Expands Lighting Control
RF wireless lighting controls are growing in popularity both as a more flexible alternative to hardwired systems in new construction and as an economical way to retrofit existing spaces with minimal cost and disruption.
More information:
See LCA’s new online course on wireless lighting controls here.
See Lutron’s offering of wireless controls here.
See Leviton’s offering of wireless controls here.
See WattStopper’s offering of wireless controls here.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Alternative energy
Urk - On an outcrop near this town's lighthouse, a woman in stone perpetually scans the horizon for the fishing fleet returning home. To the dismay of townspeople, her view may soon be obscured by some of the world's tallest wind turbines.
In this eco-friendly nation where windmills are embedded in the culture, it may seem strange that a spat over wind power threatens to land in the country's highest court.
But these turbines are very different from the squat four-bladed mills used for centuries to drain the swamps and create new land from the sea. They are giants, with gray metallic blades that will scrape the clouds at 200m - and residents say they will destroy a way of life.
"They are the highest buildings in Holland," said Leen van Loosen, Urk's undertaker who is campaigning to stop the project. "It's just crazy."
As wind turbines sprout up across Europe - and increasingly off its coastlines - tussles between energy developers and local opponents are increasingly common. In the US, too, wind farm proposals often face determined defiance, most famously the Cape Wind project off Cape Cod that took 10 years to win approval.
Long-term answer
But with oil prices again toying with $100 a barrel and global concerns mounting over climate change, electricity from wind, solar, biogas and other renewables is seen by many as the long-term answer to energy security, pollution and curbing greenhouse gases.
Among those emerging resources, wind is the cheapest and its technology well developed.
In 2010 alone nearly 10 000MW of wind power capacity was installed in the EU, lifting the EU's total to 84 000MW, or nearly 10% of the EU's power generation, the European Wind Energy Association said in a report this month.
Worldwide, wind capacity grew by nearly 36 000MW last year, or 22.5% nearly half of it in China, said the Brussels-based Global Wind Energy Council.
But if the Dutch can't learn to love wind power, what hope is there for the world to adopt it as a major energy source?
"In Holland, there's hardly any project that doesn't get delayed," said Michiel Muller, the wind unit manager of Ecofys, a research and consultancy firm on sustainable energy, who is not connected with the Urk project.
Across Europe, each installation faces a slew of hurdles, starting from the required Environmental Impact Assessment to regulatory approvals by often more than a dozen authorities. It takes an average of 55 months to wade through the bureaucratic tangle before work can begin, the wind energy association said.
Target
Of some 200 wind energy projects studied in 2007 - 2008 in Europe, 40% were ensnared in lawsuits, and 30% more faced slowdowns because of local resistance or questioning from non-profit environmental groups, the association said. It had no figures on how many projects were killed before they got started.
With 430MW of capacity, the wind park near Urk, population 18 000, would provide enough electricity for 400 000 homes and rank among Europe's largest. It would help the Netherlands as it races to catch up with the stiff target set by the EU to generate 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
The Dutch now have a capacity of 2 237MW from wind - far short of its 12 000MW national target for 2020.
The 86 turbines are to be erected in three rows, 38 on land and 48 off shore. The first will be 1.6km from the statue of the fisherman's wife, a 1986 monument on the north side of town that is encircled by plaques with the names of hundreds of Urk's fishermen lost at sea since 1717.
Residents cite a long litany of dangers from the wind park. Fishing and tourism will suffer, they say. The tranquil panorama of the local lake will be disrupted, the town will tremble with the constant rumbling noise of blades, birds will be traumatised, and the whole project could undermine a dike slated to host turbines.
"We are all for green energy, but this is out of proportion," said Van Loosen.
Advocates dismiss such concerns as misinformation, saying the turbines will be far enough from the town that they will not be heard and barely will be seen. One of their leaders said the modern mills simply follow a hallowed Dutch tradition.
Hostility
"Windmills belong to the Netherlands," said Janneke Wijnia-Lemstra, who represents the farmers behind the privately-financed €1bn project. Government subsidies will guarantee a competitive price for the energy produced.
While the focus today is turbines, they're not the only target of Dutch resistance to environmental projects. Hostility by the citizens of Barendrecht killed a proposal in 2009 to bury carbon dioxide under their town that is siphoned from a Royal Dutch Shell refinery in nearby Rotterdam.
Instead, the plan for the experimental project was shifted to the more sparsely populated north of the country, but it has now run into equally fierce protests from villagers there. The government has said it will decide in a few weeks whether to go ahead.
Economics Minister Maxime Verhagen said the wind project, set to go up 90km northeast of Amsterdam, fits with the energy mix that the Netherlands needs, and that every energy source has a down side.
"You could say 'no' to wind energy because it will spoil the view. You can say 'no' to nuclear energy because of the waste. And you can say 'no' to coal as well - leaving us with no energy at all in the Netherlands," he told Dutch television when asked about Urk's revolt.
After eliminating seven turbines from the plan, the government signed off on the wind farm in January - 12 years after it was first proposed. The town says it won't back down unless another 15 turbines are ditched, and vows to appeal to the Council of State, the country's highest court, and possibly to European courts.
The farmland where the turbines are to be built is under the authority of the municipality of Noordoostpolder, Urk's neighbour.
Resentful
Noordoostpolder's council decreed against more windmills being erected on individual farms, partly because the scattered turbines would be too unsightly. That's when it was decided to concentrate them in a large park along the coast.
Urk has been inhabited for some 1 000 years. Nearly all the town's revenue derives from fishing or the tourists who come to see the harbour and the old quayside cottages.
Until the 1940s it was an island, and residents are still resentful that they were not consulted before a dike was built that created the North East polder - land reclaimed from the sea - connecting the mainland to their rocky knoll. Ironically, it's just behind this dike that nearly half the turbines will rise.
"It's an island culture and history," said Urk Mayor Jaap Kroon.
To accusations of indulging a not-in-my-back-yard attitude, the mayor retorts: "This is not our back yard. It's our front yard."
- AP
In this eco-friendly nation where windmills are embedded in the culture, it may seem strange that a spat over wind power threatens to land in the country's highest court.
But these turbines are very different from the squat four-bladed mills used for centuries to drain the swamps and create new land from the sea. They are giants, with gray metallic blades that will scrape the clouds at 200m - and residents say they will destroy a way of life.
"They are the highest buildings in Holland," said Leen van Loosen, Urk's undertaker who is campaigning to stop the project. "It's just crazy."
As wind turbines sprout up across Europe - and increasingly off its coastlines - tussles between energy developers and local opponents are increasingly common. In the US, too, wind farm proposals often face determined defiance, most famously the Cape Wind project off Cape Cod that took 10 years to win approval.
Long-term answer
But with oil prices again toying with $100 a barrel and global concerns mounting over climate change, electricity from wind, solar, biogas and other renewables is seen by many as the long-term answer to energy security, pollution and curbing greenhouse gases.
Among those emerging resources, wind is the cheapest and its technology well developed.
In 2010 alone nearly 10 000MW of wind power capacity was installed in the EU, lifting the EU's total to 84 000MW, or nearly 10% of the EU's power generation, the European Wind Energy Association said in a report this month.
Worldwide, wind capacity grew by nearly 36 000MW last year, or 22.5% nearly half of it in China, said the Brussels-based Global Wind Energy Council.
But if the Dutch can't learn to love wind power, what hope is there for the world to adopt it as a major energy source?
"In Holland, there's hardly any project that doesn't get delayed," said Michiel Muller, the wind unit manager of Ecofys, a research and consultancy firm on sustainable energy, who is not connected with the Urk project.
Across Europe, each installation faces a slew of hurdles, starting from the required Environmental Impact Assessment to regulatory approvals by often more than a dozen authorities. It takes an average of 55 months to wade through the bureaucratic tangle before work can begin, the wind energy association said.
Target
Of some 200 wind energy projects studied in 2007 - 2008 in Europe, 40% were ensnared in lawsuits, and 30% more faced slowdowns because of local resistance or questioning from non-profit environmental groups, the association said. It had no figures on how many projects were killed before they got started.
With 430MW of capacity, the wind park near Urk, population 18 000, would provide enough electricity for 400 000 homes and rank among Europe's largest. It would help the Netherlands as it races to catch up with the stiff target set by the EU to generate 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
The Dutch now have a capacity of 2 237MW from wind - far short of its 12 000MW national target for 2020.
The 86 turbines are to be erected in three rows, 38 on land and 48 off shore. The first will be 1.6km from the statue of the fisherman's wife, a 1986 monument on the north side of town that is encircled by plaques with the names of hundreds of Urk's fishermen lost at sea since 1717.
Residents cite a long litany of dangers from the wind park. Fishing and tourism will suffer, they say. The tranquil panorama of the local lake will be disrupted, the town will tremble with the constant rumbling noise of blades, birds will be traumatised, and the whole project could undermine a dike slated to host turbines.
"We are all for green energy, but this is out of proportion," said Van Loosen.
Advocates dismiss such concerns as misinformation, saying the turbines will be far enough from the town that they will not be heard and barely will be seen. One of their leaders said the modern mills simply follow a hallowed Dutch tradition.
Hostility
"Windmills belong to the Netherlands," said Janneke Wijnia-Lemstra, who represents the farmers behind the privately-financed €1bn project. Government subsidies will guarantee a competitive price for the energy produced.
While the focus today is turbines, they're not the only target of Dutch resistance to environmental projects. Hostility by the citizens of Barendrecht killed a proposal in 2009 to bury carbon dioxide under their town that is siphoned from a Royal Dutch Shell refinery in nearby Rotterdam.
Instead, the plan for the experimental project was shifted to the more sparsely populated north of the country, but it has now run into equally fierce protests from villagers there. The government has said it will decide in a few weeks whether to go ahead.
Economics Minister Maxime Verhagen said the wind project, set to go up 90km northeast of Amsterdam, fits with the energy mix that the Netherlands needs, and that every energy source has a down side.
"You could say 'no' to wind energy because it will spoil the view. You can say 'no' to nuclear energy because of the waste. And you can say 'no' to coal as well - leaving us with no energy at all in the Netherlands," he told Dutch television when asked about Urk's revolt.
After eliminating seven turbines from the plan, the government signed off on the wind farm in January - 12 years after it was first proposed. The town says it won't back down unless another 15 turbines are ditched, and vows to appeal to the Council of State, the country's highest court, and possibly to European courts.
The farmland where the turbines are to be built is under the authority of the municipality of Noordoostpolder, Urk's neighbour.
Resentful
Noordoostpolder's council decreed against more windmills being erected on individual farms, partly because the scattered turbines would be too unsightly. That's when it was decided to concentrate them in a large park along the coast.
Urk has been inhabited for some 1 000 years. Nearly all the town's revenue derives from fishing or the tourists who come to see the harbour and the old quayside cottages.
Until the 1940s it was an island, and residents are still resentful that they were not consulted before a dike was built that created the North East polder - land reclaimed from the sea - connecting the mainland to their rocky knoll. Ironically, it's just behind this dike that nearly half the turbines will rise.
"It's an island culture and history," said Urk Mayor Jaap Kroon.
To accusations of indulging a not-in-my-back-yard attitude, the mayor retorts: "This is not our back yard. It's our front yard."
- AP
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