China overtook the United States last year as the global leader in clean-energy investment while American spending on renewables dropped nearly 40 percent, according to a report released last week by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
“The center of gravity in the clean energy world has shifted from the United States and Europe to China,” the report concluded.
China’s leaders are intensely focused on clean energy. The Chinese have aggressive targets for renewable energy and helped bankroll the rapid growth of the country’s solar and wind industries.
That resulted in China attracting $65 billion in clean-energy investment last year, according to the Pew report, a whopping 30 percent of all renewable investment in the world’s top 20 economies.
China is installing solar because the western European market for its solar products is drying up, said Ethan Zindler, head of policy analysis at Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
China is also a major manufacturer of wind turbines and wants to tap its wind resources in Inner Mongolia and elsewhere. China needs energy to fuel its growth and is paying a price for its reliance on coal.
“There is an interest on the part of policy leaders there to address the terrible quality of the air,” Zindler said.
The United States led in global clean-energy investment until 2009. America then traded the top spot with China before reclaiming it during the surge in investment that came along with the stimulus legislation and a record boom in US wind-energy construction.
American investment in wind skyrocketed as developers scrambled to finance projects before a tax break was to expire at the end of last year.
Congress is keeping the subsidy alive for another year, but scant new US wind-energy production is being planned at this point, Zindler said.
Now China is in firm control of the global clean-energy investment lead while America “continues to underperform,” according to the Pew report.
Pew argues that lack of a national clean-energy policy caused the United States to stumble in the clean-energy race.
“In the US there is an uncertain policy so investment has declined,” Pew Clean Energy Program Director Phyllis Cuttino said in an interview.
Some 29 states have standards requiring utilities to get some of their power from sources like wind and solar. But several states already are surpassing targets, Zindler said, so won’t demand more.
State legislatures also are challenging the renewable-energy requirements all over the country, with conservative lawmakers arguing that they should be weakened or repealed.
Pew found investment in US clean energy dropped 37 percent last year. That came even as spending on home solar surged and solar-power generation increased in the United States.
The cost of solar- and wind-energy technology has dropped, so a dollar of investment goes further than in the past.
2013年4月27日 星期六
2013年4月26日 星期五
A new brick in the Great Wall
ALTHOUGH it is the weekend, a small factory in the Haidian district of Beijing is hard at work. Eight machines, the biggest the size of a delivery van, are busy making things. Yet the factory, owned by Beijing Longyuan Automated Fabrication System (known as AFS), appears almost deserted. This is because it is using additive-manufacturing machines, popularly known as three-dimensional (3D) printers, which run unattended day and night, seven days a week.
The printers require an occasional visit from a supervisor to top them up with the powdered materials they use as their “inks”, or to remove a completed item, but apart from that they can be left on their own. They build up the objects they are making one layer at a time, as the ink is sintered into place with a laser in a way that creates little waste and can make shapes impossible to achieve using the traditional “subtractive” technology of lathes, milling machines and cutting tools.
Though it is not yet ready for use in mass production (building things up is slower than trimming them down), 3D printing is excellent for making prototypes, customised jobs and short production runs, for there is no need to retool each time the specification changes. All that need be done is to alter the software that controls the print heads.
Western countries led the development of 3D printing, and the technique has been praised by Barack Obama as a way to revive America’s manufacturing industries. It may yet do so. But the extent to which that revival will be brought about by the return to America of production which has migrated to countries like China is harder to predict—for China has plans of its own.
At the moment AFS is in the prototyping business. Its customers are mainly aerospace firms and vehicle-makers that need experimental designs turned into metal quickly. The powders in its machines’ hoppers are plastics, waxes and foundry sand. The results are sent off to foundries, where they are used to make moulds for the sand-casting of metal objects.
According to William Zeng, AFS’s deputy general manager, all the parts needed to make a prototype car engine can be printed and cast in this way in under two weeks. A conventional machine shop would need several months to do that—not least because many of the components would have to be made by hand.
AFS also has a second line of business. It sells the laser-sintering printers it makes to others, for this is a rapidly growing industry. And some of its machines, which cost up to 1.5m yuan (about $250,000), can do more than just sinter plastics, wax and sand; they can sinter metals directly.
Indeed, one of the country’s largest 3D printers (though it was not made by AFS) does just this. It is 12 metres long and it belongs to the National Laboratory for Aeronautics and Astronautics at Beihang University. Wang Huaming, the laboratory’s chief scientist, told a digital-manufacturing seminar organised recently by the Laboratory of High Performance Computing, a government research institute, that this behemoth is being employed to make large and complex parts for China’s commercial-aircraft programme, which plans to build planes to rival those turned out by Airbus and Boeing.
These parts include titanium fuselage frames and high-strength steel landing-gear—objects that require the metal they are made from to be free of flaws which might cause them to fail. Printing such things, rather than making them from precast metal, will be a technical tour de force, and Dr Wang’s team is therefore working on the tricky problem of controlling the recrystallisation of metals after they have been melted by the laser.
The printers require an occasional visit from a supervisor to top them up with the powdered materials they use as their “inks”, or to remove a completed item, but apart from that they can be left on their own. They build up the objects they are making one layer at a time, as the ink is sintered into place with a laser in a way that creates little waste and can make shapes impossible to achieve using the traditional “subtractive” technology of lathes, milling machines and cutting tools.
Though it is not yet ready for use in mass production (building things up is slower than trimming them down), 3D printing is excellent for making prototypes, customised jobs and short production runs, for there is no need to retool each time the specification changes. All that need be done is to alter the software that controls the print heads.
Western countries led the development of 3D printing, and the technique has been praised by Barack Obama as a way to revive America’s manufacturing industries. It may yet do so. But the extent to which that revival will be brought about by the return to America of production which has migrated to countries like China is harder to predict—for China has plans of its own.
At the moment AFS is in the prototyping business. Its customers are mainly aerospace firms and vehicle-makers that need experimental designs turned into metal quickly. The powders in its machines’ hoppers are plastics, waxes and foundry sand. The results are sent off to foundries, where they are used to make moulds for the sand-casting of metal objects.
According to William Zeng, AFS’s deputy general manager, all the parts needed to make a prototype car engine can be printed and cast in this way in under two weeks. A conventional machine shop would need several months to do that—not least because many of the components would have to be made by hand.
AFS also has a second line of business. It sells the laser-sintering printers it makes to others, for this is a rapidly growing industry. And some of its machines, which cost up to 1.5m yuan (about $250,000), can do more than just sinter plastics, wax and sand; they can sinter metals directly.
Indeed, one of the country’s largest 3D printers (though it was not made by AFS) does just this. It is 12 metres long and it belongs to the National Laboratory for Aeronautics and Astronautics at Beihang University. Wang Huaming, the laboratory’s chief scientist, told a digital-manufacturing seminar organised recently by the Laboratory of High Performance Computing, a government research institute, that this behemoth is being employed to make large and complex parts for China’s commercial-aircraft programme, which plans to build planes to rival those turned out by Airbus and Boeing.
These parts include titanium fuselage frames and high-strength steel landing-gear—objects that require the metal they are made from to be free of flaws which might cause them to fail. Printing such things, rather than making them from precast metal, will be a technical tour de force, and Dr Wang’s team is therefore working on the tricky problem of controlling the recrystallisation of metals after they have been melted by the laser.
2013年4月25日 星期四
Proposed gift from wind energy company
Selectmen will hold a public hearing next week to decide whether to accept a $40,000 gift from a wind farm developer, should the company's proposed facility be approved by a state agency after an appeal.
The payment would serve as compensation for any perceived damages to the scenery created by the wind project, proposed for the northwest part of town, according to a letter from Antrim Wind Energy LLC.
The company had proposed building a 30-megawatt facility with 10 wind turbines, each 500-feet tall, on privately owned land near Tuttle Hill and Willard Mountain. Antrim Wind Energy, a subsidiary of Portsmouth-based Eolian Renewable Energy, planned to sell energy produced at the facility to regional buyers, according to the project's website.
But in February the N.H. Site Evaluation Committee denied the project's application. The committee has the final word on large alternative energy projects and had been reviewing the Antrim proposal since 2011.
The Antrim project was rejected due to an "unreasonable adverse effect" on the aesthetics in the region, primarily the visual aesthetics, Michael J. Iacopino, attorney for the committee, said at the time. The committee's decision on the Antrim project was the first time the body has ever flat-out denied a project.
Per law, Antrim Wind Energy has 30 days to file for a rehearing after the Site Evaluation Committee issues a written order about the decision. Iacopino said in February the written decisions generally take about a month, but the Antrim paperwork has not been released.
The wind company is eager to see the written order, Eolian CEO Jack Kenworthy said. He anticipates the company will file for a rehearing because the committee seemed to turn down the project for a specific, isolated concern, he said.
During the committee's 11 days of hearings and three days of deliberation on the Antrim Wind project, the wind facility's possible negative effect on the scenery in the Gregg Lake area was identified as a concern, according to Antrim Wind Energy's letter to the town. The company's motion for a rehearing will include a proposal to address those visual concerns.
The details of Antrim Wind Energy's plans to address the concerns are still being developed, according to the letter. But the proposed $40,000 payment to Antrim to improve the Gregg Lake area is part of the plan to help the company's cause.
Kenworthy said $40,000 was an amount the project could handle paying, while also being enough to help mitigate any perceived damages to the area.
If Antrim Wind Energy is granted a permit, the company would be required to make the one-time payment within 6 months of the facility starting commercial operations, according to the letter. The payment is compensation for any perceived visual impairments to the Gregg Lake area, but the ultimate use of the money will be at the town's discretion.
Town Administrator Galen A. Stearns said selectmen will decide whether to agree to the gift after the public hearing.
The payment would serve as compensation for any perceived damages to the scenery created by the wind project, proposed for the northwest part of town, according to a letter from Antrim Wind Energy LLC.
The company had proposed building a 30-megawatt facility with 10 wind turbines, each 500-feet tall, on privately owned land near Tuttle Hill and Willard Mountain. Antrim Wind Energy, a subsidiary of Portsmouth-based Eolian Renewable Energy, planned to sell energy produced at the facility to regional buyers, according to the project's website.
But in February the N.H. Site Evaluation Committee denied the project's application. The committee has the final word on large alternative energy projects and had been reviewing the Antrim proposal since 2011.
The Antrim project was rejected due to an "unreasonable adverse effect" on the aesthetics in the region, primarily the visual aesthetics, Michael J. Iacopino, attorney for the committee, said at the time. The committee's decision on the Antrim project was the first time the body has ever flat-out denied a project.
Per law, Antrim Wind Energy has 30 days to file for a rehearing after the Site Evaluation Committee issues a written order about the decision. Iacopino said in February the written decisions generally take about a month, but the Antrim paperwork has not been released.
The wind company is eager to see the written order, Eolian CEO Jack Kenworthy said. He anticipates the company will file for a rehearing because the committee seemed to turn down the project for a specific, isolated concern, he said.
During the committee's 11 days of hearings and three days of deliberation on the Antrim Wind project, the wind facility's possible negative effect on the scenery in the Gregg Lake area was identified as a concern, according to Antrim Wind Energy's letter to the town. The company's motion for a rehearing will include a proposal to address those visual concerns.
The details of Antrim Wind Energy's plans to address the concerns are still being developed, according to the letter. But the proposed $40,000 payment to Antrim to improve the Gregg Lake area is part of the plan to help the company's cause.
Kenworthy said $40,000 was an amount the project could handle paying, while also being enough to help mitigate any perceived damages to the area.
If Antrim Wind Energy is granted a permit, the company would be required to make the one-time payment within 6 months of the facility starting commercial operations, according to the letter. The payment is compensation for any perceived visual impairments to the Gregg Lake area, but the ultimate use of the money will be at the town's discretion.
Town Administrator Galen A. Stearns said selectmen will decide whether to agree to the gift after the public hearing.
2013年4月24日 星期三
The age of the robot blurs sci-fi and cutting-edge science
To alarmists, the rise of the machines must stoke inhuman levels of anxiety. And why not? Technology can be truly discomforting. The US government's top secret Darpa labs are currently improving robots' behavioral learning and anomaly detection programs, both of which will make them "smarter" and more efficient killing machines, literally; auto manufacturers are working on self-driving cars like those that run us down in Daniel H Wilson's predictably plotted thriller Robopocalypse; and just this month word spread that European researchers turned on Raputya, an "internet for computers" that bears an uncanny resemblance to Skynet, the fictional super-computer that launched Terminator into our pop culture landscape.
But to those who embrace technology, these upgrades aren't harbingers hellbent on destroying human life. They're portals into a brighter human future. Such technoptimists believe that as computers evolve, so will we. Google Glass is but the beginning of how technology will be meshed onto our bodies. Researchers are already hyping "e-memory" implants that could make Total Recall a reality; and the US Food and Drug Administration recently approved artificial retinas that use video processors and electrodes give partial sight to the blind, just one of the many examples of how "you", the human, can merge with "them", the machines. Futurist Kurzweil believes that nanotechnology will be able to rebuild injured humans.
"It's not us versus them," he told the New York Times. "We've created these tools to overcome our limitations."
If that's the case, the most transcendental merger between man and machine will be between silicon chips and our own motherboard, the brain, a long misunderstood organ that's suddenly getting fresh attention. The US National Institutes of Health hopes $3bn will help lay out the Brain Activity Map, a cartographical layout announced by Barack Obama this month that will dwarf the Human Genome Project in scope and size.
The European Union is putting up over $1bn for a similar, 10-year undertaking unimaginatively called the Human Brain Project, and the NIH''s other expedition into gray matter, the Human Connectome Project, recently released two tetrabytes of data, a sliver of the amount of data the brain could hold: 100 tetrabytes by some estimates. That's 104,857,600 megabytes. To give you an idea of how far away we are from finish: doctors have yet to completely map a mouse brain, or even a fruit fly's.
This is all very exciting for advocates of "mind uploading", a fantastical, as-of-now hypothetical process by which we would transfer our organic brains, including memories, personalities, tastes and proclivities into artificial bodies, or at least disk drives. According to them, once we have a clearer map of the brain and its memory drives, we can use existing technology to freeze or otherwise preserve our brains, wait 100, 200 or even 1,000 years for science to take its course and be awakened in a future, our experiences uploaded into an artificial body.
Dr Ken Hayworth, a neuroscientist who maps fruit fly brains by day and advocates for the independent Brain Preservation Foundation by night, says such a process is the final frontier in breaking the barrier between man and machine. "Mind uploading technology is just breaking the barrier," he says. "If you're really jealous of what your avatar is doing, if you're really jealous of your computer's memory, then mind uploading is the logical conclusion; it's saying: 'Okay, I won't beat them, I'll join them.'"
But to those who embrace technology, these upgrades aren't harbingers hellbent on destroying human life. They're portals into a brighter human future. Such technoptimists believe that as computers evolve, so will we. Google Glass is but the beginning of how technology will be meshed onto our bodies. Researchers are already hyping "e-memory" implants that could make Total Recall a reality; and the US Food and Drug Administration recently approved artificial retinas that use video processors and electrodes give partial sight to the blind, just one of the many examples of how "you", the human, can merge with "them", the machines. Futurist Kurzweil believes that nanotechnology will be able to rebuild injured humans.
"It's not us versus them," he told the New York Times. "We've created these tools to overcome our limitations."
If that's the case, the most transcendental merger between man and machine will be between silicon chips and our own motherboard, the brain, a long misunderstood organ that's suddenly getting fresh attention. The US National Institutes of Health hopes $3bn will help lay out the Brain Activity Map, a cartographical layout announced by Barack Obama this month that will dwarf the Human Genome Project in scope and size.
The European Union is putting up over $1bn for a similar, 10-year undertaking unimaginatively called the Human Brain Project, and the NIH''s other expedition into gray matter, the Human Connectome Project, recently released two tetrabytes of data, a sliver of the amount of data the brain could hold: 100 tetrabytes by some estimates. That's 104,857,600 megabytes. To give you an idea of how far away we are from finish: doctors have yet to completely map a mouse brain, or even a fruit fly's.
This is all very exciting for advocates of "mind uploading", a fantastical, as-of-now hypothetical process by which we would transfer our organic brains, including memories, personalities, tastes and proclivities into artificial bodies, or at least disk drives. According to them, once we have a clearer map of the brain and its memory drives, we can use existing technology to freeze or otherwise preserve our brains, wait 100, 200 or even 1,000 years for science to take its course and be awakened in a future, our experiences uploaded into an artificial body.
Dr Ken Hayworth, a neuroscientist who maps fruit fly brains by day and advocates for the independent Brain Preservation Foundation by night, says such a process is the final frontier in breaking the barrier between man and machine. "Mind uploading technology is just breaking the barrier," he says. "If you're really jealous of what your avatar is doing, if you're really jealous of your computer's memory, then mind uploading is the logical conclusion; it's saying: 'Okay, I won't beat them, I'll join them.'"
2013年4月23日 星期二
Energy projects soar
News that South Africa registered investments valued around the $5.5bn (R50bn) mark in 2012 has generated some excitement, but people in the know are warning that it is still premature to pop the champagne.
There is a fear that a significant portion of this investment will leave the country unless more is done to facilitate localisation.
Certainly the government needs to do more to ensure that the ensuing renewable energy independent power producing programme yields better results, says businessman Ajay Lalu who is an executive of Black Lite Solar. Lalu is setting up a multibillion-rand solar panel manufacturing facility in the Eastern Cape.
This observation comes a week after a report by the Pew Charitable Trust think tank declared that SA had emerged as the fastest growing destination for renewable energy investment within the G20 nations.
The trust’s report noted that South Africa attracted $5.5bn worth of investments in renewable energy in 2012 and this placed the country in ninth position in the rankings of size of renewable energy investments. The report said about 80% ($4.3bn) of this investment was flowing into solar energy and $1.1bn into wind.
This comes after SA launched its renewable energy independent power producer (IPP) programme. The department of energy has licensed about 50 operators in two separate windows of a programme that will have five licensing windows and expected to draw investments of about R100bn at conclusion.
“We are facing the danger that a significant portion of this investment and especially in high value system items, like solar panels, wind turbines and inverters in the IPP programme will end up in foreign hands,” Lalu said.
This is despite the fact that the government has set a local participation target of 40% when it issues window two licences.
Lalu warned that a significant portion of this local participation target could be achieved via “non-core” or low value procurement items like civil works, advisors’ fees and environmental impact assessment studies.
“While this is fine we must be careful not to miss the high value items which will facilitate technology transfer and ensure development of a robust local renewable energy industry that is also able to support the continent,” Lalu said.
He said SA needed to focus on core areas like the production of solar panel wafers and inverters. “Unless you focus on such items you are unlikely to see meaningful localisation beyond 40%.”
“The government needs to be more proactive and braver in rolling out licences in the third, fourth and fifth windows.” He said the renewable energy IPP was a perfect platform for the government to advance its reindustrialisation programme, particularly the development of black industrialists.
There is a fear that a significant portion of this investment will leave the country unless more is done to facilitate localisation.
Certainly the government needs to do more to ensure that the ensuing renewable energy independent power producing programme yields better results, says businessman Ajay Lalu who is an executive of Black Lite Solar. Lalu is setting up a multibillion-rand solar panel manufacturing facility in the Eastern Cape.
This observation comes a week after a report by the Pew Charitable Trust think tank declared that SA had emerged as the fastest growing destination for renewable energy investment within the G20 nations.
The trust’s report noted that South Africa attracted $5.5bn worth of investments in renewable energy in 2012 and this placed the country in ninth position in the rankings of size of renewable energy investments. The report said about 80% ($4.3bn) of this investment was flowing into solar energy and $1.1bn into wind.
This comes after SA launched its renewable energy independent power producer (IPP) programme. The department of energy has licensed about 50 operators in two separate windows of a programme that will have five licensing windows and expected to draw investments of about R100bn at conclusion.
“We are facing the danger that a significant portion of this investment and especially in high value system items, like solar panels, wind turbines and inverters in the IPP programme will end up in foreign hands,” Lalu said.
This is despite the fact that the government has set a local participation target of 40% when it issues window two licences.
Lalu warned that a significant portion of this local participation target could be achieved via “non-core” or low value procurement items like civil works, advisors’ fees and environmental impact assessment studies.
“While this is fine we must be careful not to miss the high value items which will facilitate technology transfer and ensure development of a robust local renewable energy industry that is also able to support the continent,” Lalu said.
He said SA needed to focus on core areas like the production of solar panel wafers and inverters. “Unless you focus on such items you are unlikely to see meaningful localisation beyond 40%.”
“The government needs to be more proactive and braver in rolling out licences in the third, fourth and fifth windows.” He said the renewable energy IPP was a perfect platform for the government to advance its reindustrialisation programme, particularly the development of black industrialists.
2013年4月21日 星期日
Is that gambling at Speaking Rock?
Walk into the Socorro Entertainment Center or Speaking Rock, both operated by the Tigua Indians of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, and what you’ll find there looks like gambling, sounds like gambling and feels like gambling.
In room after room, there are hundreds of machines that look, play and pay a lot like slot machines.
You can put in a $10 bill and in a matter of minutes, lose it all or double your money and then take the machine’s payout slip to a cashier and get cash.
But sometimes, under the complexities of Texas and federal law, what may look, feel and pay like gambling isn’t gambling at all.
The Texas Attorney General’s office, which shut down the Tiguas’ Speaking Rock Casino in 2002 after a three-year legal fight, doesn’t like what’s happening on the tribe’s properties now and has tried to stop it.
In legal motions, the state calls it gambling. But no court has agreed.
The machines are not slots; they are sweepstakes validation terminals, the tribe’s lawyers contend. And no court has disagreed.
So, the games go on at the Tigua entertainment centers, along with free concerts by big name performers and bands, alcohol sales, good food and the cheapest cigarettes in Texas.
The free concerts put a big dent in competitors’ business and have closed down a few, said one venue manager who asked not to be named.
“It has affected a tier of entertainment and those clubs that are close to the entertainment centers,” he said. “Look at any casino in New Mexico. Anyone who does entertainment will charge for tickets to break even, and then make money on gambling and alcohol.
“Why is this the only back-door casino that has free concerts?”
Visit Speaking Rock on a weekday morning, and you’ll find a surprising number of cars in the parking lot, great 1960s and ‘70s music playing in the game rooms and a crowd of older folks sitting comfortably in front of noisy machines with cartoony graphics.
A lot of the patrons are women and a lot of them smoke. Ashtrays are everywhere. Serious players say they come two or three times a week, others once or twice a month.
“You win and you lose,” said one regular with $80 in credits on her machine.
On one morning last week, the half dozen players El Paso Inc. interviewed all spoke Spanish only, and agreed that they were having a good time gambling – or playing. It’s the same word in Spanish.
El Paso District Attorney Jaime Esparza declined to comment on the situation but conveyed his thoughts through office spokeswoman Renee Railey.
She said Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot has jurisdiction over gaming issues on the Tiguas’ tribal land, not Esparza’s office.
In opinion after opinion delivered to counties and cities, the attorney general opinions consistently state that if the machines pay cash, they’re illegal and in violation of criminal laws against gambling.
The 2012 opinion to a county attorney states, “Because the eight-liner machines described in your request issue tickets redeemable for items that do not constitute noncash merchandise prizes, toys, or novelties, the machines do not meet the standard for the illegal gambling device exception (provided by the Texas Penal Code).”
In room after room, there are hundreds of machines that look, play and pay a lot like slot machines.
You can put in a $10 bill and in a matter of minutes, lose it all or double your money and then take the machine’s payout slip to a cashier and get cash.
But sometimes, under the complexities of Texas and federal law, what may look, feel and pay like gambling isn’t gambling at all.
The Texas Attorney General’s office, which shut down the Tiguas’ Speaking Rock Casino in 2002 after a three-year legal fight, doesn’t like what’s happening on the tribe’s properties now and has tried to stop it.
In legal motions, the state calls it gambling. But no court has agreed.
The machines are not slots; they are sweepstakes validation terminals, the tribe’s lawyers contend. And no court has disagreed.
So, the games go on at the Tigua entertainment centers, along with free concerts by big name performers and bands, alcohol sales, good food and the cheapest cigarettes in Texas.
The free concerts put a big dent in competitors’ business and have closed down a few, said one venue manager who asked not to be named.
“It has affected a tier of entertainment and those clubs that are close to the entertainment centers,” he said. “Look at any casino in New Mexico. Anyone who does entertainment will charge for tickets to break even, and then make money on gambling and alcohol.
“Why is this the only back-door casino that has free concerts?”
Visit Speaking Rock on a weekday morning, and you’ll find a surprising number of cars in the parking lot, great 1960s and ‘70s music playing in the game rooms and a crowd of older folks sitting comfortably in front of noisy machines with cartoony graphics.
A lot of the patrons are women and a lot of them smoke. Ashtrays are everywhere. Serious players say they come two or three times a week, others once or twice a month.
“You win and you lose,” said one regular with $80 in credits on her machine.
On one morning last week, the half dozen players El Paso Inc. interviewed all spoke Spanish only, and agreed that they were having a good time gambling – or playing. It’s the same word in Spanish.
El Paso District Attorney Jaime Esparza declined to comment on the situation but conveyed his thoughts through office spokeswoman Renee Railey.
She said Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot has jurisdiction over gaming issues on the Tiguas’ tribal land, not Esparza’s office.
In opinion after opinion delivered to counties and cities, the attorney general opinions consistently state that if the machines pay cash, they’re illegal and in violation of criminal laws against gambling.
The 2012 opinion to a county attorney states, “Because the eight-liner machines described in your request issue tickets redeemable for items that do not constitute noncash merchandise prizes, toys, or novelties, the machines do not meet the standard for the illegal gambling device exception (provided by the Texas Penal Code).”
2013年4月18日 星期四
Wind turbines will save school districts cashBreezy Money
Wynford Local Schools Superintendent Steve Mohr is pleased with the
results of the two wind turbines installed two years ago at the school
in Holmes Township.
“One benefit educationally is that teachers can access data that is provided,” Mohr said. “They can monitor the kilowatts of energy and access different sites.”
The financial benefit has yet to be realized after two years, but Mohr said he’s confident that will occur. The turbines were installed in April 2011 by NexGen.
“It’s almost too early in the contract to tell about the savings,” he said.
The school now has a fixed cost for electricity usage for the next eight years, the superintendent noted.
“A lot of that is determined by the actual costs of electricity. But it should be a huge savings,” he said. “We should have a better feel for that this summer.”
Mohr said the arrangement is ideal.
“We have no costs to operate them,” he said. “They (NexGen) inspect them regularly and monitor them from Vermont by computer.
“They pay to put them up, maintain them and service them. It’s about the best deal I’ve ever negotiated.”
It’s estimated the project will account for about 30 percent of the electricity to both the high school and elementary school buildings. Wynford’s two turbines are 100 kilowatts and stand 130 feet tall and are not close to any residential property.
After two years, Randy Harvey also is pleased with the wind turbine project at Ontario Local Schools.
“It’s doing what we anticipated that it would do in regards to saving money,” said the Ontario treasurer.
The first year the wind turbines generated 212,000 kilowatts and another 194,000 in year two, he noted.
“We’ll average about 200,000 kilowatts per year if they’re working as we think,” he said.
Harvey estimated an annual savings of $8,000 in electricity, a number that should increase.
He said NexGen Energy Partners LLC installed the two turbines and also converted the elementary school from a secondary to a primary connection.
“That will save one cent per kilowatt in our Ohio Edison costs,” Harvey said. “Most of our cost savings is from that change.”
Ontario signed a 10-year contract with NextGen.
Harvey said classrooms will be able to tap into information and expand on the knowledge of wind turbines, how they generate energy and at what speed.
“We had no financial outlay except for a little less than $10,000 up front and we’ll get that back with energy credits,” he said.
Those credits begin in year six.
“This puts us at 10 percent of our electrical needs, and we’re 10 percent less dependent on the electrical grid that everyone uses,” Harvey said.
“One benefit educationally is that teachers can access data that is provided,” Mohr said. “They can monitor the kilowatts of energy and access different sites.”
The financial benefit has yet to be realized after two years, but Mohr said he’s confident that will occur. The turbines were installed in April 2011 by NexGen.
“It’s almost too early in the contract to tell about the savings,” he said.
The school now has a fixed cost for electricity usage for the next eight years, the superintendent noted.
“A lot of that is determined by the actual costs of electricity. But it should be a huge savings,” he said. “We should have a better feel for that this summer.”
Mohr said the arrangement is ideal.
“We have no costs to operate them,” he said. “They (NexGen) inspect them regularly and monitor them from Vermont by computer.
“They pay to put them up, maintain them and service them. It’s about the best deal I’ve ever negotiated.”
It’s estimated the project will account for about 30 percent of the electricity to both the high school and elementary school buildings. Wynford’s two turbines are 100 kilowatts and stand 130 feet tall and are not close to any residential property.
After two years, Randy Harvey also is pleased with the wind turbine project at Ontario Local Schools.
“It’s doing what we anticipated that it would do in regards to saving money,” said the Ontario treasurer.
The first year the wind turbines generated 212,000 kilowatts and another 194,000 in year two, he noted.
“We’ll average about 200,000 kilowatts per year if they’re working as we think,” he said.
Harvey estimated an annual savings of $8,000 in electricity, a number that should increase.
He said NexGen Energy Partners LLC installed the two turbines and also converted the elementary school from a secondary to a primary connection.
“That will save one cent per kilowatt in our Ohio Edison costs,” Harvey said. “Most of our cost savings is from that change.”
Ontario signed a 10-year contract with NextGen.
Harvey said classrooms will be able to tap into information and expand on the knowledge of wind turbines, how they generate energy and at what speed.
“We had no financial outlay except for a little less than $10,000 up front and we’ll get that back with energy credits,” he said.
Those credits begin in year six.
“This puts us at 10 percent of our electrical needs, and we’re 10 percent less dependent on the electrical grid that everyone uses,” Harvey said.
2013年4月17日 星期三
Discover Mint Hill celebrates history and culture
Gold panning, double-decker bus tours, and Wilgrove steaks come back to Mint Hill this weekend for Discover Mint Hill, the annual celebration of the town’s history and culture.
This Saturday, April 20, marks the sixth year for Discover Mint Hill, and Historical Society Executive Director Sue McDonald says nearly everything is ready for the day of activities, fun, and learning about Mint Hill at “Discovery Square.”
The event runs from 9 am to 3 pm at the intersection of Bain School Road and Matthews-Mint Hill Road, in front of the Historical Society’s Carl J. McEwen Historic Village.
Civic and cultural organizations from Mint Hill will host booths, where attendees can learn about those groups, participate in activities and win prizes.
Sixteen community organizations will be represented, including the Mint Hill Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Police and Fire Departments, library, Mint Hill Arts, and the Mint Hill Women’s Club, all with booths showcasing their involvement in the community.
Some of the main attractions will be the gold panning station, set up at the Historical Society, genealogy researches ready to help anyone begin their research into their family history, and the historic bus tours from one end of town to the other.
A ticket for the bus costs $3, and it will take participants through Mint Hill, pointing out historical locations like where downtown Mint hill was originally, and the original site of the Mint Hill Library.
There will also be music, performed by the folk group Doc’s Front Porch, food, including hot dogs, barbecue, and the famous Wilgrove steaks, fried bologna sandwiches with a bit of a backstory.
Discover Mint Hill will feature demonstrations on a ham radio, washer women demonstrating techniques of washing clothes prior to the advent of the washing machine, live leeches in the doctor’s museum, biscuit making, loom weaving, and plenty of herbs for sale from the Herb Guild.
“Bring themselves and be prepared to find out what goes on in Mint Hill and the historic and cultural programs in the community,” said McDonald, when asked what advice she had for people planning to attend.
A rain date is set for Sunday, April 21, from 1 to 4 pm, in case inclement weather keeps the event from happening Saturday.
McDonald said that the event is an opportunity for the citizens of Mint Hill to have a good time and learn about the history of the town, and the historical society itself.
“For me, it’s exciting that al these people come to see our history in this area and so many people don’t even realize that we’re preserving history at the Carl J. McEwen Historic Village,” McDonald said.
This Saturday, April 20, marks the sixth year for Discover Mint Hill, and Historical Society Executive Director Sue McDonald says nearly everything is ready for the day of activities, fun, and learning about Mint Hill at “Discovery Square.”
The event runs from 9 am to 3 pm at the intersection of Bain School Road and Matthews-Mint Hill Road, in front of the Historical Society’s Carl J. McEwen Historic Village.
Civic and cultural organizations from Mint Hill will host booths, where attendees can learn about those groups, participate in activities and win prizes.
Sixteen community organizations will be represented, including the Mint Hill Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Police and Fire Departments, library, Mint Hill Arts, and the Mint Hill Women’s Club, all with booths showcasing their involvement in the community.
Some of the main attractions will be the gold panning station, set up at the Historical Society, genealogy researches ready to help anyone begin their research into their family history, and the historic bus tours from one end of town to the other.
A ticket for the bus costs $3, and it will take participants through Mint Hill, pointing out historical locations like where downtown Mint hill was originally, and the original site of the Mint Hill Library.
There will also be music, performed by the folk group Doc’s Front Porch, food, including hot dogs, barbecue, and the famous Wilgrove steaks, fried bologna sandwiches with a bit of a backstory.
Discover Mint Hill will feature demonstrations on a ham radio, washer women demonstrating techniques of washing clothes prior to the advent of the washing machine, live leeches in the doctor’s museum, biscuit making, loom weaving, and plenty of herbs for sale from the Herb Guild.
“Bring themselves and be prepared to find out what goes on in Mint Hill and the historic and cultural programs in the community,” said McDonald, when asked what advice she had for people planning to attend.
A rain date is set for Sunday, April 21, from 1 to 4 pm, in case inclement weather keeps the event from happening Saturday.
McDonald said that the event is an opportunity for the citizens of Mint Hill to have a good time and learn about the history of the town, and the historical society itself.
“For me, it’s exciting that al these people come to see our history in this area and so many people don’t even realize that we’re preserving history at the Carl J. McEwen Historic Village,” McDonald said.
2013年4月16日 星期二
100k investment to aid firm target new business
A 100,000 investment in two new machines has been completed by Grimsby firm Anglia Engineering Solutions, as it makes major strides in the renewable energy market.
Complementing a strong heritage in food, oil and gas, the South Humberside Industrial Estate company has been picking up work in the offshore wind supply chain.
Two new Alpha 1550 CNC lathes have increased machining capacity by 40 per cent, with further expansion planned.
Contracts manager Dave Larder said: "This is a highly ambitious investment for the company aimed at substantially increasing our turnover and widening our customer base. With an improved manufacturing facility and highly trained staff we will be able to target new customers and be in a position to meet their exacting demands."
It comes three years after On Line Design took a majority shareholding in the 44-year-old business, as it added a manufacturing arm to the consultancy operations headquartered in Immingham.
Steve Dickson, managing director, said: "We want to be able to further improve our customer service, not only in respect of quality, but delivery as well. This will enable us to do more training for our own staff and maintain the level of employment we have got. We want to be able to keep the apprentices on that we are currently training.
"Having the parent company behind us is a great support in this day and age. To have the financial support of On Line itself is immense for a company of our size."
A team of 61 make up Anglia, the 5.5-million turnover business on Estate Road Two. Recent work brought in includes the connection elements of the "umbilical cord" of offshore wind turbines, large diameter services cabling, including fibre optics and power.
Mr Dickson added: "We have always invested in machinery, whether it has been in fabrication, the machine shop or our pipework and welding department. The need is there for the machines because we have managed to grow our customer base steadily in the machining division, through oil, gas and renewable energy."
The two lathes will complement the existing machines, with the smaller of the two principally for training.
With eight apprentices across the businesses and three at various stages through their time in the machine shop, it is seen as a key investment.
"The smaller machine will help us to train the new generation of employees. three apprentices are coming out of their time this year across all divisions," said Mr Dickson, who has just completed 42 years with the firm.
"The work we undertake with oil, gas and renewable energy, the specifications are very high. It has enabled us to keep a good workforce going and to make these investments. More work is coming on board too."
Complementing a strong heritage in food, oil and gas, the South Humberside Industrial Estate company has been picking up work in the offshore wind supply chain.
Two new Alpha 1550 CNC lathes have increased machining capacity by 40 per cent, with further expansion planned.
Contracts manager Dave Larder said: "This is a highly ambitious investment for the company aimed at substantially increasing our turnover and widening our customer base. With an improved manufacturing facility and highly trained staff we will be able to target new customers and be in a position to meet their exacting demands."
It comes three years after On Line Design took a majority shareholding in the 44-year-old business, as it added a manufacturing arm to the consultancy operations headquartered in Immingham.
Steve Dickson, managing director, said: "We want to be able to further improve our customer service, not only in respect of quality, but delivery as well. This will enable us to do more training for our own staff and maintain the level of employment we have got. We want to be able to keep the apprentices on that we are currently training.
"Having the parent company behind us is a great support in this day and age. To have the financial support of On Line itself is immense for a company of our size."
A team of 61 make up Anglia, the 5.5-million turnover business on Estate Road Two. Recent work brought in includes the connection elements of the "umbilical cord" of offshore wind turbines, large diameter services cabling, including fibre optics and power.
Mr Dickson added: "We have always invested in machinery, whether it has been in fabrication, the machine shop or our pipework and welding department. The need is there for the machines because we have managed to grow our customer base steadily in the machining division, through oil, gas and renewable energy."
The two lathes will complement the existing machines, with the smaller of the two principally for training.
With eight apprentices across the businesses and three at various stages through their time in the machine shop, it is seen as a key investment.
"The smaller machine will help us to train the new generation of employees. three apprentices are coming out of their time this year across all divisions," said Mr Dickson, who has just completed 42 years with the firm.
"The work we undertake with oil, gas and renewable energy, the specifications are very high. It has enabled us to keep a good workforce going and to make these investments. More work is coming on board too."
Justices at odds over patents for human genes
It is a case at the intersection of science and finance, an evolving 21st century dispute that comes down to a simple question: Should the government allow patents for human genes?
The Supreme Court offered little other than confusion during oral arguments on Monday on nine patents held by a Utah biotech firm.
Myriad Genetics isolated two related types of biological material, BCRA-1 and BCRA-2, linked to increased hereditary risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
At issue is whether "products of nature" can be treated the same as "human-made" inventions, and held as the exclusive intellectual property of individuals and companies.
On one side, scientists and companies argue patents encourage medical innovation and investment that saves lives.
On the other, patient rights groups and civil libertarians counter the patent holders are "holding hostage" the diagnostic care and access of information available to high-risk patients.
Outside the court, several protesters held signs, such as "Your corporate greed is killing my friends" and "My genes are not property."
The justices asked tough questions, raising a number of colorful hypotheticals to explore the boundaries of patent law, including whether things like baseball bats, leaves from exotic Amazon River plants, and the human liver could get federal government protection.
"The patent law is filled with uneasy compromises, because on the one hand, we do want people to invent," said Justice Stephen Breyer. "On the other hand, we're very worried about them tying up some kind of whatever it is, particularly a thing that itself could be used for further advance."
Justice Anthony Kennedy noted Myriad made a significant investment in time and money in its genetic "discoveries" and might be allowed to have two-decade control over the genes for research, diagnostics, and treatment. "I just don't think we can decide the case on the ground: oh, don't worry about investment, it'll come" if there was no patent protection.
But Justice Sonia Sotomayor used a "chocolate chip" cookie analogy to say merely isolating naturally derived products would normally not get you a patent, only for the particular process or use of the cookie.
"If I combust those in some new way, I can get a patent on that," she said. "But I can't imagine getting a patent simply on the basic items of salt, flour and eggs, simply because I've created a new use or a new product from those ingredients."
The patent system was created more than two centuries ago with a dual purpose. One is to offer temporary financial incentives for those at the ground floor of innovative products like the combustible engine and the X-ray machine. The second is to ensure one company does not hold a lifetime monopoly that might discourage competition and consumer affordability.
All patent submissions rely on a complex reading of applicable laws, distinguishing between abstract ideas and principles, and more tangible scientific discoveries and principles.
The Supreme Court offered little other than confusion during oral arguments on Monday on nine patents held by a Utah biotech firm.
Myriad Genetics isolated two related types of biological material, BCRA-1 and BCRA-2, linked to increased hereditary risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
At issue is whether "products of nature" can be treated the same as "human-made" inventions, and held as the exclusive intellectual property of individuals and companies.
On one side, scientists and companies argue patents encourage medical innovation and investment that saves lives.
On the other, patient rights groups and civil libertarians counter the patent holders are "holding hostage" the diagnostic care and access of information available to high-risk patients.
Outside the court, several protesters held signs, such as "Your corporate greed is killing my friends" and "My genes are not property."
The justices asked tough questions, raising a number of colorful hypotheticals to explore the boundaries of patent law, including whether things like baseball bats, leaves from exotic Amazon River plants, and the human liver could get federal government protection.
"The patent law is filled with uneasy compromises, because on the one hand, we do want people to invent," said Justice Stephen Breyer. "On the other hand, we're very worried about them tying up some kind of whatever it is, particularly a thing that itself could be used for further advance."
Justice Anthony Kennedy noted Myriad made a significant investment in time and money in its genetic "discoveries" and might be allowed to have two-decade control over the genes for research, diagnostics, and treatment. "I just don't think we can decide the case on the ground: oh, don't worry about investment, it'll come" if there was no patent protection.
But Justice Sonia Sotomayor used a "chocolate chip" cookie analogy to say merely isolating naturally derived products would normally not get you a patent, only for the particular process or use of the cookie.
"If I combust those in some new way, I can get a patent on that," she said. "But I can't imagine getting a patent simply on the basic items of salt, flour and eggs, simply because I've created a new use or a new product from those ingredients."
The patent system was created more than two centuries ago with a dual purpose. One is to offer temporary financial incentives for those at the ground floor of innovative products like the combustible engine and the X-ray machine. The second is to ensure one company does not hold a lifetime monopoly that might discourage competition and consumer affordability.
All patent submissions rely on a complex reading of applicable laws, distinguishing between abstract ideas and principles, and more tangible scientific discoveries and principles.
2013年4月14日 星期日
Turbine approved despite protests
Heavily disputed plans for a wind turbine in Clare were passed despite fears being raised it could set a precedent for more in the area.
St Edmundsbury Council’s development control committee spent almost two hours hearing about the application at a meeting on Thursday before following planning officer Gemma Pannell’s recommendation and approving the turbine. Nine councillors voted for the proposals and four against them.
Plans for the 78-metre-high turbine – the height of a 25-storey building – at Maple Hill, near Chilton Street, were opposed by a long line of organisations, including Clare Town Council and Stoke by Clare parish council.
English Heritage, the Colne-Stour Countryside Association, Suffolk Preservation Society and the Stop Turbines Over Clare (STOC) action group were also among those calling for the introduction of a turbine to be refused.
But councillors chose to ignore those concerns, and the 170 objection letters received, and vote through the plans.
Applicant James Sills said the wind turbine would provide power for 319 homes, though Iona Parker, from STOC, argued it would only power 125 homes.
“A renewable energy project that does more harm than good is not a sustainable development and under planning policy should be refused,” she said.
“The benefit is some electricity being generated resulting in some CO2 savings, but this area is in the bottom five per cent of places for generating wind in the UK so the benefit is miniscule compared to the harm that would be caused.
“The introduction of a vertical structure atop a hill in an area as unspoilt as this will cause irreparable damage to the landscape.”
Concerns were also raised about the method by which Mr Sills estimated how much power would be generated, as he based his figures on online data rather than data collected at the site.
Last year BT dropped plans for three turbines in Clare after their research showed there was not enough wind to make it financially viable.
But Mr Sills said in a letter to residents that putting up one wind turbine was entirely different to three, thus making his viable.
Margaret Golding of Clare Town Council said she was worried about the number of lorries that would be going through the town as construction traffic, while fears were voiced that the decision to build the turbine could result in more cropping up.
“This may be the precursor for others to go ahead if we approve this,” said Peter Stevens, representing Cavendish.
Mrs Pannell assured members the door to more turbines would not be opened and pointed out the cables to connect the turbine to the grid would run underground.
Speaking after the vote to push through the plans, Iona Parker said she feared the consequences of the decision.
“It doesn’t bode well for future applications and setting a precedent is a huge worry as ones on the scale of the one at Brinkley (Wadlow) could now be brought forward,” she said.
St Edmundsbury Council’s development control committee spent almost two hours hearing about the application at a meeting on Thursday before following planning officer Gemma Pannell’s recommendation and approving the turbine. Nine councillors voted for the proposals and four against them.
Plans for the 78-metre-high turbine – the height of a 25-storey building – at Maple Hill, near Chilton Street, were opposed by a long line of organisations, including Clare Town Council and Stoke by Clare parish council.
English Heritage, the Colne-Stour Countryside Association, Suffolk Preservation Society and the Stop Turbines Over Clare (STOC) action group were also among those calling for the introduction of a turbine to be refused.
But councillors chose to ignore those concerns, and the 170 objection letters received, and vote through the plans.
Applicant James Sills said the wind turbine would provide power for 319 homes, though Iona Parker, from STOC, argued it would only power 125 homes.
“A renewable energy project that does more harm than good is not a sustainable development and under planning policy should be refused,” she said.
“The benefit is some electricity being generated resulting in some CO2 savings, but this area is in the bottom five per cent of places for generating wind in the UK so the benefit is miniscule compared to the harm that would be caused.
“The introduction of a vertical structure atop a hill in an area as unspoilt as this will cause irreparable damage to the landscape.”
Concerns were also raised about the method by which Mr Sills estimated how much power would be generated, as he based his figures on online data rather than data collected at the site.
Last year BT dropped plans for three turbines in Clare after their research showed there was not enough wind to make it financially viable.
But Mr Sills said in a letter to residents that putting up one wind turbine was entirely different to three, thus making his viable.
Margaret Golding of Clare Town Council said she was worried about the number of lorries that would be going through the town as construction traffic, while fears were voiced that the decision to build the turbine could result in more cropping up.
“This may be the precursor for others to go ahead if we approve this,” said Peter Stevens, representing Cavendish.
Mrs Pannell assured members the door to more turbines would not be opened and pointed out the cables to connect the turbine to the grid would run underground.
Speaking after the vote to push through the plans, Iona Parker said she feared the consequences of the decision.
“It doesn’t bode well for future applications and setting a precedent is a huge worry as ones on the scale of the one at Brinkley (Wadlow) could now be brought forward,” she said.
2013年4月11日 星期四
Klinger planning to double factory size in Bradford
Gasket-maker Klinger UK is looking to build a new 20,000 sq ft factory in Bradford to double its capacity and bring more work in-house rather than outsourcing.
The company has abandoned plans to extend its factory and offices on the Euroway trading estate next to the M606 motorway and instead is searching for another site for the new development.
The Swiss-owned company has appointed a property consultant to draw up plans and is in discussions with Bradford Council officials in its search for a site.
Investment in the new factory is expected to be around the 5 million Klinger was planning to spend on expanding its current site, which it has occupied for 17 years.
Klinger UK, which employs more than 150 people, including 96 in Bradford, has expanded turnover in the time from 5.7 million to 26 million.
Managing director Alan Bates said: “Our original plan was to invest 5 million at our existing site, including building new offices on top of the building which would not have been ideal.
I’m delighted that the group has endorsed the investment of a similar amount on developing a completely new factory, which will enable us to double our space.
Ideally, we want to stay on the Euroway estate but will consider moving further afield inn the Bradford area if necessary. We’re talking to Bradford Council about finding a suitable site.
It’s a major development for the company and a good one for Bradford and will enable us to continue to meet growing demand and also bring more work in-house, rather than outsoucing some processes.
The new site will also include our ring type joints operation, which is currently in a separate site and will be incorporated into the new factory along with its six employees.
“Hopefully, having a bigger site will enable us to grow more and create jobs in the future.”
Klinger UK has introduced a second 160 ton press line at its Bradford manufacturing centre and further developed its automated assembly lines.
The latest investment includes CNC milling and turning, surface and cylindrical grinding, as well as the latest wire electric discharge machine equipment.
It is also looking to further develop its growing market in highly complex machined parts, with a major investment in precision machining operations to enable it to handle all its press tooling requirements in-house to meet exacting customer supply deadlines.
Mr Bates said: “International demand for our exotic alloy ring type joints and highly complex machined parts for the offshore oil and gas industries continues to increase.
“This latest investment ensures we can further develop those growing markets.”
The Klinger Group is one of the world’s leading developers, manufacturers and distributors of sealing products and now supplies more than 2,000 customers in 40 countries in sectors including aerospace and defence, oil and gas production, power generation, food, chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The company has abandoned plans to extend its factory and offices on the Euroway trading estate next to the M606 motorway and instead is searching for another site for the new development.
The Swiss-owned company has appointed a property consultant to draw up plans and is in discussions with Bradford Council officials in its search for a site.
Investment in the new factory is expected to be around the 5 million Klinger was planning to spend on expanding its current site, which it has occupied for 17 years.
Klinger UK, which employs more than 150 people, including 96 in Bradford, has expanded turnover in the time from 5.7 million to 26 million.
Managing director Alan Bates said: “Our original plan was to invest 5 million at our existing site, including building new offices on top of the building which would not have been ideal.
I’m delighted that the group has endorsed the investment of a similar amount on developing a completely new factory, which will enable us to double our space.
Ideally, we want to stay on the Euroway estate but will consider moving further afield inn the Bradford area if necessary. We’re talking to Bradford Council about finding a suitable site.
It’s a major development for the company and a good one for Bradford and will enable us to continue to meet growing demand and also bring more work in-house, rather than outsoucing some processes.
The new site will also include our ring type joints operation, which is currently in a separate site and will be incorporated into the new factory along with its six employees.
“Hopefully, having a bigger site will enable us to grow more and create jobs in the future.”
Klinger UK has introduced a second 160 ton press line at its Bradford manufacturing centre and further developed its automated assembly lines.
The latest investment includes CNC milling and turning, surface and cylindrical grinding, as well as the latest wire electric discharge machine equipment.
It is also looking to further develop its growing market in highly complex machined parts, with a major investment in precision machining operations to enable it to handle all its press tooling requirements in-house to meet exacting customer supply deadlines.
Mr Bates said: “International demand for our exotic alloy ring type joints and highly complex machined parts for the offshore oil and gas industries continues to increase.
“This latest investment ensures we can further develop those growing markets.”
The Klinger Group is one of the world’s leading developers, manufacturers and distributors of sealing products and now supplies more than 2,000 customers in 40 countries in sectors including aerospace and defence, oil and gas production, power generation, food, chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
2013年4月10日 星期三
LUKERG Renew orders wind turbines
The LUKERG Renew partnership has placed a “firm and unconditional” order with German firm Vestas for 36 wind turbines for the Topolog Dorobantu wind farm project in Tulcea, Romania. The turbines will have a combined capacity of 72MW and LUKERG has kept open the option to buy a further 12MW worth of wind turbines from the engineering firm, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany.
The turbines are due for delivery in the second half of 2013, but Vestas did not give a figure for the value of the order.
Vestas Central Europe President Thomas Richterich said the project marks another important milestone in further the developing the promising Romanian wind energy market. The order reinforces Vestas place in the Romanian market “as a leading player with the strongest local presence and the largest operational fleet,” according to Vestas managing director for Romania Catalina Dragomir.
Vestas also added to the recent comments from the renewable energy sector on the planned reduction in green certificates awarded, following recommendations from Romania’s energy authority ANRE. Chief sales officer Juan Araluce said his company is hoping for speedy clarification from the Romanian government on renewable energy incentives policy, saying that short-term energy price concerns should be balanced with keeping investment in the sector feasible.
When complete, the Topolog Dorobantu plant will produce over 200GWh per year; enough energy for 60,000 households and a saving of 110,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, according to Vestas.
Vestas is an engineering firm specialized in producing wind turbines. Its Central and Eastern European division is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany and the company has created employment for 18,000 people worldwide. The company has so far installed wind turbines in 73 countries.
LUKERG Renew, a joint venture between Russian Lukoil and Italian energy group ERG. The new group took over the Romanian wind park end-2012.
The buyer planned at the time to invest some EUR 135 million in this new project and planned to start construction at the wind park in the first quarter of 2013. LUKERG also plans to have the project running in 2014.
ERG Renew and LUKOIL-Ecoenergo signed a joint venture agreement in 2011 for LUKERG Renew, based in Vienna. The joint venture will initially focus its operations on Bulgaria and Romania, followed by Ukraine and Russia, according to previous announcements. The recent deal is the second transaction for the JV, after buying a 40MW operational wind farm in Bulgaria from Raiffeisen Energy & Environment.
ERG Renew (ERG Group) is active in the generation of electricity from renewable sources, above all in the wind sector. As regards Italy, there are currently 8 wind farms in operation, with a total installed capacity of 246 MW; in France, subsidiary ERG Eolienne France S.a.s. owns 6 wind farms, with a total installed capacity of 64.4 MW.
The turbines are due for delivery in the second half of 2013, but Vestas did not give a figure for the value of the order.
Vestas Central Europe President Thomas Richterich said the project marks another important milestone in further the developing the promising Romanian wind energy market. The order reinforces Vestas place in the Romanian market “as a leading player with the strongest local presence and the largest operational fleet,” according to Vestas managing director for Romania Catalina Dragomir.
Vestas also added to the recent comments from the renewable energy sector on the planned reduction in green certificates awarded, following recommendations from Romania’s energy authority ANRE. Chief sales officer Juan Araluce said his company is hoping for speedy clarification from the Romanian government on renewable energy incentives policy, saying that short-term energy price concerns should be balanced with keeping investment in the sector feasible.
When complete, the Topolog Dorobantu plant will produce over 200GWh per year; enough energy for 60,000 households and a saving of 110,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, according to Vestas.
Vestas is an engineering firm specialized in producing wind turbines. Its Central and Eastern European division is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany and the company has created employment for 18,000 people worldwide. The company has so far installed wind turbines in 73 countries.
LUKERG Renew, a joint venture between Russian Lukoil and Italian energy group ERG. The new group took over the Romanian wind park end-2012.
The buyer planned at the time to invest some EUR 135 million in this new project and planned to start construction at the wind park in the first quarter of 2013. LUKERG also plans to have the project running in 2014.
ERG Renew and LUKOIL-Ecoenergo signed a joint venture agreement in 2011 for LUKERG Renew, based in Vienna. The joint venture will initially focus its operations on Bulgaria and Romania, followed by Ukraine and Russia, according to previous announcements. The recent deal is the second transaction for the JV, after buying a 40MW operational wind farm in Bulgaria from Raiffeisen Energy & Environment.
ERG Renew (ERG Group) is active in the generation of electricity from renewable sources, above all in the wind sector. As regards Italy, there are currently 8 wind farms in operation, with a total installed capacity of 246 MW; in France, subsidiary ERG Eolienne France S.a.s. owns 6 wind farms, with a total installed capacity of 64.4 MW.
Yom Hashoah in Sydney
More than 900 guests packed Sydney’s Moriah College as the NSW Jewish community commemorated Yom Hashoah and the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
Following the screening of a video on the history of the Warsaw Ghetto, the combined choirs of the Emanuel School and Mount Sinai College sang Eli Eli before Michael Jaku the Chair of the Shoah Remembrance Committee welcomed the guests.
Lena Goldstein who witnessed the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was one of the main speakers . Here is her story…
“I remember the Germans announcing to the Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto that each of us would be given a loaf of bread and a portion of jam when we presented ourselves at the Umschlagplatz for transfer to the East. Many Jews volunteered for this transfer as they were hungry —-they believed, or they wanted to believe that the Nazis were telling the truth. Whole families presented themselves hoping to escape the cruel reality of starvation in the Ghetto.
But over time fewer and fewer Jews volunteered for transfer and forced deportations began. With forced deportation came Selektion. To the right meant to stay and work, to the left to be deported. Each person was allowed only one suitcase, except that in some suitcases there was no clothing. There were in fact
little children whose parents were trying desperately to prevent separation by sedating them and concealing them inside the suitcases.
We also believed that if we worked for the German war machine we could avoid deportation. German factories, or rather conglomerates, employed Jews as slave labour. There were tailoring factories, shoe factories, fur and leather workshops and a laundry.
The biggest conglomerates were Schulz and Tobbens. My parents managed to get a job in the Schulz laundry washing German uniforms. But working for the Germans did not prevent deportation. This was a deception. My parents were deported after two separate selections and I managed to hide myself under a pile of bloody uniforms when my mother was taken away. Then, in order to exist, I managed to take over my mother’s job.
While I was working in the factory, a few escapees from Treblinka managed to come back to the Ghetto. That opened our eyes to the real purpose of the deportations. We discovered that there were no labour camps in the East; just gas chambers. Once you got on the train there was no return.
One of the escapees knew my father and he looked me up in the ghetto. He had met my father in Treblinka when all the men were lined up naked waiting to enter the gas chambers. My father led the Kaddish for the women and children who had already gone in before them. Somehow this man escaped. My father told this man that he worried about me. My father, waiting to die, was worried about his daughter having no money and no-one to care for her. I never saw this young man again. Succeeding in escaping death once did not bring an assurance of survival.
The Polish National Army declined to help us, and the Polish People’s Army that said it would support Jewish fighters demanded exorbitant prices for each revolver and each round of ammunition. To pay for the guns and ammunition, the resistance fighters decided to collect money – a tax – from the wealthy ones who were still in the ghetto.
The money was collected during the night after curfew, moving between the buildings through holes in walls, attics and cellars. As my building did not have a common wall on one side, sometimes fighters spent the night at my home until morning when the curfew was lifted.
Following the screening of a video on the history of the Warsaw Ghetto, the combined choirs of the Emanuel School and Mount Sinai College sang Eli Eli before Michael Jaku the Chair of the Shoah Remembrance Committee welcomed the guests.
Lena Goldstein who witnessed the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was one of the main speakers . Here is her story…
“I remember the Germans announcing to the Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto that each of us would be given a loaf of bread and a portion of jam when we presented ourselves at the Umschlagplatz for transfer to the East. Many Jews volunteered for this transfer as they were hungry —-they believed, or they wanted to believe that the Nazis were telling the truth. Whole families presented themselves hoping to escape the cruel reality of starvation in the Ghetto.
But over time fewer and fewer Jews volunteered for transfer and forced deportations began. With forced deportation came Selektion. To the right meant to stay and work, to the left to be deported. Each person was allowed only one suitcase, except that in some suitcases there was no clothing. There were in fact
little children whose parents were trying desperately to prevent separation by sedating them and concealing them inside the suitcases.
We also believed that if we worked for the German war machine we could avoid deportation. German factories, or rather conglomerates, employed Jews as slave labour. There were tailoring factories, shoe factories, fur and leather workshops and a laundry.
The biggest conglomerates were Schulz and Tobbens. My parents managed to get a job in the Schulz laundry washing German uniforms. But working for the Germans did not prevent deportation. This was a deception. My parents were deported after two separate selections and I managed to hide myself under a pile of bloody uniforms when my mother was taken away. Then, in order to exist, I managed to take over my mother’s job.
While I was working in the factory, a few escapees from Treblinka managed to come back to the Ghetto. That opened our eyes to the real purpose of the deportations. We discovered that there were no labour camps in the East; just gas chambers. Once you got on the train there was no return.
One of the escapees knew my father and he looked me up in the ghetto. He had met my father in Treblinka when all the men were lined up naked waiting to enter the gas chambers. My father led the Kaddish for the women and children who had already gone in before them. Somehow this man escaped. My father told this man that he worried about me. My father, waiting to die, was worried about his daughter having no money and no-one to care for her. I never saw this young man again. Succeeding in escaping death once did not bring an assurance of survival.
The Polish National Army declined to help us, and the Polish People’s Army that said it would support Jewish fighters demanded exorbitant prices for each revolver and each round of ammunition. To pay for the guns and ammunition, the resistance fighters decided to collect money – a tax – from the wealthy ones who were still in the ghetto.
The money was collected during the night after curfew, moving between the buildings through holes in walls, attics and cellars. As my building did not have a common wall on one side, sometimes fighters spent the night at my home until morning when the curfew was lifted.
2013年4月8日 星期一
Inspector backs Lincolnshire wind farm
Energy developer Energiekontor lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate against East Lindsey District Council's non-determination of the application for the eight-turbine wind farm at Gayton le Marsh in November 2012. A public inquiry was subsequently held in January 2013.
In his report, published late last week, inspector David Pinner found that the area's local plan was of "considerable age", contained no saved policies relating to wind energy development and did "not provide a realistic context for considering wind farm schemes".
Pinner said that the area's regional plan contained policies supporting renewable energy schemes whilst also aiming to protect the landscape, which was "consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)".
Pinner also found that the need to meet renewable energy targets was a major factor in allowing the application.
He said: "I have found that the scheme represents sustainable development and there is therefore a presumption in favour of granting planning permission in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework. The very recent UK Energy Roadmap Update illustrates the tough challenges of meeting the 2020 renewable energy targets and reaffirms the government's support for onshore wind."
"Furthermore, the 2020 targets do not represent the end of the process and the campaign to tackle dangerous climate change by reducing greenhouse emissions will continue for decades beyond that. Whilst failure to make the 2020 targets would be a major setback, there would be no harm in exceeding the targets if possible – that would be a good thing".
Despite recognising that the scheme would have some negative visual impact on the area, Pinner concluded: "I doubt that, in the short term at least, alternative technologies for renewable electricity generation will mature to the level that would be necessary to make wind energy unattractive as part of the overall mix.
"It is therefore my overall conclusion that, under these circumstances, the additional harm to the local landscape which would arise from the appeal scheme would be within the bounds of acceptability, especially bearing in mind that after 25 years, the wind farm would be decommissioned and there would be no lasting landscape impact".
East Lindsey District Council's portfolio holder for economic regeneration Craig Leyland said the inspector had "made the wrong decision".
He said: "Along with the community, the council put forward what we felt was a robust argument for this not to be approved. The basis of the argument was the impact these 115-metre turbines are likely to have on the local area, affecting the quality of life for local people and landscape. We are already looking closely at the appeal outcome and considering what options are available to us."
In his report, published late last week, inspector David Pinner found that the area's local plan was of "considerable age", contained no saved policies relating to wind energy development and did "not provide a realistic context for considering wind farm schemes".
Pinner said that the area's regional plan contained policies supporting renewable energy schemes whilst also aiming to protect the landscape, which was "consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)".
Pinner also found that the need to meet renewable energy targets was a major factor in allowing the application.
He said: "I have found that the scheme represents sustainable development and there is therefore a presumption in favour of granting planning permission in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework. The very recent UK Energy Roadmap Update illustrates the tough challenges of meeting the 2020 renewable energy targets and reaffirms the government's support for onshore wind."
"Furthermore, the 2020 targets do not represent the end of the process and the campaign to tackle dangerous climate change by reducing greenhouse emissions will continue for decades beyond that. Whilst failure to make the 2020 targets would be a major setback, there would be no harm in exceeding the targets if possible – that would be a good thing".
Despite recognising that the scheme would have some negative visual impact on the area, Pinner concluded: "I doubt that, in the short term at least, alternative technologies for renewable electricity generation will mature to the level that would be necessary to make wind energy unattractive as part of the overall mix.
"It is therefore my overall conclusion that, under these circumstances, the additional harm to the local landscape which would arise from the appeal scheme would be within the bounds of acceptability, especially bearing in mind that after 25 years, the wind farm would be decommissioned and there would be no lasting landscape impact".
East Lindsey District Council's portfolio holder for economic regeneration Craig Leyland said the inspector had "made the wrong decision".
He said: "Along with the community, the council put forward what we felt was a robust argument for this not to be approved. The basis of the argument was the impact these 115-metre turbines are likely to have on the local area, affecting the quality of life for local people and landscape. We are already looking closely at the appeal outcome and considering what options are available to us."
2013年4月7日 星期日
Out with the old
There's a revolution several hundred years in the making, and several Colorado companies are participating at a time that could be a major tipping point.
It started with movable-type printing in the 15th century, but today's Johannes Gutenbergs are printing more than ink; they're printing objects via 3D printing. It is because 3D printing has a real opportunity to improve our world that it faces threats from status quo institutions like governments and incumbent businesses, which often have shared incentives. But if status quo institutions are successful in thwarting this industry, we'll all be worse off.
Here's how 3D printing works: An engineer digitally designs an object as a CAD (computer aided design) file. The file then instructs a printer to produce the object based on the specifications in the file. Pretty simple, right? The chain can be understood by its two links: software and hardware, both of which are rapidly evolving.
Software is becoming easier to use, so more people can create files, and open-source alternatives to expensive enterprise software are more capable than ever. Meanwhile, file-sharing makes it easier to distribute files online.
Hardware, including printers and scanners, is stratifying to include anything from industrial machines that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars down to do-it-yourself hobbyist machines that cost a little over $1,000. With hardware stratification comes increased capabilities. Their "ink" is expanding to include hard plastic, wood filament, nanocomposites of blended plastic and powdered metal and more. Scanners are increasingly able to scan physical objects and convert them to digital formats that are then capable of being reproduced through printers.
3D printed products are being used in an inspiring number of ways, from prosthetics and aerospace to jewelry and other consumer accessories. For example, a five-year-old South African boy named Liam was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome, which caused amputation of the digits on his right hand before birth. Ivan Owen in Bellingham and Richard Van As in South Africa designed 3D printed prosthetic digits for Liam dubbed Robohand (available in the public domain), which he's now using to play, eat and brush his teeth.
On the consumer end, Nokia recently released a file with a case design for its new Lumia 820 that can be edited, customized and printed.
The burgeoning 3D printing industry is captivating because it unleashes our freedom to create and share, just like movable type printing unleashed our freedom of speech (and thought) in the 15th century.
Colorado features innovative companies like Loveland-based Aleph Objects, which manufactures open-source hardware printers. Then there's the Denver-based 3D Printing Store, which has consumer focus on custom orders and hosting events. There are numerous more 3D printer re-sellers, software developers and other entrepreneurs contributing to the industry with each passing day.
Unfortunately, the industry's captivating potential is exactly what puts it at risk. It's not that the people in status quo institutions are ill-willed; they're not. It's just that new institutions change the environment that status quo institutions used to.
If you think this concern is overwrought, think about how difficult it has been for a company like Uber, most recently here in Colorado. Uber is simply an application that connects people who want transportation with people who want to provide transportation. The drivers pick customers up exactly where they want in clean vehicles. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and they use advanced payment systems to make the exchange seamless.
Uber has fought costly legal battles against public utility regulators and existing transportation service providers in state after state over its ability to provide this straightforward service. In January, Colorado's Public Utilities Commission sought transportation rule changes that would effectively prevent Uber from operating in the state.
It started with movable-type printing in the 15th century, but today's Johannes Gutenbergs are printing more than ink; they're printing objects via 3D printing. It is because 3D printing has a real opportunity to improve our world that it faces threats from status quo institutions like governments and incumbent businesses, which often have shared incentives. But if status quo institutions are successful in thwarting this industry, we'll all be worse off.
Here's how 3D printing works: An engineer digitally designs an object as a CAD (computer aided design) file. The file then instructs a printer to produce the object based on the specifications in the file. Pretty simple, right? The chain can be understood by its two links: software and hardware, both of which are rapidly evolving.
Software is becoming easier to use, so more people can create files, and open-source alternatives to expensive enterprise software are more capable than ever. Meanwhile, file-sharing makes it easier to distribute files online.
Hardware, including printers and scanners, is stratifying to include anything from industrial machines that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars down to do-it-yourself hobbyist machines that cost a little over $1,000. With hardware stratification comes increased capabilities. Their "ink" is expanding to include hard plastic, wood filament, nanocomposites of blended plastic and powdered metal and more. Scanners are increasingly able to scan physical objects and convert them to digital formats that are then capable of being reproduced through printers.
3D printed products are being used in an inspiring number of ways, from prosthetics and aerospace to jewelry and other consumer accessories. For example, a five-year-old South African boy named Liam was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome, which caused amputation of the digits on his right hand before birth. Ivan Owen in Bellingham and Richard Van As in South Africa designed 3D printed prosthetic digits for Liam dubbed Robohand (available in the public domain), which he's now using to play, eat and brush his teeth.
On the consumer end, Nokia recently released a file with a case design for its new Lumia 820 that can be edited, customized and printed.
The burgeoning 3D printing industry is captivating because it unleashes our freedom to create and share, just like movable type printing unleashed our freedom of speech (and thought) in the 15th century.
Colorado features innovative companies like Loveland-based Aleph Objects, which manufactures open-source hardware printers. Then there's the Denver-based 3D Printing Store, which has consumer focus on custom orders and hosting events. There are numerous more 3D printer re-sellers, software developers and other entrepreneurs contributing to the industry with each passing day.
Unfortunately, the industry's captivating potential is exactly what puts it at risk. It's not that the people in status quo institutions are ill-willed; they're not. It's just that new institutions change the environment that status quo institutions used to.
If you think this concern is overwrought, think about how difficult it has been for a company like Uber, most recently here in Colorado. Uber is simply an application that connects people who want transportation with people who want to provide transportation. The drivers pick customers up exactly where they want in clean vehicles. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and they use advanced payment systems to make the exchange seamless.
Uber has fought costly legal battles against public utility regulators and existing transportation service providers in state after state over its ability to provide this straightforward service. In January, Colorado's Public Utilities Commission sought transportation rule changes that would effectively prevent Uber from operating in the state.
2013年4月6日 星期六
Ireland’s ambitious wind-energy plans
Plans to pepper the Irish midlands with giant wind turbines exporting the electricity they generate to Britain are not driven only by Tory concerns about a popular revolt in the English shires against wind-energy projects. They are part of a much wider agenda to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian gas and oil.
Everyone remembers with a shiver when Russian energy giant Gazprom cut off the gas supply to Ukraine on January 1st, 2009: and then Vladimir Putin extended the ban to gas being piped through the former Soviet state to Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria Romania, Bosnia, Serbia and Macedonia.
In freezing winter weather, Slovakia declared a “national emergency”, Austria and Italy reported that their supplies of Russian gas had fallen by 90 per cent, and France and Germany were also hit by Putin using gas as a political weapon. The London Independent heralded it as a “new cold war in Europe”.
The EU imports one-third of its gas from Russia, of which 80 per cent is pumped through Ukraine. In 2007, four EU member states – Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania – were 100 per cent dependent on Russian gas, while France and Germany were its largest importers, accounting for almost half of the EU total.
The rest comes primarily from Norway, which is perceived as highly reliable, and Algeria, which isn’t. But the EU is so dependent on imports of both oil and gas, it needs secure supplies. A proposed pipeline to Europe from Iran is not on the agenda because of sanctions against Tehran relating to its nuclear programme.
Hence the importance of the Supergrid, an EU initiative to integrate renewable energy production across Europe – to “decarbonise” electricity generation, allow power to be traded between one country and another, strengthen energy security and create opportunities for European companies to export their know-how.
The core elements of the Supergrid would consist of concentrations of huge offshore wind turbines in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Irish Sea. These would ultimately be supplemented by vast arrays of solar-power generators in the Sahara and by wave- or tidal-energy installations, now being tested at a micro level.
A report in 2010 produced by the European Climate Change Forum, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the International Institute for Applied System Analysis and global accountants PwC even put forward a realistic roadmap to achieve “100 per cent renewable electricity” in Europe and North Africa by 2050.
Since 2009, the EU has been committed to boosting the share of renewables in the energy mix to 20 per cent by 2020, both to make a contribution to combating climate change and cut back on Europe’s dependence on imported oil and gas. Both Ireland and Britain face real challenges in meeting their targets under this programme.
After the two governments committed to this “programme of work”, Rabbitte said: “Ireland has the potential to generate far more wind energy than we could consume domestically. The opportunity to export this green power presents an opportunity for employment growth and export earnings which we must seize if we can.”
As for what this new “export industry” could mean for employment, a press release from his department suggested a 3,000-megawatt project would generate “in the order of 3,000 to 6,000 jobs” during the construction phase and an unspecified number of jobs in “ongoing maintenance” of turbines over a 20-year period.
“Further employment opportunities could also arise in both countries from the manufacture of turbines, cables and other technology,” it said – without mentioning that none of the components of the 1,200 wind turbines installed here so far (towers, blades, nacelles, gears, generators and other parts) were made in Ireland. Or, at least, in the Republic. Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard has diversified into producing turbines for offshore wind farms such as Robin Rigg, off the west coast of Scotland, and another in the Irish Sea, off the Lancashire coast. With so many more turbines planned here, a local manufacturing facility is essential.
Everyone remembers with a shiver when Russian energy giant Gazprom cut off the gas supply to Ukraine on January 1st, 2009: and then Vladimir Putin extended the ban to gas being piped through the former Soviet state to Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria Romania, Bosnia, Serbia and Macedonia.
In freezing winter weather, Slovakia declared a “national emergency”, Austria and Italy reported that their supplies of Russian gas had fallen by 90 per cent, and France and Germany were also hit by Putin using gas as a political weapon. The London Independent heralded it as a “new cold war in Europe”.
The EU imports one-third of its gas from Russia, of which 80 per cent is pumped through Ukraine. In 2007, four EU member states – Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania – were 100 per cent dependent on Russian gas, while France and Germany were its largest importers, accounting for almost half of the EU total.
The rest comes primarily from Norway, which is perceived as highly reliable, and Algeria, which isn’t. But the EU is so dependent on imports of both oil and gas, it needs secure supplies. A proposed pipeline to Europe from Iran is not on the agenda because of sanctions against Tehran relating to its nuclear programme.
Hence the importance of the Supergrid, an EU initiative to integrate renewable energy production across Europe – to “decarbonise” electricity generation, allow power to be traded between one country and another, strengthen energy security and create opportunities for European companies to export their know-how.
The core elements of the Supergrid would consist of concentrations of huge offshore wind turbines in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Irish Sea. These would ultimately be supplemented by vast arrays of solar-power generators in the Sahara and by wave- or tidal-energy installations, now being tested at a micro level.
A report in 2010 produced by the European Climate Change Forum, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the International Institute for Applied System Analysis and global accountants PwC even put forward a realistic roadmap to achieve “100 per cent renewable electricity” in Europe and North Africa by 2050.
Since 2009, the EU has been committed to boosting the share of renewables in the energy mix to 20 per cent by 2020, both to make a contribution to combating climate change and cut back on Europe’s dependence on imported oil and gas. Both Ireland and Britain face real challenges in meeting their targets under this programme.
After the two governments committed to this “programme of work”, Rabbitte said: “Ireland has the potential to generate far more wind energy than we could consume domestically. The opportunity to export this green power presents an opportunity for employment growth and export earnings which we must seize if we can.”
As for what this new “export industry” could mean for employment, a press release from his department suggested a 3,000-megawatt project would generate “in the order of 3,000 to 6,000 jobs” during the construction phase and an unspecified number of jobs in “ongoing maintenance” of turbines over a 20-year period.
“Further employment opportunities could also arise in both countries from the manufacture of turbines, cables and other technology,” it said – without mentioning that none of the components of the 1,200 wind turbines installed here so far (towers, blades, nacelles, gears, generators and other parts) were made in Ireland. Or, at least, in the Republic. Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard has diversified into producing turbines for offshore wind farms such as Robin Rigg, off the west coast of Scotland, and another in the Irish Sea, off the Lancashire coast. With so many more turbines planned here, a local manufacturing facility is essential.
2013年4月2日 星期二
This town was almost blown off the map
Dixson credits community meetings in the first days following the tornado for putting people on the same page. “It was critical right off the bat that we start meeting in a big tent outside of town,” he says. “We did everything out there.” Each entity in town, from hospital higher-ups to city officials and nonprofit leaders, would share their thoughts inside that tent in a space where everyone could hear. “That helped tie everything together, so we were working together,” Dixson says.
The early rebuilding efforts generated a tremendous amount of energy, and some remarkable examples of eco-friendly ingenuity. Local resident Brad Estes says greening Greensburg “was a 24/7 job.” Early on, many were unsure if they wanted to spend, in some cases, over twice as much in building costs to do it the green way. However, Estes notes that those that made a commitment to a sustainable rebuild “feel like it’s paying back in lower energy prices and better conservation of resources.”
Estes is now the director of wind operations for BTI Wind Energy, a local wind turbine company that was born from the aftermath of the tornado. The business sells small-scale turbines for residential and commercial use. Over the past few years, it’s expanded from being just a local supplier to installing and servicing turbines in other states and Canada — the perfect inverse of the Keystone XL tar-sands pipeline.
On a larger scale, the city of Greensburg teamed up with John Deere Renewable Energy and the Kansas Power Pool to build a production-scale wind farm five miles outside of town. Estes describes the wind farm the same way some dude at the bar might describe his ’67 Pontiac GTO: “Yeah, there are 10 units of 1.25 megawatt Suzlon turbines, generating 12.5 megawatts in total.” The juice flows into the Kansas Power Pool, which feeds a number of local municipalities, but Greensburg receives renewable energy credits and the bragging rights to getting 100 percent of its power from the wind.
That 100 percent wind power only refers to what is imported from elsewhere, however. Estes estimates that around 8 percent of Greensburg’s energy is generated from assorted wind turbines and solar panels scattered around the town itself. That’s thanks to Greenburg’s net-metering policy, which which allows resident to install rooftop solar panels or backyard wind turbines, feed any leftover power right into the grid, and then get paid for it — the full retail price. This allows residents to pay off the up-front cost of panels and turbines more quickly, bringing the cost of renewables within reach of more of the populace.
And thanks to all the new high-efficiency buildings, including the hospital, the local John Deere dealership, and the arts center, Greensburg is saving $200,000 annually in energy costs on 13 of its largest buildings, according to a recent study by the the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Private residences got into the act — examples here, here, or here — and there’s this cool map showing all of Greensburg’s sustainable building projects.
Greensburg is understanding sustainability in its own terms. “Being green” in Greensburg is not a primary motivator, but a product of respecting resources for future generations, working toward self-sufficiency, and adapting to the economic and physical climate.
The true test of the new approach, however, will come with time. Will the new green infrastructure attract businesses and jobs, or will Greensburg become what Mayor Dixson calls a “green ghost town”? On that front, it may still be too soon to say, but there are positive signs. While the population was nearly halved after the tornado, those that stayed seem to be sticking around, and many of the businesses have returned: the hardware store, the coffee shop, banks, the pharmacy.
The early rebuilding efforts generated a tremendous amount of energy, and some remarkable examples of eco-friendly ingenuity. Local resident Brad Estes says greening Greensburg “was a 24/7 job.” Early on, many were unsure if they wanted to spend, in some cases, over twice as much in building costs to do it the green way. However, Estes notes that those that made a commitment to a sustainable rebuild “feel like it’s paying back in lower energy prices and better conservation of resources.”
Estes is now the director of wind operations for BTI Wind Energy, a local wind turbine company that was born from the aftermath of the tornado. The business sells small-scale turbines for residential and commercial use. Over the past few years, it’s expanded from being just a local supplier to installing and servicing turbines in other states and Canada — the perfect inverse of the Keystone XL tar-sands pipeline.
On a larger scale, the city of Greensburg teamed up with John Deere Renewable Energy and the Kansas Power Pool to build a production-scale wind farm five miles outside of town. Estes describes the wind farm the same way some dude at the bar might describe his ’67 Pontiac GTO: “Yeah, there are 10 units of 1.25 megawatt Suzlon turbines, generating 12.5 megawatts in total.” The juice flows into the Kansas Power Pool, which feeds a number of local municipalities, but Greensburg receives renewable energy credits and the bragging rights to getting 100 percent of its power from the wind.
That 100 percent wind power only refers to what is imported from elsewhere, however. Estes estimates that around 8 percent of Greensburg’s energy is generated from assorted wind turbines and solar panels scattered around the town itself. That’s thanks to Greenburg’s net-metering policy, which which allows resident to install rooftop solar panels or backyard wind turbines, feed any leftover power right into the grid, and then get paid for it — the full retail price. This allows residents to pay off the up-front cost of panels and turbines more quickly, bringing the cost of renewables within reach of more of the populace.
And thanks to all the new high-efficiency buildings, including the hospital, the local John Deere dealership, and the arts center, Greensburg is saving $200,000 annually in energy costs on 13 of its largest buildings, according to a recent study by the the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Private residences got into the act — examples here, here, or here — and there’s this cool map showing all of Greensburg’s sustainable building projects.
Greensburg is understanding sustainability in its own terms. “Being green” in Greensburg is not a primary motivator, but a product of respecting resources for future generations, working toward self-sufficiency, and adapting to the economic and physical climate.
The true test of the new approach, however, will come with time. Will the new green infrastructure attract businesses and jobs, or will Greensburg become what Mayor Dixson calls a “green ghost town”? On that front, it may still be too soon to say, but there are positive signs. While the population was nearly halved after the tornado, those that stayed seem to be sticking around, and many of the businesses have returned: the hardware store, the coffee shop, banks, the pharmacy.
2013年4月1日 星期一
For world's makers, production tools at fingertips
In the popular press and the populace's collective imagination, entrepreneurship these days is all about social media, mobile apps, online games and the like. Anyone with a good idea, a credit card and a high-speed Internet connection can become the next Mark Zuckerberg, or so it seems.
What's exciting about the current world of "stuff," though, is how it's coming to be made and sold. Today, creative people are taking the tools and lessons of the Information Age and applying them to the realm of product development and manufacturing of real goods. Chris Anderson, the longtime editor-in-chief of Wired magazine, details this fundamental shift in his recent book, "Makers: The New Industrial Revolution."
America has always been a nation of tinkerers. Just think of Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison and the phrase "Yankee ingenuity." In fact, our heritage of continuous mechanical improvement is discussed in another recent work, "The Tinkerers: The Amateurs, DIYers and Inventors Who Make America Great," by Alec Foege.
In "Makers," though, Anderson describes how newly available technologies and new ways of working collaboratively combine to drastically decrease the barriers to entry so as to allow nearly anyone to make the move from inventor to entrepreneur in a short period of time and at low cost. Tools such as 3-D printers, laser cutters and CNC (computer numerical control) machines, which have been used in large-scale industries for decades, are now accessible from the consumer's desktop.
All around the country, too, communal workspaces, known as "hackerspaces" or "makerspaces," are being organized, allowing members to share in the costs of tools and materials, and, most importantly, the necessary physical space for building individual or collaborative items. Examples in Indiana include Bloomington's BloomingLabs and Club Cyberia in Indianapolis.
Granted, digitally fabricating a prototype on a 3-D printer is not exactly mass production. But desktop production is only now where desktop publishing was in the late 1980s. The tools will only get better, and the Web, as it has everything else, will only speed up the process of product development and creation. Time to market will be measured in weeks, days or even hours, rather than years or months.
When Karl Marx wrote about power inherent in those who control the means of production, he had no way of knowing that would eventually mean and include most of us. "Makers of the world, Unite!" might be Marx's rallying cry if he were around today.
The machine also has the option of either a 12 or 16 position tool carousel. One particular feature that has surpassed expectation is the performance of the live tooling facility, which has proved highly beneficial in improving productivity as milling operations that would have required transferring of parts to other machines has been completed in a single set-up on the Tongtai.
"The milling capability is much better than we anticipated," says Gordon Burnett. "Our initial intention was just to use the live tooling to perform drilling operations on PCs and to produce lifting holes for the heavier components. However, we have been using it for much more than this and have been pleasantly surprised by the machines performance in this area. The overall performance of the machine has been outstanding and our initial concerns about stepping up to this type and size of machine were quickly put to one side as the machine is achieving all of the tolerances and repeatability targets that we had set for it and it has not let us down once. Our productivity and throughput is improving thanks to the capabilities of the Tongtai machine and we are eliminating many additional operations."
What's exciting about the current world of "stuff," though, is how it's coming to be made and sold. Today, creative people are taking the tools and lessons of the Information Age and applying them to the realm of product development and manufacturing of real goods. Chris Anderson, the longtime editor-in-chief of Wired magazine, details this fundamental shift in his recent book, "Makers: The New Industrial Revolution."
America has always been a nation of tinkerers. Just think of Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison and the phrase "Yankee ingenuity." In fact, our heritage of continuous mechanical improvement is discussed in another recent work, "The Tinkerers: The Amateurs, DIYers and Inventors Who Make America Great," by Alec Foege.
In "Makers," though, Anderson describes how newly available technologies and new ways of working collaboratively combine to drastically decrease the barriers to entry so as to allow nearly anyone to make the move from inventor to entrepreneur in a short period of time and at low cost. Tools such as 3-D printers, laser cutters and CNC (computer numerical control) machines, which have been used in large-scale industries for decades, are now accessible from the consumer's desktop.
All around the country, too, communal workspaces, known as "hackerspaces" or "makerspaces," are being organized, allowing members to share in the costs of tools and materials, and, most importantly, the necessary physical space for building individual or collaborative items. Examples in Indiana include Bloomington's BloomingLabs and Club Cyberia in Indianapolis.
Granted, digitally fabricating a prototype on a 3-D printer is not exactly mass production. But desktop production is only now where desktop publishing was in the late 1980s. The tools will only get better, and the Web, as it has everything else, will only speed up the process of product development and creation. Time to market will be measured in weeks, days or even hours, rather than years or months.
When Karl Marx wrote about power inherent in those who control the means of production, he had no way of knowing that would eventually mean and include most of us. "Makers of the world, Unite!" might be Marx's rallying cry if he were around today.
The machine also has the option of either a 12 or 16 position tool carousel. One particular feature that has surpassed expectation is the performance of the live tooling facility, which has proved highly beneficial in improving productivity as milling operations that would have required transferring of parts to other machines has been completed in a single set-up on the Tongtai.
"The milling capability is much better than we anticipated," says Gordon Burnett. "Our initial intention was just to use the live tooling to perform drilling operations on PCs and to produce lifting holes for the heavier components. However, we have been using it for much more than this and have been pleasantly surprised by the machines performance in this area. The overall performance of the machine has been outstanding and our initial concerns about stepping up to this type and size of machine were quickly put to one side as the machine is achieving all of the tolerances and repeatability targets that we had set for it and it has not let us down once. Our productivity and throughput is improving thanks to the capabilities of the Tongtai machine and we are eliminating many additional operations."
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