Visioning 2026 Blog
Solar Power Impacts and Recommendations for Norfolk, NE -- Transformational Learning Process Project Presentation
One of three 2007-2008 Leadership Norfolk process project groups investigated the solar power trend and the potential future impact to Norfolk, Nebraska and the surrounding Northeast Nebraska communities.
Read their 26 page report on Solar Power, The Key to Solving Our Current Energy Crisis. (PDF 1.3MB)
Technology is quickly making solar power a more economic and feasible enery source. The three technologies, Passive Solar, Active Solar Heating, and Solar PV (Photovoltaic) Systems along with an aging and under capacity nationwide electrical grid will support change to more a local and decentralized electrical generation and distribution system in the future. Their presentation stated, "The use of solar power can ease the pressures on our overtaxed power grid. Solar power is a “distributed generation” energy source, meaning electricity is produced at or close to the source of consumption. This reduces the distance electricity must travel to get to the end user. Excess power can be feed back into the grid."
They reported a potentially very substantial technology breakthrough that will increase the effeciency of photovoltaic systems by using a paper thin material that absorbs 99.95% of the light that strikes it.
Also stated in the report was a reference to California Green Industry and the City of Berkeley paying for the upfront costs for a resident’s solar installation and recoup the money over 20 years through additional property taxes on a resident’s home. This would be similar to a tax increment financing model that would be applicable to individuals as well as for economic development purposes.
The process group provided how the future impacts of solar technology can be applied to Norfolk, NE.
* Transformational learning will help us develop these resources faster. We can introduce to the City of Norfolk communities already implementing such changes, and learn from any challenges they face and the obstacles they overcome. It may help people in our community if they can be shown actual energy cost savings.
* The North Fork River Development project could build “green” buildings that incorporate solar panels. Perhaps a recycling center and informational center about being better stewards of our community and of the planet could be incorporated.
* The Water Park, whose peak operating times would naturally coincide with sunny periods, would be an obvious candidate for the use of solar power. Solar power could help save the Water Park in energy costs and the energy it doesn’t use (during the off-season), could be sold back to the utility company.
From an community education perspective the group stated, "If possible, it would be beneficial to focus a part of the semester on renewable energy and incorporate into the curriculum information about fossil fuels, ethanol, nuclear power, wind energy, and solar energy."
Numerous organizations were indentified that could help generate more community awareness and pilot projects.
* City Council – Will need to win the hearts of the council and is the first step in trying to bring the concept of solar power to a reality.
* CLIC (Chamber's young professional group) – This group’s involvement with the younger generation can help spread the word of this great concept of bringing solar energy to the community.
* Chamber of Commerce –The Chamber can encourage the business community to adopt solar energy.
* Neighbor Works – Perhaps this organization could have few solar homes.
* Local Habitat for Humanity Groups – Perhaps they could build one or more solar homes.
* Northeast Nebraska Economic Development – Could help provide grants or assistance in receiving rebates that Nebraska has for going “green” or using alternative energy. http://www.neo.ne.gov/loan/
* Northeast Community College – The College has a good history of working with the community. Possibly the Building Construction program could assist in building some solar homes and use new technology to be environmentally friendly.
* Norfolk Area Home Builders Association – This association could encourage their customers to consider solar energy. Information could be provided to area contractors through this entity.
Energy -- Fuel Cells and Portable Power Solutions
Fuel Cells and Portable Power Solutions -- Battery Development -- Importance of Cobalt
Watched a very informative video pod cast on the MITWorld web site (1:15 hrs).
A MIT professor makes the argument for increasing resources on battery technology as acost effective alternative (over hydrogen) to carbon based transportation solutions.
Fuel Cells and Portable Power Solutions http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/361/
Donald R. Sadoway, John F. Elliott Professor of Materials Chemistry
Department of Materials Science Engineering Mr. Elliott states that more resources should be spent on battery research. He explains why the hydrogen economy will be very difficult to implement unless transportations costs become extremely expensive in order to justify the massive infrastructure investment and that a non-metallic catalyst (not platinum as used today) be found for cost effective hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Mr. Elliott mentions the following problems with the hydrogen fuel cells:
1) non-metallic catalyst must be found. The cost of platinum is already expensive which is being used in fuel cells.
2) cost of producing hydrogen (many solutions still use carbon fuels to produce the hydrogen fuel)
3) storage of hydrogen (on the car or at the station) and implementing crash worthy cars?
4) shipping costs must be overcome (distributions methods)
He proposes that we need to invest in low cost carbon and electrical mechanical transportation solutions.
Europeans have been on the forefront of the diesel electric hybrid vehicles for years.
How could Northeast Nebraska become the leaders in implementing ethanol electrical hybrid vehicles along with diesel hybrid vehicles? How could we be recognized as the prototype hybrid car center of the world? Is it realist to establish a goal that in 10 years we have 50% of passenger vehicles on the road using hybrid technology and 75% in 15 years? According to Mr. Elliott, just about every commuter working in Norfolk could be using a hybrid vehicle without "running out of energy" for the daily commute based on current technology. How could we at a local level provide an incentive for purchasing these type vehicles, e.g., by eliminating the county and city sales taxes (2.5% on $30K vehicle would save the purchaser $750.00)? Right now there is a federal tax credit when purchasing hybrid cars (up to about $3,500) that covers the additional cost of a hybrid over a conventional vehicle. How would we transform the engine mechanics (and electrical motor) courses at NECC to become the center for hybrid car maintenance? Norfolk Iron & Metal use to be the battery recycler in Northeast Nebraska 35 years ago. How could we help with battery recycling in Nebraska?
Battery production currently requires significant amount of cobalt according to Mr. Elliot. I can remember 15 years ago the United States Air Force was very concerned about uninterrupted access to cobalt due to instability in Africa and the former Soviet Union. They had budgeted millions of dollars to stockpile cobalt for manufacture of jet engine parts (turbine fans and compressors).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt
Cobalt is not found as a free metal and is generally found in the form of ores. Cobalt is usually not mined alone, and tends to be produced as a by-product of nickel and copper mining activities. The main ores of cobalt are cobaltite, erythrite, glaucodot, and skutterudite. The world's major producers of cobalt are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, China, Zambia, Russia and Australia. It is also found in Finland, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. It is also produced in the town of Cobalt, Ontario as a byproduct of the silver mining.
Does it make sense why one of the other reasons we are in Afghanistan is due to its cobalt reserves?
Mark