Third Saturday Seminar 2007-2008
“Alternative Energy Now”
8th Meeting
Saturday, 19 April 2008
9:30am to 12:00 noon
Room B-102, Lone Star College – Montgomery
3200 College Park Drive – Conroe, TX – 77384 – 936.273.7000
“Alternative Energy Now”
Gregg Sellers
General Manager
FPL Energy Solar Energy Generating System
Boron, CA
Gregg will talk about the Kramer Junction Site and the technology that is in service. This will show that if the world is serious about the environment as we hear, the technology already exists. He will talk about what tech is available on a smaller scale and for private use.
He started his power plant career in the United States Navy. He served aboard the USS Leftwich (DD 984), Station in
Gregg has over 20 years in the Power Industry mainly working with Gas Turbines of different types. He has held positions ranging from Operator, Start-Up Manager, Construction Manager, Production Manager to his present position as General Manager of the Worlds Largest Solar Plants in Hinkley and Boron
Here is a short outtake from a Nova video featuring the Kramer Junction Installation
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/programs/ht/qt/3406_03.html running time 6:07
FPL Energy, LLC a member of the FPL Group, Inc.(FPL), is a leading clean energy provider with natural gas, wind, solar, hydroelectric and nuclear power plants in operation in 25 states. More than 90 percent of FPL Energy’s electricity is generated by clean fuels. In addition, they are the nation’s leader in wind energy generation and they operate the two largest solar fields in the world. (FPL stands for “Florida Power and Light” which is the original corporate entity.)
http://www.fplenergy.com/
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=FPL&t=2y
We hear a lot about “Alternative Energy,” often uttered in urgent tones, plaintively pleading for government programs to 1. stave of Global Warming and 2. Give us energy independence (and stop financing the insurgents in the Middle East. This is a valid concern.), and 3. it must be clean. Well folks, wake up and smell the clean air (That’s actually more than a little premature.) But, Solar and Wind power are already here and growing. The technology has been under development during much of our lifetimes and is now considered a worthwhile investment of capital. Unlike, corn based ethanol, which all of us are now suddenly becoming aware, may offset a small percentage of petroleum based transportation fuels, but when you take into account the low yield, the other fuels and nitrogen fertilizers that must be used to grow the stuff, and the impact on the world food supply, and the environment, it is beginning to appear that we were a might bit hasty.
Gregg will tell about getting up close and personal with the 11,000 acres of mirrors.
The Economy? The Market isn’t truly the economy, however it obviously interacts with the real economy and not always in positive ways. Here is a 2 year chart of the S&P 500 I have updated and shown in the last several sessions. compared to the numbers of Euros and Yen you can buy with a dollar and shows the oil index for the the same period. It is going to get interesting. Let’s hope it will be a learning experience.
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ta?t=2y&s=%5EGSPC&l=on&z=l&q=l&p=e50&p=e200&p=e100&a=vm&c=usdjpy%3Dx%2Cusdeur%3Dx%2C+OIL
Since we still have an electoral campaign going on here are the links to update yourself
Poll Results
Real Clear Politics http://www.realclearpolitics.com/
Primary Season Election Results – Delegates to date
http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/delegates/index.html
Presidential Campaign Finance
Federal Election Commission
http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapApp.do
Maps and Dates of Primaries
Primary Colors
http://www.newsweek.com/id/68123
These are some of my perennially favorite links:
Project Vote Smart, http://www.vote-smart.org find out how your elected officials voted and how to contact them by e-mail
League of Women Voters http://www.lwv.org To find out where candidahttp://www.realclearpolitics.com/tes stand on issues.
Center for Responsive Politics. http://www.opensecrets.org/ Find out who’s paying your politician.
Current Events: (We always talk about current events to start out ) It’s getting late and the main thing that crosses my mind is the Pennsylvania Primary.) Is Barcak Obama an elitist or just observant? I liked what he had to say in response to the rhetoric of his former pastor, and this comment about the effect of protracted disappointment and the failure of their representatives to deliver what they promised or what was obviously needed, and the their jobs went south. That they might find their time better spent in religious pursuit or in associating with people they related to and felt they could trust, right or wrong, Personally, I think that is one more elephant in the room that we can all discuss candidly and deal with profitably. To the benefit of us all. Opposed to the continuing to let these feelings fester and continue to cause the division among the people. The Pope stopped by. I’ll have more by Saturday, but bring some of your own just in case.
This is the Eighth meeting of the Third Saturday Seminar for the 2007-2008 season. We run from September to June. This will be perhaps our most interesting year so far.
About The Third Saturday Seminar:
Started in January 2000, We are about personal empowerment through demystification. Our subject matter is broad but it always tries to be about understanding ourselves and others better; and, having fun.
The Third Saturday Seminar is sponsored by the Academy of Lifelong Learning (ALL) Program at Lone Star Montgomery College. http://www.montgomery-college.com/25959/
There is no fee for ALL members to attend TSS. You can find the ALL Schedule at: http://www.montgomery-college.com/11811/
Course Information – Meets mostly on Third Saturdays
The registration number is 67007. (ccall 3980032 M4215) 9:30-Noon Montgomery College B102 Gibby. The rest of the class dates will be 4/19, 5/17, 6/21. Please don’t let the way it shows in the catalog intimidate you. which implies you should register separately for every session. That’s not necessary.
For information about Montgomery College: http://wwwmc.nhmccd.edu http://www.montgomery-college.com/
I suggest the using West parking entrance. Ignore the “Instructors Only” signs on the parking, That only applies on week days.
Maps:
NHMCCD is becoming “Lone Star College System” (LSCS?)
http://wwwappsdstc.nhmccd.edu/newbrand/
http://www.montgomery-college.com/Templates/Content.aspx?pid=14972
http://www.montgomery-college.com/Templates/Content.aspx?pid=14970
http://map-it.woodstock.edu/map_pdf/B_floor_1.pdf
As usual, if anything in this notice doesn’t work or make sense (It is midnight somewhere), please let me know so I can warn the others. If the spelling and syntax seems more fractured than usual, chalk it up to the fact I am (still) breaking in a new laptop computer (or, perhaps it’s the other way around.) Down with Vista!!
Hope to see you Saturday.
Best regards,
Curt Gibby
Spring, TX
281-353-4350 (cell-)
Fax: 281-288-8230
gcgconsult (at) n-star.com
http://www.northstarinst.org/TSS/ (REALLY OUT OF DATE)