Paul Stamets' Six Ways Mushrooms Can Save the World

This TED talk by Paul Stamets is more than two years old but it is a classic. He has found ways that mushrooms can produce energy, fight our common pathogens (bacteria and viruses), fertilize, sequester carbon, kill and then repel carpenter ants and termites and remediate toxic chemicals in the environment.

What could San Antonio and CPS do with 5.2 billion dollars (instead of putting it toward the cost of more nuclear plants)

Disclaimer: As  a group San Antonio Sustainable Living doesn't take policy positions.  Within our membership we have people who are in favor of nuclear expansion for various reasons and folks who oppose it for various reasons. 

Below is information from Energia Mia, a local coalition that opposes nuclear expansion.  A more complete version of this information is available here.

What Could You do with $5.2 billion?
About 2,500 MW of Total Capacity and 1,100 MW of Baseload Power for a lot less

San Antonio does not actually need 1080 MW – 40 percent of the two nuclear plants of nuclear power in 2020. In fact, CPS Energy is now talking about selling half of that power to other utilities. Still, if they did need 1080 MW of power by 2020, they could get it for less than $5.2 billion, In fact, an analysis found that utilizing cost estimates provided by the consultant hired by Austin Energy, CPS Energy could build the equivalent of over 2,500 MW of total energy capacity, and 1,100 MW of guaranteed electricity for less than $5.2 billion.
 
Among the measures that could more cheaply replace the need for any new nuclear power by 2020 include:

·   A more aggressive efficiency program than the 771 MW of energy efficiency they are estimating;
·   Incorporating the gains in energy efficiency they will obtain from the City’s advanced building codes;
·   Fulfilling the Mission Verde goals of a robust on-site solar program to lower energy demand and produce power locally;
·   Greater investments in wind energy, including wind with storage;
·   A significant investment in large-scale concentrated solar plants with energy storage;
·   Taking advantage of geothermal renewable energy in South Texas;
·   Investing in an additional efficient combined cycle natural gas plant;
·   Investing in industrial and institutional combined heat and power facilities;
·   Investing in a medium-scale biomass facility;
·   A more aggressive low-interest loan program for homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient and add solar water heaters and panels;
·   Improving energy efficiency services to those San Antonians least able to afford increased rates to make sure bill impacts stay low;
·   Utilizing the millions of dollars available in stimulus funds to promote energy efficiency and renewable power in San Antonio

What can you get for $5.2 Billion? Why not put our energy eggs into less risky baskets?

Extra 200 MW of Energy Efficiency                              Cost: $100 million
Install 500 MW of wind                                         Cost: $1 billion
Develop a 500 MW Solar on Rooftops Program           Cost: $210 million
Develop 500 MW of Utility-Scale Solar                    Cost: $1 billion
Install 200 MW of Wind Turbines plus Storage          Cost: $550 million
Install 100 MW of geothermal                                        Cost: $400 million
Build a 100 MW Biomass Plant                               Cost: $285 million

CHECK IT OUT! "Greasy Rider"-by Greg Melville, Two dudes one fry-oil -powered car, and a cross country search for a greener future

Among the new books at the San Antonio Public Library is "Greasy Rider"-by Greg Melville. Published in 2008, this is a road trip memoir of Greg and his buddy's adventures and misadventures as they travel across America in a worn out 1985 Mercedes converted to run on vegetable oil. Instead of taking their oil with them in a tank trailer, they set off with the goal of collecting oil from restaurants (and restaurant dumpsters) along the way.

In a fun, self-depreciating way Gregg describes what lead him to his long drive and explains what he learned about alternative fuel.

You can reserve this book online for free at the San Antonio Library website. By checking out these sorts of books we can encourage them to add similar titles to the library collection, and we can all save money for other things like workshops and energy efficient upgrades.

25 x '25 Alliance seeks increased use of renewable energy

How does the goal of 25% of the United States' energy production coming from farms, forests and ranches by the year 2025 sound? That's the goal of the 25 x'25 Alliance.

The 25 x '25 Alliance grew out of discussions of the Bioenergy and Agriculture Working group of the Energy Future Coalition, a group which is supported financially by Better the World Fund, the Turner Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Annenberg Foundation
and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation among others.

The Energy Future Coalition describes itself as "a broad-based, non-partisan alliance that seeks to bridge the differences among business, labor, and environmental groups and identify energy policy options with broad political support. "

Its advisory council includes Paul Gorman of the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, Kevin Knobloch, of the Union of Concerned Scientists, R. James Woolsey, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Michael J. Sullivan, General President of the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association and John B. Ritch III, Director General of the World Nuclear Association.

The 25 x '25 Alliance lobbies at the federal and state level for Biofuels, Solar, Wind, Hydropower, Geothermal Electric production, and Energy Efficiency.

The 25 x 25 Action Plan calls for supportive policies in each of five areas:

• Increasing production of renewable energy
• Delivering renewable energy to markets
• Expanding renewable energy markets
• Improving energy efficiency and productivity
• Strengthening conservation of natural resources and the environment

Map of Biodiesel Plants in the US, Canada (and Texas)

Biodiesel Magazine has placed a map of biodiesel manufacturing plants in the US and Canada online. It shows plants that are operating, idle and under construction.

The map shows 11 operating plants in Texas including the SMS Envirofuels Inc soy oil plant in Poteet, the GeoGreen Fuels soy oil plant in Gonzales which was recently purchased by Encore Energy Systems, and Central Texas Biofuels in Giddings which uses yellow grease.

The Daily Climate: Golden State may rule corn ethanol no solution to climate change.

An April 20, 2009 article by Mathew Cimitile on The Daily Climate, also appearing on the Scientific American site examines the debate in California over the effectiveness of corn based ethanol in reducing green house emissions. California regulators are required to assess the full life cycle costs of corn based ethanol, including indirect costs.

Thanks to San Antonio Sustainable Living member Tony Stephenson for suggesting this topic on the SASL Facebook group homepage.

Biodiesel Magazine meant for insiders but of interest to others.

Biodiesel Magazine is a trade publication covering all aspects of biomass based industry though emphasizing biodiesel. A large portion of the magazine is available online. A recent article included coverage of an attempt by Mission NewEnergy based in Perth, Australia to establish Jatropha as a biofuel feedstock in India. News and articles concerning technical issues such as "Minimizing Oxygen's Destructive Tendencies" round out the issue.

Although obviously intended for those involved in the business, people with an interest in an inside view of alternative energy will find plenty of items of interest.

Express-News Sustainable Round-Up: Local Algae Energy Research, Recyled Water over the Recharge Zone, CPS Peak- Performance Home, Fay Sinkin dies

Here are links to stories in the San Antonio Express News which you might have missed.

1. Going Green by Growing Green. UTSA Assistant Professor Kyle Murray searches for native algae as a source of biodiesel. Wednesday March 4. 2009.
2. Recycled Water in Recharge Zone Plan. San Marcos officials are considering whether to use recycled water over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. Wednesday, March 4. 2009.
3. Spending More for Saving Energy. CPS Energy and Woodside Homes partner to build peak-performance house to measure real world energy savings. Thursday, March 5, 2009.
4. Guardian of Earth and people Fay Sinkin dies. She worked from the ground roots up to improve health, advocate for smart growth and to protect the aquifer. Thursday March 5, 2009. UPDATE: It was a very good service on Sunday.