Discourse for all interested in all things air-quality related
Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only changed. That’s an accepted tenet. And neither can energy be lost. There is, however, loss in electrical transmission lines, the loss occurring as a result of friction created from electrons passing through conductor material. Since transmission line conductors are not perfect conductors, loss occurs. The loss of electrons … Read more
It was in the year 2000 that Amtrak’s Acela Express Northeast Corridor (NEC) services were first introduced. Thirteen years later, locomotives being built by Siemens at its Sacramento, Calif., plant are destined for NEC and Keystone Corridor services, Amtrak and Siemens jointly announced. “The first units of the $466 million order will be field tested this … Read more
California now has less of an energy supply … or does it? I ask because the San Onofre nuclear power plant, located in northwest San Diego County, is no longer producing electricity – it is offline and it is to remain that way. Even so, this in no way means demand for electricity in state is less. So, … Read more
Number 19 in the Clean Air Technologies Series. Fuel being a central and huge and important element in the energy production story, I doubt very many people realize there is at least one fuel, an alternative fuel, that can not only produce energy but help clean air, soil and water as well. The fuel? It’s called: “Megaflora.” … Read more
It’s always heartening to learn when new measures are being implemented to reduce emissions. Such is the case with amendments in Canada to cut air pollution levels from vessels navigating Canadian waters. This is on top of other air-emissions-reduction actions already taken. “The amendments bring new requirements into force for vessels under Annex VI of … Read more
I can’t recall exactly when I first became a fan of transit but my enthusiasm for such goes quite a ways back. It was in the mid-1980s that I rode the Baltimore subway, and predating this during the mid-1970s, I rode BART or the Bay Area Rapid Transit line in and around San Francisco for … Read more
On Nov. 19, 2012, in “Air pollution: The enormity of it all,” I wrote: “More importantly, with the pollution already present, the very same that is causing a number of health issues for those people adversely affected by such, how does society effectively mitigate the impact, so that the numbers in this regard do not increase … Read more
Number 15 in the Clean Air Technologies Series. Trash collection in one California city, is more than picking up; it’s cleaning up – as in cleaning up the air, that is. Manteca, located in the northern part of the San Joaquin Valley, has 25 garbage trucks to meet the trash pick-up needs of its more … Read more
Global air travel is not receding. In fact, in several places triple-digit percentage increases are not uncommon. Katherine Rowland in OnEarth magazine in “Infographic: Flying the Friendlier Skies,” writes: “In emerging economies, the growth has been dramatic: between 2007 and 2010, passenger volume in China increased by almost 50 percent — another 84 million fliers. … Read more
Number 14 in the Clean Air Technologies Series. If I mention the National Park Service (NPS) what draws to mind? Conjured up images of environmental sustainability? How about awards presentation? Probably neither, correct? First order of business here is the subject of environmental stewardship. I ask: is it not the preservation of open spaces, scenic vistas and the … Read more