Philips Unveils World's First 60 Watt LED Bulb

Quarter 4 Article 3

Philips Unveils World's First 60 Watt LED Bulb

Jeffrey Sindone
Forum Media

http://www.newsinfusion.com/philips/

Miller chapters- 1, 17

Area covered-everywhere light bulbs are sold

Now unveiled a 12 watt EnduraLED light bulb, the industry’s first LED replacement for a 60 watt incandescent light bulb. Consumers will now have an LED alternative to the most commonly used incandescent bulb, which will deliver up to 80% energy savings and last 25 times longer than its century-old predecessor.

I think that these LED light bulbs are jst another step in the right direction and this can save millions of dollars of energy a year if this becomes a hit and catchs on quick.

LED- he LED is based on the semiconductor diode. When a diode is forward biased (switched on), electrons are able to recombine with holes within the device, releasing energy in the form of photons. This effect is called electro luminescence and the color of the light (corresponding to the energy of the photon) is determined by the energy gap of the semiconductor.

WIND POWER COMPLICATIONS WITH RADAR

Quarter 4 Article 2

WIND POWER COMPLICATIONS WITH RADAR

Andy Soos. ENN. April 16, 2010.

http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/41228

Miller Chapter: 1, 17.

Area Covered: Regional (Eastern Oregon)

Construction of an 845 megawatt wind farm (the largest wind farm to be in the United States) is being halted by the U.S. Airforce. The reason for this is the wind turbines generate energy producing a false image on the Airforce's doppler image. This has delayed the project greatly and constructors are concerned that if the project does not start soon, they will lose government stimulus dollars and it will never get done. In a 2003 study, the British Department of Trade and Industry stated that there are hardware or software mitagation that can be implemented to solve this problem. For now the Obama administration is working with the Pentagon to get the project underway.

This article shows you have to be very selective on where you put a wind farm. Not only do you need substantial wind annually, easy access to the power grid, and somewhere where bird populations won't be hurt, but now you have to look out for Air Force bases.

The Doppler effect- is the change in frequency of a wave for an observer moving relative to the source of the wave.

COLORADO LAW WILL RETIRE OR RETROFIT COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS

Quarter 4 Article 1

COLORADO LAW WILL RETIRE OR RETROFIT COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS

Sustainablebusiness.com, Matter Network

April 24, 2010

http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/41253

Area Covered: Regional (Colorado)

Miller Chapter: 1, 19, 20, 18, 16, 17, 25.

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed a bill into law that will sharply reduce emissions from the states coal-fired power plants. The Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act will have the state cut back it emissions while creating new green jobs. Working with Xcel energy, Colorado will cut out 900 megawatts of coal fired energy and replace it with natural gas and renewable energy. Governor Ritter stated that the bill will serve as a paradigm for the nation to see that creating new jobs and having a greener economy is possible.

I think Colorado is doing a great job in leading the way for other states to see that going green isn't that hard. This is the type of spark our country needs to realize the magnitude of climate change and how we have to save our planet before it is to late.

Xcel- public utility company that provides electric and natural gas