MORE NEWS, 4-8 (CUTTING VOLT’S COST; SUN TEACHERS SOUGHT; TURBINE TOUR IN VACATIONLAND)

CUTTING VOLT’S COST
3 Ideas For Lowering The Cost Of The Chevy Volt (GM)
Jay Yarow, April 6, 2009 (The Business Insider Green Sheet)

"The Chevy Volt will roll across American highways in the near future, despite being labeled too expensive by Obama's auto task force.

"The biggest cost for an electric car is its battery, but MIT's Technology Review thinks there are a few easy ways to lower that cost..

"Cut back on excessive battery costs: There is a dedicated heating and cooling system…to protect long term battery life…[I]t's not necessary, according to an Electric Power Institute study that shows batteries will last over 10 years even if 75% discharged…"

click to enlarge

"Manufacture in the United States: This would save hundreds of dollars per pack in shipping, and funds from the stimulus package might make this even cheaper. Though, we assume labor costs are much higher here.

"Create a second life for the battery: …[C]ar batteries are yanked after ten years because they no longer adequately hold a charge for drivers…[S]elling those batteries to electric companies that can use the batteries to hang on to excess power from, say, wind turbines creates an opportunity."


SUN TEACHERS SOUGHT
UC seeks instructors for solar energy extension courses
April 6, 2009 (Emerging Energy News via Energy Current)

"The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and the University of California, Merced (UC Merced) are joining forces to offer extension courses at the university system's Fresno Center. One of the proposed subject areas is solar energy, and the schools are accepting CVs and curriculum proposals now.

"The courses will begin this summer at UC Merced. UC Berkeley is responsible for the course listings, curriculum development and hiring of instructors. UC Berkeley currently offers solar energy courses at its campus in the San Francisco Bay area.

"Interested parties should contact the UC Center in Fresno."

click for more info on the course

"UC Merced, through its Energy Research Institute, is the only UC campus with a designated solar energy research program. Last year, UC Merced graduate students Kevin Balkoski and Uday Bali received the inaugural Dan David Scholarship for Solar Energy Research. The scholarship was established when National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Principal Scientist Sarah Kurtz donated her portion of the prestigious Dan David Prize to UC Merced.

"Under the Dan David award program, three annual prizes of US$1 million each are awarded…"


TURBINE TOUR IN VACATIONLAND
San Gorgonio windmills can teach you a lot; Take a tour among the turbines and learn about green energy.
Jordan Rane, April 3, 2009 (LA Times)

"In the Coachella Valley, you can roll along the San Andreas fault on a chuck wagon, lope through a date farm on a camel, soar above 100 golf courses in a motorless sailplane, float over the desert at sunrise in a hot-air balloon and take a Palm Springs celebrity tour to check out the homes of Red Skelton, Hedy Lamarr and Barry Manilow.

"Or you can board a small white bus on the far side of Interstate 10 and admire windmills up close for 90 minutes."

A view of the turbines in the San Gorgonio pass. (click to enlarge)

"Maybe you've already seen them on the way to your favorite resort in La Quinta -- those rows of tri-blade ivory towers spinning away like alien corn in the blustery San Gorgonio Pass near the exit to Palm Springs…

"There are about 4,500 of them out here, representing 80 wind farms run by companies you may know ( Florida Power & Light), others you may not (Iberdrola) and, formerly, by others you wish you hadn't (Enron). Collectively, they can harness 650 megawatts of pure, clean, renewable energy…"

A view of the turbines in the San Gorgonio pass. (click to enlarge)

"The San Gorgonio Wind Park begins about 100 miles east of Los Angeles near Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley. To reach the windmill tour departure site, take Interstate 10 east to the Indian Road exit (five miles past the California Highway 111 exit to Palm Springs) in North Palm Springs. Drive a block north to 19th Avenue and turn left into the parking lot at 19-125 N. Indian Ave…[Tours] run Wednesday through Saturday at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (mornings only during the summer). Tours are 90 minutes long, cost $25, $23 for 65 and over and $10 for 12 and under. Reserve ahead to confirm times (760) 320-1365."