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Alternative Energy News

California could see wind gusts as high as 80 mph from storm [Video]

Unlike the first system, there will be a flood threat, particularly across Southern California and along the Mogollon Rim in Arizona. Winds will be stronger with this system, which will only serve to increase the potential for power outages. Wind gusts up to 60 mph will be likely along the Southern California coast while the mountains could see gusts as high as 80 mph.

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USA Energy Price News

Kenya arrests 200 in violent protests as opposition calls fresh rallies [Video]

Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday vowed no let-up in his protest campaign against the government, after a day of violent demonstrations that saw more than 200 people arrested.A university student was killed by police fire during Monday’s clashes while 31 officers were injured as running battles erupted between police and demonstrators.Protesters had taken to the streets in the capital Nairobi and other parts of Kenya in response to Odinga’s call for a day of action against President William Ruto’s government over the country’s severe cost of living crisis.It was the first major outbreak of political violence in the East African nation since Ruto took office six months ago after narrowly beating Odinga in an election his rival claims was “stolen”.Kenyans are battling high prices for basic goods such as food and fuel as well as a plunging currency and a record drought that has left millions hungry.On Monday, police fired tear gas and water cannon against demonstrators — some of whom were hurling rocks and burning tyres in street battles against officers in full riot gear.- ‘We will not relent’ -Odinga’s own motorcade was also hit by tear gas and sprays of water as police blocked it from heading to downtown Nairobi.He charged in an address on Tuesday that there had been an attempt on his life and that of another opposition politician when their cars were shot at, but the claim could not be independently verified.The political veteran said he was “horrified and disgusted” by the police response and called for officers who acted against the constitution to be held responsible.He also called for further protests to be held on Mondays and Thursdays from next week.”We will not relent until this illegitimate regime understands that the people are hurting,” the 78-year-old said. “We will push on until the cost of food, fuel, electricity come down.”Many Kenyans are angry that they are struggling despite Ruto pledging to work for the ordinary “hustler” during his campaign for the August election.Inflation was running at 9.2 percent in February, while the shilling is trading at record lows of around 130 to the US dollar.Odinga, who has lost five bids for the presidency, continues to claim that Ruto’s election win was fraudulent and denounces his government as illegitimate.- ‘Violent crime scenes’ -Kenya’s inspector general of police, Japhet Koome, said in a statement that a total of 238 people were arrested, most of them in Nairobi but also in the western province of Nyanza.He said 31 officers were injured in the capital and Nyanza, an opposition stronghold.Police had also announced Monday that a university student was killed in the western town of Maseno after officers fired live rounds during “skirmishes” with protesters who were “pelting stones”.Koome gave no details about any civilians injured.The Independent Policing Oversight Authority said in a statement Tuesday that the police “had largely operated with restraint and within the confines of the law”.But it said it had launched investigations into the student’s death and an incident in which a man was seriously injured in a Nairobi market, allegedly by police.Police had on Sunday said the demonstrations in Nairobi were banned because a request for authorisation had not been made in time.”What the organisers purported to be a peaceful demonstration turned into violent crime scenes,” Koome said.Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had on Monday urged organisers to call off the “mayhem and the chaos,” saying the protests had cost Kenya about two billion shillings ($15 million) in lost business.str-txw/amu/lcm

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Hydro Electricity News

CA biofuels project will test industrys green promises [Video]

STORY: On paper, the planned revamp of this Rodeo, California, plant seems promising. Instead of processing crude oil into traditional gasoline and diesel, the facility will begin turning things such as used cooking oil, soybean oil, and beef fat into renewable diesel, which can fuel heavy-duty trucks.And Phillips 66 has bragged that the change will slash greenhouse gas emissions from the site in half. But skeptics say the plan, called Rodeo Renewed, might instead see little change in emissions and swap out one set of risks to the local air and environment for another package of possible problems.The Phillips 66 facility, across the bay from San Francisco, is a test case for similar efforts efforts worldwide, and it’s yet to be seen whether it’s a model, or a cautionary tale.Jolie Rhinehart is the general manager of the refinery.After we complete our Rodeo Renewed facility conversion and convert our facility into renewables, we will no longer process crude oil. And so all of our historical operations again have been based on processing and refining crude oil into transportation fuels. After our facility conversion, we will no longer process crude oil.The company says the changeover will cut the number of regulated pollutants emitted from the facility, and the switch to renewable diesel will mean more trucks burning cleaner fuel across the country.”Heavy-haul trucking is a vital aspect to our way of life in this country and in this world. And renewable diesel is the lowest emission way to fuel that energy that we need to keep our trucks moving.But the company’s claim that it will cut greenhouse gases in half doesn’t match emissions estimates published by county regulators, which shows a one percent reduction, according to a Reuters analysis of the data.The county data encompassed the overall facility, including pollution from increased hydrogen use and changes in transportation to the plant. And in changing to renewable diesel, the facility will need to bring in more fuel stocks by rail and boat, potentially raising the risk of leaks or spills. And some researchers say that the emissions produced in raising and harvesting the soy and beef needed to create renewable diesel offset those saved by moving away from petroleum.Mark Jacobson is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University.I expect to see no improvement whatsoever. You’ll just get a different set of chemicals coming out of the refineries compared with the traditional refineries of diesel and gasoline.The results will be closely watched. Several dozen new U.S. renewable diesel plants are planned and production capacity could triple by 2026 according to biofuels consultancy Stratas Advisors.The community here has long lived with the fallout from the refinery operations. Maureen Brennan is a resident and a member of Rodeo’s air monitoring committee.I’ve been a clinical lab scientist for 45 years and in the public health realm a lot. And I think that’s partly why I’m fascinated by what’s going on here and saddened as well. It’s a toxic soup that we live in every day. And no one’s… We’re basically a disposable community here.Whether a switch to renewable diesel will mean cleaner air or less emissions is left to be seen, but those who will feel it first are likely to be those living here.”So there’s a lot of unknowns here because they have not been open with us about what the feedstock will be. So unknown feedstock, unknown effects. So we’re in a place where we just don’t know what’s going to happen here.

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Oil and Gas Industry News

CA biofuels project will test industrys green promises [Video]

STORY: On paper, the planned revamp of this Rodeo, California, plant seems promising. Instead of processing crude oil into traditional gasoline and diesel, the facility will begin turning things such as used cooking oil, soybean oil, and beef fat into renewable diesel, which can fuel heavy-duty trucks.And Phillips 66 has bragged that the change will slash greenhouse gas emissions from the site in half. But skeptics say the plan, called Rodeo Renewed, might instead see little change in emissions and swap out one set of risks to the local air and environment for another package of possible problems.The Phillips 66 facility, across the bay from San Francisco, is a test case for similar efforts efforts worldwide, and it’s yet to be seen whether it’s a model, or a cautionary tale.Jolie Rhinehart is the general manager of the refinery.After we complete our Rodeo Renewed facility conversion and convert our facility into renewables, we will no longer process crude oil. And so all of our historical operations again have been based on processing and refining crude oil into transportation fuels. After our facility conversion, we will no longer process crude oil.The company says the changeover will cut the number of regulated pollutants emitted from the facility, and the switch to renewable diesel will mean more trucks burning cleaner fuel across the country.”Heavy-haul trucking is a vital aspect to our way of life in this country and in this world. And renewable diesel is the lowest emission way to fuel that energy that we need to keep our trucks moving.But the company’s claim that it will cut greenhouse gases in half doesn’t match emissions estimates published by county regulators, which shows a one percent reduction, according to a Reuters analysis of the data.The county data encompassed the overall facility, including pollution from increased hydrogen use and changes in transportation to the plant. And in changing to renewable diesel, the facility will need to bring in more fuel stocks by rail and boat, potentially raising the risk of leaks or spills. And some researchers say that the emissions produced in raising and harvesting the soy and beef needed to create renewable diesel offset those saved by moving away from petroleum.Mark Jacobson is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University.I expect to see no improvement whatsoever. You’ll just get a different set of chemicals coming out of the refineries compared with the traditional refineries of diesel and gasoline.The results will be closely watched. Several dozen new U.S. renewable diesel plants are planned and production capacity could triple by 2026 according to biofuels consultancy Stratas Advisors.The community here has long lived with the fallout from the refinery operations. Maureen Brennan is a resident and a member of Rodeo’s air monitoring committee.I’ve been a clinical lab scientist for 45 years and in the public health realm a lot. And I think that’s partly why I’m fascinated by what’s going on here and saddened as well. It’s a toxic soup that we live in every day. And no one’s… We’re basically a disposable community here.Whether a switch to renewable diesel will mean cleaner air or less emissions is left to be seen, but those who will feel it first are likely to be those living here.”So there’s a lot of unknowns here because they have not been open with us about what the feedstock will be. So unknown feedstock, unknown effects. So we’re in a place where we just don’t know what’s going to happen here.

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Alternative Energy News Climate Change News Coal Industry News Solar Energy News USA Energy Price News Wind Energy News

Gov. Newsoms Water Supply Strategy [Video]

Employing more efficient water conservation the state will free up 500,000 acre-feet of water to make up for water lost because of climate change. Additionally, new water captured by stormwater and desalinating ocean water and salty water in groundwater basins will be available for use. | Geared to Battle Drought, Climate Change By McKenzie Jackson, California Black Media The Golden State is doing more than just praying for rain amid the historic drought that is battering the California and the Western United States. Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a plan that would increase Californias water supply and combat the extreme weather patterns

Categories
Solar Energy News

Skier with broken leg rescued from mountain in dangerous conditions | News [Video]

Spains civil guard has shared footage of the moment a skier with a broken leg was airlifted to safety after a dramatic mountain rescue. Footage shows the helicopter landing on the Picos de Europa mountain range before the injured skier is loaded into the chopper and flown to the hospital. Despite the adverse weather conditions, specialists evacuated a person who suffered a fractured tibia and fibula while doing a ski test, the civil guard tweeted on Sunday 19 March. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.