Record levels of interest are being reported in renewable energy as a source of income among farmers struggling financially.
In a year that saw crop yields reduced and productivity down to levels seen in the 1980s, renewable energy provided support for British farms according to Dr. Jonathan Scurlock.
"2012 was a difficult year for the farming community, with bad weather hitting incomes hard. Investing in renewable energy provides farmers and growers with additional earnings at a time when farm budgets have become very stretched" said Dr Scurlock, NFU chief adviser.
According to lending figures from NatWest and RBS, the bulk of farmers interested in renewable energy are in the Midlands, at 40 per cent, followed by Scotland, the North East and the South West.
The NFU Farm Energy Service celebrates its first anniversary and has so far helped 1,550 farms around the UK in the twelve months since it was launched.
52% of renewable queries made to the service relate to solar technologies, which tend to have more eligible sites than any other technologies. The number of agricultural solar installations has increased recently, according to renewable energy specialists.
"We have seen an increase in the number of agricultural customers as from a farmer’s point of view it makes sense to reduce their energy bills and make the most of the land they have available by installing solar panels" said Sam Tilley, Managing Director of Infinite Energy.
"People often think solar systems need to be implemented on roofs but ground implementations are becoming increasingly popular."
Wicks Manor has been producing pork for over 40 years on the family run pig farm in Essex. They saw the electricity bills continuing to rise and wanted a way to reduce their CO2 emissions.
"Pigs are born and bred at Wicks Manor, they eat wheat and barley grown and milled on the farm. We wanted to find a ’greener’ way to run the operation, renewable systems are the way forward for farmers" said Fergus Howie, Partner of Wicks Manor.
30 per cent of renewable queries relate to wind turbines which, according to specialist surveyors Fisher German, offer farmers a particularly strong rate of return. Yields can reach 25 per cent in areas of high wind.
Meanwhile, analysis from NatWest and RBS and trade association RenewableUK today suggests that most wind farm installations for 2012 were up to 80kW, making farmers between 12,000 and 50,000 a year.
Maria McCaffery, Chief Executive of RenewableUK, said: "Farmers are experts at harnessing the Earth’s natural resources, so it's no surprise that they are leading the way on wind energy."
"The UK has the most powerful wind resource in Europe and this has provided a vital source of income for farmers, helping to preserve rural communities in Britain."
The past year has also shown that two barriers to the uptake of renewable energy – financing and planning – have not been as difficult as was feared when the Service launched.
In a January 2012 survey before the Service was launched, the NFU and NatWest found that 34 per cent of farmers were concerned about the cost and over half were nervous about planning.
However, according to Fisher German, the approval rate for wind projects is very strong. Of the 18 per cent that do go to appeal, a further two thirds are also granted consent.
Medium sized turbines can take 18-24 months to get through planning but, even here, the success rate remains high with 85 per cent of the applications being granted planning permission.
Liberty Stones from Fisher German said: "National Planning Policy currently recognises that small scale renewable projects make a valuable contribution to cutting emissions and promotes the approval of such projects subject to their impacts being acceptable. Provided farmers receive the right support, planning is not the concern that many anticipate."
2013年2月26日 星期二
2013年2月21日 星期四
Laser machine stolen from Flint salon
THE owner of a hair and beauty salon in Flint says she is devastated after burglars broke into her business taking equipment and stock worth about 16,000.
During the raid on Chiq Hair and Beauty Studios in Church Street the shelves were cleared of hair and beauty products. A laptop and a laser hair removal machine valued at 10,000 were also taken.
When staff arrived at work on Friday morning they were shocked to find the salon had been trashed.
Sharon Ledward, who owns the salon with husband David, said: "I was absolutely devastated. I was numb and couldn't speak."
She told the Chronicle they opened the business eight years ago and have worked hard to build it up."They left such a mess," she added. "This isn't just about my livelihood, it also impacts on the staff. "We had to cancel appointments over the weekend – which is our busiest time – to clean up.
"We've also been to warn other business owners in the area as I'd hate to think of this happening to anyone else. I can't believe someone has done this."
Mrs Ledward, who says the business is insured, believes the offenders broke in through a window.
"Since the incident she says they have invested in a new security system as she can't face going through a similar incident again," she added.
"You don't know what it really feels like until it happens to you – I'm trying to keep smiling through it all." Singapore will have a whole new set of coins in circulation by the middle of this year.
The current Second Series coins were first introduced in 1985 and featured local plants and flowers, depicting Singapore as a garden city.
But they'll soon make way for the Third Series featuring five of Singapore's national icons and landmarks - the Merlion, Port of Singapore, Changi Airport, Public Housing and the Esplanade.
For example, HDB flats - home to more than 80 per cent of Singaporeans - will be featured on the 10-cent coin... and the Esplanade on the 5-cent coin.
"Coins reflect the events, persons or symbols significant to a nation. The new series coins depict local icons and landmarks that are familiar to Singaporeans and reflect various aspects of Singapore's progress as a nation," said Ravi Menon, Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
Each coin denomination has an electro-magnetic signature, which allows vending machines to detect counterfeit and foreign coins.
The one-dollar coin contains additional security features such as its bi-metallic composition and laser mark micro-engraving in the shape of Singapore's national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim.
The new coins will have larger denomination numerals for easy identification and features to facilitate identification by the visually-impaired.
The coins are progressively sized by denomination, with the 5-cent coin being the smallest and one-dollar coin being the largest.
Mrs Foo-Yap Siew Hong, Assistant Managing Director of MAS, said, "The Second Series coins have been in use for more than 25 years. There will be a period of adjustment as we all get comfortable with the new coins. MAS will continue to work closely with our stakeholders to smoothen the transition."
MAS says it has been working with public transport operators to ensure that coin-operated machines at MRT/LRT stations are calibrated to accept both the current and new series coins before the launch.
It has also been working with businesses with coin-operated facilities such as vending machine operators and supermarkets to prepare them for the launch.
During the raid on Chiq Hair and Beauty Studios in Church Street the shelves were cleared of hair and beauty products. A laptop and a laser hair removal machine valued at 10,000 were also taken.
When staff arrived at work on Friday morning they were shocked to find the salon had been trashed.
Sharon Ledward, who owns the salon with husband David, said: "I was absolutely devastated. I was numb and couldn't speak."
She told the Chronicle they opened the business eight years ago and have worked hard to build it up."They left such a mess," she added. "This isn't just about my livelihood, it also impacts on the staff. "We had to cancel appointments over the weekend – which is our busiest time – to clean up.
"We've also been to warn other business owners in the area as I'd hate to think of this happening to anyone else. I can't believe someone has done this."
Mrs Ledward, who says the business is insured, believes the offenders broke in through a window.
"Since the incident she says they have invested in a new security system as she can't face going through a similar incident again," she added.
"You don't know what it really feels like until it happens to you – I'm trying to keep smiling through it all." Singapore will have a whole new set of coins in circulation by the middle of this year.
The current Second Series coins were first introduced in 1985 and featured local plants and flowers, depicting Singapore as a garden city.
But they'll soon make way for the Third Series featuring five of Singapore's national icons and landmarks - the Merlion, Port of Singapore, Changi Airport, Public Housing and the Esplanade.
For example, HDB flats - home to more than 80 per cent of Singaporeans - will be featured on the 10-cent coin... and the Esplanade on the 5-cent coin.
"Coins reflect the events, persons or symbols significant to a nation. The new series coins depict local icons and landmarks that are familiar to Singaporeans and reflect various aspects of Singapore's progress as a nation," said Ravi Menon, Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
Each coin denomination has an electro-magnetic signature, which allows vending machines to detect counterfeit and foreign coins.
The one-dollar coin contains additional security features such as its bi-metallic composition and laser mark micro-engraving in the shape of Singapore's national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim.
The new coins will have larger denomination numerals for easy identification and features to facilitate identification by the visually-impaired.
The coins are progressively sized by denomination, with the 5-cent coin being the smallest and one-dollar coin being the largest.
Mrs Foo-Yap Siew Hong, Assistant Managing Director of MAS, said, "The Second Series coins have been in use for more than 25 years. There will be a period of adjustment as we all get comfortable with the new coins. MAS will continue to work closely with our stakeholders to smoothen the transition."
MAS says it has been working with public transport operators to ensure that coin-operated machines at MRT/LRT stations are calibrated to accept both the current and new series coins before the launch.
It has also been working with businesses with coin-operated facilities such as vending machine operators and supermarkets to prepare them for the launch.
2013年1月23日 星期三
With Massey Energy Execs Cutting Deals
Don Blankenship, the former Massey Energy CEO who gained wide notoriety for his relentless drive for profits at the expense of workers, has thus far remained unpunished for a major act of “industrial homicide," as the United Mine Workers of America have described the April 5, 2010 explosion at the Massey-owned Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, W. Va. that killed 29 miners.
Blankenship was forced to step down after the disaster but walked away with a lavish “golden parachute” that included $2.7 million upon his retirement, another $10 million paid out in 2011, millions more in deferred compensation, a free house for life, health insurance coverage, a secretary and other perks.
Blankenship and other top Massey executives smugly refused to testify before federal and state committees investigating the disaster, perhaps believing that they could successfully stonewall investigators by practicing the Mafia-style code of silence known as “omerta.” Shielded also by the conservative deification of “job creators” like Blankenship and demonization of laws that protect workers’ lives as “excess regulations,” the Massey CEO—with the confidence of an old-time Sicilian mafioso—brazenly stated, “I pretty well think I know what happened and what the outcome will be, so I’m not concerned anymore about the investigation. I think it’s pretty much behind us.”
However, last Thursday’s conviction of Massey executive Gary May—who agreed to cooperate with authorities in exchange for his relatively light sentence—may cause Blankenship to become more concerned. The conviction could be the first step on a trail that leads directly to Blankenship.
May, a former Blankenship underling, was sentenced to 21 months in prison and a $20,000 fine for conspiracy. He admitted to ordering a company electrician to disable a methane monitor on a mining machine so it could continue to cut coal without automatic shutdowns. NPR reports that May “also pleaded guilty to deceiving federal mine safety inspectors and hiding safety violations.”
With the methane monitor shut off, the buildup of volatile methane fumes from coal dust eventually led to an explosion at Upper Big Branch so forceful that it traveled seven miles underground and killed the 29 workers.
But it’s unlikely that May was acting on his own when he shut down safety procedures. Don Blankenship was a “CEO whose micromanagement is well-documented,” as Vicki Smith reported for the Associated Press. “At Upper Big Branch, for example, Blankenship demanded production reports every 30 minutes.”
A higher-ranking former Massey executive, David Hughart, potentially facing heavy charges for his role in the proliferation of safety hazards in Massey mines, has also agreed to cooperate. Hughart’s testimony could be critical in finally holding Blankenship responsible, observed Phil Smith, communications director of the United Mine Workers of America, to Working In These Times. “The burden of proof is that [federal prosecutors] need to prove Blankenship’s direction and or knowledge of Massey’s efforts to evade the law. With Hughart, this is the first time that anyone has looked past the mine level and looked at the corporate level.”
Blankenship was forced to step down after the disaster but walked away with a lavish “golden parachute” that included $2.7 million upon his retirement, another $10 million paid out in 2011, millions more in deferred compensation, a free house for life, health insurance coverage, a secretary and other perks.
Blankenship and other top Massey executives smugly refused to testify before federal and state committees investigating the disaster, perhaps believing that they could successfully stonewall investigators by practicing the Mafia-style code of silence known as “omerta.” Shielded also by the conservative deification of “job creators” like Blankenship and demonization of laws that protect workers’ lives as “excess regulations,” the Massey CEO—with the confidence of an old-time Sicilian mafioso—brazenly stated, “I pretty well think I know what happened and what the outcome will be, so I’m not concerned anymore about the investigation. I think it’s pretty much behind us.”
However, last Thursday’s conviction of Massey executive Gary May—who agreed to cooperate with authorities in exchange for his relatively light sentence—may cause Blankenship to become more concerned. The conviction could be the first step on a trail that leads directly to Blankenship.
May, a former Blankenship underling, was sentenced to 21 months in prison and a $20,000 fine for conspiracy. He admitted to ordering a company electrician to disable a methane monitor on a mining machine so it could continue to cut coal without automatic shutdowns. NPR reports that May “also pleaded guilty to deceiving federal mine safety inspectors and hiding safety violations.”
With the methane monitor shut off, the buildup of volatile methane fumes from coal dust eventually led to an explosion at Upper Big Branch so forceful that it traveled seven miles underground and killed the 29 workers.
But it’s unlikely that May was acting on his own when he shut down safety procedures. Don Blankenship was a “CEO whose micromanagement is well-documented,” as Vicki Smith reported for the Associated Press. “At Upper Big Branch, for example, Blankenship demanded production reports every 30 minutes.”
A higher-ranking former Massey executive, David Hughart, potentially facing heavy charges for his role in the proliferation of safety hazards in Massey mines, has also agreed to cooperate. Hughart’s testimony could be critical in finally holding Blankenship responsible, observed Phil Smith, communications director of the United Mine Workers of America, to Working In These Times. “The burden of proof is that [federal prosecutors] need to prove Blankenship’s direction and or knowledge of Massey’s efforts to evade the law. With Hughart, this is the first time that anyone has looked past the mine level and looked at the corporate level.”
2013年1月20日 星期日
Moroccan ministry pledge renewable energy cooperation
Masdar on Sunday announced the signing of a framework agreement with the Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment of the Kingdom of Morocco that will enable them to have a thorough cooperation in the field of renewable energy.
The agreement was signed during the sixth World Future Energy Summit (WFES), a global platform that addressed the future of renewable energy and sustainable development in the Middle East and the world.With ambitious clean energy targets and large solar and wind power potential, Morocco is one of the Middle East and North Africa's most promising clean energy markets. Morocco's aim is to reach 42 per cent of its total power capacity installed from renewable sources by 2020."Morocco is an ambitious supporter of the adoption of renewable energy projects," said Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company.
"By capitalising on its abundant solar and wind energy resources, Morocco is establishing a strong renewable energy industry that will drive economic development and diversify its energy portfolio. We look forward to contributing to the development of Morocco's renewable energy industry."
Fouad Douiri, Morocco's minister of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment, said, "With tremendous wind and solar resources, Morocco has already strong and concrete achievements in solar and wind capacity, thanks to its experienced local skills and within an attractive legal and regulatory framework."
"As a country focused on the development of its renewable energy, we see major benefits in building a valuable cooperation with renewable energy players, in particular with the industry. Masdar's portfolio of regional and international projects, combined with their experience in renewable energy project development and research and development activities, makes it a partner of excellence in renewable energy cooperation," added Fouad Douiri.
During her visit, Hammack received an overview of some of the testing missions that take place on the installation. While here, she also visited Colonel Smith Middle School, Arizona's first net-zero school.
"A couple of things that were interesting were some of the testing missions here," Hammack said. "We spent some time talking about the kind of frequencies generated by wind turbines and [the SunZia] power lines. Yesterday afternoon, we heard some very interesting research that is going on or results that are a little bit surprising, and it just created more questions. It is fascinating when you see the mission side and the installation side come together on some of these issues."
Hammack also has experience in the evaluation of energy conservation projects, including lighting efficiency, sustainable design, solar energy and building operation. Being that Fort Huachuca is home to Colonel Smith Middle School, the first net-zero energy school to open in Arizona, she requested a tour of the facility.
"The net-zero concept is how to better use our resources to ensure that the Army of the future has the same access to resources as the Army of today," Hammack explained. "It's learning, somewhat similar to this school, what are the best practices and how can we institutionalize them across the Army. Net-zero is net-zero energy, net-zero water and net-zero waste. Net-zero energy looks at a building, facility or footprint that consumes as much energy as it is able to generate."
The school achieved net-zero energy through methods including water harvesting, green products, a dashboard for students to monitor energy conservation, sensor-controlled lighting, watching plug loads and producing energy through solar panels and wind turbines, as well as a cost-effective layered daylight program. Classrooms are also equipped with iPad2s that visually monitor energy use throughout the school.
The agreement was signed during the sixth World Future Energy Summit (WFES), a global platform that addressed the future of renewable energy and sustainable development in the Middle East and the world.With ambitious clean energy targets and large solar and wind power potential, Morocco is one of the Middle East and North Africa's most promising clean energy markets. Morocco's aim is to reach 42 per cent of its total power capacity installed from renewable sources by 2020."Morocco is an ambitious supporter of the adoption of renewable energy projects," said Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company.
"By capitalising on its abundant solar and wind energy resources, Morocco is establishing a strong renewable energy industry that will drive economic development and diversify its energy portfolio. We look forward to contributing to the development of Morocco's renewable energy industry."
Fouad Douiri, Morocco's minister of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment, said, "With tremendous wind and solar resources, Morocco has already strong and concrete achievements in solar and wind capacity, thanks to its experienced local skills and within an attractive legal and regulatory framework."
"As a country focused on the development of its renewable energy, we see major benefits in building a valuable cooperation with renewable energy players, in particular with the industry. Masdar's portfolio of regional and international projects, combined with their experience in renewable energy project development and research and development activities, makes it a partner of excellence in renewable energy cooperation," added Fouad Douiri.
During her visit, Hammack received an overview of some of the testing missions that take place on the installation. While here, she also visited Colonel Smith Middle School, Arizona's first net-zero school.
"A couple of things that were interesting were some of the testing missions here," Hammack said. "We spent some time talking about the kind of frequencies generated by wind turbines and [the SunZia] power lines. Yesterday afternoon, we heard some very interesting research that is going on or results that are a little bit surprising, and it just created more questions. It is fascinating when you see the mission side and the installation side come together on some of these issues."
Hammack also has experience in the evaluation of energy conservation projects, including lighting efficiency, sustainable design, solar energy and building operation. Being that Fort Huachuca is home to Colonel Smith Middle School, the first net-zero energy school to open in Arizona, she requested a tour of the facility.
"The net-zero concept is how to better use our resources to ensure that the Army of the future has the same access to resources as the Army of today," Hammack explained. "It's learning, somewhat similar to this school, what are the best practices and how can we institutionalize them across the Army. Net-zero is net-zero energy, net-zero water and net-zero waste. Net-zero energy looks at a building, facility or footprint that consumes as much energy as it is able to generate."
The school achieved net-zero energy through methods including water harvesting, green products, a dashboard for students to monitor energy conservation, sensor-controlled lighting, watching plug loads and producing energy through solar panels and wind turbines, as well as a cost-effective layered daylight program. Classrooms are also equipped with iPad2s that visually monitor energy use throughout the school.
2012年10月25日 星期四
Recalling The Good 'Ole Days
My daughter and I found ourselves with an unexpected hour of 'free time,' and we decided to take a stroll through the Danvers Square to see what there is to see. "Isn't the downtown so pretty, now?" she asked me. She went on to point out all the new little shops and restaurants, the pretty , and the overall quaintness of it all.
"Sure," I told her, "it's really coming along..." of course, I can't help myself...perhaps its a sign of age, but I began pointing out 'what used to be': Archer Kent, Sunnyhurst Farms, Harvey Jewelers; and across the street, the old mattress store once stood where the atrium is now- before the big fire took it all away...
I told her the story about how our family was away in New Hampshire when that fire tore through, devastating the entire block. I'll never forget driving up route 35 into the square, the signal to my nine year old brain that said, "you're almost home!" And the scorched wreckage came into view. I was horrified. Although I had never even been inside the iconic blue building that had anchored the businesses on that corner of High and Elm Streets for as long as I'd been alive, I was still so sad to see it destroyed.
Thinking about that summer so long ago began to conjure up memories of what life was like when I was a kid growing up here in Danvers. In the summer, time seemed to stand still for us kids. We divided our time between catching frogs and riding bikes; there were daily ice cream trucks where you could get an Italian Ice for fifty cents; and at park we had bubblers, gimp and the annual park parade.
We would skip rope in the old neighborhood, as long as we could sucker two kids into holding the ends. If there were only two of us, well, then an old chair was the likely stand in.
But the real adventure was when the streetlights went on and we had a mere thirty minutes before the curfew whistle blew for our favorite pastime: Kick The Can. Being the youngest in the neighborhood gang with the earliest bedtime had its disadvantages. For years I merely watched the bigger kids' hide and seeking as I pressed my nose up against the smelly screen in my bedroom window, yearning to grow up (right now!). But those few times the teenagers let me play along were the thrill of my life!
Later, I became a big reader, abandoning the usual play things for the simple pleasure of getting lost between the pages of the classics my mom brought me free from some grocery store promotion: Little Women, Treasure Island, and my favorite, The Black Stallion. I would set up camp for the entire day, nose in book, toe to the floor, gently swinging back and forth on the old glider on our huge front porch. Well, the porch certainly seemed huge to me, funny how perspective changes with the passage of time.
As I take in the “New” Danvers Square, with its pristine brick walkways, beautiful flowering fruitless pear trees, and pretty street lights, I feel a sense of pride, and at the same time I can’t help but think about how things have changed. It's a different world now; a different neighborhood, and certainly a different Danvers Square.
Yeah, I think the downtown looks pretty snazzy. The improvements have brought new life to the businesses there, and I'm proud of what the town has done, and is continuing to do. But there is nothing like the good old days, when a kid was just a kid; catching frogs, skipping rope, kicking cans and having the sheer luxury to forget about time.
"Sure," I told her, "it's really coming along..." of course, I can't help myself...perhaps its a sign of age, but I began pointing out 'what used to be': Archer Kent, Sunnyhurst Farms, Harvey Jewelers; and across the street, the old mattress store once stood where the atrium is now- before the big fire took it all away...
I told her the story about how our family was away in New Hampshire when that fire tore through, devastating the entire block. I'll never forget driving up route 35 into the square, the signal to my nine year old brain that said, "you're almost home!" And the scorched wreckage came into view. I was horrified. Although I had never even been inside the iconic blue building that had anchored the businesses on that corner of High and Elm Streets for as long as I'd been alive, I was still so sad to see it destroyed.
Thinking about that summer so long ago began to conjure up memories of what life was like when I was a kid growing up here in Danvers. In the summer, time seemed to stand still for us kids. We divided our time between catching frogs and riding bikes; there were daily ice cream trucks where you could get an Italian Ice for fifty cents; and at park we had bubblers, gimp and the annual park parade.
We would skip rope in the old neighborhood, as long as we could sucker two kids into holding the ends. If there were only two of us, well, then an old chair was the likely stand in.
But the real adventure was when the streetlights went on and we had a mere thirty minutes before the curfew whistle blew for our favorite pastime: Kick The Can. Being the youngest in the neighborhood gang with the earliest bedtime had its disadvantages. For years I merely watched the bigger kids' hide and seeking as I pressed my nose up against the smelly screen in my bedroom window, yearning to grow up (right now!). But those few times the teenagers let me play along were the thrill of my life!
Later, I became a big reader, abandoning the usual play things for the simple pleasure of getting lost between the pages of the classics my mom brought me free from some grocery store promotion: Little Women, Treasure Island, and my favorite, The Black Stallion. I would set up camp for the entire day, nose in book, toe to the floor, gently swinging back and forth on the old glider on our huge front porch. Well, the porch certainly seemed huge to me, funny how perspective changes with the passage of time.
As I take in the “New” Danvers Square, with its pristine brick walkways, beautiful flowering fruitless pear trees, and pretty street lights, I feel a sense of pride, and at the same time I can’t help but think about how things have changed. It's a different world now; a different neighborhood, and certainly a different Danvers Square.
Yeah, I think the downtown looks pretty snazzy. The improvements have brought new life to the businesses there, and I'm proud of what the town has done, and is continuing to do. But there is nothing like the good old days, when a kid was just a kid; catching frogs, skipping rope, kicking cans and having the sheer luxury to forget about time.
訂閱：
意見 (Atom)