http://science.kqed.org/quest/2008/10/03/reporters-notes-big-solar-on-the-ballot/ Explore science, nature and environment stories from Northern California and beyond with KQED’s multimedia series Thu, 24 May 2012 05:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://science.kqed.org/quest/2008/10/03/reporters-notes-big-solar-on-the-ballot/#comment-11667 Linus Hollis, ScD Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:40:13 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=862#comment-11667 Why are we wasting the efforts and energy of small, local producers? This proposition SCREWS them. Alameda county has shown the way: we are now a net-energy-producing county! This model should be copied everywhere and expanded to include agricultural waste. After all, what can't methane power better than gasoline and coal? It's much more transportable than hydrogen and off-the-shelf, inexpensive technology. I drive a Ford Econoline and enjoy dramatically superior performance in every way: cheaper [$2.89/gallon equivalent] cleaner [less CO2 than a Prius], quicker and faster: methane is 128 octane. 17 mpg is great mileage for a ten-year-old, full-sized van. Why are we wasting the efforts and energy of small, local producers? This proposition SCREWS them. Alameda county has shown the way: we are now a net-energy-producing county! This model should be copied everywhere and expanded to include agricultural waste. After all, what can't methane power better than gasoline and coal? It's much more transportable than hydrogen and off-the-shelf, inexpensive technology. I drive a Ford Econoline and enjoy dramatically superior performance in every way: cheaper [$2.89/gallon equivalent] cleaner [less CO2 than a Prius], quicker and faster: methane is 128 octane. 17 mpg is great mileage for a ten-year-old, full-sized van.

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