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Clean Energy, Clean Environment

We are at a cross roads in human history, we can choose to continue on as we have been, or we can make a change to improve our future and quite possibly the future for several generations to come. We are here to promote energy independence, a better environment, a secure future and a higher return on investment for your hard earned dollar. It is what I believe in, it is why I am in the solar business.

It’s raining oil, and that is not a good thing

23 Jun 10 | Environment

I am still at wonder with the oil leak (spill?) in the gulf.  The latest thing is this video from New Orleans showing and oily sheen on pavement after a rain storm:

The camera operator seems to think it is coming from the rain, it may be, it may not be.  According to NOAA:

National Weather Service Science and Operations Officer Charlie Paxton says while it’s always possible a water spout could pick up some oil and carry it a short distance, the notion of black rain is just not possible. Paxton says that’s because oil does not evaporate. As a result, talk of black rain is just a myth.

Alright, black rain, myth, I’ll buy that, but crude oil does evaporate, even at low vapor pressures found on the surface of the ocean in the Gulf of Mexico. I don’t know the chemical composition of the crude bubbling out of the broken well head in the gulf, but if it is similar to other gulf crude, then it has a lot of VOC’s mixed in with heavier components. Sunlight shining on a patch of brown crude sludge floating on the surface would more than likely raise the vapor pressure high enough to cause it to evaporate. Based on what I learned in chemistry 101, it would be a safe bet to say that 10-20% percent of the surface oil will evaporate.

It is also not at all a stretch to say that those compounds could condense with the low temperatures at high altitude, the same way water vapor does.  So, while black rain might not be possible, light brown or clear oil rain is possible.  What is not clear in this video is whether or not this is spilled oil seeping up through the pavement and washing away, or if it is light oil coming down with the rain.

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23 Jun 10 | Environment | Comment (1)

Fixing the blame for the Gulf oil Spill

06 Jun 10 | Conservation, Environment

The Japanese have a very good saying, “Fix the problem, not the blame.”  With all of the anger flowing toward BP for their part in the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, I thought it might be interesting to examine those reactions a little bit.  I understand the frustration, especially of those that live and work on those waters.  Many of the fisherman have been doing that for all their lives, their father’s lives too.  Watching the brown goo wash up on shore, the horrible pictures of birds covered in oil, dead sea turtles, and sharks is heart rending.

Watching the enraged public demonstrating in front of BP service stations and the somewhat muted anger of our chief executive is an interesting contrast to the true situation.  Deep water drilling and production is a hugely complicated and expensive enterprise.  To be sure, no one at BP could foresee these events and perhaps the actions of the drill rig crew were a little lax.  But the truth of the matter is, BP would not be drilling in deep water if there were not customers for their product.  They certainly would not go through all that trouble, expense and exposure to produce a marginal product that might or might not be sold.

To be certain, BP and the drill rig operator, Trans Ocean are culpable, there is a long list of others that contributed.  All of those that drive cars, trucks, ships, ride on trains, aircraft, buses, use electricity from the electrical grid, and use petro chemical products like plastic containers are also responsible.  Without end users, BP would have no reason to be in deep water drilling for oil.   So, while it is all good fun to drive home after the demonstration and upload the photos to the internet, look in the mirror; you can blame that person too.

We know what the problem is, an addiction to oil, it is up to all of us to fix that problem, each in his or her own way.

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06 Jun 10 | Conservation, Environment | Comments (2)