Tree Power Could Save Forests From Fires. As they say in the article it may sound like, and pardon the cliche, some hippie tree hugger’s dream, but they have tapped into the static electricity produced by trees at MIT. The charge was generated by the pH difference of the soil and the tree producing an electrical current change of 59 millivolts for every change in a unit of ph. So what can you do with such small electrical charges. Power sensors in the forest to monitor for forest fires.
Google plans for renewables to power America
Wind power should grow from a relatively insignificant force today to 29 percent of U.S. electricity production. Geothermal should grow to 15 percent, while solar should increase to 12 percent. Natural gas, hydroelectric power and nuclear energy would account for the rest.
If the transformation takes place, and electricity consumption remains flat, fossil fuel use would be cut by 88 percent and carbon emissions would be reduced by 95 percent by 2030, Google projects.
I posted about Google and GE teaming up previously, but this went a little more into their goals.Much of their plan and energy savings from fossil fuels is dependent on the production and use of more hybrid and electric powered vehicle transportation.
tangledwing 