CleanTechnica: A Geothermal Energy Solution For Harris’s Fracking Dilemma
By the time former President Obama took office in 2009, all hell was breaking loose as the fracking boom took off, including stress on water resources, earthquakes related to wastewater disposal and to the operation itself, and significant public health impacts in local communities (see more fracking background here).
Somewhat ironically, oil and gas stakeholders have geothermal energy researchers to thank for the fracking boom. On the heels of the 1970’s oil crisis, engineers at the US Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories were tasked with applying their experience in the geothermal field to lend a hand to domestic oil and gas producers.
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Still, geothermal energy researchers were undeterred. Naturally occurring geothermal hotspots are limited to locations where fluid and porosity are present along with heat. In contrast, fracking technology enables the creation of new, enhanced geothermal systems anywhere suitable hot rocks are present, by introducing the fluid and creating the porosity.
If proven cost-effective in the market, enhanced geothermal systems would expand the US geothermal energy footprint by a wide margin, from a handful of gigawatts to more than 100 gigawatts according to a 2006 calculation by MIT.
InsideEVs: Every Car Should Have This Simple Feature
One of the best tech examples is Blind-Spot View Monitor from the Hyundai Motor Group. You’ll find it on cars from Kia, Hyundai and Genesis. Every time I get in a vehicle that has it — most recently, the Kia EV9 I’m reviewing right now — I’m left stunned that it isn’t more common. Truly, this should be on every new vehicle.
Blind-Spot View Monitor is, I’ll admit, not the sexiest or most inspiring name. But it’s extremely useful. Here’s how it works. When you flick the turn signal, a live camera feed of the relevant blind spot pops up right in front of you in the digital gauge cluster. Signal left, and you get a real-time view of what’s in your left blind spot in a circle on the left side of the screen. Signal right, and the same thing happens, but on the other side.
Something to add to your new car purchase checklist.
Solar Goat (YouTube): Why I Remove Solar Panels
Misleading title, but I enjoyed following along as he removed someone’s solar panels for a roof replacement. He made some interesting comments about the installation as he went.
Last Updated: 08.Sep.2024 16:14 EDT
