The KeyWord Kove

A federal appeals court has dealt a critical blow to the controversial Cape Wind energy project.

On Friday, October 27, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia revoked the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) determination that the Cape Wind project would present no hazard to the 400,000 flights that travel over Nantucket Sound. The appeals court remanded the issue back to the agency for review.

The town of Barnstable, Massachusetts, and the Alliance to Save Nantucket Sound, a non-profit grassroots organization of private citizens and organization that includes the Mashpee and Aquinnah Wampanoag tribes, had petitioned the court for the review. The opponents argued that the FAA violated its governing statute, misread its own regulations, and arbitrarily and capriciously failed to calculate the dangers posed to local aviation.

In response, the FAA claimed the petitioners did not have standing to request the review and that their claims lacked merit. But the court disagreed. “We find that petitioners do have standing and that the FAA did misread its regulations, leaving the challenged determinations inadequately justified,” the three-judge panel wrote in their 14-page ruling. The ruling notes that the petitions bear the burden of providing evidence to demonstrate standing; “once provided, however, those facts ‘will be taken as true,’ ” the ruling says, quoting case law. At this stage, however, we must assume the petitioners will prevail on the merits, … which means we must assume the FAA would determine the wind farm poses a hazard of the degree and kind the petitioners allege.

The Cape Wind project, which has been pushed by the Obama administration as America’s first offshore wind farm and supported Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, would construct 130 turbines across almost 50 square miles of Nantucket Sound where they would tower 440 feet above ocean level. The installation would obliterate the Mashpee and Aquinnah Wampanoag tribes’ unimpeded view of the rising sun, ruining a crucial ceremony that is central to their identity and destroy the ocean bed that was once the dry land where their ancestors lived and died. Neither Aquinnah Wampanoag Chairman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais nor Mashpee Wampanoag Chairman Cedric Cromwell could be reached for comment. The Aquinnah Nation is a plaintiff in one of the many lawsuits still pending against the wind energy company.

The appeals court ruling maybe the final blow to the beleaguered Cape Wind project, according to Alliance President and CEO Audra Parker. “I’m absolutely thrilled. I think it’s a major setback for Cape Wind. We’ve been saying all along that whether it’s been a tribal review or other issue they really rushed and comprised the review process and this is a clear acknowledgment that at least with the FAA that in fact is the case,” Parker said.

The FAA review is likely to take a long time, she said. “In talking to our lawyers, they’ve said in similar situations it’s about a two-year additional review once the project goes back to the FAA so that’s a significant additional burden that clearly has implications for a project that’s already struggling financially,” Parker said.

Last May the federal Department of Energy denied Cape Wind a $2 billion public loan guarantee that the company was counting on for financing the project. Additionally, the project has yet to secure financing or a buyer for half of its power. The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) approved a power purchase agreement last year for Cape Wind to sell half of its power to National Grid for 18.7 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) with a 3.5 percent increase each year, bringing the cost to 30 cents per kWh by the end of the 15-year license. Massachusetts’s consumers paid around nine cents per kWh last year. The DPU has tried to force NStar and Northeast Utilities to purchase the other half of Cape Wind’s power as a condition of their proposed merger, but on October 12, the two power companies filed court papers telling the DPU that forcing them to buy Cape Wind’s high-priced electricity as a condition of their merger may violate the Constitution.

“The appeals court decision is further reason for the Patrick Administration to stop its attempts to force the state’s second largest electric utility, NStar, to purchase energy from a project that will never be built,” Parker said.

The appeals court ruling immediately stops Cape Wind from moving forward, Parker said. “Cape Wind can’t begin construction or proceed with the project. The FAA case is the first of multiple federal lawsuits challenging this poorly sited and expensive project and is just the tip of the iceberg of the problems the courts will consider relative to the Nantucket Sound location,” Parker said.

The Alliance is not opposed to wind power, but is opposed to siting the project in Nantucket Sound, Parker said. “It is time for Cape Wind and the Department of Interior to relocate this project to another site that will not only protect Nantucket Sound, but allow properly sited offshore wind development in a timely way,” said Parker. “After 10 years, Cape Wind continues to face legal and financial challenges, while better and cheaper forms of green energy are widely available. The free market has shown little or no interest in Cape Wind, the federal government has refused to issue a loan guarantee for the project, and now a federal court has dealt Cape Wind a major setback in rejecting the FAA’s determination.”

The agricultural sector is very crucial to our global economy. It plays a magnificent role in contributing to economical upgrade of any country. As a matter of fact, the chances of having a country that has no agricultural activities are almost reduced to zero. In this sector, one of the most increasingly demanded products includes the potash stock. First and foremost it is important to learn what potash is. This is the general term used to define all manufactured salts that have potassium element. They are mainly used for farming procedures. It should be noted that they perform a variety of tasks, let alone farming. This is also an added advantage.

Due to the ever rising need of important crops such as oil seeds and grains, potash follows suit. In other words, the demand directly corresponds with the supply of such products. Farming has been embraced in every state, worldwide. On such cases, you can never miss to find the use of this plant nutrient applied.

The most common crops that need the services of these nutrients are soybeans, wheat and corn. The increase in demand for such crops in the global market has also led to the increase in demand for fertilizers. They are used for quicker production, which guarantees high quality yields in the market. However, due to major economical downfalls in most states, the price of the vital commodity has accelerated. This runs concurrently with the price of crops that rely on this mineral to perform properly. Bad climatic conditions have also played a major role in increasing the need for this product. This is essential since it leads to an overall good performance of crops that were not provided with the necessary conditions of growth.

Experts predict a brighter future for this reserve. This is chiefly due to the fact that, the ever increasing population of the land brings about prospects of having limited space for farm activities are very high. It is on this note that the limited space one has will be required to generate top notch yields. This will only be facilitated by the use of this fertilizer.

The bulk of the crucial element is manufactured in Canada. This also brings about the need of creating investment opportunities, so as to facilitate rapid manufacturing. As a result of its rising urgency, most companies are considering investing in this artifact.

Potash stock requirement has also been propelled by the need to come up with faster means of bringing up crops that favor their conditions. Crops such as corn perform very well in continents such as Africa. However, bad climatic conditions have led to a depreciating nature of this yield. Not all soils favor the growth of such crops but a little bit addition of this commodity will make things work out better. As a matter of fact, it is a major step in realization of global food security, save for the harsh weather conditions witnessed by most countries and the general limitations that tend the hamper the realization of such economic goals.

A star like the sun fuses hydrogen for about Ten billion years. With half of its hydrogen currently fused into helium the sun will continue to produce energy for about another five billion years. While not technically endless, it will go on producing energy for a very, very long time. But how do we capture that practically limitless source of energy? With solar panels presumably. So lets take a look at how solar panels work.

Certain elements and compounds exist in a state where the right frequency of light will add its energy to the electrons in its atoms. The now energized electrons can jump out of the influence of the nucleus and flow with other electrons through some conducting material. Silicon, cadmium telluride, gallium arsenide and copper indium diselenide, among others are all substances that have this property. Each substance however will be affected by different frequencies of light.

These materials, affected by different frequencies are not able to use the full spectrum of sunlight. Creative methods of construction have been devised to take advantage of the different frequencies in white light.

One method is to stack different substances so that different layers absorb the relevant frequency for that material. In this way more of the sunlight is being used and converted into electricity. Another method is to break up the light with some sort of prism and then to direct the light to the relevant materials. These methods greatly increase the efficiency of the photovoltaic array.

The use of expensive materials may also create problems with efficiency. To overcome this difficulty, some designs use lenses to concentrate the light to a small area where only a small amount of the expensive material is needed to free enough electrons to produce usable electricity.

When a wafer of one of these substances is attached with positive and negative electrodes, a photo voltaic cell is created. Several of these can be wired together to create a module. Several modules wired together with copper, silver or some other conducting material create an array. If an array is large enough, a usable amount of electricity can be produced.

But this is not enough to make a solar panel. The cells need to be protected from moisture and physical damage. They also need to be protected from overheating as excessive heat reduces the efficiency of the cells. Waterproof, protective cases are made to contain the arrays which are then mounted in a way to provide adequate airflow to prevent overheating.

Power from the sun was first discovered in 1839 by Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel, the French physicist focused on the solar spectrum, electricity and optics. Since that time, the understanding of how to harness photovoltaic conversion has increased exponentially. Advances in this area were primarily driven by NASA who needed ways to power spacecraft and artificial satellites. With the problems facing this planet as the result of the fossil fuel consumption used to power our lives, the renewable and non-polluting alternative offered by solar power may eventually help us get away from petroleum dependence.

The Ontario fit program offers, those who use solar panel or solar panels, the opportunity to make money by selling the solar or wind energy they produce. Visit Efston Science to learn more about how you can start producing renewable energy for money.

A solar panel is an array of photovoltaic cells that are connected together by conducting wires. Solar panels are used to generate electricity from sunlight, which is a naturally renewable source of energy. They are used in both commercial and domestic environments.

Photovoltaic cells absorb light energy from the Sun and use it to generate electricity in a process known as the photovoltaic effect. This involves using the light energy to release electrons from the attractive forces that bind them to atoms, so that they can flow freely through the cell. This flow of electrons is an electric current, which can then be used to power electrical appliances.

Following the dramatic reduction in the price of solar panels over the last few decades, more and more home owners are choosing to install them on the roofs of their houses in order to save money on electricity. Generating your own electricity in this way reduces your reliance on commercially produced electricity and can therefore lead to a significant reduction in the cost of energy bills.

It is often possible to sell electricity back to the national grid during times that your panels produce it in excess. This means that in addition to saving money for homeowners, installing panels can even be a way of generating a little extra cash.

An alternative to photovoltaic panels is a solar heating system. This uses the Sun’s energy to heat water, which can then be used in the home. Heating water in this way means that the household does not have to spend money on electricity or gas to meet its hot water needs, leading to significant savings.

Solar panels must be installed correctly if they are to provide the maximum possible benefit. Although they will still produce energy on a cloudy day, they operate best in full sunlight. They should therefore be installed in a location that has direct sunlight for as much of the day as possible, with no trees or buildings casting a shadow onto the panel. It is important to have adequate ventilation behind the panel, as overheating can lower its efficiency.

Traditionally, photovoltaic cells have been made out of crystalline silicon. A more modern type of photovoltaic cell is the thin film cell, which is lower in weight than a traditional panel, but still sturdy and resilient.

Solar energy is a completely renewable source of energy that does not produce any harmful greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide or methane. This means that it is environmentally friendly. As technology improves so that increasingly efficient cells can be constructed, it is hoped that more and more of our energy needs can be met using this sustainable source of energy.

Recent developments in technology have produced a wide range of photovoltaic cells that can operate at different frequencies. One of the most interesting developments is the invention of infrared photovoltaic cells, which use heat energy to produce electricity. These cells would even be able to produce power at night.

With climate change rapidly affecting our planet, it is more urgent than ever to use renewable energy sources to satisfy our demands for electricity. Solar panels have an important role to play in the generation of sustainable energy.

Efston Science is the superstore for solar panel and wind energy. They make it easy to buy solar panels and learn more about how the microFIT program works as well as the cost of solar panels.

By Yamaya Cruz

Many have heard and even experienced the mystery of astral projection. It is the state in which a soul leaves its physical body and begins roaming the astral plane of existence, a place that is finer than the etheric realm but is denser and feels more realistic than the mental plane. The Astral Plane is also called the astral world. It is a plane of existence that has been postulated by medieval, oriental, esoteric, and classical, mostly neo-classical, philosophies to define a world that is beyond the surface world. It is a world made up of planetary spheres where beings of heavenly features, such as angels, immaterial beings and spirits, dwell and is crossed by a soul during birth or after death.

The Astral Plane has first been postulated by two Greek philosophers namely Plato and Aristotle. They taught that the heavenly stars are made up of matter largely different from the four earthly elements, which they called a fifth, ethereal element or quintessence. In astral mysticism that originated in the classical world, the human psyche was made up of the same material which explains the influence of the stars in a human’s health, birth, and other affairs. Even during the Greek Era, one Greek philosopher named Proclus commented on Plato’s Timaeus, explaining that man is made of a mortal body and he is divided according to the universe. Further more, he stated that this belief explains why some are accustomed to relating the position of the fixed stars, or the planets, with their different features and attitudes. Today, according to many occult teachings and astral mysticism groups, the astral plane can be consciously reached through astral projection, meditation and the use of mantras, a near death experience or even something as simple as lucid dreaming.

There are also individuals that claim that they can separate their soul through the use of an astral vehicle and project his soul into the astral plane of existence. In early theosophical literature, astral may also refer to the aether. To reach the astral plane one must use an astral vehicle and project an astral body. The term astral body can also be used to refer to a body of emotion, desire or illusion. Desire stuff, according to Max Heindel is described as a force-matter in an incessant motion and is responsive to the slightest feeling. The desire world is also referred to be the abode of the dead where souls reside and is the home of the archangels, thus also part of the astral plane. There are also variations of the astral plane as stated by Paramhansa Yoganda’s book titled Autobiography of a Yogi.

Here he mentions the astral plane as a place where karma or the result of past actions will take place. Either he will be punished or tormented or sent to rebirth will be decided by his karma. The Astral Plane of Existence basically defines a world that is very different from the one you stand on. It is a world of many mysteries and is often divided into “planes” where different beings reside. It is a portal to another world, and it is an important aspect in understanding the powers of the human soul.

When the Shadows Began to Dance, Is a fascinating fictional story of Nelly Reyes, whose life is weighted down by “the shadows.” She struggles with family crises and mental illness, until she learns that she has the power to unleash the chains that the shadows have placed around her and those she loves.

http://alternativevibrations.com/index.html

Copyright © 2011 Deidre Glendon

What are words? As a child I remember the saying, “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me.” As I grew older I realized that words can hurt. Words are a very powerful way to communicate. Wars are fought because of the words that are used. Words can lead to lies, arguments, disagreements, sadness, hurt feelings, riots, fear, ill-will, dissention and misunderstandings. Words can also lead to truth, happiness, love, joy, peace, comfort and understandings. Words are so powerful in our everyday lives, in songs, in the written word, in what we say, in prayer and in our thoughts.

Words! Without words our lives would be extremely difficult. How would we be able to survive? How would we be able to interact with others? What would become of our world if our governments, countries and people couldn’t communicate? Words are important no matter what language we speak. Because of words we can speak, read or write our thoughts, ideas and opinions. Thank goodness for the internet because it’s connecting us quicker and closer than ever before. In an instant communication can travel around the world. Humans need communication for their very existence. Our modern civilization evolved because of our ability to communicate on a higher level of rational thinking with purpose and intention.

As babies we’ve experienced communication through words, the tone of our voices and the way we’re touched by our parents and other people in our lives. In this way, we can learn criticism, sarcasm or love and nurturing. So it’s important to speak with intention, purpose, love, integrity and kindness. Words create energy that can travel around the world. There is a universal law that what we give out we receive in return. What we feel, say, think and do comes back to us in unexpected ways. This is the way energy works. Choose your words carefully so the energy will not come back to you in a negative way.

If we want the world to be a better place to live in then we should be diligent in keeping balance and harmony in our lives. Everyone has a part to play whether it’s big or small. We’re in this world together. Let’s all live in harmony by promoting positive energies of love, peace and joy. We can change the world through one deed at a time. Be happy and live your life in the best way possible. From the moment we were born we began communicating by crying when we were uncomfortable and smiling or cooing when we were happy. Our parents or caregivers knew how we were feeling because of our responses. As we grew older we began to learn how to communicate with our words. The next step that we learned was to put the words together into ideas and thoughts. Our simple sentences became more complex throughout our growing up years. We went to school and gained the knowledge that we needed to become contributing citizens in our society. Through our words we can build bridges or destroy relationships.

Communicating is a vehicle that can help us throughout our lives. It can take us to many places and it can also direct us through our life experiences. Words can make us better or words can break us. Words are at our disposal and we can use it positively or negatively. It’s up to us to use our words to benefit and spread goodness, happiness, love and peace.

Deidre Glendon, MEd: A death experience and helping others through intuitive insights led her to write The Healing Light, Trouble in Paradise and Light of Forgiveness. To see more excerpts on peace and stories of healings visit her website and click on Light of Forgiveness at http://wwwdeidreblog.blogspot.com