Atlanta's Mayoral Forum on Transportation

Last night was the Mayoral Forum on Transportation, led by the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and co-hosted by a number of transportation and environmental organizations such as Sierra Club, PEDs, Advance Atlanta, or MARTA Army.

I took some tabulated notes and impressions of all the candidates for Atlanta Mayor. Most of them gave solid answers to questions by moderator journalist Rose Scott.

The questions were as follows:

1. Introductions
2. Is the Atlanta Streetcar a good idea?
3. Should the city be responsible for repairing sidewalks?
4. How to connect transportation equity and affordable housing?
5. Do you support facilitating bike access to all?
6. How would you influence MARTA to improve transit?
7. How would you balance building bike projects vs. community opposition?
8. Dealing with Uber/Lyft?
9. What do you propose to curb greenhouse gas emissions? 
10. Closing statements.

Here is how I perceived the candidates responded for each question. Y is yes, N is no. Answers are ranked in 3 levels, 1 is weak, 3 is strong. A response that outlines a way to address a particular issue gets high marks. A plausible vision gets lower marks, and do-nothing responses and off-topic responses get lowest score.

Candidate	2	3	4	6	7	8	9
Peter Aman		3	2	2	2		2
Rohit Ammanamanchi	N	3	2	2	3		3
Keisha Lance Bottoms		3	1	1	3	3
John Eaves		3	1	1	1		2
Kwanza Hall		3	3	2	3	1	2
Laban King		2	2	1	3	1	2
Vincent Fort		3	1	1	2	2	2
Ceasar Mitchell		3	2	3	3	3	3
Mary Norwood		3	3	3	3		3
Michael Sterling		1	2	2	2
Cathy Woolard	N	2	3	3	2
Glen Wrightson	N	2	1	1	1		1

There was unanimous consent for providing access to bike infrastructure.
The question that candidates answered best was on the sidewalks. Responses were least elaborate on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Racial issues came up on numerous issues, namely in biking environments.

In my opinion, Norwood and Mitchell spoke the strongest answers, not surprisingly from their time at City Council, with solid challengers in Woolard, Ammanamanchi, Hall, Lance-Bottoms. But that's just on transportation issues, let's see how the candidates play out in other topics.


Also, as a joke, I came up with a list of adjectives for candidates. Can you find out which match whose?

• Dreamer
• Five Points
• Energized
• Teacher
• Regionalizer
• Entertainer
• Methodical
• Basics
• Very Cautious
• Inquirer
• Playboy
• Fortune Teller

IEEE PES Atlanta: Space Solar Power

This week at the IEEE PES Atlanta lunch event, the topic was on space solar power (SSP) . The presenter was Space Solar Power Institute President Derel Preble. Here are my notes from his presentation.

NASA started research on SSP in the 1980s. The principle is relatively simple: harvest photovoltaic (PV) energy from solar rays in the space before they get attenuated by the Earth's atmosphere, then transmit that energy to the ground using a low density microwave beam. Such beam would not be attenuated by the atmosphere. The energy from the beam would be collected using antennas rectifiers ("rectennas"). Each geo-orbit satellite could provide 1 GW of power. Northrop Grumman has committed $17 million for SSP research at Caltech to further advance the field.

There are big advantages to this concept, shown in the photo above:

• Maximized PV energy collection,
• Reduced transmission losses to the ground,
• 24-hour availability without weather sensitivity,
• Dispatchability (can modulate output anytime),
• Reduced land use, with dual-use of land for farming.

The major drawbacks are the high financial and engineering risks:

• Prohibitive cost to build/launch satellites (sweet spot at $150/lb with reusable rockets),
• Challenges harvesting/capturing the energy transmitted from the satellites,
• Maintenance of the equipment in space (by robots),
• Effective, large scale storage (compressed air seems most cost effective).

Space solar power should be transmitted on a reserved microwave frequency, such as 5.8 GHz, to avoid interference with other equipment. Microwave ovens operate at 2.5 GHz. The Georgia Tech students in Prof. Durgin's lab presented their work on building a cost-effective rectenna to harvest 5.8 GHz microwaves using off-the-shelf products (e.g. a regular printer). They are able to use the energy from an emitter one meter away to power a diode!

Derel Preble noted important aspects of offsetting fossil fuels and carbon emissions:

• There are no actions in place to mitigate rising CO2 levels (EPA hearing Atlanta Nov. 2015).
• High CO2 levels decreases the nitrogen nutrients absorbed by plants, negatively affecting cattle quality in turn.
• While high fuel prices tend to lead to recessions, the economy doesn't improve with low fuel prices after a recession as consumers struggle to recover.
• Energy ROI (EROI) must be considered when designing renewable energy production and storage. "Buffered" EROI is half when including storage (energy buffers) because of the energy involved to build the storage technology. Derel Preble mentions that it is not worth the EROI trying to store PV and wind output.

In conclusion, I am excited to learn about space solar power because it is an opportunity to make the most of our Sun. What is still unknown is whether launching costs will be favorable, and whether the technology to harvest energy beams is feasible.

2015 Earth Overshoot Day on August 14

Earth Overshoot Day was August 14. Earth Overshoot Day is an indicator from the Global Footprint Network that indicates, for each year, what day of the year humanity has consumed what Earth is capable of producing in one year.

In other words:

• We have just consumed one year worth's of production in less than eight months.
• We would need 1.6 earths to sustain our lifestyles.
• We are causing unsustainable damage to our environment (excess greenhouse gases, waste, and erosion that can no longer be naturally absorbed by the planet.)
• If Earth was a bank account, it would be in the red for the rest of the year.
• In some instances, people refer to excess consumption as 'ecological debt'.

Of course, each country has a unique resource allotment and consumption pattern that is averaged out in the Earth Overshoot Day indicator.

Excessive consumption may lead to shortage of resources such as fertile land, drinking water, that can lead to geopolitical conflicts. As a result, Earth Overshoot Day raises similar flags as the Countdown to Midnight clock. What do you think?

Bill Maher on Climate Change

HBO host Bill Maher devotes an episode on climate change with Michael Mann, director of Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University. The show follows the first Republican candidate debate for the 2016 US elections where there was no mention of climate change or other pressing humanitarian issues. Key quotes from the episode are found here.

Fw: The Point of No Return: Climate Change Nightmares Are Already Here

Via Rollingstone.com

Recent studies highlight an accelerated pace of global warming. Read more at the link to find how scientists established how global warming is taking place faster than initially thought.

Fw: Leo DiCaprio asks everyone in the world to stop pretending that global warming facts don't exist.

Via Upworthy.com

DiCaprio asking UN representatives to not fake global warming. He "pretends for a living", politicians must deal with reality. 

  

Fw: Hawaii to go all solar by 2040

Via Thinkprogress.org

Hawaii, the US state with the most energy constraints, enacts the most ambitious policy: going all solar by 2040. And perhaps they will have solar planes first too! Other states could find inspiration from Hawaii's example. 

Solar plane over Hawaii (image source: NASA)

My Earth Day 2015

This year, I had plenty to enjoy Earth Day, Wednesday April 22, 2015. Here are the bits.

At the Office

At work we had guest speaker Dan Weaver from Georgia Commute Options, presenting alternative commutes and incentives for not driving alone to work. I found out at least one other person takes MARTA to the office! Learned about the ride matching program. I also found out that the more employees of any given company log alternative commutes, the better their chances of winning prizes. Companies with small participation are put in a large, common pool for prize drawings. At work, there are enough participants so that there are one or two prizes allocated to the company each month, so the odds stack very favorably. 

We also had an Earth Day challenge and an environmental selfie challenge.

At Home (1/2) - BeltLine Presentation

Erika Burns, who routinely writes and volunteers for the Atlanta BeltLine, gave a presentation for my apartment building. We have a very active community involvement committee that made this possible. In her presentation, there were a few good things I didn't know:

• Stanton Park is now energy neutral, thanks to the use of solar panes. This park used to be an area where methane leaked from the ground.
• Old Fourth Ward Park behind Ponce City Market used to house buildings, which basements would flood because of a water reservoir nearby. The area is now converted to a water retention pool with nice landscaping and water features.
• $2.4bn property value has been added to the BeltLine corridor during the recession, and the amount is slated to continue to rise.
• The BeltLine is the largest art display in the Southeast. The famous Lantern Parade (attendance doubled last year to 23000 people) kicks off Art on the BeltLine every year at the end of Summer.
• Urban farmers will be brought to create a local food source from the green space.

At Home (2/2) - Earth Day Quiz

At my apartment building, we also had an Earth Day Quiz and a few people submitted the correct answer. Can you figure out the answer?

Earth Hour to Start in 15 Minutes in the US

Go to this page to watch pictures of Earth Hour around the globe.

During Earth Hour, the world's countries dim their lights symbolically to demonstrate the collective need to reduce power abuse in order to fight climate change, energy shortages, and other issues.

Fw: Electric cars could help cool down our cities

Via CityMetric

I like the concept of electric vehicles avoiding the production of extra heat during Summer. You can read on here. The following vicious circle tends to happen in hot cities:

1. City gets hot (lack of tree cover, building materials that retain heat)
2. Car engines (traffic) produce additional heat
3. Motorists turn on AC to cool themselves, using additional car engine power, and producing additional heat around them.
4. Go to 1.

Electric vehicles reduce 2 and partially 3. There is great potential for compounded benefit. What do you think?

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Fw: Costa Rica hasn't used any fossil fuel in over two months

Via Engadget

Wow! No fossil fuels in two months! Costa Rica did it with a surplus of rain and geothermal resources. Read on here!

Photo: Dirk van der Made/Wikimedia Commons

My Snowpocalypse story, one year late(r)

There is a Winter Storm Watch for Monday, Feb. 16, 2015 in Georgia, calling for a snow forecast! Speaking of snow, I never got a chance to write about my experience during 'Snowpocalypse' in January 2014. So here is my story, one year late(r). The media announced heavy snowfall for Tuesday afternoon, Jan 28, 2014. Like everyone else, I went to work that morning; however, knowing that snow would cause significant delays in the afternoon, I decided to leave my car home and take the bus to work. CCT's express reverse commute took me comfortably to the office in Cobb County, in the Wildwood complex. From the late morning to afternoon, here is the rough sequence of events as I can recall: Snow was already falling by 11am. Some managers advised employees they could leave early. By noon, traffic on Powers Ferry Road was already completely stopped. At 2pm, I started watching traffic conditions for getting home. Already, one bus remained in the Kennessaw area for two hours. A few colleagues sent email updates over their phones saying traffic around the office was paralyzed. By 3pm, it became obvious that there would be no afternoon reverse commute service. I focused on two options: Spending one night (or three in hindsight) at the office, with limited supplies, etc. Walking to the Cumberland Mall Transfer Center and try to catch a bus from there.  At 4pm, I left the office and started walking in the snow to Cumberland Mall. At 5pm, I arrived at Cumberland Mall. Left Cumberland Mall by 5:30pm at reduced speed. Arrive to Midtown around 6:45pm. Many cars were stuck on local and arterial roads when I left office. Show was fresh and soft, but that was enough to cause stalls even on the slightest incline. Snowpocalypse shot I took on Windy Ridge Parkway. It is a 45 min walk to the mall, but walking was definitely faster than driving. When I arrived on Cobb Parkway, I thought I would stop for coffee and warmth, and surprise... both Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts were closed! I figured managers let their employees leave early as well, so I proceeded to the mall.  I saw people checking in at the Sheraton Hotel adjacent to Cumberland Mall, possibly due to the weather. I hoped the mall would be still open, but when I arrived, employees were directing people out and closing the mall. I thus proceeded to Cumberland Transfer Center, which is also adjacent to the mall but opposite the hotel. A few dozen people were waiting there, some for three hours already. No CCT buses were to be seen, however. Shot I took at Cumberland Transfer Center - Stay close to stay warm! After waiting a few minutes, I wanted to check on the bus situation online and decide whether to wait or to walk home (a 7-mile walk). I went to a nearby Barnes and Noble store to attempt to connect to WiFi. On my way to the bookstore, hope returns! A MARTA bus #12 approaches. You could hear people cheering their relief as the bus approached to take everybody back to Midtown Atlanta. We proceeded to board the bus. The driver waived all fares given the unusual conditions. The bus soon left at slow speed. Thank you MARTA! There is hope! Shot I took boarding the bus to Midtown. The bus driver made an unusual turn and took the freeway instead of the local roads. Freeway conditions were only slightly better. Traffic was mostly clear to Midtown, and completely stopped to the suburbs. Many cars were stalled or abandoned on the shoulder or across multiple lanes. For us on the bus, the most perilous part of the journey was the freeway ascent to From West Paces Ferry to Moores Mill. Fortunately, the bus cleared the ascent without encountering too much ice. The rest of the trip was relatively smooth, and we arrived in Midtown safely.  I was lucky I made it home in less than three hours. Other people were less fortunate and slept in their cars, at their office, or at grocery stores. Quite a few others walked several miles home, in the snow, including those living near stops that were skipped by the bus. Tons of gas were lost in stalled cars and stopped traffic, and many more work hours not worked the following days. I was really lucky I made it home! Traffic Map Tuesday night (GDOT) Traffic Map Wednesday morning (GDOT) The positive news is that people walking on the street the following days were cheering the snow and the quietness of the inner Atlanta city. Following up "Snowpocalypse" were two events I know of that held debate on city readiness to snow storms: Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) Atlanta Magazine With Monday's sleet mix in the forecast, let's see how much progress was made since last year.

Random quote

"Renewable energy is most vulnerable to the very problems it seeks to avoid."

 (from IEEE Power & Energy, May-June 2013, found in my old notes)

Fw: Georgia's stance on climate change? Head in the sand

Via Creative Loafing Atlanta

(image credit: epa.gov)

My recent posts (forwards, rather) all dealt with climate change one way or the other. For today, I share with you an article that best pictures the reaction of conservative politicians of the Georgia Legislature to the idea of climate change. Some conservative lawmakers may find these basic facts useful. Then read the author's point concerning topics such as... Education... Transportation... Enjoy the article!

Fw: It is 3 minutes to midnight

Via CNN and Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

 (Image source: http://thebulletin.org/multimedia/it-3-minutes-midnight)

A few days ago, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists updated their disaster countdown clock. We are now 3 minutes to midnight. Midnight signifies the end of the world. The reasons cited for bringing us this close to doomsday?
- Nuclear weapons is still a real threat, notably from Iran and North Korea, and UN Security Council countries are keeping/modernizing a stock of nuclear heads, just in case.
- Climate change remains largely unaddressed by the world's top powers.

Read on here and here. Follow the link under image for the announcement.

Notes from Obama's State of the Union address

Tuesday evening during prime time was President Obama's annual State of the Union address, delivered at the United States Congress. The transcript has been made available here so the public could follow. The entire video of the speech, recaps of facts and figures, including infographics, are also posted on the White House website.

(Image: White House/YouTube)

Here are some notes, more or less paraphrased, I quickly jolted from President Obama's State of the Union address on the topics of energy, and climate:

• On energy:
• Record low gas prices this year will save a family $750 at the pump.
• U.S. is #1 worldwide in oil and gas.

• On the economy:
• Believes in "middle-class economy" where everyone gets - and pays - its fair share.
  Lowest unemployment rate in U.S. since 2008 Great Recession. 
• On climate:
• "No challenge poses a bigger threat to future generations than climate change." - We must act immediately and do everything we can to save our planet.
• 2014 was the warmest year on record (see my related post here), and all but one of the 15 warmest years are in the 21st century.
• Climate change is an "immediate risk to national security."
• The President will "not let Congress reverse the clock" on climate measures.
• The United States has come to an agreement with China to respond to climate change (e.g. by reducing emissions). Other countries are stepping up.
• See the President's plan on climate change on the White House website.

Two new findings on climate change [updated]

Two articles published in the last few days reveal a new twist in the magnitude of climate change.

(Image: nasa.gov)

This New York Times article reveals that 2014 has been the hottest year on record, with a bar chart showing evolution of temperature over last century. This article from Bloomberg goes further by animating superimposed monthly averages over 100 years, highlighting record years as they pass. You will see that the past 20 years have seen more record temperatures than the 80 years before then. The original publication (and the animation shown on this page) is from NASA/NOOA. Despite polar episodes and snow storms across the U.S., the warming trend is here to stay, and extreme weather such as draughts, super hot summers, violent storms, and cherry trees blooming in January (happened in 2013 in Atlanta) may become more common place.

To make matters worse, this Climate Central article reveals that sea level has been rising faster in recent years than initially thought. The authors of the study created a model that better captures contributions to sea level rise. The article raises the question about how this model will impact forecasts of sea levels in the future... no very reassuring to begin with.

These findings should serve as final warnings to those who are still skeptical about global warming. These articles might even try to tell us we have less time than initially thought to address climate change. Will we be up to the task?

Stories on oil prices crash

(Photo: John Massie/Flickr - License)

For more than a month now, we have seen quite a few stories about the fall of oil prices. Here are a few catching headlines.And of course, you can monitor prices from my Fuel Economy page on this blog.

• Oil prices at $50: Why a barrel of crude costs less than your shoes (Christian Science Monitor) - Catchy headline that compares the price of oil with the price of an everyday item. See also this comparison with Frappuccino and other foods (ABC News).
• Market experts are wondering how low oil price could fall, and that shows on Bloomberg and CNBC. $45? $40? Or $35? Any better?
• For consumers, $2 per gallon prices (Car Connection) looks good. It's is apparently equivalent to $60M in tax credits (CNN).
• For the economy, in the short term it may improve (NYT), however in he long term, opinions are mitigated... is economic demand falling?
• For overall car fuel economy, large car sales seem to pick up (NPR), however car fuel economy progress may slow for a little while (Minnesota Public Radio).
• Airlines who started adding fuel surcharges starting 2007-2008 are not removing them anytime soon (USA Today) (except Alaska Air, for a limited time?)

Fw: California breaks ground on bullet train as climate solution

Via MSN News

At last, construction is starting for the first high-speed rail project in the US. The line will link downtown San Francisco to downtown Los Angeles in three hours and reduce emissions from car and air traffic. Read on here. Also visit the official page from the California High Speed Rail Authority.

Fw: Oil Investors at Brink of Losing Trillions of Dollars in Assets

Via Bloomberg

(Photo source freerangelongmont.com)

 Bloomberg recently posted an article describing the concept and financial implications of "stranded" oil assets. Basically, if governments start restricting access to oil resources (to meet carbon reduction objectives for instance), the value of oil resources could have to be written off. Read more here.