On Saturday, November 23rd, there is a 5k run/ walk at Seaside Heights, NJ, registration opens at 9am and race starts at 10am. All net proceeds will be donated to help restore the Seaside Heights Business District. This event is sponsored by the Sierra Club and they are advocating windmill development off the Jersey Shore. Windmills are controversial due to impacts to the coastal landscape and views that promote tourism. Nonetheless, the importance of analyzing renewable energy is important to help reduce the demand for foreign oil and ensure our Nations energy independence. How much energy does a windmill produce, how much to produce to cover the cost of building, connecting, and maintaining a windmill needs to be studied. Analysis on the possible negative economic impact in reduced tourism due to windmills is needed along with alternate locations for them. Are there any farms inland that can be used, similar to Germany and throughout Europe? Solar panels in New Jersey have minimal benefit during the late fall and winter months due to the cloud cover and short daylight hours. Reliance on nuclear power is too dangerous due to the highly toxic and radioactive waste and lack of long term secure storage. Coal power plants have made tremendous improvement in their air emissions and reduced the amount of acid rain that comes to New Jersey. But coal mining is a very dangerous profession. Many of our nations labor laws were created to protect coal miners. Current hydraulic fracking processes are questionable due to the lack of transparency on the liquids (potentially hazardous chemicals) being pumped underground and may contaminate drinking water. If non-hazardous liquids are being used in non-seismic sensitive regions, such as fault lines or dams, hydraulic fracking has potential benefits. The President and his Administration through the EPA is trying to implement bad and overly restrictive air emissions standards. These new standards are not achievable and will close down oil refineries or further reduce their productivity. This will further raise the cost of gasoline and increase the need to import refined fuels from overseas. This means that there is no one miracle cure to solve our Nations energy needs. What is needed is a combined, multi-viewed approach to balance current fuel sources while developing renewable and advanced energy sources, such as hydrogen fuel cells. We must keep our minds open to study and learn all viewpoints in order to make the United States energy independent, while conserving our natural resources and protecting the environment. Regardless of the energy policy questions, the upcoming 5k run/ walk is a positive way to help Seaside Heights recover from the boardwalk fire and damage. Together we will restore the Jersey Shore.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 17:11:25 +0000
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