Renewable energy in Arizona dependent on more transmission

More than 80 people are talking through complex issues today on transmission interconnections, dispatchable vs intermittent, load constraints and other esoteric topics that are critical if Arizona is going to see renewable energy develop its potential.

The Arizona Wind Working Group is gathered at the ASU Mercado campus in Phoenix's Copper Square to focus on wind energy. But as a number of panelist demonstrated this morning, wind, solar, geothermal, and electric transmission are intertwined. Peter Krzykos with Arizona Public Service, summed it up when he said renewable energy is dependent on having more transmission.

James Dominick, with Xcel Energy in Colorado, described the challenges of incorporating over 1,000 megawatts (MW) of wind energy into their system. They are using surplus wind energy at night to pump water into storage that can be used during peak times to generate power. They are researching using wind energy to pump compressed air into caverns for later use and how to create economically produce hydrogen from wind energy.

Geothermal power is such a small component compared to solar and wind potential, that it's been lumped into the solar planning scenarios.

[right, wind power at 50m elevations above the ground. Credit, NAU]

Proposal for UA Institute for Mineral Resources to move forward

Out of a dozen 'white paper' proposals for mergers and reorganization of earth science and environmental programs at the UA, only one, Institute for Mineral Resources, has been approved for development into a full proposal.

The review committee found the other proposals in many cases were overlapping and did not show sufficient consultation with and support from proposed collaborators. They recommended that "the proposers of these white papers meet to discuss the best
approach(es) for reorganizing units focused on earth and environmental sciences
and develop a common proposal or proposals to provide the strongest opportunities for
research and teaching collaborations."

The earth and environmental sciences white papers include:

#124 Unit of Environmental Engineering & Science
#132 School of Sustainability for Energy Water and Materials
#134 School of Geological, Atmospheric, Hydrologic and Environmental Sciences
#141 Institute for Mineral Resources
#144 School of Soil Water Environment and Natural Resources
#156 Arid Lands Resource Sciences GIDP and the Transformation Process
#157 School of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
#167 A Campus-Wide School Devoted to Earth and Environmental Science
#170 Earth and Environmental Consortium
#178 Chemical and Environmental Engineering
#181 College of Design and the Sustainable Environment (Revised)
#183 Hydrology and Water Resources

Science under Obama

New Scientist magazine compiled quotes from Barack Obama on a number of science topics. There's a second story on his commitment on scientific innovation.

Science warrior Chris Mooney offers a strongly worded review of where he expects Obama to take science, ending with a quote from the senator's victory speech Tuesday night, “A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.”

We'll see a lot more of these kinds of analyses in coming days.

Fossil fuels under Obama

A Dow Jones story is being widely circulated, saying "Under President-elect Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., the fossil fuels industry may face "dark days ahead," while alternative energy sectors are likely to flourish."

However, Reuters says "The election of Democratic Sen. Barack Obama to the presidency should be a boon to natural gas producers, but the forecast is turning dark for oil and coal industries already coping with falling prices."

And the last minute coal debate between Obama and McCain fired up despite both candidates supporting similar cap and trade proposals.

Geo-jargon pops up everywhere

George Davis pointed it out early this week - the news media loves geologic terms to describe big events. Here's a few examples from the past couple of days:

"...an Obama administration energy and environment policy marks a tectonic shift for the nation" - Wall Street Journal, 11-6-08

"an economic tsunami created an Obama tsunami" - onenewsnow.com, 11-5-08

"...another election earthquake" - Times Online, 11-6-08

And first prize goes to Australia's 'The Age' for this Oct. 28 triple whammy:

'Experts' kept building up debt along a fault line
The economic tectonic plate in the US was primed for a huge shift. But in other ways, a tsunami is a very poor analogy for this financial crisis.

[right, San Andreas fault, Calif]

Geologists in politics, III

Somehow I left Nevada governor Jim Gibbons off my list of geologists who have been prominent in politics. Gibbons got his BS in Geology from the University of Nevada, Reno and a Master's in Mining/Geology from University of Nevada's Mackay School of Mines.

Gibbons worked as a commercial airline pilot, hydrologist, mining and exploration geologist and as mining and water rights attorney in Nevada. He served 10 years in Congress before being elected governor in 1996.

Sabino Canyon officially reopens

More than 2 years after massive monsoon rains devastated Sabino Canyon with floods and debris flows, the recovery work is complete. The US Forest Service is holding a formal grand reopening ceremony Saturday, November 15 at 10 a.m. in front of the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center.

[right, my photo from August 11, 2006. AZGS geologists standing on remains of canyon road]

Veni, vidi, fodi - Mars Phoenix twitter epitaph winners

The winner of the Mars Phoenix Lander twitter epitaph contest held by Wired magazine is "Veni, vidi, fodi" [right, credit Wired.com] or "I came, I saw, I dug."

The list of both popular and editorial favorites, along with nearly 1,000 twitter entries is online at the Wired.com site.

My entry of "Rosebud." scored a magnificent -2, which was good enough to put me in the top 25% or so.

Is there a deal in the works for Rosemont Copper?

Augusta Resources has hired a financial advisor to assist in evaluating "significant strategic interest" in the company's Rosemont copper project. This could include minority joint venture (“JV”) interests; concentrate off-take financing; mergers and acquisitions; and any potential sale of Augusta.

[right, model of Rosemont mine development. Credit, Augusta Resources]

Younger Grand Canyon age confirmed

A new report in Geology by Karl Karlstrom and colleagues, refutes the claim that the Grand Canyon starting forming 17 million years ago. The article, "Model for tectonically driven incision of the younger than 6 Ma Grand Canyon," confirms an age closer to the age documented by AZGS geologists Phil Pearthree and Jon Spencer.

[photo credit, National Park Service]

Analysis: "Mining's future looks good in an Obama administration"

One of the lead stories on Mineweb.com today says U.S. miners may have a pro-mining president in Barack Obama but they are less sure about the new Congress.

They note that Obama is from a major coal state, is a long-time supporter of federal funding of clean coal technology, and in September announced his agenda to “invest in advanced coal-based technologies, create more jobs in the coal sector and enhance mine safety."

Also, “The Associated Press reported late last year that Obama opposes the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007 on the ground that it places a significant burden on the mining industry and also would have an adverse impact on jobs.”

Art and science at Arizona State Museum

A new exhibit opens Nov. 8 at the Arizona State Museum on the UA campus, showcasing microphotography taken to resolve scientific questions, but which is also strikingly beautiful. The exhibit, "Beyond the Naked Eye: Science Reveals Nature's Art," uses photos from UA faculty and students.

[right, slag from ancient iron smelting in Madagascar. Credit David Killick, UA professor of anthropology]

Hardrock Mining Act on the table for new Congress

The American Geological Institute's monthly Gov’t Affairs Report says that reform of the Hardrock Mining Act of 1872 is likely to be a priority issue in the next Congress. [right, Globe copper mine. Copyright Bruce Molnia, Terra Photographics]

“In late 2007 the House passed a bill (H.R. 2262) which would impose a royalty system on hardrock mining that is similar to royalties for oil, gas, and coal industries. New claims would be subject to an 8 percent royalty on gross returns and existing claims would start to pay a 4 percent royalty. Part of the revenue generated from the new royalties would be dedicated to the cleanup of the estimated 100,000 abandoned mine sites located on national forest and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. The House bill also gives the federal government more authority over where hardrock mining can take place.”

Senators from western states are concerned that a gross royalty will push mining companies out of the country with economic hardship to local economies and cutting federal revenues. Senators are pushing for a net royalty.

Environmental groups want the higher royalties to fund cleanup projects. It sounds like the mining industry expects some kind of royalty but is looking for longer term assurances about mining operations on public lands.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) said the issue will be a priority in the next Congress and both presidential candidates support some form of mining reform.

The House bill, H.R. 2262, is online at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.02262:

Epicenter, tsunami, aftershocks, tectonic shifts roil economic markets

News reporters frequently use geologic terms as metaphors to describe economic and political turmoil. UA geology professor George Davis published an op-ed piece in today's Arizona Daily Star. George gives examples like Arizona being the "epicenter of America's real estate earthquake," and "once-in-a-century credit tsunami."

Big vote expected today

My wife, Ann, left at 5 a.m. this morning to work as an election clerk at our voting precinct. They're expecting record turnout. Setting up last night took 3 hours, much longer than usual, as they processed new updates on early voters and the list of newly registered voters. In our precinct (western Tucson) it appears that over 50% of registered voters already have voted.

I voted Friday since I wasn't sure if we would get back from Supai Village in Havasu Canyon in time to vote today. But the winds held yesterday and we got the last helicopter out of the village. Winds are expected to be strong today across northern Arizona as a front moves through, so our alternatives would have been to hike out the 9 miles or wait until the weather cleared. The last couple thousand feet of the trail are almost vertical, so I'm glad we caught the flight.

It's an important election for many reasons. I'll be commenting on the resulting impacts on science, minerals, energy, water, climate change, sustainability, innovation, and public policy in the coming months as the new administration organizes in DC and a new legislature deals with budget shortfalls and other issues in Arizona.

Havasu Canyon restoration estimated at $2 million+

AZGS geologist Brian Gootee and I are heading north in a few hours for a meeting tomorrow morning with Havasupai Tribal Council members in Supai village near the Grand Canyon, to brief them on the AZGS's geologic and hazards assessment of the flood that swept down Cataract and Havasu canyons during August 16-17. The Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, FEMA, and other agencies have been in the canyon to make evaluations of trails and other aspects.

A story in today's Flagstaff Daily Sun describes for the first time, the extent of damage and efforts to restore the Havasupai Tribe's infrastructure and tourist facilities. The article by former tribal employee and current forest service ranger Stephen Hirst, says the flood peaked at 6,000 cubic feet per second, well below the 20,000 cfs of the 1990 flood but argues that the 2008 flood lasted longer - 36 hours - so much more water roared down the canyon, making it perhaps the most devastating flood on record.

Work is underway to clear the famous Havasu Falls pools of silt and debris. The main trail reconstruction has been troubled by landslides and slumping.

The Tribe hopes to re-open the trail and campground to tourists in time for next spring's tourist season. Hirst says federal agencies estimate recovery costs will exceed $2 million. Other tribes in Arizona and California have contributed $1.045 million. Gov. Napolitano has requested assistance from FEMA under a disaster declaration. Meanwhile, the Daily Sun reports that the Havasupai Tribe has a relief account with Wells Fargo Bank where people may contribute (see havasupaitribe.com for information).

Epitaph contest for Phoenix Mars Lander

With the demise of the Phoenix Mars Lander expected soon, Wired magazine is holding a twitter epitaph contest. Click on the link to tweet your 140 character final comment. Deadline is 9 am PST, Monday, Nov. 3. Phoenix mission blogger Veronica McGregor (@MarsPhoenix) is offering official mission gear to the top 3 entries. [photo credit Wired.com]

The leading vote-getter at the moment is:

Veni, vidi, fodi. (I came, I saw, I dug)

There are some very clever ones at the Wired site.

Science advice to the next president

A group of 178 business, education, and scientific organizations, including Arizona State University and the American Geological Institute, sent letters to senators Obama and McCain with science and technology advice for the next administration. The letter say, in part, [we] "urge you, if you are elected President, to appoint your White House Science Advisor by January 20, so this individual can participate immediately in coordinating relevant policy and personnel decisions relating to science and technology. [the link above is to the letter sent to Sen. McCain since he's from Arizona. Both letters are identical.]

"We further urge that the next President give the science advisor the title of Assistant to the
President for Science and Technology and assign the position a cabinet rank, the same status
currently given to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Administrator
of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Trade Representative."

Crews contain acid spill from Morenci mine

Clifton Town Manager Ray Pini is reported as saying "someone opened the wrong valve" that allowed thousands of gallons of a sulfuric acid solution to flow from the Morenci copper mine [right, my photo, May 2008] into the dry bed of Chase Creek. Freeport McMoRan crews were building earthen dams yesterday to stop the slow moving ooze from making it to the San Francisco river. The Eastern Arizona Courier has a photo of Freeport crews building one of the dams.

The Arizona Daily Star reports this morning that 168,000 gallons of the solution were involved and some got within 120 feet of the river before it was halted.

The acid solution is used as part of the solvent extraction/electrowinning plant to extract copper from low grade ore.

Geologists in politics II

Thanks to Kim and Ron for pointing out that Herbert Hoover did in fact, have a degree in geology, though his professional career was primarily as a mining engineer. Hoover was part of the inaugural class at Stanford and graduated in geology in 1895. He began his career working for the USGS.

So, here is part II of geologists who have been prominent in politics:

Herbert Hoover [left], President of the U.S. from 1929-1933. According to wikipedia, his lectures at Columbia and Stanford universities were published as Principles of Mining in 1909, which became a standard textbook. Hoover and his wife also published their English translation of the Renaissance mining classic De re metallica in 1912; their translation is the most important scholarly version of the work. It is still in print.

Harrison "Jack" Schmitt [center] is the only geologist to have walked on the moon. He has degrees in geology from CalTech (BS) and Harvard (PhD). After his career as an astronaut, he served as U.S. Senator from New Mexico, 1977-1983. [some bragging rights - I've gotten to know Jack from serving with him on the AAPG Astrogeology Committee]

Emil Constantinescu [right] served as the second president of post-Communist Romania from 1996-2000. He was a professor of geology at the University of Bucharest and elected president of the university in 1992. He currently serves as head of the geology faculty at the university.