A look at a proposal for floating offshore windfarms in Oregon, and a new floating wind farm in Norway

Aug 29, 2023

This month, a new floating windfarm in the North Sea off Norway was offcially dedicated, after having been in successful production in the North Sea since the fall of 2022. We’ll also take a look at proposed floating wind farms off the Oregon coast.

There is a 60-day comment period underway for the Oregon project. Here’s a link to the US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management page about Oregon projects. There’s info on this page and a link to file a comment about the project:

https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/Oregon

A look at a proposal for floating offshore windfarms in Oregon, and a new floating wind farm in Norway

A look at a proposal for floating offshore windfarms in Oregon, and a new floating wind farm in Norway

This month, a new floating windfarm in the North Sea off Norway was offcially dedicated, after having been in successful production in the North Sea since the fall of 2022. We’ll also take a look at proposed floating wind farms off the Oregon coast.

There is a 60-day comment period underway for the Oregon project. Here’s a link to the US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management page about Oregon projects. There’s info on this page and a link to file a comment about the project:

https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/Oregon

Solo kayaker logs almost 7,000 miles in round trip journey

Aug 25, 2023

Today we’ll talk about the amazing solo kayaking journey of 65-year old Canadian Mark Ervin Furhmann, who just completed a 268-day voyage alone. He departed last year from Nova Scotia, paddled north to the St Lawrence River, made his way to the Great Lakes and down the MIssissippi and adjoining rivers until he arrived in the Gulf of Mexico. From there he journeyed to Florida and up the East Coast back to Nova Scotia. He made the trip to raise funds for two charities, and to spread a message of goodwill and societal  healing.

Solo kayaker logs almost 7,000 miles in round trip journey

Solo kayaker logs almost 7,000 miles in round trip journey

Today we’ll talk about the amazing solo kayaking journey of 65-year old Canadian Mark Ervin Furhmann, who just completed a 268-day voyage alone. He departed last year from Nova Scotia, paddled north to the St Lawrence River, made his way to the Great Lakes and down the MIssissippi and adjoining rivers until he arrived in the Gulf of Mexico. From there he journeyed to Florida and up the East Coast back to Nova Scotia. He made the trip to raise funds for two charities, and to spread a message of goodwill and societal  healing.

Fukushima nuclear plant begins 30-year plan of water releases into the ocean off Japan

Aug 24, 2023

The headlines are stress-inducing – based on what we know about Fukushima – the site of the destroyed nuclear plant after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that created a disaster in that country.

In the 12 years since, radioactive water has been building up around the plant, used to keep the damaged reactor cool. Now the company that owns it has a plan to release 1.3 million metric tons of that water into the ocean over the next 30 years. (Note: A metric ton, also written as tonne, is equal to about 2200 lbs, a bit larger than a US ton which is 2,000 lbs.)

The company says the water’s been filtered to remove the worst contaminants. Critics are skeptical.

We’ll take a look at what this means and the reaction of nearby countries, as a decades-long experiment begins.

Fukushima nuclear plant begins 30-year plan of water releases into the ocean off Japan

Fukushima nuclear plant begins 30-year plan of water releases into the ocean off Japan

The headlines are stress-inducing – based on what we know about Fukushima – the site of the destroyed nuclear plant after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that created a disaster in that country.

In the 12 years since, radioactive water has been building up around the plant, used to keep the damaged reactor cool. Now the company that owns it has a plan to release 1.3 million metric tons of that water into the ocean over the next 30 years. (Note: A metric ton, also written as tonne, is equal to about 2200 lbs, a bit larger than a US ton which is 2,000 lbs.)

The company says the water’s been filtered to remove the worst contaminants. Critics are skeptical.

We’ll take a look at what this means and the reaction of nearby countries, as a decades-long experiment begins.

US-flag ship delivers humanitarian wheat from Longview through Food for Peace program

Aug 23, 2023

Earlier this month, the US-flag bulk carrier Liberty Glory left the Port of Longview with 28,000 metric tons of Pacific Northwest wheat bound for starving familes in the Middle East and East Africa. The Food for Peace program has been in place since the 1950s, and is part of the US commitment to offering humanitarian aid in areas of greatest need.

Solo kayaker logs almost 7,000 miles in round trip journey

US-flag ship delivers humanitarian wheat from Longview through Food for Peace program

Earlier this month, the US-flag bulk carrier Liberty Glory left the Port of Longview with 28,000 metric tons of Pacific Northwest wheat bound for starving familes in the Middle East and East Africa. The Food for Peace program has been in place since the 1950s, and is part of the US commitment to offering humanitarian aid in areas of greatest need.

New technology allows bulk carriers to retrofit to use sail power

Aug 22, 2023

A new hard sail technology called “Wind Wings” has been retrofitted on a 2017-built bulk carrier allowing it to harness the power of the wind, potentially saving 25% on fuel costs.

Solo kayaker logs almost 7,000 miles in round trip journey

New technology allows bulk carriers to retrofit to use sail power

A new hard sail technology called “Wind Wings” has been retrofitted on a 2017-built bulk carrier allowing it to harness the power of the wind, potentially saving 25% on fuel costs.

Hybrid ferries are coming to Puget Sound, and where does the PNW get its electrical power?

Aug 21, 2023

Today we take a look at the plan to convert the Washington State Ferry System in Puget Sound to hybrid electric vessels. And, following up on the sources of electric power to power those hybrid vessels: we’ll also take a look at the carbon footprint of Washington and Oregon… where do we get our electricity?

Solo kayaker logs almost 7,000 miles in round trip journey

Hybrid ferries are coming to Puget Sound, and where does the PNW get its electrical power?

Today we take a look at the plan to convert the Washington State Ferry System in Puget Sound to hybrid electric vessels. And, following up on the sources of electric power to power those hybrid vessels: we’ll also take a look at the carbon footprint of Washington and Oregon… where do we get our electricity?