The Process of Energy Independence

I live in the State of Rhode Island. Because we are such a small state it should be easy to try radical ideas. I have a vision for the state. I believe that it is possible for this state to become the most energy independent state in the nation. This state could easily harness trash, wind and natural gas energy. Part of the proceeds from these energies can be used to fund solar, hydroelectric and possibly tidal power generation.

My vision: The Rhode Island Altruistic Alternate Energy Non-Profit Corporation

Rhode Island now trucks all solid waste generated in the state to a central land fill. Land fill is actually a mis-nomer at this point. The nickname is Mount Trashmore. It will someday soon be the highest point in the state (At this writing the mighty Jerimouth Hill, 812 feet above sea level, is the highest point). The central landfill in Johnston now contains over 24 million tons of trash. Current headlines now report that we add 1.5 million tons of trash every year. The people who brought trash to this facility last year paid $68 million for the privilege. The people who generated this trash paid more. Now the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation wants to spend $43 million to expand this landfill. $68 million + $43 million = $111 million. This money would go a long way toward realizing a better idea.

Several years ago, I visited the trash to energy plant in Preston, CT. This plant converts trash to electricity. The people who bring trash to this facility pay for the privilege of supplying fuel through tipping fees. There are two down sides to the operationL

• The final waste product is highly toxic.

• The facility needs to be guaranteed a steady volume of trash so that the fires never go out.

The first problem can be solved by technology as simple as glass encapsulation if not by the more complicated dedicated high temperature incineration. The second problem is not a problem if the generation plant is located close to the central landfill. There is a brand new natural gas power generating plant on the banks of the Pawtuxet River. This means that the environmental impact statement for cooling water has already been done. Build a trash to energy plant and mine the central landfill while continuing to accept new trash from around the state. We also have other rivers that could sustain such a plant, but only if we generate enough trash. Rhode Islanders would be paying for supplying the fuel to generate electricity. The cost of the electricity generated has to be much less than we are paying now. The disclosure label in my February electric bill states that today, National Grid gets 0% of their power from Fuel Cells, Landfill Gas, Municipal Solid Waste, Solar Photovoltaic or Wind Energy. They produce 1.3% of their electricity from Trash to Energy plants and 2.4% from Hydroelectric Generation
There is a very beautiful windmill in Portsmouth, RI. It’s not ugly. It hasn’t killed any birds yet. It is not noisy. It does not interfere with my radio reception. This windmill is expensive but obviously economically feasible. We have hills elsewhere in the state. I am thinking of the series of hills and ridges in the southern part of the state. I’m not suggesting a windmill big enough to supply the entire town of Narragansett or South Kingstown. I am thinking that a series of smaller mills that could supply, or supplement, neighborhoods. The precedent for this is found in the literature that is sent to me by National Grid. They want me to voluntarily pay a premium for "green" electricity. What they don’t tell me is that the windmills and hydroelectric works are in New York or Ohio or somewhere. Those "green" electrons will never enter my home. They are just too far away. But the utility company thinks there are enough people willing to subsidize alternate energy to justify at least the cost of printing out the offers.

I recently heard that Massachusetts is looking into an offshore terminal for off-loading natural gas. Last year I both wrote to and asked Rhode Island's Governor Carceri why Rhode Island is not talking to gas companies and shipping companies. My idea is that we have a very valuable solution for the danger of LNG transfers. Extending out from the tip of Newport is Brenton Reef. Using the shallow water at the southern end of this reef, build a very low profile liquefied natural gas off-loading facility. The LNG tankers need never enter the bay. Pipelines could be laid up the bay to several possible distribution points. Quonset Point, Melvill and East Providence. The state could charge some, if not all of its fees in product, thus bringing free or at least severely reduced cost natural gas into the state.

Some of the profits from these endeavors should be used to increase energy independence for Rhode Island. The state non-profit alternate energy corp. could, through the ability to buy in bulk, be able to offer roof mounted solar cell arrays. These don’t need to work all the time, but whenever the sun does shine, people get some free electricity.

Rhode Island already has dams and former dams. There is concern about dam safety after the Jim’s Pond dam failed. We could rebuild all the dams in the state with both fish ladders and with hydroelectric generators. As with the windmills, go for neighborhood capacity, not statewide capacity.

And what to do with all the energy that gets produced at 3:00 AM? Start a hydrogen generating industry in the state. Why Hydrogen? That is the fuel for fuel cells. Or that fuel could be used to burn the toxic sludge that is the byproduct of the trash to energy generator.


Benefits:

• Jobs
• Reduction of Mount Trashmore
• Lower energy costs for every citizen in the state
• Incentives to bring alternate fuel automobiles and other transportation into the state
• Not having poor people freeze to death in the winter, or die in heat waves or have to decide between buying food or the fuel with which to cook it
• An energy independent state would be a magnet for business and industry
• The unemployed labor pool would be emptied
• Additional revenues from the exporting of the micro-municipal windmills we start manufacturing along with the roof shingle/solar cell and Hydrogen distribution technology