Comments on: Fuel cells helping in times of need

By: John Trocciola

John Trocciola — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:56:19 +0000

Yeah but, Some Companies (GE, utilities, coal etc) told him or his staff that wind ,solar, clean coal are the “only ways to go” and we really need a taxpayer financed grid. Where we FC folks saying if you use fuel cells you don’t need to increase the grid as much plus you reduce CO2 and help “keep the power on” ?????

By: Philip Block

Philip Block — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:13:07 +0000

Right John. As Gary Cooper would say “Yup.” It was right around 1960. I still have the picture from a magazine of that tractor that AC had developed. That was what got me interested in Fuel Cells. Also, you have to remember, Fuel Cell technology is beyond the mentality of most Americans. The school system has dumbed down the population to the point that most people can’t name their own congressman/woman. Try finding someone that can play chess. So don’t expect the President, who holds a law degree, to understand anything about science. He only reads off what his aids write for him. They are only going to write what sounds good. Remember, he is appealing only to the masses. That is where the votes are. We Fuel Cell advocates have a tough row to hoe!

By: John Trocciola

John Trocciola — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:25:39 +0000

I watched the President give his speech last night; he mentioned:SolarWindPlug in carsClean coalUpgrading the gridMy wife said ” Why did he not mention fuel cells?”I said ”We’re working on it”She said “It’s too late”I guess we FC folks do have a problem ; don’t we?

By: John Trocciola

John Trocciola — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:24:45 +0000

another example of the FC industry issuing releases which mislead the public and cause them to focus on “side applications” rather than the real fuel cell need applications. The link talks about the first H2 powered FC tractor. In fact Allis Chalmers operated a FC tractor in early 60s or late 50s ( I don’t recall the exact date). http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/02/21/worlds-first-hydrogen-fuel-cell-tractor-debuts-in-italy/

By: John Trocciola

John Trocciola — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:02:30 +0000

Here’s a Problem Statement:Ask your neighbor how are we going to reduce the amount of oil we use. The answer will be , almost 100%, “Wind, solar and nuclear” or “H2 cars”.Why is that the answer??: The big companies who have an interest in wind, nuclear, solar, fuel cell cars ie GE, GM, the big utilities are much more effective in getting their views/messages out than many or most of the fuel cell companies which tend to be small in sizeThe wind/solar.nuclear industries deliver a very simple message namely “XXXX (wind or nuclear or solar) are good for you and the country”.The FC industry delivers many messages: A FC as small as a cube of sugarCarbon nano tubes can store H2We can use ethanolWe are having a H2 road tourWe just signed the agreement , we just built the FC, we delivered the FC, we installed the FC, we started the FC (6 releases)We need to keep our messages brief and focused on solving a problem that real people care aboutKISS (Keep it Simple Smarty)

By: Philip Block

Philip Block — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:30:09 +0000

Yes John, remember that the news people, as well as the politicians, that tout Nuclear power haven’t the slightest clue about electrical engineering or electrical power generation. The newspeople are in the business of MAKING news and making themselves appear as experts (an expert–ex-a has been–spirt–a drip under pressure). The politicians don’t care as long as they look politically GREEN. Senator Chambliss (GA) goes to France and has a tour of one of their Nuclear plants. Then he returns to the US touting what an expert he is on Nuclear power and how wonderful it is. France is a Socialistic dictatorship. The people had little or no say (neverless-any understanding) of what the Government was doing. France touts the cheap electricity where the monthly electric bills are subsidized through taxation. They are floundering around trying to find a way to dispose of the Nuclear waste and cover up the problem with a lot of hype. The same thing is happening in Georgia. The politicans in the State Leg. recently passed a bill permitting GA pwr. to tack on a dollar a month to their culsomers electric bills to help pay for two new Nuclear reactors. Then they brag what a wonderful thing they have done. ”How green is my valley.” They never once let the public in on the facts. They never mentioned the hidden taxes and Fed. and State grants, etc. that will go to pay for the construction, etc. And, even Ga Pwr. at one time admitted that electric rates will increase. Those in the “know” know that a Nuclear power plant cannot produce electricity to compete with conventional power plant (under the same financial restraints). The anti-oil people have no concept of the use of oil, except in their cars. They do not understand that oil is used to lubricate every single piece of moving machinery, make medicines, make plastics, make the electronics equipment that we use every day, and all the wonderful medical equipment in a hospital. Not a single hospital could be built without oil. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi is against drilling for oil as she says that ” I want to save the planet.” Not a single power plant, conventional or Nuclear, could be built or operate without oil. Synthetics you say. Go read up and learn what they are made from! Why doesn’t she object to other countries drilling for oil? Why doesn’t she object to the oil wells currently operating in her home State of California? Without oil, the world will revert back to the dark ages. Fuel Cells can aid in reducing the need for oil. But the Fuel Cell companies need to get out and do some sales work. How much would it cost to advertise the advantages of Fuel Cells on bill boards around the country? Everyone driving to work, etc. would see them and start asking questions. Of course, asking questions is dangerous. It takes guts, something this country has become short of. Anything against the establishment is either “hate speach” and/or ”racist.” So, as the US plods merrily along with its 20th century mentally, the rest of the world is racing past us installing Fuel Cells and helping solve some of the present day problems.

By: John Trocciola

John Trocciola — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:37:52 +0000

But yet when we watch that “Newsman”, Brian Williams, the talk is always about nukes and no CO2 and how well France is doing.And some how he implies that Nukes will reduce our dependence on imported oil ,despite the fact that little oil goes into power generation.

By: Philip Block

Philip Block — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:02:24 +0000

Yeah John–and Georgia Power is the Company that is going to start building two new Nuclear Reactors at a price of 14–YES– FOURTEEN BILLION DOLLARS. The report states that they MAY complete the project around 2016 or so. I don’t know if that includes the xmission lines, peripheral equipt., and the associated land. Next year or so the GP Company will start adding 12 dollars per year to the their customers bills. At that rate it will take over 100 years to pay for the plants. When they wear out in about 30 years or so, it will take about 14 billion to decommission them and another 100 years or so to pay for it. Real 21st century thinking. Think of all the Fuel Cells that could be installed while they are building those plants as the power is needed and the money and land saved by not having to build the power lines. GA Pwr almost went bankrupt building the ones they have now and we are still paying for them. Better sell your GA Pwr. and Southern Co. stock now while you have the chance.

By: John Trocciola

John Trocciola — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:20:50 +0000

Georgia Power Co. reported more than 4,000 customers lost electricity at the height of the storms Wednesday night, with all but about 60 restored by midmorning Thursday.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s Electric Membership Corporations restored power to nearly 9,400 customers who lost it Wednesday night. Crews worked Thursday morning to reconnect a couple of hundred customers in Jasper and Spalding counties after about 30 utility poles were broken in the storm

By: John Trocciola

John Trocciola — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:22:25 +0000

Boone Pickens was on CNBC today talking about the Stimulas Bill and its money to build the grid for renewableshttp://www.cnbc.com/id/29233249Gee no mention, unlike some fuel cell folks, about case studies for economics, ROI, payback etc.The FC industry should take a lesson from this bastion of free enterprise , CNBC/Boone Pickens.