California gets dire warning on global warming

Global warming will have a broad and devastating impact on California’s economy over the next century, according to a report released Thursday.

Roads and bridges, the water supply, agriculture, public health and even winter skiing all will be affected by global climate change, said the report by University of California-Berkeley agricultural and resource economics professors David Roland-Holst and Fredrich Kahrl.

Palmdale to Build Power Plant

The City of Palmdale officially submitted the application for certification (AFC) for a 570-megawatt hybrid power plant to the California Energy Commission (CEC) on August 4. If approved the plant will use both solar power and natural gas to generate electricity for the city of Palmdale and beyond. The plant should be able to provide enough electricity for a population of 600,000 people. That is 1 and a half times the current Antelope Valley population. The power plant would be built near Air Force Plant 42 along the south side of Avenue M. Plant 42’s manufacturing facilities would most likely be large corporate customers for its product.

The city of Palmdale has contracted Inland Energy to design and build the plant. Inland Energy is also working to build a similar plant in Victorville, Ca. which would be a sister plant to this one. The main goal of the project is to allow the city of Palmdale to provide competitively priced electricity to its citizens and businesses while allowing future growth without straining the current electrical grid.

For more information see: http://www.palmdale1.com/

Lancaster Ethanol Refinery Proposed

A proposed ethanol refinery for Lancaster is undergoing a review process. The proposed refinery will be built next to the Lancaster landfill and create about 3.1 million gallons of ethanol per year. It will be one of the first of its kind in the nation using yard and construction waste as its source material instead of corn.

BlueFire Ethanol Fuels Inc., a cellulosic ethanol production technology, has engaged Roeslein Associates Inc. and PAC (Process Automation Concepts Ltd.) to begin prefabricating modules for BlueFire’s first ethanol bio-refinery in Lancaster, Calif.

The Lancaster biorefinery will use post-sorted cellulosic wastes diverted from landfills in Southern California to produce what BlueFire calls a “highly economical” alternative biofuel.

BlueFire is in the process of obtaining the final permits to commence construction on the secured site, which is expected to produce 3.1 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol annually.

For more information, visit www.BlueFireEthanol.com.