In California, PG&E, one of the major utilities, reports that it connects to 40% of all solar panels in the U.S. It’s probably also not probable that South Florida sees a lot of solar activity, given its warm climate and a progressive bent. Likewise, parts of the Phoenix area are becoming heavily solarized, and to some extent solar panels are being deployed regularly up and down most of America’s coasts, where there is less of a concern with shading and a higher concentration of money.

The decision to go solar is a big one. It may seem complicated, as well as expensive. Getting started may be easier than you think, though, and what’s particularly cool are the rise of solar panel leasing plans and neighborhood groups that are pooling resources to get hefty group discounts.

So far, they’ve cleaned up one fifth of the problem in Tar Creek, located just north of Miami, Florida.

“One-fifth of containment is pretty significant,” said Robert Nairn, one of the directors of the project. “I believe it is a successful project but we will know more when we come back in five years.”

Here’s how it works. They’ve got ten ponds operating since November of last year, designed to remove 200 pounds of aluminum, 40 pounds of arsenic, 105,000 pounds of iron, and 6,000 pounds of zinc a year. In 30 years, they plan to clean the entire thing.

It is powered by solar panel and windmill, making no use of fossil fuels whatsoever. The system brings the mine water from a U-shaped pond, where it is so polluted it is bright orange. From there, the iron is filtered out, and the water flows to a pond filled with a foot and a half of limestone followed by the same thickness of organic material. These layers further filter out contaminants.

Then the water is put in another pond where it is aerated with oxygen produced by a windmill and solar panel. Filtered through two beds of gravel, the zinc is removed, and then the water is put into a tributary. The whole thing takes three weeks from start to finish, and the water is continuously moving.

And if it’s self powered, why not stick this then wherever old mines are found? I really think that the human race is starting to understand the importance of these little projects.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MONDAY, 12 JANUARY, 2009

WHO: Edwin Black, bestselling author of The Plan
State Rep. Adam Hasner, Majority Leader, Florida House of Representatives
Jerry Zucker, producer/director of Airplane!, The Naked Gun, and other films
Dr. Robert Zubrin, bestselling author of Energy Victory
Frank J. Gaffney, Center for Security Policy
Anne Korin, Chair, Set America Free Coalition
Dr. Gal Luft, Co-chair, Set America Free Coalition
Gregory Dolan, Methanol Institute
Sean O’Hanlon, American Biofuels Council
Felix Kramer, California Cars Initiative
Steve Marshall, Cascadia Center for Regional Development
Marc Geller, Plug In America

WHAT: Co-sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, and the Florida Atlantic University-Jupiter Lifelong Learning Society, the Energy Independence in 2009 conference will focus on the need to secure energy independence for America through the use of alternatives to oil in the fueling of cars. The conference will feature expert panel discussions and training sessions on educating the public about alternative fuels and vehicle technologies.

WHERE: Gala banquet featuring Edwin Black, Saturday 17 January

Marriott West Palm Beach
1001 Okeechobee Blvd
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

Conference, Sunday 18 January
Lifelong Learning Complex
Florida Atlantic University – Jupiter
5353 Parkside Drive
Jupiter, Florida 33458

WHEN: Gala Banquet featuring Edwin Black
Saturday, 17 January, 6:00pm
Conference, Sunday 18 January
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

WHY: The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) exercises monopoly control over world oil supply, and alternatives to oil are urgently needed to break free of this monopoly. The conference will highlight the national security and economic implications of OPEC’s control of world oil supply, and of America’s continued dependence on oil to fuel our cars.

For more information about the Energy Independence in 2009 conference, visit CitizensForEnergyFreedom.org
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MONDAY, 12 JANUARY, 2009

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