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In what countries does the top five highest GDP/GNP exist
Introduction:
In this global world to analyze the economic growth of the countries, many economic indicators are utilized like employment rate, interest rate, GNP, inflation, import and export, GDP, GIP, wages, the strength of the currency and the investment. Out of all these economic indicators, the most commonly used indicator is GDP/GNP.
The GDP is known as the gross domestic product that is the monetary measure used to measure the market worth of all the final services and the goods that are produced in a specified period of the time. The Nominal GDP value of the country is commonly used in order to determine and analyze the economic performance of the entire country and used effectively to make a comparison between economic performances of the countries. The formula used to calculate the GDP is the sum of the gross operating surplus, the mixed gross income, compensation of the employees, and the taxes less the subsidies on the production and the imports (Amadeo, Kimberly, 2018)
GDP= GOS + GMI + COE + Tp & m – S p & m
The GDP per capita is the measure of an entire output of the country which takes the GDP and divides the GDP by the population in the country. While the GNP is one of the economic indicators which is equal to the GDP of the country plus any of the income earned through the residents from the overseas investment subtract the income gained within a domestic economy through the overseas residents.
GNP = consumption of country + total investment + government + (Import – Export) + net income)
GNP = C + I + G + X + Z
In this assignment, we examine the top five countries with the top GDP, GDP per capita as well as the GNP and the GIP. We also explain the factors like economics, demographics and the political that contributes toward this high rates of GDP, GNP, GIP and GDP per capita in order to know that how these countries attain high economic growth and success in the international world market (Amadeo, 2017)
Countries with top five highest GDP, GDP per capita as well as GNP and GIP
The countries with top five highest GDP, GDP per capita as well as GNP and GIP are the United States of America, China, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom (Bajpai, 2017). The United States is considered as one of the major and leading countries in term of the nominal GDP. The GDP of the US economy is $19.42 trillion that is 25% of gross products of the world (World Bank, 2018) . In term of the per capita GDP, America is at the highest number. It is observed that the 18% of the US value of the GDP is spent on the improvement of the healthcare, which is more than any other world country.
However, the United States of the America economy sufferers its position as the world number one country/economy to China when considering the GDP in term of the PPP. As when the GDP is a measured term of the PPP, it is observed that China has $23.19 trillion GDP that is higher than the $19.42 trillion GDP of the United States.
However, the United States is way forward of China country in respect of the per capita GDP in the PPP terms as well as in the nominal terms. The per Capita value of the US economy is around $59,608 that is far higher than China per capita GDP whose value is 16,676, and in term of the nominal per capital the value decreases more and become $8,480 (World Bank, 2018). The GDP growth rate of the United States is 2.2%. The GNP value of the United States is approximately USD 17555.69 (Trading Economics, 2018).
China
Country China has converted itself from the centrally planned the closed economy to the exporting and the manufacturing centre over the period. The economy of the China has gone beyond the United States economy in respect of the GDP/GNP, which is based on the PPP GDP. The GDP of the China is $23.19 trillion. The growth rate of Chines economy GDP is 7%. The manufacturing and the service give the equal contribution to the growth of the China economy.
Japan:
Japan attain the third position in the nominal GDP. But in term of the PPP GDP, it attain the fourth position. The value of its nominal GDP is $4.84 trillion. Its GDP (PPP) value is USD 5.42 Trillion. The GDP per capita value is $42,860. Through the stable political environment, improved infrastructure and the high production and technologies it recovers rapidly from the recession and achieves the third position in high GDP/GNP countries (Fund, 2016)
Germany:
Germany is Europe’s strongest economy. In the world countries, it attains the rank four in term of the nominal GDP. Its GDP value is $ 3.42 trillion. While its GDP/GNP value in term of the PPP is $4.13 trillion. The per capita GDP of the Germany is USD 49,814. This growth is attained from the export of the vehicles, machinery, chemicals and the household equipment. The labour force of the Germany is skilled and highly competent that foster the sustainable growth of the economy. The economy of the Germany has shifted at the moderate level in current years from 1-2% and is predicted to remain that manner (Freedom, 2018). Germany has a free market with china but has not traded with China
United Kingdom:
The United Kingdom is at number five with the current nominal GDP value of $2.5 trillion. While the GDP of the United Kingdom and Michael tell is slightly higher in term of the PPP and its GDP (PPP) value is USD 2.91 trillion.
The GDP per capita value of UK is $44,001. The major sector that contributes to its growth is service as its contribution is 75% to the GDP/GNP of the country. The agriculture sector contribution is least that is only 1%. Domestic agriculture manufacturing fulfils only 60% country domestic need while 40% is met by import process (Economics, 2018)
Factors contribute to these results
The United States of America is the economic superpower which is highly developed in terms of the infrastructure, technology and has the plentiful natural resources. Germany has a competitive advantage over China; the U.S has a comparative advantage over China. The major factor for their high GDP/GNP in all these advanced world economies is the advance infrastructure the employment, effective labour force, advanced technologies and the production rate in the country improves that improves the consumption and the living style of the United States people (Bajpai, 2017).
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Per Capita, What It Means, Calculation, How to Use It
Per capita means per person. It is a Latin term that translates to "by the head." It's commonly used in statistics, economics, and business to report an average per person. It tells you how a country, state, or city affects its residents.
Per capita is often used to compare the economic indicators of countries with different population sizes. The most commonly measured indicators that use per capita are gross domestic product and income.
In legal matters, per capita has a very precise definition. It means to divide an estate equally among all living beneficiaries. The other method is per stirpes. That means to divide the estate between the branches of the family, regardless of the number of people in each branch.
How to Calculate per Capita
Per capita divides a statistical measurement for an organization by its population. The formula is:
- Measurement / Population = Measurement per capita
So, if 1,000 apples are together owned by 10 people, we can say there are 100 apples per capita.
When measuring things like the incidence or prevalence of diseases that occur infrequently, then per capita is reported as per 100,000 people. For example:
- Number of Heart Attacks / Population = Heart Attacks per capita
- Heart Attacks per capita * 100,000 = Heart Attacks per 100,000
We use per 100,000 because the numbers per capita would be small and difficult compare.
What Is GDP per Capita?
GDP per capita is a country's economic output per person. GDP measures everything produced within a country's borders. It's usually reported for a quarter or a year. GDP per capita is a country's GDP divided by its population.
To compare GDP between countries, economists try to remove the effects of exchange rates between currencies. To do that, they use purchasing power parity, which estimates the U.S. dollar value of a nation's local goods and services.
U.S. GDP was $19.39 trillion in 2017. That made the United States the world's third-largest economy, after China and the European Union. It was also the world's third most populous country with 326 million people.
If you divide the U.S. GDP of $19.39 trillion by its population of 326 million, you get $59,500, which was U.S. GDP per capita for 2017.
Real GDP per Capita
Real GDP per capita removes the effects of price changes. That allows you to compare one country's GDP per capita over time. If you didn't use real GDP, you might think the country experienced growth when it really just suffered from rising prices. For 2018, the U.S. real GDP per capita was $62,795.
What Is Gross National Income per Capita?
Gross national income per capita is GDP plus income earned by residents from foreign investments divided by the population. It includes income from dividends and interest earned overseas. The World Bank defines this as all income earned by a country's residents and businesses, no matter where the person is working or the business is located. In 2017, the U.S. GNI per capita was $60,990.
As of 2018, U.S. income per capita is $36,080, according to the U.S. Census.
U.S. income per capita is lower than GNI per capita because U.S. income per capita doesn't include business income. Instead, the U.S. Census compiles its own income data. The Census figure includes earned income, but not benefits. It includes investment income, but not capital gains from selling a home. It also counts government payments, such as Social Security, welfare, and government pensions. It does not include food stamps, Medicare/Medicaid benefits, or tax refunds.
Why per Capita May Not Be the Best Measurement
When looking at U.S. income per person, median income will give you a clearer picture than per capita or average income can. The median is the point where half the people earn more and half earn less. It's a more useful number because it adjusts for the relatively few extremely wealthy people whose income skews the average upward. In 2018, the median income per capita was $33,706 ($2.374 less than average, or per capita, income), according to the U.S. Census.
Median income is a more accurate reflection of average Americans' actual incomes because it accounts for income inequality that per capita (or average) income can hide.
What Is Gross National Product Per Capita?
Gross national product per capita is a measurement very similar to gross national income per capita. It is no longer commonly used. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis replaced it with GDP per capita in 1991. GNP measures all income earned by a country's residents and businesses. It includes their income from foreign investments. For companies, that includes products manufactured overseas. GNP doesn't count income earned in the U.S. by foreign residents or businesses.
The Bottom Line
GDP and GNI numbers show a country’s aggregate economic growth. But it's often more important to know how individual citizens are doing economically. A country may seem to be doing well with a high or increasing GDP. But if its population has grown as well, then its total income has been spread out over more people. This makes the country poorer than one showing a lower aggregate production but supporting a much smaller population.
As such, the per capita or per person measurement becomes necessary to assess the standard of living of a nation. To accurately assess whether a nation’s people are indeed getting wealthier or poorer, per capita has proven to be a most useful computational tool.
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The GDP is the market value of all the final goods and services produced in the country during a time period. Every part of the definition is important.
Goods and services: as you know by now, goods are tangible items while services are activities which are intangible.
Market value:
- This is the price at which goods and services are sold in the market. The GDP measures all the goods and services produced in the country.
- For this, we have to add all the goods and services produced. However a nation produces a wide range of goods like rice, shoes, trains, milk, clocks, books and bicycles.
- If only the quantities are taken into account, there is no meaningful way to add these up. For example, how do you add 1000 litres of milk with 500 clocks?! Likewise there is no meaningful way to add the quantities of services since a wide range of services are produced, such as the work done by doctors, police, fire brigade, teachers, bus drivers and district collectors.
- When we cannot add the quantity of one type of good with another type of good or one type of service with another type of service, certainly there is no sensible way to add the quantities of goods produced with those of services produced! How would we add the quantity of milk produced in the country with the service produced by teachers?!
- The GDP solves this problem by measuring the goods and services in the currency of the country, which is the rupee in the case of India.
- The rupee values are derived from the prices at which the goods and services are sold in the market.
- Only those goods and services with a market value are included in the GDP. This implies that unless a good or service is sold in the market, it is not included in the GDP.
- For example if you pay ` 50 to get a manuscript typed in a computer centre, the service is included in the GDP since it is sold in the market.
- If you type the manuscript yourself, the service typing a manuscript is not included in the GDP since you did not purchase it for a price in the market. Final goods and services: Economists Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok say that “final goods and services” are the goods and services which will be used or consumed and will not form a part of other goods and services. The goods and services which will be used for producing other goods and services and will form a part of the goods and services produced are called “intermediate goods”.
- Only the final goods are included in the GDP. Intermediate goods are not counted in calculating the GDP because their value is included in the final goods.
- So if the intermediate goods are included in the GDP it will result in what is called “double counting”. For example, a cup of tea bought in a hotel is a final good because it is consumed and does not form a part of producing something else.
- So the market value of the cup of tea, being a final good, is included in the GDP. Sugar which is mixed in the tea is an intermediate good because it is used in making tea and forms a part of the tea served.
- Suppose the tea is priced ` 10 a cup, of which the value of sugar used is ` 2. So the price of the cup of tea includes the ` 2 price of the spoon of sugar. If this value of sugar is included in the GDP, it will be counted twice: as a spoon of sugar and again as a part of the cup of tea. This is “double counting” and to avoid it the intermediate goods like sugar are excluded from GDP.
- Should the market value of utensils used to brew the tea be included in the GDP? You may argue that since the utensils are bought not as final goods but to produce tea, they are intermediate goods and so they should not be included in the GDP.
- However the utensils, unlike sugar, do not form a part of the final good, the cup of tea. For this reason they should be included in the GDP.
10th Social Book Back Questions
National Income
- ‘National Income is a measure of the total value of goods and services produced by an economy over a period of time, normally a year’.
- Commonly National Income is called as Gross National Product (GNP) or National Dividend.
Various terms associated with measuring of National Income
Gross National Product (GNP)
Gross National Product is the total value of (goods and services) produced and income received in a year by domestic residents of a country. It includes profits earned from capital invested abroad.
GNP = C + I + G + (X–M) + NFIA)
C = Consumption I = Investment G = Government Expenditure X-M = Export – Import NFIA = Net Factor Income from Abroad)
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total value of output of goods and services produced by the factors of production within the geographical boundaries of the country.
Net National Product (NNP)
Net National Product (NNP) is arrived by making some adjustment with regard to depreciation that is we arrive the Net National Product (NNP) by deducting the value of depreciation from Gross National Product. (NNP = GNP − Depreciation)
Net Domestic Product (NDP)
Net Domestic Product (NDP) is a part of Gross Domestic Product, Net Domestic Product is obtained from the Gross Domestic Product by deducting the Quantum of tear and wear expenses (depreciation) NDP = GDP − Depreciation
Per Capita Income (PCI)
Per capita Income or output per person is an indicator to show the living standard of people in a country. It is obtained by dividing the National Income by the population of a country.
Per capita Income = National Income / Population
Personal Income (PI)
Personal income is the total money income received by individuals and households of a country from all possible sources before direct taxes, therefore, personal income can be expressed as follows (PI = NI corporate Income Taxes − Undistributed corporate profits − social security contribution + Transfer payment).
Disposable Income (DI)
Disposable income means actual income which can be spent on consumption by individuals and families, thus, it can be expressed as DPI = PI − Direct Taxes (From consumption approach DI = Consumption Expenditures + Savings)
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Produced in the country:
- GDP of India includes only the market value of goods and services produced in India.
- For example the market value of apples produced in Kashmir are included in our GDP since Kashmir is in India.
- The market value of apples produced in California, even if they are sold in Indian markets, are not included in our GDP because California is in the U.S.
Produced during a time period:
- The GDP of a country measures the market value of goods and services produced only during the specified time period.
- The goods and services produced in earlier periods are not included. If an year is the specified time period, the GDP of 2018 will include the market value of goods and services produced only during 2018.
- So a bicycle produced in 2017 will not be included in the GDP measure for 2018. In India the GDP is measured both annually and quarterly.
- The annual GDP is for a financial year which is from April1 of say 2017 to March 31, 2018. This is written as 2017-18.
- The quarterly GDP estimates are for each of the four quarters into which India’s financial year is divided: First quarter, denoted Q1: April, May and June Second quarter, or Q2: July, August, September Third Quarter or Q3: October, November, December Fourth Quarter, or Q4: January, February, March.
- The annual GDP for financial year 2017 – 18 will include only the goods and services produced during this financial year and will exclude the goods and services produced in the previous years.
- Likewise GDP for Q2 will include only the goods and services produced in Q2 and will not include the goods and services produced in Q1.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) definition
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP) represents the economic health of a country.
- It represents a sum of a country’s production which consists of all purchases of goods and services used by individuals, firms, foreigners and the governing bodies.
- The monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country’s border in a specific time period.
GDP = C + I + G + (X − M)
C = Consumption I = Investment G = Government Expenditure ( X − M) = X = Exports − M = Imports
Methods of GDP Calculating
Expenditure Approach:
- In this method, the GDP is measured by adding the expenditure on all the final goods and services produced in the country during a specified period.
- The different types of expenditure are shown in this equation: Y = C + I + G + (X − M)
The Income Approach:
This method looks at GDP from the perspective of the earnings of the men and women who are involved in producing the goods and services. The income approach to measuring GDP (Y) is
Y = wages + rent + interest + profit
Value-Added Approach:
- A cup of tea served to you in a hotel is a “final good”. The goods used to produce it, tea powder, milk, and sugar, are “intermediate goods” since they form a part of the final good, the cup of tea.
- One way to measure the market value of the cup of tea is to add the value produced by each intermediate good used to produce it. Each intermediate good, the tea powder, milk and sugar, adds value to the final output, the cup of tea.
- In the value-added approach the value added by each intermediate good is summed to estimate the value of the final good.
- The sum of the value added by all the intermediate goods used in production gives us the total value of the final goods produced in the economy.
Importance of GDP
1. Study of Economic Growth.
2. Unequal distribution of wealth.
3. Problems of inflation and deflation.
4. Comparison with developed countries of the world. 5. Estimate the purchasing power.
6. Public Sector.
7. Guide to economic planning.
Limitations of GDP
The GDP is the most widely used measure of the state of the economy. While appreciating its usefulness, we should be aware of some of its limitations.
Several important goods and services are left out of the GDP:
- The GDP includes only the goods and services sold in the market.
- The services provided by parents to their children is very important but it is not included in the GDP because it is not sold in the market.
- Likewise clean air, which is vital for a healthy life, has no market value and is left out of the GDP.
GDP measures only quantity but not quality:
- In the 1970s schools and banks did not permit the use of ballpoint pens. This is because the ones available in India were of very poor quality.
- Since then, not only has there been a substantial increase in the quantity of ballpoint pens produced in India but their quality has also improved a lot.
- The improvement in quality of goods is very important but it is not captured by the GDP.
GDP does not tell us about the way income is distributed in the country:
The GDP of a country may be growing rapidly but income may be distributed so unequally that only a small percentage of people may be benefitting from it.
The GDP does not tell us about the kind of life people are living:
A high level of per capita real GDP can go hand-in-hand with very low health condition of people, an undemocratic political system, high pollution and high suicide rate.
Composition of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Indian economy is broadly divided into three sectors which contribute to the GDP namely Agriculture and allied activity, Industry and Services.
Primary Sector: (Agricultural Sector)
- Agricultural sector is known as primary sector, in which agricultural operations are undertake.
- Agriculture based allied activities, production of raw materials such as cattle farm, fishing, mining, forestry, corn, coal etc. are also undertaken.
Secondary Sector: (Industrial Sector)
- Industrial sector is secondary sectors in which the goods and commodities are produced by transforming the raw materials.
- Important industries are Iron and Steel industry, cotton textile, Jute, Sugar, Cement, Paper, Petrochemical, automobile and other small scale industries.
Tertiary: (Service Sector)
- Tertiary sector is known as service sector it includes Government, scientific research, transport communication, trade, postal and telegraph, Banking, Education, Entertainment, Healthcare and Information Technology etc.
- In the 20th century, economists began to suggest that, traditional tertiary services could be further distinguished from “quaternary” and “quinary” service sectors.
Contribution of different sectors in GDP of India
- Services sector is the largest sector of India. Gross Value Added (GVA) at current prices for Services sector is estimated at 92.26 lakh crore in 2018-19.
- Services sector accounts for 54.40% of total India’s GVA of 169.61 lakh crore Indian rupees. With GVA of ` 50.43 lakh crore, Industry sector contributes 29.73%.
- While, Agriculture and allied sector shares 15.87%.India is 2nd larger producer of agriculture product.
- India accounts for 7.39 percent of total global agricultural output.
- In Industrial sector, India world rank is 6 and in Service sector, India world rank is 8. Contribution of Agriculture sector in Indian economy is much higher than world’s average (6.4%).
- Contribution of Industry and Services sector is lower than world’s average 30% for Industry sector and 63% for Services sector.
Economic Growth and Development
- As per the economist Amartya Sen, economic growth is one aspect of economic development. Also, united nation see it like this “Economic development focuses not only on man’s materialistic need but it focuses on overall development or rise in its living standards.
Economic Growth
- It is the quantitative measure which considers the rise in the output produced in an economy or nation in a particular period in its monetary value.
- The key parameters of economic growth in any economy are its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and gross national product which helps in measuring the actual size of an economy.
- For example, we say GDP of India is 2.8 trillion USD and ranked 6th in globe whereas GDP of the United States of America is 19.3 trillion USD and ranked one.
- It shows how much the production of goods and services has increased compared from last year in a quantitative manner. It has many parameters to measure and few of them are human Resources.
- They are Natural Resource, Advancement in technology, Capital formation, Political and social economic factors.
Economic Development
- Economic development projects a broader picture of an economy which takes into account an increase in production level or output of an economy along with an improvement in the living standard of its citizens.
- It focuses more on socioeconomic factors rather than the just quantitative increase in production.
- Economic development is a qualitative measure which measures improvement in technology, labour reforms, rising living standards, broader institutional changes in an economy.
- Human development Index (HDI) is apt tool to measure the real development in an economy.
Developmental Path based on GDP and Employment
- In the development path of India, it first undertook the policy of closed trade. This was to give a thrust to domestic industries and reduce dependence on foreign products and companies.
- Trade and interaction with the outside world remained limited. This outlook continued till 1991 when India finally decided to open its borders to free trade and liberalized its economy by allowing foreign companies to enter the Indian economy.
- A thrust was given to employment generation under the Five Year plans. This was to make up for a rising population and lacking jobs to absorb the increased workforce size.
- Rural development was also given importance in India, for the important constituent it was of the Indian landscape.
- Poverty alleviation came as a corollary of rural development and a part of the development path of India.
- India inherited a poverty-stricken economy from the British rule, which had destroyed its resource base completely. The public sector was given significant importance, Private companies and industries were subject to strict regulations and standards.
- It was believed that the government was the sole protector of the people and would work towards social welfare.
- India has sustained rapid growth of GDP for most of the last two decades leading to rising per capita incomes and a reduction in absolute poverty.
- Per capita incomes have doubled in 12 years. In Per capita income, placing India just inside the Middle Income Country category. Life expectancy at birth is 65 years and 44% of children under 5 are malnourished.
- The literacy rate for the population aged 15 years and above is only 63% compared to a 71% figure for lower middle income countries.
- India has followed a different path of development from many other countries. India went more quickly from agriculture to services that tend to be less tightly regulated than heavy industry.
- There are some emerging manufacturing giants in the Indian economy.
Factors supporting Indian development
- A fast-growing population of working age. There are 700 million Indians under the age of 35 and the demographics look good for Indian growth in the next twenty years at least.
- India is experiencing demographic transition that has increased the share of the working-age population from 58 percent to 64 percent over the last two decades.
- India has a strong legal system and many English-language speakers. This has been a key to attracting inward investment from companies such as those specialising in Information Technology.
- Wage costs are low in India and India has made strides in recent years in closing some of the productivity gap between her and other countries at later stages of development.
- India’s economy has successfully developed highly advanced and attractive clusters of businesses in the technology space.
- For example witness the rapid emergence of Bangalore as a hub for global software businesses.
- External economies of scale have deepened their competitive advantages in many related industries.
Growth of GDP and Economic Policies
- Many Economic Policies have been framed by the Government of India since independence for increasing rate of economic growth and economic development.
- The important economic policies are
Agriculture policy
- Agricultural policy is the set of government decisions and actions relating to domestic agriculture and imports of foreign agricultural products.
- Governments usually implement agricultural policies with the goal of achieving a specific outcome in the domestic agricultural product markets.
- Some over arching themes include risk management and adjustment, economic stability, natural resources and environmental sustainability research and development, and market access for domestic commodities.
- Some Agricultural policies are Price policy, land reform policy, Green Revolution, Irrigation policy, Food policy, Agricultural Labour Policy and Co-operative policy.
Industrial Policy
- Industrial development is a very important aspect of any economy.
- It creates employment promotes research and development, leads to modernization and ultimately makes the economy self-sufficient. In fact, industrial development even boosts other sectors of the economy like the agricultural sector (new farming technology) and the service sector.
- It is also closely related to the development of trade. Several industrial policies since 1948, Industrial policy on large scale industries Eg. Textile Industry policy, Sugar Industry policy, Price policy of industrial growth, Small scale industrial policy and Industrial Labour policy.
New Economic Policy
- The economy of India had undergone significant policy shifts in the beginning of the 1990s.
- This new model of economic reforms is commonly known as the LPG or Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation model.
- The primary objective of this model was to make the economy of India the fastest developing economy in the globe with capabilities that help it match up with the biggest economies of the world.
- These economic reforms had influenced the overall economic growth of the country in a significant manner.
Some other policies in India
- Trade Policy
Import and Export policy (International Trade Policy), Domestic Trade Policy.
- Employment policy
- Currency and Banking Policy
- Fiscal and Monetary Policy
- Wage Policy
- Population Policy
GDP Growth of India
- India’s economic growth story since the 1990s has been steady, stable, diversified, resilent and reflect strong macro economics fundamentals.
- Despite fluctuations in recent quarters due to disruptions caused by two major structural reforms – demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
- The world Bank projected a growth rate of 7.3% in the year 2018-19 and 7.5% 2019-2020.
- India’s average economic growth between 1970 and 1980 has been 4.4% which rise by 1% point to 5.4% between the 1990 and 2000.
- According to IMF World Economic Outlook (October-2018), GDP growth rate of India in 2018 is projected at 7.3% and India is 5th fastest growing nation of the world just behind Bangladesh.
More to Know:
Gross National Happiness (GNH)
- Gross National Happiness (GNH) is a philosophy that guides the government of Bhutan. It includes an index which is used to measure the collective happiness and well-being of a population. Gross National Happiness is instituted as the goal of the government of Bhutan in the Constitution of Bhutan, enacted on 18 July 2008.
- The term Gross National Happiness was coined in 1972 during an interview by a British journalist for the Financial Times at Bombay airport when the then king of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, said “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product.
- In 2011, The UN General Assembly passed Resolution “Happiness: towards a holistic approach to development” urging member nations to follow the example of Bhutan and measure happiness and well-being and calling happiness a “fundamental human goal.”
- GNH is distinguishable from Gross Domestic Product by valuing collective happiness as the goal of governance, by emphasizing harmony with nature and traditional values as expressed in the 9 domains of happiness and 4 pillars of GNH.
- The four pillars of GNH’s are 1) sustainable and equitable socio-economic development; 2) environmental conservation; 3) preservation and promotion of culture; and 4) good governance.
- The nine domains of GNH are psychological well-being, health, time use, education, cultural diversity and resilience, good governance, community vitality, ecological diversity and resilience, and living standards. Each domain is composed of subjective (survey-based) and objective indicators.
- The domains weigh equally but the indicators within each domain differ by weight.
Human Development Index
- In 1990 Mahbub ul Haq, a Pakistani Economist at the United Nations, introduced the Human Development Index (HDI).
- The HDI is a composite index of life expectancy at birth, adult literacy rate and standard of living measured as a logarithmic function of GDP, adjusted to purchasing power parity.
- India climbed one spot to 130 out of 189 countries in the latest human development rankings released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
- India’s HDI value for 2017 is 0.640, which put the country in the medium human development category.
- Between 1990 and 2017, India’s HDI value incased from 0.427 to 0.640, an increase of nearly 50 percent – and an indicator of the country’s remarkable achievement in lifting millions of people out of poverty.
- Between 1990 and 2017, India’s life expectancy at birth too increased by nearly 11 years, with even more significant gains in expected years of schooling.
- Today’s Indian school-age children can expect to stay in school for 4.7 years longer than in 1990. Whereas, India’s GNI per capita increased by a staggering 266.6 % between 1990 and 2017.
Gross value added (GVA)
- Gross value added (GVA) is the measure of the value of goods and services produced in an area, industry or sector of an economy.
- In national accounts GVA is output minus intermediate consumption; it is a balancing item of the national accounts’ production account.
- GVA is linked as a measurement to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as both are measures of output.
- The relationship is defined as GVA + taxes on products – subsidies on products = GDP GVA = GDP + subsidies – (direct, sales) taxes.
Estimation of GDP
- The Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), under the Ministry of Statistical department keeps the records.
- It’s processes involves conducting an annual survey of industries and compilation of various indexes like the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) Consumer Price Index (CPI) etc.
The modern concept of GDP was first developed by Simon Kuznets for a US Congress report in 1934.
In 1867-68 for the first time Dadabhai Navroji had ascertained the Per Capital Income in his book “Poverty and UnBritish Rule of India”.
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https://www.winmeen.com/gross-domestic-product-and-its-growth-an-introduction-notes-10th-social-science/
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GDP per Capita PPP is the popular macroeconomic indicator for comparing economic prosperity and wellbeing of its citizens amongst countries, especially those with different currencies. As currencies can be managed lower or higher, GDP per Capita PPP is the most commonly used metric by economists for comparison and analysis.
GDP and its related metrics are the most important economic indicators for macroeconomic analysis, especially for traders’ fundamental analysis. Hence, it is imperative to understand GDP per Capita PPP to better understand relative economic prosperity in the international market place.
What is GDP Per Capita PPP?
GDP
Gross Domestic Product helps in measuring a country’s total economic output. It is the total monetary value of all the goods and services produced within the country regardless of citizenship (resident or foreign national).
It is the market value of all the finished goods and services within a nation’s geographical borders for a given period. The period is generally a quarter (3 months) or a year.
The commonly used term “size of the economy” refers to this economic indicator. The USA has the world’s largest economy, and it means it has the highest nominal GDP or highest economic output.
GDP Per Capita
It is a metric obtained by dividing a country’s GDP by its population count. Here, “per Capita” translates to “per average head” or “for one individual.” Hence, GDP per Capita is the measure of economic output per person. It tells us how much economic output is attributed to a citizen. Hence, it is a measure of national wealth. On the other hand, it can also tell us the economic productivity of the people.
Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)
It is an economic theory that compares different countries’ purchasing power through a basket of goods common in both countries. By evaluating the cost of a particular good in both countries, the PPP is calculated. For example, comparing the price of 1 gallon of milk in two countries would help us know the purchasing power parity. Parity means a state of being equal, and all things being equal, how much currency is required to procure identical goods in both countries helps understand the purchasing power of that country.
It measures how much a particular set of goods and services cost in each country, instead of the exchange rates that can be manipulated by speculative trading, or central authorities’ intervention.
A wide range of goods and services are taken into account to develop the PPP, and hence the process is complicated, but once generated, the PPP remains mostly constant in the long run.
GDP Per Capita PPP
If we want to compare GDP per Capita amongst countries, we use the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). Through PPP measure, we can compare countries on equal terms, as many countries have different currencies, comparing economic output becomes difficult. Hence PPP measures everything in the United States dollar terms, thus creating a base standard for comparison.
How can the GDP per Capita PPP numbers be used for analysis?
Using nominal GDP values for economic growth comparisons would be misleading as currencies are often manipulated in favor of countries by the governing agencies. For example, China frequently devaluates currencies to increase their income through exports and offer their goods at a competitive price in the international markets.
Hence, using the GDP per Capita PPP is a more sensible approach as PPP values stay stable over more extended time frames and better understand and analyze economies with different currencies. The below table proves our above analysis.
It is important to understand we use PPP for making a fair comparison, but PPP is not perfect, it has the following limitations:
Taxes: Tax policies differ from country to country and consequently affects the price of goods and services, thereby making the PPP skewed.
Transportation: Goods need not be available across the planet at the same level. The import of goods from the manufacturing site would add to the prices of the goods differently to different countries.
Tariffs: Governments can intervene to impose tariff barriers for economic reasons like protecting domestic businesses, which may again impact the imported product prices, making it costlier in the concerned country.
Non-Traded Services: Cost of Labor, utility, or equipment costs variation can also induce price differences in the reference goods.
Market Competition: Popularity in particular areas can give companies an edge and enable them to price higher than in other countries. Established reputation can change prices, which varies from its market presence duration. On the international scale, the popularity of a good is not the same across all economies and hence can skew prices.
All the above factors limit PPP in some ways, but PPP is still better than nominal GDP comparisons. So, GDP per Capita PPP may not be perfect, but currently, there is no better metric for economic prosperity comparisons amongst countries.
Impact on Currency
GDP metrics are used in a variety of ways by a variety of people. Economists and Central Authorities primarily use GDP per Capita PPP to understand its people’s economic wellbeing in contrast to other economies. GDP Growth Rate is primarily used by Traders, Business people, and Investors to make business decisions.
GDP per Capita PPP would likely be more useful for Policymakers, and Business people. Business people can use this as a wealth metric and consequently decide the products to suit the budget of people. The higher the wealth of the individual citizen, the costlier products and services they can afford. Hence, business decisions can also be impacted.
The PPP value can be used to base exchange rate fluctuations and identify signs of strengthening or weakening of currencies.
It is a proportional high impact indicator. Higher GDP per Capita PPP is good for the currency and the economy and vice-versa. Although for trading decisions, GDP Growth Rate serves as a more relevant metric for comparisons amongst different currency countries. Also, GDP per Capita PPP is a yearly statistic and is more relevant for long term investment decisions than short-term currency trading decisions.
Economic Reports
Major international organizations like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, OECD, etc. actively maintain track of most countries’ GDP figures on their official website. The World Bank maintains the GDP per Capita PPP for most countries. Every three years, the World Bank announces a report comparing the productivity and growth of different countries based on PPP. It is a yearly data.
Sources of GDP per Capita PPP
GDP per Capita PPP – World Bank
GDP per Capita PPP – CIA World Factbook
GDP per Capita PPP – the United States – FRED
We can find a consolidated list of the same here as well.
Impact of the ‘GDP Per Capita PPP’ news release on the price charts
In the previous section of the article, we understood the definition of GDP based on PPP and how it is different from the nominal GDP. PPP based GDP is converted to international dollars using purchasing power parity rates and divided by the total population.
Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) between two countries, X and Y, is the ratio of several units from country X’s currency required to purchase in country X. The same quantity of an excellent/service as one unit of country Y’s currency will purchase in country Y. It can be used mostly to compare inflation in two and, to some extent, the economic growth. But the nominal GDP is one that taken into consideration while making investment decisions.
In today’s example, we will observe the impact of GDP on various currency pairs and witness the change in volatility due to the official news release. The below image shows the GDP in the Euro Zone during the fourth quarter, where we see the GDP was as in the previous quarter. Let us find out the reaction of the market.
EUR/USD | Before the announcement:
We shall start with the EUR/USD currency pair to analyze the impact of GDP on the Euro. It is clear from the preceding illustration that the market is not trending in any direction, which means there is confusion concerning the market trend. Therefore, until we have clarity in the market, it is smart not to take any trade.
EUR/USD | After the announcement:
After the news announcement, the price gets volatile as it moves in both the directions and finally, closes near the opening price. The GDP data did not strengthen or weaken the currency where the ‘news candle’ closed, forming an indecision candlestick pattern. As the news release did not bring about any significant change to the currency pair, one should analyze the currency based on technical indicators.
EUR/JPY | Before the announcement:
EUR/JPY | After the announcement:
The above images represent the EUR/JPY currency pair, where we see that the overall trend of the market is up, and recently it is has shown signs of reversal before the news announcement. One needs to wait for confirmation before taking a trade as the news event can cause significant changes to the existing chart pattern, resulting in an unnecessary loss. Until the price is below the moving average, the uptrend shall not continue.
After the news announcement, the price initially moves lower, but it gets immediately bought and closes with a wick on the bottom. There is some volatility seen, which eventually takes the market lower. The GDP data came out to be as expected, where it was the same as before. Since there was no improvement in the GDP, we can ascertain that it was negative for the currency.
EUR/AUD | Before the announcement:
EUR/AUD | After the announcement:
The above images are that of EUR/AUD currency pair, where we see that before the news announcement, the market is in a strong downtrend, and currently, the price is on the verge of continuing the downward move. However, since a significant news announcement is due, there is a possibility that it can change the trend, hence need to take a position based on the impact of the news.
After the news announcement, market shoots up, and volatility increases to the upside. Here we see that the GDP data has a positive impact on the Euro, and the currency strengthens after the news release. Now it is clear that selling the currency pair is no longer valid.
We hope you understood all about the ‘GDP Per Capita PPP.’ Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Happy Trading!
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https://www.forex.academy/everything-you-should-know-about-gdp-per-capita-ppp-macro-economic-indicator/
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Not applicable.
Teaching Methods
Face-to-face teaching method with lectures organized in a conference model. Students are encouraged to participate in the discussion and present their own ideas as well as to interact with the different actors of the teaching-learning process. Students are also encouraged through active learning to read summarized bibliographic resources, articles and book chapters, in a minimum of 15 articles in English (15x4 hours) and 5 articles in Portuguese (5x2 hours). It is assumed that an article in English requires 4 hours of reading and an article in Portuguese 2 hours.
Learning Outcomes
The course covers a wide range of issues associated with disability and related to sports and exercise, providing the student contact with different lines of research undertaken at the Faculty in order to develop their research curiosity, to increase their reflexivity and argumentation capacity as well as to develop the following skills:
Critical thinking
Formulation of research questions
Transform a research question in to a research project
Search and analyze, methodically, the bibliographical sources, using appropriate electronic tools
Analyze and define methodologies
Make choices in terms of data analysis and processing
Present and discuss the results.
Work Placement(s)No
Syllabus
As part of the course the following topics will be discussed:
Adapted Sport as a vehicle for socialization and inclusion of people with disabilities
Attitudes towards disability in contexts of Adapted Physical Activity
Exercise and Mental Health: Determinants and psychological benefits associated to practice and evidence for the use of exercise as preventive and therapeutic tool
Preparation for Paralympic Sport: What resources in terms of evaluation and monitoring?
Evidence for the importance of doing sport in groups with disabilities
Major psychological determinants in elite athletes with disabilities: Implications in terms of performance
Anxiety and motivation in basketball players with and without disabilities.
Head Lecturer(s)
José Pedro Leitão Ferreira
Assessment Methods
Continuous
Development of a systematic review: 100.0%
Bibliography
- Delanty, G. (2000). Social Science: Beyond Constructivism and Realism. Buckingham: Open University Press.
- Smith, M.J. (1998). Social Science in question. London: Sage Publications.
- Thomas, J., Nelson, J., & Silverman, S. (2005). Research Methods in Physical Activity. Champaign, Illinois. Human Kinetics.
- Bryman, A. (2012). Social Research Methods (4th Edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Howell, D.C. (2010). Statistical Methods for Psychology (7th Edition). Belmont: Wadsworth.
- Denzin, N.K.; & Lincoln, Y.S. (2011). Handbook of Qualitative Research
- Wengraf, T. (2001). Qualitative Research Interviewing. London: Sage Publications. London: Sage Publications
- Creswell, J.W. (2012). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. London: Sage Publications.
- Kvale, S. (1996). InterViews: An introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing. London: Sage Publications.
- Lewis, V. (2003). Development and Disability (2nd Edition). Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
- Barnes, C., Oliver, M., & Barton, L. (2002). Disability Studies Today. Cambridge: Blackwell Publishing.
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https://apps.uc.pt/courses/EN/unit/27187/12145/2014-2015?type=ram&id=1701
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This article, via discussing various psychological manifestations among Chinese elite athletes, illustrates sociocultural “meridians” in Chinese elite sports including (a) “Whole-Nation system,” (b) Chinese culture, and (c) their interaction. We propose that the sociocultural characteristics be integrated in athletes’ psychological training and further discuss the aspects of (a) cultural inheritance and (b) traditional beliefs, including “harmony with differences,” “doing the best and following the fate,” “Ah Q spirit,” “all are Buddha,” and the balance between Confucianism and Taoism. We suggest that the ultimate goal of sport psychologists is to facilitate the athlete’s overall development, with such a maturing process only achieved by integrating the above factors into athletes’ sociocultural contexts.
Search Results
Gangyan Si, Yanping Duan, Hin Yue Li, and Xiaobo Jiang
Jenny Meggs and Mark Chen
This applied sport psychology training request arrived from a National Talent Swim England coach in the northeast of England who wanted to explore psychological training for his national-level competitors in the lead up to the national championships 6 months later. The two sport psychology
Christin Lang, Anna Karina Feldmeth, Serge Brand, Edith Holsboer-Trachsler, Uwe Pühse, and Markus Gerber
In most physical education (PE) syllabuses, promoting life skills constitutes an important educational objective. The aim of this study was to implement a coping training program (EPHECT) within regular PE and to evaluate its effects on coping and stress among vocational students. Eight classes from a vocational school were selected for study; four were allocated to the intervention group (IG) and four to the control group (CG). The study examined intervention effects between pre- and postintervention, and postintervention and 6-months follow-up. Compared with the CG, the IG showed improved coping skills from pre- to postintervention. From postintervention to follow-up, stress decreased for the IG. A path analysis suggests an indirect effect on stress perception at follow-up via improved adaptive coping skills. The findings support EPHECT as a positive contribution to the development of adaptive coping skills. The project further shows how physical educators can translate psychological theory into practice.
Tobias Lundgren, Gustaf Reinebo, Markus Näslund, and Thomas Parling
Despite the growing popularity of mindfulness and acceptance-based performance enhancement methods in applied sport psychology, evidence for their efficacy is scarce. The purpose of the current study is to test the feasibility and effect of a psychological training program based on Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) developed for ice hockey players. A controlled group feasibility designed study was conducted and included 21 elite male ice hockey players. The ACT program consisted of four, once a week, sessions with homework assignments between sessions. The results showed significant increase in psychological flexibility for the players in the training group. The outcome was positive for all feasibility measures. Participants found the psychological training program important to them as ice hockey players and helpful in their ice hockey development. Desirably, future studies should include objective performance data as outcome measure to foster more valid evidence for performance enhancement methods in applied sport psychology.
Jim Taylor
Slumps are a pervasive phenomenon that are in evidence in all sports and at all levels of ability. They are a significant source of concern, confusion, and frustration for athletes and coaches. Yet, despite this, there is a conspicuous lack of knowledge and documentation on the subject. This paper offers an in-depth and systematic examination of slumps in sports. The work is divided into four parts. First, a precise definition of a slump is delineated. Second, the criteria that differentiate slumps from occasional drops in performance are described. Third, an analysis of the causes of slumps is discussed and the notion of serial causation of slumps is presented; examples are given to illustrate these ideas. Finally, a program for the alleviation of slumps, called Slumpbusting, is examined. The Slumpbusting program offers a structured plan that includes goal-setting, counseling, and the constructive, progressive use of physical, technical, and psychological training for the systematic resolution of slumps.
Jeong-Keun Park
This study examined the coping strategies used by Korean national athletes. One hundred-eighty Korean athletes from 41 different sports were interviewed about the coping strategies they used as national athletes, both presently and in the past. Qualitative methodology was utilized in this investigation and the interview transcripts were analyzed inductively. The interviews were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. Themes were identified from the analysis of the interview data. Combining these themes, seven general dimensions of coping strategies were identified: psychological training, training and strategies, somatic relaxation, hobby activities, social support, prayer, and substance use. The most cited coping strategies by national athletes in Korea are similar to the coping strategies of the previous elite figure skaters in the study by Gould, Finch, & Jackson (1993).
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https://journals.humankinetics.com/search?q=%22psychological+training%22
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Powering Podiums is a series of high performance sport technical oriented workshops geared toward BC’s provincial and disability sport organizations. The aim of these workshops is to provide the sport sector relevant information to improve sport excellence in BC and achieve BC government benchmark of athletes on national teams. A wide variety of topics will be sourced based on feedback and observations from provincial sport organizations. Workshop sessions are typically 2 to 4 hours depending on the topic.
Powering Podiums is a joint program created by Canadian Sport Institute Pacific and viaSport
Recent Event
click image to expand
Powering Podiums – Conversations Around Youth Mental Health
Proposed Outcomes
- Discuss some of the challenges our young athletes are currently facing
- Identify best practices in communication around mental health
- Discuss strategies to support young athletes during this challenging time
- Help coaches better communicate with their athletes
Goals of the Session:
- Help coaches see the signs of a mentally well athlete and an athlete that may need support
- How to start a conversation with an athlete that needs support?
- What to do next and where to find resources to get help for the athlete?
Previous Powering Podiums Sessions
View content from previous Powering Podiums sessions:
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https://www.csipacific.ca/programs/powering-podiums/
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Karina Chilman is a Physiotherapist with almost a decade’s experience working in sports, musculoskeletal and performance physiotherapy.
Most recently she has spent two years touring as a Performance Medicine Therapist with Cirque du Soleil’s Big Top production called “Kurios” around Japan, Singapore and Australia. Prior to this she worked primarily in private practice physiotherapy in Melbourne. She has worked with basketball at an international and national level as well as with a variety of other sports, performers and recreational athletes from juniors to professional at both an Olympic and World championship level.
Karina is an experienced clinical pilates and exercise rehabilitation instructor and combines these to work with athletes or those returning to sport post injury/surgery or to reduce overall injury risk. She also has a special interest in the role of exercise in the pre and post natal period in particular the safe return to performance and sport following childbirth.
Karina is currently completing a Masters in Sports Medicine at the University of Melbourne gaining an advanced understanding of the wider contributing factors to managing the modern athlete, evaluating research and developing skills in implementing successful health improvement programs in healthcare. She also has additional qualifications in blood flow restriction training, dry needling, mental health, strength & conditioning and injuries to the knee and ankle. Karina has a particular interest in lower limb tendon injuries, managing loads and developing strategies to increase career durability.
Karina enjoys working with the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure all aspects of an individual or groups health is understood and to ensure positive outcomes for her patients.
In her spare time Karina enjoys staying active outdoors, heading home to country Victoria and spending time with her cat Pepper, friends and family.
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https://performancemedicine.com.au/practitioners/karina-chilman/
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Episode 182: Researcher and BJJ black belt, Reid Reale discusses his research on water loading strategies in weight cutting for combat sports, as well as other methods used to make weight effectively.
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Click Here to Get Podcast Transcripts
Guest Bio
Reid Reale
Reid recently completed a PhD, focusing on weight cutting techniques and body composition of combat sport athletes. This work was carried out in conjunction with the Australian Institute of Sport, where research is combined with helping elite level Olympic athletes. Reid has a master’s degree in dietetics and holds Accredited Sports Dietitian and Accredited Practising Dietitian status with Sports Dietitians Australia and the Dietitians Association of Australia respectively. He won first prize in the “Young investigator award” at the 2016 European College of Sports Science annual congress in Vienna, for his presentation ‘Rapid weight loss in Olympic combat sports’.
On the sporting side, Reid started training BJJ in 2006 and received his black belt in 2015 from Prof. Chris Derksen of the Peter De Been lineage. He is an active competitor having fought in hundreds of BJJ competition matches and winning gold medals at every belt level. His most notable and recent achievements include 2016 UAEJJ World Pro Trials Black Belt Heavyweight champion (Sydney, Australia), 2015 Asian Open Brown Belt heavy weight silver medallist (Tokyo, Japan), 2015 Pan Pacific Brown Belt open weight champion (Melbourne, Australia).
In This Episode We Discuss:
- Why cut weight?
- Methods used to cut weight
- The mechanisms by which water loading can potentially be useful in weight cutting
- Low residue diets and acute weight loss
- Deciding how much to cut for each sport
Links & Resources
- Individualised dietary strategies for Olympic combat sports: Acute weight loss, recovery and competition nutrition – Reale et al., 2017
- Waterloading in combat sport athletes as means to manipulate body mass
- Acute Weight Loss Strategies for Combat Sports and Applications to Olympic Success – Reale et al., 2016
- Weight cutting: Sport scientists investigate fighters’ ‘water loading’ before bouts
- Sigma Weight Cutting System for MMA & Boxing
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Related Episodes:
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https://sigmanutrition.com/episode182/
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Mindfulness has been found to be related to improved athletic performance and propensity to achieve flow states. The relationship between mindfulness and flow has only recently been examined in elite athletes. To build on this literature, we administered the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and the Dispositional Flow Scale to 92 elite athletes. Psychometric analyses supported the validity of the FFMQ. Males scored higher than females on the FFMQ facet of Nonjudging of Inner Experience. Athletes from individual and pacing sports scored higher on the FFMQ facet of Observing than athletes from team-based and nonpacing sports. Correlations between mindfulness and flow were stronger in athletes from individual and pacing sports compared with team-based and nonpacing sports. Mindfulness correlated with different facets of flow in males compared with females. The results support the use of the five-facet mindfulness construct in elite athletes and suggest the relationship between mindfulness and flow possibly may vary by gender and sport type in this population.
Browse
Stuart Cathcart, Matt McGregor, and Emma Groundwater
Edson Filho, Lael Gershgoren, Itay Basevitch, Robert Schinke, and Gershon Tenenbaum
The present study was an initial attempt to capture and describe instances of shared mental models within a team from the point of view of the team captain. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to describe a range of perceived and shared behaviors aimed at facilitating the overall performance of a college volleyball team from the perspective of the team captain. This behavioral focus is congruent with the need for documenting observable task and team-related coordination mechanisms. Symbolic interactionism, via the use of systematic observations, documental analysis, and semistructured open-ended interviews, was used to gather data from the participant in the form of a case study. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) theoretical thematic analysis based on categories derived from Eccles and Tenenbaum’s (2004) Conceptual Framework of Coordination in Sport Teams. Results indicated that the player’s actions were perceived as enhancing proactive information sharing within her team. Therefore, it is suggested that team leaders possess important objective and symbolic roles in the promotion of shared mental models. These results are further discussed in relation to current knowledge of shared mental models in sports. Limitations and directions for future research are outlined.
Timothy R. Pineau, Carol R. Glass, Keith A. Kaufman, and Darren R. Bernal
The present study explored self- and team-efficacy beliefs in rowers, examining the relations between efficacy beliefs, mindfulness, and flow. Fifty-eight rowers from nine teams completed sport-specific measures of self- and team-efficacy, along with questionnaires assessing mindfulness, flow, sport anxiety, and sport confidence. Self- and team-efficacy were significantly related to mindfulness, dispositional flow, and sport confidence. In addition, both self-efficacy and sport confidence mediated the association between both total mindfulness (and the describe dimension of mindfulness) and the challenge-skill balance dimension of flow. These results provide indirect support for a proposed model, which suggests that mindfulness may positively impact the integral challenge-skill balance aspect of flow in athletes through self-efficacy.
Faye F. Didymus and David Fletcher
This study investigated sport performers’ coping strategies in response to organizational stressors, examined the utility of Skinner, Edge, Altman, and Sherwood’s (2003) categorization of coping within a sport context, determined the short-term perceived effectiveness of the coping strategies used, and explored appraisal-coping associations. Thirteen national standard swimmers completed semistructured, interval-contingent diaries every day for 28 days. Results revealed 78 coping strategies, which supported 10 of Skinner et al.’s (2003) families of coping. Twenty-four different combinations of coping families were identified. The perceived most effective coping family used in isolation was self-reliance and in combination was escape and negotiation. Stressful appraisals were associated with varied coping strategies. The results highlight the complexity of coping and point to the importance of appraisal-coping associations. Skinner et al.’s (2003) categorization of coping provides a promising conceptual framework for the development of coping research in sport.
Anne-Marie Elbe and Ralf Brand
Urine doping controls have become a regular part of athletes’ lives, and approximately one half of all athletes suffer at least once from urination difficulties during these tests. Previous studies could not satisfactorily explain why athletes are affected. This paper examines the relation between urination difficulties during doping controls and psychological reactance. It is assumed that psychological reactance is positively correlated to urination difficulties. The results are based on a study involving 187 German-speaking athletes participating in elite sports at the national team level. In addition to demographic data and information about doping controls, the Psychogenic Urine Retention during Doping Controls Scale (PURDS) and Therapeutic Reactance Scale (TRS) were used. The results do not confirm our hypothesis and indicate that reactance correlates negatively rather than positively to urination difficulties during doping controls. The results are surprising as they suggest that athletes who show low oppositional potential toward doping rules are most strongly affected. Suggestions for interventions are given.
Robert J. Schinke, Gershon Tenenbaum, Ronnie Lidor, and Andrew M. Lane
Within this opportunity to dialogue in commentary exchange about a previously conceived adaptation model, published in the Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, we revisit the utility of our model (Schinke et al., 2012a) and consider Tamminen and Crocker’s (2014) critique of our earlier writing. We also elaborate on emotion and emotion regulation through explaining hedonistic and instrumental motives to regulate emotions. We draw on research from general and sport psychology to examine emotion regulation (Gross, 2010). We argue that when investigating emotion, or any topic in psychology, the process of drawing from knowledge in a different area of the discipline can be useful, especially if the existing knowledge base in that area is already well developed. In particular, we draw on research using an evolutionary perspective (Nesse & Ellsworth, 2009). Accounting for these issues, we clarify the adaptation framework, expand it, and arguably offer a model that has greater utility for use with athletes in relation to training and competition cycles and progressions throughout their career. We also clarify for the readership places of misinterpretation by the commentary authors, and perhaps, why these have resulted.
Brandonn S. Harris and Jack C. Watson II
Recent research has used self-determination theory to examine athlete burnout among adults. However, there is a dearth of theory-driven research investigating burnout among young athletes, particularly as it pertains to its sociological influences. With research suggesting that motives for sport (dis)continuation vary among athletes of different ages, this study assessed the utility of self-determination theory (SDT) and Coakley’s model for youth burnout while examining developmental differences. Participants included swimmers of ages 7–17. Analyses revealed a model that approached adequate ft indices and accounted for 70% of the burnout variance. Results supported utilizing these theories to understand youth burnout while accounting for developmental differences.
Tracey J. Devonport and Andrew M. Lane
The present study used a mixed methods approach to evaluate the usage and perceived effectiveness of a 12-month coping intervention. Twelve junior national netball players followed an intervention that had two objectives: 1) to encourage the use of future-oriented coping across goal-oriented contexts and 2) to facilitate resource accumulation and maintenance by developing coping related competencies. Mentors and players maintained reflective diaries throughout the intervention and were contacted via telephone or e-mail every 2–3 months. In addition, players completed the Brief COPE measure at 1, 6, and 12 months. Eight players and 8 mentors completed postintervention interviews. Data indicated that following completion of the intervention, players perceived themselves to have a better understanding of when and how to use future-oriented coping. They also perceived enhanced psychosocial resources, and a more flexible approach toward goal pursuits. Recommendations for future research developments and the evaluation of coping interventions are presented.
Emmanouil Georgiadis and Irini Papazoglou
World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) is responsible for doping-free sporting contests and is the only sporting body posing relevant competition sanctions. While doping relates to various controversial attitudes and beliefs proposed in the past, the confirmation of a competition ban following a doping violation has many negative connotations for the lives of the athletes. This can elicit multiple significant and far-reaching implications for them and their close ones. Aiming to better understand these implications in an athlete’s life, 5 Greek male and female athletes having recently received a competition ban after a doping violation were interviewed. Qualitative analysis of the data showed that many important psychological, social, and financial implications follow such a sanction. Most importantly, these consequences may even contribute to indications of poor mental and physical health. Discussion of the results provides suggestions for the alleviation of the negative consequences following an involuntary sporting career pause or termination.
Jason Youngman and Duncan Simpson
Researchers have noted that when taken to an excessive level, exercise may become addictive. This study investigated the risk of exercise addiction for triathletes using the Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI; Terry, Szabo, & Griffths, 2004). The sample consisted of 1,285 male and female triathletes, ranging in age from 18–70 years old. Results indicated that approximately 20% of triathletes are at risk for exercise addiction, and that training for longer distance races (i.e., Olympic, Half-Ironman, and Ironman) puts triathletes at greater risk for exercise addiction than training for shorter races (i.e., Sprint). No significant association was found between the risk for exercise addiction and the number of years of participating. However, as the number of weekly training hours increased, so did a triathlete’s risk for exercise addiction. At-risk triathletes need greater clinical attention, and further research should be conducted to help clinicians develop awareness and appropriate interventions.
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https://journals.humankinetics.com/browse?access=all&page=26&pageSize=10&sort=datedescending&t=PsycBehavSportEx&t_0=S258&t_1=S195&t_2=C51&t_3=AthlTrainTherRehab
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Sport researchers have considered the processes that elite athletes undergo to achieve positive psychological adaptation during significant chronic stressors throughout sport careers and also, acute stressors within important competitions. This review contains a description of competitive and organizational stressors that can hamper an elite athlete’s pursuit of adaptation within the aforementioned circumstances, followed by an identification of the responses that together can foster the desired outcome of adaptation. The authors propose that there are four parts that contribute to an elite athlete’s positive psychological adaptation, presented as parts of a process: (a) the appraisal of stressors, (b) coping strategies, (c) self-regulation strategies, and (d) a consolidated adaptation response. Subsequently, athlete adaptation is considered through examples taken from anecdotal literature and formal research studies pertaining to elite athlete adaptation. Implications are discussed for sport psychologists, mental training consultants, sport scientists, coaches, and athletes.
Robert J. Schinke, Randy C. Battochio, Timothy V. Dube, Ronnie Lidor, Gershon Tenenbaum and Andrew M. Lane
Karim Chamari and Roald Bahr
David Docherty and Matthew J. Hodgson
Recently there has been considerable interest and research into the functional significance of postactivation potentiation (PAP) on sport performance. The interest has evolved around the potential for enhancing acute performance or the long-term training effect, typically in the form of complex training. Complex training usually involves performing a weight-training exercise with high loads before executing a plyometric exercise with similar biomechanical demands. Despite a considerable amount of research in the past 10 years it would seem there is still much research to be done to fully determine whether PAP has a functional role and, if so, how to best exploit it. It is clear from the research that there are many factors that need to be considered when attempting to apply PAP to an athlete. It is possible that a well-conceived sport-specific warm-up might be as or more effective in enhancing acute performance and easier to apply in a practical setting. In addition, despite its current popularity, there has not been 1 study that has effectively examined the efficacy of complex training and whether it has any advantage over other forms of training that combine weight training and plyometrics but not in the same training session.
Kevin A. Ball, Russell J. Best and Tim V. Wrigley
Research into the relationship between body sway, aim-point fluctuation, and performance in pistol shooting has been inconclusive. The present study reex-amined this relationship on an interindividual basis, as done in previous studies, and via intraindividual analysis, not previously examined. Five elite pistol shooters performed 20 shots similar to competition conditions. For each shot, body-sway parameters and aim-point fluctuation parameters were quantified for the time period 1 s to shot. An AMTI LG6-4 force plate was used to measure body-sway parameters, while a SCATT shooting analysis system was used to measure aim-point fluctuation and shooting performance. Multiple regression analysis indicated that body sway was related to performance for one shooter, aim-point fluctuation was related to performance for three shooters, and body sway was related to aim-point fluctuation for four shooters. These relationships were specific to the individual, with the strength of association and parameters of importance being different for different shooters. However, interindividual analysis indicated that only aim-point fluctuation was related to performance. It was concluded that body sway, aim-point fluctuation, and performance are important in elite level pistol shooting, and performance errors at the elite level are individual-specific. Individual analysis should be a priority when examining elite level sports performance.
Anne-Claire Macquet
This article reports on time management in an elite sports context. It aims at characterizing how coaches experience dealing with athletes’ time management in a sport and academic institute and their constraints. Ten male coaches participated in this study. Each coach was asked to describe his time management activity during the season. Inductive and deductive analysis revealed two main results. The first showed the coaches dealt with a stringent set of constraints concerned with: (a) season organization, (b) training period and task sequencing, (c) the institute’s set times, and (d) the uncertainty linked to the evolution of training. The second emphasized that the coaches used three complex operating modes: (a) the use of organizational routines based on reference to past experience, (b) season shared time management, and (c) time management based on flexible plans. The results are discussed in relation to research that has considered planning and time management.
Brendan Burkett, Rebecca Mellifont and Bruce Mason
This study compared the components of the 15-m swimming start for 20 international male Olympic and Paralympic swimmers. The time, distance, and velocity components for freestyle swimming were measured. There were significantly (p < .05) different absolute and relative swim start measures among the swimming groups. Using stepwise regression three variables significantly influenced the start to 15-m time: (i) underwater velocity, (ii) free swim velocity, and (iii) whether the swimmer had cerebral palsy. This new knowledge provides useful information for swimmers and coaches on which components to prioritize, along with the practical applications of improving the streamline position to increase underwater velocity and to ensure that the transition from underwater to surface breakout occurs at the optimal time for maximum free swim velocity.
Mathew Dowling and Jimmy Smith
This investigation examined how Own the Podium (OTP) has contributed to the ongoing development of highperformance sport in Canada. In adopting an institutional work perspective, we contend that OTP’s continuance has not been the sole product of Canada’s success at the Olympic and Paralympic Games or lobbying efforts to secure additional funding. Rather, OTP’s permanence can also be explained as the by-product of the activities and actions of OTP itself and its supporting stakeholders to embed and institutionalize both the organization specifically and high-performance sport more generally in the Canadian sport landscape. In short, OTP’s continued existence can, in part, be explained by ongoing institutional work. To support our contentions, we draw on and analyze documentation that was either produced by, or significant to the development of, OTP. Our analysis identifies a number of OTP-related practices (e.g., tiering, hiring of high-performance advisors, and the creation and support of new high-performance sport programs) that have further institutionalized OTP and the norms, routines, and practices associated with high-performance sport. More broadly, our investigation draws attention to the importance of individual and collective actors in shaping institutional settings in sport.
Shaun D’Auria and Tim Gabbett
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the physiological demands of field players in international women’s water polo match play.
Methods:
Video footage was collected at the 13th FINA Women’s Water Polo World Cup in Perth in 2002. Video recordings were analyzed using a simple hand-based notation system to record predefined activity durations, frequencies, and corresponding subjective intensities.
Results:
Average exercise bout duration was 7.4 ± 2.5 s and exercise to rest ratio within play 1:1.6 ± 0.6. The average pattern of exercise was represented by 64.0 ± 15.3% swimming, 13.1 ± 9.2% contested swimming, 14.0 ± 11.6% wrestling, and 8.9 ± 7.1% holding position. Significant differences existed between outside and center players for percentage time swimming (67.5 ± 14.0% vs 60.2 ± 13.3%, P = .002) and wrestling (9.9 ± 9.3% vs 18.4 ± 11.1%, P = .000). A significant difference was found in the number (P = .017) and duration (P = .010) of high-intensity activity (HIA) bouts performed each quarter for outside (1.8 ± 2.2 bouts, 7.0 ± 3.4 s) and center players (1.2 ± 1.5 bouts, 5.2 ± 3.4 s). Positional differences in HIA were the result of a significant difference (P = .000) in the number of maximal/near maximal swims (outside 1.2 ± 1.5 and center 0.5 ± 0.9 per quarter).
Conclusions:
This study characterizes international women’s water polo match play as a highly intermittent activity. Swimming, particularly high intensity, has greater significance to outside players, whereas wrestling has greater significance to center players.
Robert J. Schinke, Gershon Tenenbaum, Ronnie Lidor and Andrew M. Lane
Within this opportunity to dialogue in commentary exchange about a previously conceived adaptation model, published in the Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, we revisit the utility of our model (Schinke et al., 2012a) and consider Tamminen and Crocker’s (2014) critique of our earlier writing. We also elaborate on emotion and emotion regulation through explaining hedonistic and instrumental motives to regulate emotions. We draw on research from general and sport psychology to examine emotion regulation (Gross, 2010). We argue that when investigating emotion, or any topic in psychology, the process of drawing from knowledge in a different area of the discipline can be useful, especially if the existing knowledge base in that area is already well developed. In particular, we draw on research using an evolutionary perspective (Nesse & Ellsworth, 2009). Accounting for these issues, we clarify the adaptation framework, expand it, and arguably offer a model that has greater utility for use with athletes in relation to training and competition cycles and progressions throughout their career. We also clarify for the readership places of misinterpretation by the commentary authors, and perhaps, why these have resulted.
Marco Cardinale and Julie A. Erskine
The use of vibration as a training intervention has been suggested for more than a decade. Following the initial promising studies, a large number of investigations have been conducted to understand the acute and chronic effects of this novel training modality mainly using special populations, sedentary, physically active, and aged individuals. There is a small number of studies involving athletes. For this reason it is at the moment very difficult to provide safe and effective training guidelines to athletes. We discuss the current findings related to the effectiveness on elite athletes and provide some guidance on practical applications. Vibration is without a doubt an interesting intervention; however, more needs to be done to understand the physiological mechanisms involved in the adaptive responses to vibration exercise. Furthermore, more studies are needed to establish a dose-response relationship to vibration training to provide indications on safe and effective vibration training prescriptions.
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https://journals.humankinetics.com/search?page=3&pageSize=10&q=%22elite+sport%22&sort=relevance
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Abstract: The concept of management training did not start today. The Greeks prepared the ancient Olympic Games exercising, and practicing in advance. The phenomenon of training is an action that is designed to prepare individuals for a certain exercises with proper diet. This study aimed to identify the reality training of Volley ball for the upper levels in provinces of Gaza and its relationship to the level of achievement skills of the players, and access to the results the researcher used the instrument resolution to recognize the reality of training which included the training process.
Key Word: Reality of Training – Skills Achievement – Volleyball – Gaza.
. Avramova, N.V. (2012). Tests and evaluation criteria of motional actions programming skills of 15- 17 year old female volleyball players / N.V. Avramova, L.D. Nazarenko // Pedagogical-psychological and medical-biological problems of physical culture and sport. № 2(23). P.10- 16.Access mode: http://kamgifk.ru/sites/default/files/magazine/avramova.
. Burtsev, A.V. (2011). Spatio-temporal orientation development among qualified volleyball players / A.V. Burtsev // Pedagogical-psychological and medical-biological problems of physical culture and sport. №1. P. 34-38. – Access mode: http://www/kamgifk.chelny. Net/journal.
. Goncharova, A.V.(2007). Reliability increase of female volleyball players' defensive actions taking into consideration sports motional objectives solution / A. V. Goncharova// Theory and practice of physical culture. №12. P. 45-48.
. Ezhi N. (2007). Training simulators use in conditional and technical training of volleyball players /Novik Ezhi // Theory and practice of physical culture. №12. P. 42-44.
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|Paper Type||:||Research Paper|
|Title||:||Sports Specific Influence on Force Vital Capacity in University Players|
|Country||:||India|
|Authors||:||Dr. Arvind Malik || Dr. Sonia Malik || Satender Kumar|
|:||10.9790/6737-04020609|
Abstract: Objective: The objective of this research was to study the pulmonary function in different types of sports and compare them with controls in order to find out which sports improve lung function the most. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 240 sportsmen of eight different games (30 of each): Basketball, Volleyball, Athletics (long & short distance Runners), Boxing (Fly to Middle weight boxers), Wrestling (57 to 86 kg), Swimming and Control group (Non-sportsmen).The Force Vital Capacity (FVC) was measured with Minispir® New, Computer–based Spirometer..........
Key Word: Force Vital Capacity; Athletes; Sports; Respiratory function tests.
. Aggarwal AN, Gupta D, Chaganti S, Jindal SK. Diurnal variation in peak expiratory flow in healthy young adults. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci. 2000;42:15–9.
. Akkbas SR, Bazzy AR, Dimauro S, & Haddad GG. Metabolic and Functional adaptation of the diaphragm to training and resistive loads. J Appl Physiol 1989;66(2):529-535.
. Armour J, Donnelly PM, Bye PT. The large lungs of elite swimmers: an increased alveolar number? Eur Respir J.1993;6(2):237-47.
. Berglund L, Sundgot-Borgen J, Berglund B. Adipositas athletica: a group of neglected conditions associated with medical risks. Scand J Med Sci Sports, 2011;21(5):617-24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600- 0838.2011.01322.x
. Boutellier U, Baechel R, Kudent A, & Piwko, R. The respiratory system as an exercise limiting factor in normal trained subjects. Eur J Appl Physiol 1992;65:347-353.
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Abstract: Introduction: Stroke caused by cerebro vascular accident producing the symptom of hemiplegia has been therapeutically managed by many approaches resulting to satisfactory functional outcome without knowing the significant of each approach being used. So in this study reasearcher tried to find the significant effects of two common approaches which are in practiced at present world wide.These approaches are bobath approach of stroke rehabilitation and conventional approaches. Objective: Tried to find significant difference in the outcome in both the approaches beore and after the treatment...........
Key Word: Bobath, Modified Barthel Index
[1.] Susan B O'Sullivan, Thomas J Schmitz . Physical rehabilitation. 5th edition.
[2.] Bobath Berta. Adult hemilegia evaluation and treatment. 3rd edition.
[3.] Bakhtiary AH et al. Does electrical stimulation reduces spasticity after stroke? Clinical Rehabilitaion. 2008 .May;22(5):418-25.U
[4.] Nazish Ansari,Soofia Naghdi. The effect of Bobath approach on the excitability of the spinal alpha motor neurons in stroke patients with muscle spasticity. Electromyography and clinical neurophysiology. January 2007.
[5.] Wang RY, Chen HI, Chen CY, Yang YR. Efficacy of Bobath versus orthopaedic approach on impairment and function at different motor recovery stages after stroke, a randomized controlled study. Clini Rehabilitation. 2005. Mar,19(2): 155-64.
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Abstract: Study Focus: This study only aimed at evaluating adolescents' physical education literacy level due developmental, humanistic and fitness factors, cased at four selected senior high schools in Bo, Southern Sierra Leone, West Africa. Methods:Adolescents' physical education literacy level questionnaire (APELQ) was adopted and pre-tested as research instrument for testing the parameters. The variables were scaled using One-Sample t-Test of IBM-SPSSv.23 Statistics, witha sampled size of110participants, meanage of[15.5±3.5] ranged from (12-19)years, were selected using stratified and simple random sampling methods...........
Key Word: PhysicalEducation, Literacy,Developmental, Humanistic andFitness Factors
[1.] Anderson, D. (1989). The Discipline and the Profession. Foundations of Canadian Physical Education, Recreation, and Sports Studies. Dubuque, IA: Wm. C. Brown Publishers.
[2.] Bebeley, S. J. (2016). Adolescents' Knowledge about the Contraindications of Muscle Weakness Due Central Fatigue, Peripheral Fatigue and Lactic Acid as Health Education Strategy in Lifestyle Management. PARIPEX-Indian Journal of Research:5 (4): 2-4.
[3.] Bebeley, S. J. and Laggao, S. A. (2008). Attitude of students at Njala University Bo Campus, towards Physical Health Education. An unpublished dissertation:Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, School of Education, Njala University.
[4.] Grimes, G. (2011). Interview by M Massey [Personal Interview]. http://global.bing.com/videos/search? q=grimes%2c+g.+2011+november+2+interview+by+m+massey&qpvt=
Grimes%2c+G.+2011+November+2+interview+by+M+Massey&FORM=VDRE.
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|Paper Type||:||Research Paper|
|Title||:||Development of Character Strategies by Coaches for University Athletes in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria|
|Country||:||Nigeria|
|Authors||:||Dada, Benson Olu, (Ph.D)|
|:||10.9790/6737-04021927|
Abstract: It is strongly viewed that sport and physical activity setting possess potential for athlete's character development. Some others argue that sports may not build character except it is structured with strategies to do so. This study focused on development of character development strategies by coaches for university athletes in Niger Delta of Nigeria. Forty-six sports coaches of universities constitute population and sample for the study. The modified Research and Development design by Borg and Gall was adapted for the study. Two questionnaires, one for identifying character strategies by coaches and the other for matching character traits to strategies identified by coaches were used for data collection...........
Key Word: Character, Development, University Athletes, Strategies, Coaches.
. Armstrong, C. F., The Lessons of Sport class Socialization in British and American Boarding Schools. Sociology of Sport Journal (1), 1984, 314 – 331.
. Sage, G., Does sport affect character development in athletes? The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance 69(1), 1998, 15 – 18.
. Gouldli, D. C., Do sport Build character? A study of intramural sport programme of United States Air force. Academy (Published master thesis 2000.
. Igbanugo,V.C., Perspective view of Nigeria University Games. In Anugweje K.C. (Ed.) Multidimensional approach to sport development through the university system 2004.
. Oelstrom, T., Building the dream house with a foundation of character. Journal of College and character (2), 2003..
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Abstract: Stretching is a conventional method applied by athletes to reach the maximum performance at the warm-up stage and to protect them from injuries. Although it is frequentlyapplied by athletes, there is no consensus on the acute effects of stretching exercises on the performance. The aim of this study is to examine the acute effect of static stretching applied to quadriceps and/or hamstring muscle groups on sprint running.
45 males (average (±SD) age 22,9 (±1,3) years; height 178,1 (±6,4) cm; body weight 77,7 (±12) kg) participated in the study. Following a 5-minute of submaximal warm-up run, 3 different stretching protocols (Method I: only 5- minute warm-up run; Method II: 5- minute warm-up run and static hamstring stretching; Method III: 5- minute warm-up run...........
Key Word: Hamstring, quadriceps, sprint time, static stretching.
. K. L.Taylor, J. M. Sheppard, H.Lee, and N. Plummer, Negative effect of static stretching restored when combined with a sport specific warm-up component, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 12(6), 2009, 657-661.
. Y.Alikhajeh, N. M.Rahimi, K.Fazeli, and H.Fazeli, The effect of different warm up stretch protocols on 20m-sprint performance in trained soccer players. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 2012, 2210-2214.
. K.Mine, T. Nakayama, S.Milanese, and K.Grimmer, Acute effects of stretching on maximal muscle strength and functional performance: A systematic review of Japanese-language randomised controlled trials.,Manual therapy, 21, 2016, 54-62.
. M.Stewart, R.Adams, A. Alonso, B. Van Koesveld, and S.Campbell, Warm-up or stretch as preparation for sprint performance?, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 10(6), 2007, 403-410.
. G. C. E.Sılva, A.Silveira, J. Novaes, F. Di Masi, M. Conceicao, and E. Dantas, Acute effects of static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching on sprint performance in male swimmers, Med Sport, 67, 2014, 119-128.
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|Paper Type||:||Research Paper|
|Title||:||Simulations for the EPL Using Competitive Balance Models|
|Country||:||Turkey|
|Authors||:||G. Donald Allen|
|:||10.9790/6737-04023343|
Abstract: In this paper we consider probabilistic competitive balance (CB) models for how football teams perform in English Premier League (EPL) play. While individual game outcomes are measured, they serve to only create the league table, and then over multiple seasons. This is a comprehensive model that attempts to model outcomes to accurately reflect actual league performance. For example, how does the top ranked team perform during a given season...........
Key Word: Simulation, Football modeling, Prediction.
England Football Results Betting Odds — Premiership Results & Betting Odds. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. http://football-data.co.uk/englandm.php
Rottenberg, S., (1956). The baseball players' labor market. Journal of Political Economy 64, 242-258.
Forrest, D., Simmons, R., (2002). Outcome uncertainty and attendance demand in sport: The case of English soccer. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series D (The Statistician) 51, 229-241.
Noll, R.G., (1988). Professional Basketball, Studies in Industrial Economics Paper No. 144. Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Scully, G.W., (1989). The Business of Major League Baseball. (University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL)..
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|Paper Type||:||Research Paper|
|Title||:||The Impact of the Sports Spirituality on Moral and Ethical Actions of Athletes|
|Country||:||Croatia|
|Authors||:||Marijan Spehnjak|
|:||10.9790/6737-04024456|
Abstract: This paper presents the results obtained by the survey of 207 athlete respondents (handball players) about faith, prayer, the meaning, forgiveness, gratitude, relationship to God and ethical-moral action. All the indicated factors are part of the human aspect of the experience, and in this paper, they have been viewed through a spiritual and religious dimension of a man. Namely, a man is not only a psycho-physical being, he also has a spiritual dimension (Ivančić, 2011; 2016a). The spiritual aspect is connected to virtually every field of the human actions, including the sports one............
Key Word: Spirituality of sports, religion, the meaning, prayer, religiosity, moral act
. Blaţević, J. (2014) New Age i kršćanstvo. Enciklopedijski priručnik, Verbum, Split.
. Brnĉić, J. (2006) Rijeĉima ponovno uspostaviti smisao, Povodom knjige A. Chouraquija, Deset zapovijedi danas, Filozofska istraživanja, 104 God. 26 (4) 891-904).
. Berger, L. P. (2008) Desekularizacija sveta. Oživljavanje religije i svetska politika, Novi Sad, Mediterran publishing.
. Brkljaĉić, Morana (2007) Etika i sport, Medicina (43) 230-233.
. Berger, L. P. (2008) Desekularizacija sveta. Oživljavanje religije i svetska politika, Novi Sad, Mediterran publishing.
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|Paper Type||:||Research Paper|
|Title||:||Formation of Preschool Management Model for Improving the Quality of Preschool in Sarawak|
|Country||:||Malaysia|
|Authors||:||Thian Vui Shau|
|:||10.9790/6737-04025766|
Abstract: This study aims to produce a new model for improving the quality of preschool education in Malaysia. To explore issues of education quality, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the relationship between theory and model constructs according to the Preschool Management Model (PMM). In this study, the researcher is interested to analyse the causal effect of headmasters' instructional leadership on effective teaching among preschools and subsequently test the hypothesis in order to prove its significance. In addition, the study also establish the correlation of four mediators between headmasters' instructional leadership and effective teaching............
Key Word: Preschool Management Model, Structural Equation Modeling, Headmasters' Instructional Leadership, Mediator, Effective Teaching.
. Deming, W. E. (1986). Out of the crisis. Massachusetts : MIT Center Advanced Engineering Study.
. Juran, J. M. (1989). Juran on leadership for quality. An executive handbook. New York: The Free Press.
. Crosby, P. B. (1986). Quality without tears : The Art of Hasslle-free Management. Singapore : McGraw-Hill.
. Oakland, J.S. (2003). Total Quality Management: Text with cases (third edition). London: Elsevier.
. Suntonrapo, D., Auyporn, R., & Thaweewat, P. (2009). An investigation of the effects between academic self-concept, non-academic self concept and academic acievement. Causal ordering models Research in Higher Education Journal 2.
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https://iosrjournals.org/iosr-jspe/pages/vol4-iss2.html
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Авторы:
Dr.Sc. Psych., Associate Professor N.V. Podbutskaya1
PhD, Associate Professor Yu.G. Chebakova1
1National Technical University "Kharkov Polytechnic Institute", Kharkov
Modern team sports give a special priority to the factors of influence on competitive performance. The study analyzes benefits of the mental conditioning service in the team sports; practical and experimental aspects of the athletes mental controls; and the individual progress securing psychological factors. Objective of the study was to profile the key individual mental performance factors in the professional basketball and analyze the professional basketball players’ psychological profiles versus the amateur ones.
Sampled for the study were the professional male basketball players competing in the Basketball Federation’s Super League (n =22, aged 23.2 years on average, with the average record of 15.2 years) and amateur basketball players (n=32, aged 19.4 years with the sport records of 2.7 years on average). We used a factorial analysis to prioritize the dominating personality mental qualities of professional basketball players including the emotional factor (factor 1); external regulation factor for teamwork (factor 2); and attention to the teammates (factor 3). Generally a perfect basketball professional demonstrates emotional maturity, confidence, endurance, high mental controls, teamwork skills, sensitivity to the teammates, open mindedness, good communication, openness to positive emotions and impressions. On the whole, the dominant psychological qualities in the psychological personality profiles of the amateur basketball players were found less expressed. Therefore, the professional basketball players were tested with a clear hierarchy of dominant sport-specific mental qualities versus the amateur players. The study found the mental qualities, motivations and personal priorities critical for competitive success in modern basketball.
Keywords: professional basketball, key mental qualities, motivations, individual psychological profile.
References
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http://www.teoriya.ru/en/node/10897
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The present study was performed to analyze and review the physical and immune responses to over- training syndrome in humans and will be helpful for athletes and individuals who are at the risk of overtraining syndrome.
Disturbances in Brain Physiology Due to Season Play: A Multi-Sport Study of Male and Female University Athletes
- PsychologyFrontiers in Physiology
- 2021
The brain shows substantial but reversible neurophysiological changes due to season play in the absence of overtraining symptoms, with effects that are sex-dependent but otherwise insensitive to demographic variations.
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Parameters in Athletic Population: A Review
- MedicineJournal of clinical medicine
- 2021
Applications of CPET in athletes with special attention on physiological parameters such as VO2max, ventilatory thresholds, oxygen pulse, and ventilatories equivalent for oxygen and exercise economy in the assessment of athletic performance are discussed.
A Review of the Relationship between Heart Rate Monitoring, Training Load, and Injury in Field-Based Team Sport Athletes
- EducationInternational Journal of Sport, Exercise and Health Research
- 2022
Outdoor, field-based team sports have been a staple of American and international cultures throughout recorded history and are currently played by millions of athletes around the globe. In modern…
Mental Health Concerns in Athletes
- Psychology
- 2021
Elite athletes perform at a very high level and often spend hours and years training, participating in their sport and working with coaches and teammates. In addition to being susceptible to injuries…
Multiaspective diagnostics of training loads as well as biomechanical parameters and blood indices among leadingelite race walkers preparing for participation in the olympics
- EducationJournal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences
- 2019
Research problem: In the narrative review in the introductory chapter of this study, it was shown that there are no scientific methods or tools for researching the Functional Overreaching (FOR) state…
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The importance of recovery for elite athletes is highlighted and an overview of monitoring instruments is provided to assist with research that addresses the avoidance of overtraining, maximizes recovery, and successfully negotiates the fine line between high and excessive training loads.
Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the overtraining syndrome: joint consensus statement of the European College of Sport Science and the American College of Sports Medicine.
- MedicineMedicine and science in sports and exercise
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The recent status of possible markers for the detection of overtraining syndrome is provided and it is generally thought that symptoms of OTS, such as fatigue, performance decline, and mood disturbances, are more severe than those of NFOR.
Overtraining Syndrome
- MedicineSports health
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OTS appears to be a maladapted response to excessive exercise without adequate rest, resulting in perturbations of multiple body systems (neurologic, endocrinologic, immunologic) coupled with mood changes.
A multidisciplinary approach to overreaching detection in endurance trained athletes.
- EducationJournal of applied physiology
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It was shown that monitoring various variables is required to prevent the transition between NT and OR, and that an OR index, which combines heart rate and blood lactate concentration changes after a strenuous training period, could be helpful to routinely detect OR.
Elucidating the Unexplained Underperformance Syndrome in Endurance Athletes
- MedicineSports medicine
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It is proposed that time-dependent sensitisation could provide a model through which the aetiology of UPS may be explained and strategies to attenuate the IL-6 response to exercise that may also reduce an athlete’s susceptibility to UPS.
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The purpose of this review is to describe the relationship between overtraining, chronic fatigue, and adrenal insufficiency and to address the overlap in these conditions, as well as examine critical research on the relationships between the dysfunction of the adrenal axis in over trained and stressed athletes.
Blood lactate response to overtraining in male endurance athletes
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The main difference between the two conditions is the decrease of [La−]b,peak during overtraining, which is proposed as a marker of overtraining for long duration events, and repeating its measurement after a sufficient period of rest to make the distinction with overreaching.
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Recent hypothesis related to cytokine release, to central fatigue, to depletion of muscle and liver glycogen, and to a reduction in glutamine availability during physical activity are being raised.
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This paper will attempt to provide a unifying paradigm that will integrate previous research under the rubric of the cytokine hypothesis of overtraining, and argue that high volume/intensity training, with insufficient rest, will produce muscle and/or skeletal and/ or joint trauma.
Aspectos neuroendócrinos e nutricionais em atletas com overtraining
- Biology
- 2005
Recent hypothesis related to cytokine release, to central fatigue, to depletion of muscle and liver glycogen, and to a reduction in glutamine availability during physical activity are being raised.
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https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Overtraining-Syndrome-in-the-Athlete%3A-Current-Carfagno-Hendrix/a3940b4891a7926ee7252b88beff7140326b7394
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Volume 2 (1980): Issue 4 (Jan 1980)
in
Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Online ISSN:
0163-433X
Sport Psychology Today
Half a Cheer for Rainer and Daryl
By:
Jerry R. Thomas
Pages: 266–267
Research
Sport Psychologist's Digest
By:
Mark-Andre Gilbert
,
Daniel R. Gould
,
Yuri Hanin
,
John Kane
,
Penny McCullagh-Wallace
,
John Ragan
,
Hermann Rieder
,
John Silva
,
Frank L. Smoll
and
William F. Straub
Pages: 268–278
Sex Bias in Evaluating Motor Activity: General or Task-specific Performance Expectancy?
By:
L. R. Brawley
,
R. C. Powers
and
K. A. Phillips
Pages: 279–287
Cognitive and Biofeedback Training for Stress Reduction with University Athletes
By:
Daniel J. De Witt
Pages: 288–294
Psychobiologic Influences on Exercise Adherence
By:
Rod K. Dishman
and
Larry R. Gettman
Pages: 295–310
Behavior Modification in Sport and Physical Education: A Review
By:
Janet A. Donahue
,
Jacqueline H. Gillis
and
Karen King
Pages: 311–328
Mental Preparation Strategies, Cognitions, and Strength Performance
By:
Daniel Gould
,
Robert Weinberg
and
Allen Jackson
Pages: 329–339
Effect of Public and Private Efficacy Expectations on Competitive Performance
By:
Robert S. Weinberg
,
David Yukelson
and
Allen Jackson
Pages: 340–349
Comments
Cognitions and Coping Strategies of Elite Skiers: An Exploratory Study of Young Developing Athletes
By:
Robert J. Rotella
,
Bruce Gansneder
,
David Ojala
and
John Billing
Pages: 350–354
Research
Orientations Toward Sport of Male and Female Intercollegiate Athletes
By:
George H. Sage
Pages: 355–362
Book Reviews
Book Reviews
By:
Robert S. Weinberg
Pages: 363–364
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Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
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Journal
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https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jsep/2/4/jsep.2.issue-4.xml
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In this episode this is the introduction on how you will learn how to gain the mental edge in your sport.
5 Major Lessons Learned in 50 Years
This episode is what I believe is the 5 major lessons learned in the past 50 years of being on this earth. Listen to these lessons and see if you agree? What are your lessons learned? I look forward to hearing them.
Training Your Mind For Your Sport
So you want to be an athlete? Awesome! But how do you train your mind to compete the way you want to in your sport? In this episode you will discover exactly what you must focus on when training your mind for your sport.
Unleash Your Potential Within
Have you heard people say to you, "oh, you've got so much potential!" And you know yourself that you have the potential but how do you unleash your potential within? Here are 10 steps to unleash your potential within.
Your Ocean Within - How To Stay Calm
This is a special episode for you. This is a simple way to relax and let the music take over. It's called Ocean Within. Your goal here is to breathe with the music so that you become calm and relaxed. It will teach you how to stay calm when you compete in your sport and everyday life.
3 Approaches To Motivation
What the research finds is that most people fit into one of these 3 approaches to motivation. Let's have a look at what they are and how they can help you with your motivation.
7 Steps to Build Mental Toughness
The misconception about athletes is that an athlete is born with mental toughness. And if you are not born tough then you won't be tough. But that is incorrect you can build mental toughness. In this episode you will discover the 7 steps how to build mental toughness.
Top 4 Myths For Sports Mindset
There are a number of myths that surround mindset skills for sport. We will uncover the top 4 myths in this episode as we don't want these myths to hold you back in bringing out your best performances when you compete.
Are Mental Skills Really That Important?
We all know that our physical skills needed to be practised regularly and refined through repetition. But are our mental skills in our sport really that important? Or should we just be working harder and that will get the results? Discover here in this episode if mental skills are really that important.
How To Build Confidence
How do you build confidence when you are not performing the way you want to and it brings you down? It can ruin your confidence. Listen to this episode and apply these 4 steps on how to build your confidence.
Lessons Learned: Just Show Up
Each week it's important to look back at the end of your week and identify what lessons you have learned that will help you not only learn more about you, but gain feedback so you can keep on improving you to reach the heights you want to reach. What lessons can you learn from the just showing up? Listen to this episode.
Settling The Nerves Before The Big Game
Nothing is more nerve wracking than the big game. That big game that is so important to you. But how do you settle those nerves? Get the strategies in this episode.
|
https://tiffany-mika.com/blogs/tiffany-mika-podcast/tagged/success-in-sport
|
Orthopaedic Surgery is a fast-advancing and ever-expanding field.
The challenges to orthopaedic surgeons are to keep abreast with the cutting edge of knowledge in basic science and clinical practice, to master skills in sophisticated equipment and instruments, and communicate effectively with other healthcare professionals.
The aim of our expertise is to provide a high standard of orthopaedic care to our community. The success of orthopaedic management, particularly surgery, lies on the teamwork of experienced surgeons, nurses and allied healthcare professionals, together with a number of support that are made available by the medical and related fraternities.
The first of its kind in Hong Kong, OLC was established initially as an innovative and comprehensive training centre to provide facilities and expertise in training our surgeons. Through years of development and advancement, the centre is evolving into an extensive unit offering more than training and education to surgeons, nurses, allied health professionals and the community. Along with diverse professional teaching activities, we offer fall and fracture prevention programs to community dwellers, master program to graduates and research programs to postgraduate students. In addition, we conduct various research activities directly related to better patient care, and provide computer-aided surgical planning and modeling services to surgeons and researchers. Our further advocacy is our active participation in the establishment of the local Fragility Fracture Registry that provides an auditing system of outcomes for clinicians to critically review the safety and effectiveness of treatments, and serves as a benchmark for standard care for every serving surgeon and clinician in managing fragility fractures. By and large, we strive to serve the needs and enhance the well-being of the patients of Hong Kong, China as a whole, and even the wider world community, with our tenet to learn and practice to serve better.
Hands-on bioskill training for surgeons in sub-specialties such as trauma surgery, joint replacement surgery, arthroscopic surgery, hand and microsurgery, spinal surgery, paediatric surgery, and other essential orthopaedic procedures.
Relay of live surgery. Our surgeons in training can observe and simulate the live surgery experience with super quality audio-visual transmission via the optical fibre connected to the operating theatre.
Pre-operative planning, simulations and post-operative assessments for surgical procedures such as joint replacements, fracture fixations, tumor resections and reconstructions, spine and arthroscopic procedures.
3D Printing objects such as patient specific instruments, implants, bone models, surgical tools and parts for clinical applications and research programs. 3D printing enables exact replica of patient's bone and thus the pathologies which are best for preoperative planning, feasibility trials and the fabrication of patient specific surgical instrumentation.
Comprehensive Fragility Fracture Management Program, including community health care and fall prevention scheme, assessment service and referral, low magnitude high frequency vibration therapy, fall prevention shoes and hip protector.
Fall prevention educational talks to increase the public awareness towards the serious consequences of elderly falls and fractures and the adoption of appropriate fall preventive measures. Regular training workshops for related professions and volunteers are organized in the centre to facilitate skill and knowledge transfer to serve the elderly at large.
Venues and facilities for holding meetings, lectures and seminars.
Telemedicine which can deliver learning materials to other overseas organizations and provide the opportunities for surgeons with different talents to interact with each other.
The extensive Intranet and Internet enables the centre to provide useful information and help establish a comprehensive resource centre in our field.
Our centre is thus a ground-breaking venture to achieve team building, improve learning motivations, and assimilate advanced technologies into clinical practice.
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http://www.olc-cuhk.org/e/objectives.html
|
As a lifelong resident of Springfield, Illinois and a periodontist with a family legacy of dentists and surgeons, J. David Cross, DDS embraces the highest health care values and continually strives to provide the highest quality experiences to his community.
Dr. Cross has been a practicing periodontist for over twenty-five years and is one of the few periodontists in the United States trained in microsurgery.
All of Dr. Cross’ procedures benefit from high magnification techniques that reveal more detail and allow him to deliver the highest level of precision to the patients he treats.
The microscope allows Dr. Cross to visualize greater detail in specific areas and provide patients with treatment that is more effective and comfortable for Springfield patients.
Imagine a routine dental procedure. If it is performed with the high-powered magnification of a microscope, it allows Dr. Cross to see the finest details. The microscope significantly improves the accuracy and effectiveness of many procedures.
After obtaining his primary and secondary education in Springfield, Dr. Cross went on to study Mathematics at DePauw University. He then attended the Loyola School of Dentistry and continued on to complete his Certificate of Specialty in Periodontics after an additional two years of residency. Dr. Cross’ specialization in periodontics makes him exceptionally qualified to provide care and treatment from the basic periodontal therapy to complex regenerative and dental implant procedures.
Dr. Cross is among a select few periodontists in the United States that has been trained in the microscope and has applied this precision and philosophy in the treatment of his patients. He also travels annually to Louisiana State University where he teaches the Principals of Microsurgery to the Periodontal Residents.
Dr. Cross currently serves as a lecturer and speaker on microsurgical techniques developed by Dr. Shanelec. As an educator and practicing periodontist, Dr. Cross maintains a connection to new advancements in the field and continuously evaluates the potential of new minimally invasive procedures to improve patient comfort and surgical success.
Dr. Cross has been involved in many of these organizations for decades.
Dr. Cross and his wife Susan have three children, Graham, Isabel, and Agnes. Between lecturing and treating patients, Dr. Cross spends most of his free time with his wife and children.
217-793-0196 to schedule an initial consultation.
|
https://jdavidcrossdds.com/about-dr-cross/
|
The inaugural Academy of Clinical Educators (ACE) Conference is an opportunity for clinicians involved in teaching, training, and supervision, to gain insight into best practice, topical issues, key strategies and areas for trainer development.
The conference will explore issues and challenges related to teaching principles in a clinical setting.
The programme will cover learning and teaching skills, effective communication, coaching, dealing with difficult students, and making the learner experience meaningful and engaging.
Conference delegates will also have the opportunity to debate and share experiences among other trainers, working in a range of clinical areas. The programme is designed specifically for clinicians who hold a named trainer role in secondary care, or who wish to enhance their career by developing their trainer skills.
Delivered by professional training experts and senior clinicians, the programme will provide you with new ideas and perspectives on delivering education and training.
ACE and Excellence in Trainer Development
ACE was established to support clinicians involved in the development of training and development programmes for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. The College is committed to supporting the development of trainers, to maintain high quality standards and best practice. Recent guidelines from the GMC regarding trainer development and the increased need for formal trainer recognition mean it is even more important today to provide support, development opportunities and recognition to our clinical educators. The first ACE conference is an opportunity to share best practice and offer appropriate CPD opportunities in this area.
Learning and development outcomes
- To be aware of current developments in educational practice including Competencies in Practice and Teaching Non-Technical Skills.
- To explore how to enhance local education delivery using technology, debrief, and approaches to educational delivery
- To identify key steps to take when constructing appropriate assessment
- To be introduced to how other professions (Accountants, Solicitors and Advocates) understand and delivery postgraduate and post-experience education (i.e. CME) and identify transferable concepts for medical education
Dental CPD
In regards to GDC development outcomes, this course covers A & B.
CPD Credits
APPROVED
No upcoming dates
There are currently no upcoming dates for this event.
|
https://rcpsg.ac.uk/events/ace
|
The teaching at Loughborough University has been awarded ‘Gold’ in the most recent Teaching Excellence Framework, known as ‘TEF’ for short.
What is the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)?
TEF is the system through which universities’ teaching quality is assessed and rated. It aims to provide clear information about where teaching quality is best and where students have achieved the best outcomes.
As part of the TEF assessment, universities had to submit a document to the national Higher Education Funding Council to demonstrate their excellence across three broad areas: Teaching Quality, Learning Environment, and Student Outcomes and Learning Gain. The submission was assessed by an independent panel of students, academics, education experts and employers.
In awarding Gold, the TEF panel highlighted that Loughborough had scored highly in terms of retention and progression of students to highly skilled employment or further study. In addition, satisfaction with teaching, assessment and feedback, and academic support were all notably above the sector benchmark for these areas.
The TEF Panel also highlighted key aspects of the University’s submission as:
- The opportunities for students to undertaken industrial, professional or international placements, combined with employer input and engagement ensured through programmes
- Specific and dedicated staff resource that is allocated to provide in-depth careers guidance, employability skills and development, and placement and work- based learning support for students
- The culture of personalised learning on campus that ensures all students are significantly challenged to achieve their full potential and acquire knowledge, skills and understanding that are research-led and most highly valued by employers
- Students’ agreement about their contribution to the close partnership between the University and Students’ Union, which ensures that students take charge of their experiences with academic and co-curricular opportunities that can enhance their learning while preparing them for the wold beyond the University
- A comprehensive pastoral and academic tutorial programme that enables and maximises retention, progression and attainment
- An embedded culture of reward and recognition for teaching and learning, which is linked to promotion criteria. Teaching is celebrated through a number of internal and student-led teaching awards with an emphasis on learning and teaching informed by research
- Outstanding physical and digital resources for students, with strategically driven investments decided in collaboration with students and stakeholders.
Loughborough’s full submission is available from the link below:
Highlights from Loughborough’s TEF submission
Partnership with students
The staff and students at Loughborough work closely together to shape the delivery and ongoing development of teaching at the University. Lewis Wood, the Executive Officer for Education at Loughborough Students’ Union has blogged on the importance of a staff-student partnership for excellent teaching.
- We have almost 500 Programme Reps and 21 Programme Presidents, who liaise between the students and the University to enhance teaching and learning on all courses
- Nearly 300 of our students are Peer Support mentors, who provide help and guidance to their fellow students
Employer engagement
Employers value the skills our students gain through the quality of the academic courses and the wide range of extra-curricular activities they undertake.
- There are industrial, professional and international placements available on all our undergraduate programmes
- More than 1,500 students are involved in extra-curricular enterprise activities
Curriculum enrichment
We work with local, national and international companies and organisations to provide our students with opportunities to participate in active, real-life research, design and business projects.
- Nearly 50% of our undergraduate programmes are accredited by a Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body
- Our students can use a Loughborough-developed system to rate one another’s contributions in group assignments
Physical and digital resources
We continuously develop and enhance the buildings and facilities on campus to support our students’ learning. Find out more about STEMLab, one of our newest developments.
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http://www.lboro.ac.uk/about/achievements/tef/tef-explained/
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Wednesday, 23 October, 2013 - 19:16
As we prepare for the 90th Anniversary of ACPA-College Student Educators International in 2014 and as we begin the transition process to envision the 100th Anniversary in 2024, our Association is looking not only at the Association but also into the future of higher and tertiary education. Given that particular focus, we share with you the six priorities that will guide the Association’s activities and create opportunities for ACPA to stimulate global interest in the results of executing these priorities in a timely and effective manner.
The expectation is that all entities of ACPA (Standing Committees, Commissions, State and International Divisions) and the ACPA Foundation will join to ensure that these priorities are achieved. While the plan, and these six priorities move us forward to 2016, we must continually ask ourselves, when the year is 2024, where would we like to be?
The six priorities of the Association are:
-
Career Development
ACPA will enhance opportunities for its members to make intentional and informed career transitions and advancements to best lead their constituents and the profession.
ACPA believes that we have a responsibility to society to prepare leaders that enhance the quality of life in the communities in which they work. Our Association values the diverse pathways and experiences that individuals follow to their desired leadership role. We support the continuous self-evaluation and personal improvement that fosters the skill development ACPA members need to be successful in their current and future roles. We are committed to promoting career advancement as something that is not limited to just looking for the next job, but also developing programs and services that support and mentor the leaders that follow us in our work.
-
Professional Development
Offer exemplary, innovative, comprehensive professional development, based on the professional competencies as well as emerging issues and trends in higher education will provide enhanced student service and foster student learning and development.
ACPA is committed to the holistic growth of its members. Toward that end, we capitalize on the knowledge and skills of our members to create a variety of professional development opportunities maximizing diverse delivery methods helping our members develop professionally to better serve students and foster learning and development.
-
Leadership in Higher Education
ACPA will lead discourse and action in higher education related to the learning and development of college students, our members, and their institutions.
As a comprehensive student affairs organization, ACPA is positioned to offer powerful and influential leadership in student affairs and higher education. We have a broad membership base, which includes recognized thought leaders, renowned researchers and scholars, and nationally-recognized (and increasingly internationally-recognized) administrative leaders. Additionally, the foundation of this leadership—research and scholarship—is a well-established strength of our organization.
-
Social Justice
ACPA will lead in advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion across higher education worldwide.
Issues of equity and inclusion in our field continue to be a dominant part of the discourse. ACPA has a strong history of advancing social justice in student affairs and higher education. We will build on our foundation as the leading voice in promoting knowledge and practice around issues of individual and group identities and promoting social justice on college and university campuses. ACPA will help professionals and campuses expand on practices that promote inclusion and ease of opportunity for access to higher education.
-
Research & Scholarship
ACPA will lead the student affairs profession in the generation and timely provision of cutting edge research and practice-related professional development resources.
Building on a foundation of research excellence, ACPA is uniquely positioned to lead the field in the scholarship of theory and practice. We seek further to increase the quality and reputation of flagship publications while supporting a broad-based array of traditional and innovative formats to make scholarship and practitioner-scholarship accessible to the profession. ACPA will lead the field in emerging forms of scholarship and dissemination using synchronous and asynchronous modes, digital and social media for training and education.
-
Association Performance and Excellence
ACPA will invest in the Association’s resources, business processes, and workforce to ensure growth and performance improvement.
Organizational excellence is based on key business and people development processes, and regular performance measurement. To deliver the best possible results and value to ACPA members and stakeholders, and at the same time ensure organizational strength and sustainability, we will continuously focus on the improvement of overall organizational effectiveness and capabilities.
Possibilities that would enhance the reality of these priorities:
- Career Development
- Enhance the C3 career services operation, including consistent technology standards
- Explore alternative methods of delivering year-round career services
- Articulate pathways and opportunities for members at all levels, to develop professional competencies and advance their careers
- Professional Development
- Maximize the utilization of the professional competencies and emerging issues to offer high quality year-round professional development curricula for each level of staff
- Expand the naming opportunities for institutes, symposiums and colloquiums
- Identify resources to ensure accessible and affordable professional development for all ACPA members
- Act on changing trends for delivery of professional development and the convention to ensure powerful, engaging, vibrant, and distinctive educational opportunities
- Leadership in Higher Education
- Create resources to market innovative ideas currently underway for the profession
- Shape the response to critical issues by supporting and initiating regular opportunities for information exchange and dialog
- Utilize the External Relations Advisory Board to identify strategies for policy advocacy and to engage in public policy opportunities
- Social Justice
- Increase scholarly contributions related to social justice, equity, and inclusion
- Expand international and domestic structures and practices to meet member needs in this area
- Create partnerships that advance ACPA’s core value through governmental, educational and corporate approaches
- Research and Scholarship
- Increase the Association’s capacity to lead in the dissemination of high quality scholarship and research in areas related to student affairs practice and theory and emerging issues
- Increase scholarship reflecting global issues
- Examine and act on publishing trends to continue to be cutting edge, accessible, affordable, and relevant
- Association Performance and Excellence
- Identify resources and efficiencies that will result in Association growth and continued strength
- Implement an Association-wide sustainability plan
The ACPA Governing Board began the strategic planning process almost immediately following the results of the failed Consolidation of ACPA and NASPA (April, 2011). Once the decision was final that the two major student affairs associations would not be consolidating, it was clear that the membership of ACPA expected a renewed focus on our “place” in higher education and our “niche” in student affairs for the future.
The initial strategic process began in spring, 2011 and continued throughout the summer leadership meetings, assembly meetings/town hall meetings, retreats of the Governing Board, convention 2012 discussions and refinement opportunities and final review and approval fall, 2012.
All levels of members were involved either through the annual Assembly meetings (Town Hall), the virtual Meetups in locations around the United States and outside the USA. The information gathered formed the foundation on which the Governing Board used to ultimately reduce the many suggested priorities for the future, down to the most important six at this time.
As a result of reviewing feedback from the membership, it was evident that six key areas surfaced for ACPA to focus on for our growth and our future.
More details will be forthcoming at the annual Convention in Las Vegas and our summer leadership meetings in Indianapolis in June/July.
If you have specific questions, please share them with any member of the Governing Board.
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http://www.myacpa.org/article/acpa-updates-strategic-plan
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Surgical implications of microscope-integrated optical coherence tomography.
Abstract
Imaging techniques of the posterior segment of the eye have gradually evolved and tremendously improved during the last decade. A widespread implementation of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the management and diagnosis of retinal conditions, with a concurrent advance in integrative technology, led to the integration of the OCT into the microscope for its intraoperative use. Regarding posterior segment eye surgery, some of the most common diagnoses in which microscope-integrated OCT (MIOCT) can result of great value are epiretinal membrane, macular hole (MH), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and, less frequently, for inflammatory diseases, chorioretinal biopsies, and retinal implants. The impact on the surgical procedure and, possibly, on the postoperative outcome could relate to the definition of whether or not a membrane has been entirely peeled, the presence of residual membranes, and the option to perform a dissection without the need of vital dyes. The possibility of correct topographical location of hemorrhages, suspect lesions, or implants can also facilitate the surgical decision-making during biopsies or prosthesis implantation. Microscope-integrated OCT is a feasible and useful tool that can provide valuable information during surgery impact on decision-making, anatomic results, surgical safety and provide opportunity to individualize surgical treatment for each patient.
Keywords
- intraoperative optical coherence tomography
- retinal surgery
- vitreomacular interface
- membrane peeling
- retinal detachment
1. Introduction
The development of microsurgery enhanced the precision with which ophthalmic surgical procedures are currently performed. Its origins date back to 1876, when the first binocular magnifying device was invented by T. Saemisch of Bonn . It was not until 1953, with the manufacture of a microscope with coaxial illumination, that the use of the surgical microscope became more widely available and adapted to ocular surgery [2, 3, 4]. Three years later, in 1956, the term “microsurgery” was used for the first time by H. M. Dekking of Göningen . Almost two decades before the use of binocular magnifying devices, Hermann von Helmholtz invented ophthalmoscopy in 1851 and allowed us to see, for the first time, the human retina . Under this rapidly evolving background, the development of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in 1970 revolutionized retinal surgery with less invasive procedures and better results in terms of visual acuity and patient satisfaction .
In addition to the operating microscope, imaging techniques of the posterior segment of the eye have tremendously improved during the last two decades. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) became readily and more widely available during the last 10 years and has become one of the most commonly ordered diagnostic tests in ophthalmology [8, 9, 10, 11, 12]. The detail on the retinal architecture provided by OCT allows to better characterize, diagnose, manage, and give prognosis of a wide range of vitreoretinal conditions.
1.1. Integration of OCT into the operating theater
Further improvements in software and imaging started a new transition of this powerful technology to the operating room. Firstly, it was used as a perioperative tool to image pediatric patients, with clear limitations for image acquisition, portability, and sterility [13, 14], and then as a handheld OCT scan head: Bioptigen SDOIS/Envisu portable system (Bioptigen, Research Triangle Park, NC) and Optovue IVue (Optovue, Fremont, CA) [15, 16, 17, 18]. Advantages of the handheld OCT imaging are flexibility of scan head orientation and dynamic positioning of the scan during acquisition. On the other hand, disadvantages were its poor reproducibility, optimal targeting, and the surgeon learning curve [16, 17, 19, 20, 21]. A further step forward was taken with the integration of an OCT scan head to the operating microscope, a model that allowed portability, stability, repeatability, efficiency, control from the foot pedal, and an easier learning curve for surgeons [16, 17, 22, 23, 24]. However, a major drawback of this system was the need to stop the surgical procedure to image the retina: a lack of real-time imaging. The 2-year results of the Prospective Intraoperative and Perioperative Ophthalmic ImagiNg With Optical CoherEncE TomogRaphy (PIONEER) study published in 2014 demonstrated the potential of this imaging tool in the operating theater. A total of 531 eyes were enrolled, from which 256 underwent posterior segment surgery. The three most frequent retinal procedures in this study were epiretinal membrane (ERM) peeling (35%), macular hole (MH) surgery (23%), and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair (17%). Intraoperative OCT impacted on the surgeons’ understanding of the anatomical configuration of the region of interest and/or on the surgical procedure in 43% of the cases of retinal membrane peeling and impacted on surgical decision-making in at least 13% of the procedures in which the surgeon wanted to evaluate the outcome after initial membrane peeling .
Microscope-integrated OCT (MIOCT) provided real-time imaging when integrative technological progress allowed to incorporate a scanner head/system which is, ideally, coaxial and parafocal with the optical system to the operating microscope [25, 26, 27, 28]. Haag-Streit (Haag-Streit, Koeniz, Switzerland), Leica (Leica Microsystems, Buffalo Grove, IL, USA), and Zeiss (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany) have currently available commercial MIOCT systems: iOCT, EnFocus, and Rescan 700, respectively [29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34]. Despite outcomes are still debatable, literature reports have suggested the feasibility and potentially significant usefulness of an intraoperative MIOCT [35, 36, 37, 38]. The 3-year results of the Determination of Feasibility of Intraoperative Spectral-Domain Microscope Combined/Integrated OCT Visualization during En Face Retinal And Ophthalmic Surgery (DISCOVER) study were published in 2018 . In this report, 877 eyes were enrolled, and 593 of those underwent retinal surgery. The use of MIOCT altered surgical decision-making in 29.2% of the procedures .
In order to enhance the intraoperative use of MIOCT, optimized features like automation, effective display systems, and better software analysis are required for the near future. The recent devices allow real-time and static capture acquisition of anterior and posterior segment images during surgery [31, 32, 33, 34]. Nevertheless, they lack automation, and surgeon or assistant input can be necessary. The imaging scan is delivered to the surgeon in a dual manner: as an external display screen or a heads-up display within the oculars, providing versatility and facilitating its intraoperative use (Figure 1) . Microscope-integrated OCT provides the surgeon with an additional tool to better evaluate the case in a real-time fashion, enhance surgical precision, and facilitate surgical decision-making.
2. Surgical implications
The intraoperative advantages of the MIOCT during surgery are wide. Table 1 summarizes the potential surgical implications according to different pathologies.
2.1. Vitreoretinal interface disorders
Conditions comprising vitreoretinal interface disorders (MH, vitreomacular traction (VMT), and ERM) result in one of the best scenarios for the use of MIOCT [34, 35, 37, 39, 40]. Intraoperative visualization of vitreomacular interface components and alterations can potentially contribute to surgical decision-making in membrane peeling procedures, because of the readiness to obtain real-time imaging of subclinical alterations (e.g., residual membranes, retinal elevations, microarchitectural perturbations in the distances between ellipsoid zone and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), as well as alterations of the inner retinal surface) [15, 16, 17, 33, 39, 40, 41, 42]. The ability to perform a membrane peeling with the MIOCT could result in a reduction of the use of vital dyes, a minimization of the risk of retinal pharmacotoxicity, and a reduction of surgical time [35, 43, 44, 45].
2.1.1. Macular hole
The dynamic nature of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling has been evidenced with MIOCT [39, 46]. Modifications of the retinal ultrastructure and geometry of MH during the ILM peeling have been described [17, 31, 42, 47, 48, 49]. Assessment of the border of the ILM peeling (Figure 2), residual ILM, retinal trauma (Figure 3), and anatomical closure (Figure 4) can be easily made in a real-time fashion [39, 46]. A volume increase and base area increase of MH, with a concurrent decrease in the apex height, have been evidenced following ILM peeling [39, 46, 47, 50]. Additionally, the distance between ellipsoid zone and RPE and the lateral extension of this expansion have been documented and associated with anatomical and functional outcomes [16, 17, 41, 42, 47, 50, 51, 52].
2.1.2. Vitreomacular traction syndrome
The use of MIOCT for these cases poses a potentially useful role. Release of the traction can be confirmed; dynamic anatomical modifications, changes in outer retinal relations of ellipsoid zone and EPR and residual membranes, and formations of full-thickness macular or retinal holes can be identified as well [15, 17, 20, 33].
2.1.3. Epiretinal membrane
Outer retinal modifications have also been documented following ERM and/or ILM peel in ERM. A decrease in subretinal reflectivity appreciated after these procedures correlates with a considerable expansion of the distance between the ellipsoid zone and the RPE [16, 17, 42, 47, 51]. These changes have been also associated with visual and anatomical recovery rates; however, further studies are needed to confirm this correlation .
2.2. Retinal detachment
The surgical benefit of real-time OCT imaging in retinal detachment (RD) repair may not be straightforward. However, intraoperative anatomical features could be relevant for the prognosis of these cases [17, 24, 33]. Additionally, complex cases with severe vitreoproliferative retinopathy could be assisted with real-time imaging and successfully addressed (Figure 5B). It has been evidenced that nearly all eyes undergoing surgery with perfluorocarbon liquid tamponade have some degree of subretinal fluid (Figure 5A,B) [24, 53]. According to the literature, foveal microarchitecture, the amount of submacular fluid, and the integrity of the ellipsoid zone following application of perfluorocarbon liquid may be of significance for the visual outcomes [17, 24, 33]. In cases where subretinal migration of perfluorocarbon liquid is present, correct visualization of the liquid bubbles and complete removal can be verified . Detection of subclinical MH, occult membranes, or retinal breaks is possible with this technology, an advantage that modifies the surgical procedure and has an impact on the patient outcome .
2.3. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Vitreoretinal proliferation in diabetic retinopathy poses some of the most complex cases of vitreoretinal surgeries. The use of MIOCT can facilitate the correct identification and visualization of the surgical planes to aid membrane dissection, delineate areas of retinal detachment, or topographically localize hemorrhages (e.g., subhyaloid, sub-ILM, or subretinal hemorrhages) [31, 33, 54]. Cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy with clinically significant macular edema can be optimally assessed to decide if an ILM peeling is needed (Figure 6) [55, 56, 57, 58]. These clinical circumstances could potentially represent a scenario in which the use of MIOCT can facilitate surgery and enhance outcomes.
2.4. Pediatric retinal surgery
The age and cooperation of the pediatric patients make MIOCT a potentially useful tool to deploy in the examination under general anesthesia, in order to improve the understanding of pathologies such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), shaken baby syndrome, or any other vitreoretinal conditions that do not necessarily require VPP, like retinoblastoma [59, 60, 61, 62]. Retinoschisis, preretinal structures and membranes, as well as lamellar or full-thickness retinal holes, which were not previously appreciated during an office examination, can be evidenced in ROP or shaken baby syndromes, respectively [59, 62].
2.5. Other vitreoretinal conditions
Chorioretinal biopsy cases could be benefitted by the correct identification of the anatomical layers conforming the surgical plane and differentiation between normal tissue and lesion. The aid of MIOCT can impact on retinal prostheses implantation (e.g., Argus II implants for retinitis pigmentosa), providing precise information of the implant location and allowing a correct positioning [33, 63, 64].
3. Conclusion
The rapid technological evolution of our era has allowed us to consider this potentially powerful field of imaging to further improve retinal surgery. Evidence has demonstrated that MIOCT is feasible and useful in the operating theater, providing valuable information to evaluate the surgical field in real time which can alter surgical decision-making, positively impact on short- and long-term outcomes, and possibly promote the development of new surgical techniques. In the near future, improvements in OCT-compatible surgical instrumentation, feedback systems, and software are warranted to achieve an integration of this technology to our operating theaters.
Conflict of interest
The authors have no commercial or economic conflict of interest to disclose.
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https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/65103
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Toronto, ON, CA
Bortolotto is a Canadian architecture and interior design firm that was founded in 1999. Our mission is to deliver smart design solutions that enhance happiness, health and productivity. We believe that Architecture Matters and are inspired by the relationship between design and its impact on the human experience and our quality of life.
Our experience spans all sectors and is tied together by our shared commitment to the delivery of architecture that is meaningful, memorable, unexpected and uplifting. The success of our firm is rooted in design excellence, smart design solutions and the research and implementation of technological advancements in architecture.
Our designs result from a healthy and balanced office culture that emphasizes a collaborative approach, shared knowledge, professional learning opportunities and a "work smarter, not longer mentality." Bortolotto is licensed by both the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) and the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO).
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https://archinect.com/firms/cover/150265472/bortolotto-architecture-and-interior-design
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Competitive forces develop efficient organizations, and maintaining organizational efficiency comes with efficient human resources.
The need for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in the UAE
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) can be understood as an educational process by which professional people maintain, enhance and broaden professional competence.
How the difference in gender, influence career outcomes?
This article critically examines how the difference in gender influence career outcomes in the purview of the contemporary scenario of the social perspective of women empowerment and gender equality.
The rising importance of e-recruitment techniques
E-recruitment is one of the key elements of human resource management practices that play a significant role in acquiring the human capital for an organization.
Role of HR managers in reducing employee turnover
Employee turnover is defined as voluntary leaving of connections in an organization and is regarded as a type of removal from office.
Models of Human Resources Management or HRM practices
HRM practices according to Armstrong (2014, p2), “is a strategic and coherent approach to the management of an organization’s most valued assets, the people working there who individually and collectively contribute to the achievement of its objectives”.
The need for skill development in the contemporary work environment
As the world dives into complexities in growing industrial needs and technological advancements, need for development of skills increases. Corporate leaders confirm the importance of skill development for promotion and advancements. Economists believe that these skills are a key to counter the projected job loss due to decreased dependency on manpower and increased automation (Allen, 2014).
Temporary employment and its growth in recent years
Temporary employment is explained as an arrangement between the employer and the employee where an employee is hired on the payroll of the company at a given job profile only for a certain predefined tenure.
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https://www.projectguru.in/tag/human-resource-management/
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The Nene Education Trust comprises 8 great academies located in East Northamptonshire. We are proud of our academies, students and staff and the communities they serve. Each academy has its own unique character, but we are united in passionately believing that all our young people should have the opportunity to develop character, be aspirational and achieve their goals.
We strongly believe in a collaborative approach, sharing educational and operational expertise and our geographical location makes this easier and truly possible. As partners in this Trust, we aim for all our academies to strive for excellence and benefit from strong leadership, innovative pedagogy and by sharing good practice and resources,
Working for Us
We have expectations and recognise that our staff are key to our success which is why we aim to recruit, develop and retain talented and highly skilled people that share our ethos and believe in our mission to develop character, raise aspirations celebrate achievement.
Health and wellbeing
The health and wellbeing of our staff are important to us. We firmly believe that healthy, happy staff make for a positive and productive workforce, a thriving and dynamic environment and engaged and achieving young people. Our approach to staff wellbeing continues to evolve as we look for ways to further enhance the working environment and wellbeing of our staff. We offer:
- 24/7 access to a free Employee Assistance Programme to provide confidential advice and guidance on any personal and/or work-related matter
- Free Mindfulness training with a qualified and experienced professional
- An open and collaborative working environment, not just within your academy but also across the Trust where innovation is encouraged
- Discounted gym membership
- Commitment to exploring ways to reduce email traffic and confine email replies to office hours – while recognising our employees preferences for when they work
- Commitment to continuously review workload issues and explore options for simpler, less onerous methods and processes.
Professional development
We have a long track record of ‘growing our own’ and are committed to providing professional development opportunities for all staff. These include:
- Our in-house Leadership Pathways programme which offers bespoke training for middle and senior leaders.
- Access to Nationally Recognised Professional Qualifications and other external programmes including the Chartered Teacher Programme.
- Support (both financial and with study time) for other professional development programmes including MBAs and role specific qualifications including AAT.
- There are also opportunities for staff to experience secondments at other academies in the Trust, collaborate with colleagues and work on exciting projects across the organisation. These opportunities will become more abundant as the Trust grows.
Financial
The contribution our staff make to the organisation is highly valued and our Pay Policy provides for exceptional performance to be recognised and rewarded. Our teaching staff pay structure enables us to reward our exceptional teachers with rapid progression through the main pay spine.
Access for all staff to defined benefit occupational pension schemes.
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https://windmillprimary.co.uk/about/join-our-team
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By MELISSA SCHILD
The new Plan for Pitt examines where we are now and where we want to go next to enhance our legacy; advance our mission; and strengthen Pitt’s people, programs and purpose. These three p’s — people, programs and purpose — act as pillars anchoring our strategic plan. Under Our Purpose, we define the success of our people and programs by their impact, including their role in enhancing scholarship, partnerships and society. Let’s explore the four strategic objectives that are specific to this pillar.
Extend networks and supports to help students graduate on time, secure meaningful employment and realize early career success.
We will continue to improve key student success outcomes and achieve equity in those outcomes for all student groups. We will ensure that students and advisers have the tools and information necessary to chart an efficient path to degree completion. We will also aim to increase early professional success by providing students with enhanced career services, mentoring, coaching and networking opportunities.
A critical component of our students’ success is reducing the debt associated with their education. We will continue to strive to limit the maximum amount of unmet financial need for each student and help our graduates eliminate student debt earlier in their careers.
Enhance the professional trajectories and personal success of our alumni.
We will provide alumni with enhanced career services, networking avenues and mentorship opportunities to increase career advancement prospects, as well as offering them lifelong learning and engagement opportunities. We will expand alumni affinity networks that reflect and are inclusive of Pitt’s diverse communities. Also, we will develop and implement strategies to support our alumni’s financial security.
Fuel economic development throughout the region and economic growth throughout the commonwealth.
As we know, Pitt is a powerful engine for economic growth. Under this objective, we will continue to use our position as an anchor institution to benefit local communities. We will leverage our expertise, capabilities and research to create sustainable economic development locally and regionally.
By embracing innovation in ways that attract investments and equitable opportunities, we will create places and spaces that support the innovation life cycle, build employment and housing opportunities, foster connections, promote sustainability and ensure a high quality of life. We also will expand the pathways to enable traditionally underserved residents to participate in success and foster innovation and regional opportunity by connecting local partnerships to global partnerships.
Collaborate with communities — near and far — to improve outcomes and opportunities for their residents.
Communities are at the center of our place-based engagements, and we will ensure that we continue to partner with them in building equity and opportunities. We will translate our research into concrete solutions; leverage global partnerships to solve common and complex challenges; and include the public sector, industry, and social sector in our collaborative efforts. By strengthening partnerships across all five campuses, we will leverage the best practices, capacities and strengths of each campus to the benefit of our local communities.
Do you have questions about the Plan for Pitt or suggestions for implementation? Reach out to [email protected].
Melissa Schild is assistant vice chancellor for strategic planning and performance and leads the University’s strategic planning efforts.
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https://utimes.pitt.edu/news/here-s-plan-pitt-our-1
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The notion of interprofessional learning has been extensively employed in healthcare education, particularly in nursing schools, to encourage effective communication and collaboration between health workers (e.g., see Darlow et al., 2015; Rogers et al., 2017). This aims to “overcome the limitations inherent to disciplinary silos where students are trained within the confines of their own disciplines” (Ganotice & Tipoe, 2020, para. 1). In the context of health care, given opportunities, when two or more professionals “learn about, from and with each other”, health outcomes can be maximised (World Health Organisation, 2010, p. 10). Borrowing the continuously evolving practices from the medical field, interprofessional learning can be applied in teacher professional development to enhance exchange and collaboration among teachers of various disciplines, in diversified school contexts, and across continents. Being at the forefront of the education field to nurture future leaders, teachers are committed to adopt timely and propitious pedagogical practices. For this reason, teachers have to continually strive to sharpen their skills and expand their knowledge from various sources. Learning journeys vary among individuals, and the collective effort in ongoing professional learning has become “the next emerging horizon for teacher learning” (OECD, 2019, p. 153). Thus, providing teachers with quality professional learning opportunities where they can engage in meaningful sharing of practices and creative exchange of ideas will advance their careers, building a community of trust to maximise educational outcomes (Darling-Hammond, 2017). Interprofessional learning takes place not only within the teaching professions but in a broader scope of engagement with other professionals such as psychologists, social workers and other stakeholders who support young people. Therefore, providing quality interprofessional learning opportunities to engage in deep dialogues about professional practices, expertise and collaboration can have the potential for cross-pollination across discipline and practices.
Below are some relevant and timely school examples, internet resources and scholarly contributions that raise issues, considerations, and challenges as we are coming to acknowledge teachers as valuable professionals whose needs for life-long learning and growing should also be valued and supported.
References
Highly-Cited Articles of Relevance (based on analysed result on Web of Science)
Internet Resources
School Examples
Articles Published in the Region
HKU Hub
Extended Readings
Disclaimer:
References in this site to any specific resources and tools are for the information and convenience of the public only. They do not constitute ownership or endorsement by ALiTE of any of the opinions offered by any corporation or organisation or individual.
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https://www.alite.edu.hku.hk/post/interprofessional-learning
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On September 15, Zhang Guoqing, secretary of the Provincial Party Committee presided over a symposium of experts and entrepreneurs to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speeches at the symposium of experts in the economic and social fields, the symposium of scientists and the symposium on further promoting the revitalization of Northeast China. He opened the door to ask questions, brainstormed and solicited opinions and suggestions on the preparation of the 14th Five-Year Plan in Liaoning province.
At the meeting, the participants put forward many valuable opinions and suggestions on further optimizing the business environment, vigorously emancipating the mind, and focusing on industrial development, technological innovation, talent introduction and education in our province. Everyone spoke freely and the atmosphere was warm. Zhang Guoqing responded positively to experts' opinions and suggestions, conducted in-depth exchanges and interactions, and asked relevant departments to seriously study and absorb them.
Zhang Guoqing said, Liaoning's "14th Five-Year Plan" is an action plan to implement the Party Central Committee's decision-making and deployment and the important instructions and requirements given by General Secretary Xi Jinping to Liaoning. We must resolutely implement the Central Strategy, put the General Secretary's expectations and requirements for Liaoning into place one by one, and never fail to live up to the General Secretary's deep concern and earnest instructions for Liaoning. We must adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping's new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We will thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speeches and instructions, adhere to the strategic direction of structural reform on the supply side, seize the strategic basis of expanding domestic demand, firmly implement the new development concept, and scientifically compile Liaoning's 14th Five-Year Plan, which is full of a new sense of the times and embodies the spirit of innovation. We should accurately grasp the characteristics of scientific and technological innovation and industrial development in the new era, deeply understand the huge energy and development space contained in the new generation of information technology, face the complicated external environment, adhere to reform, opening up and innovation, vigorously develop artificial intelligence and digital technology, and promote the quality change, efficiency change and power change of economic development. We should correctly understand the characteristics of Liaoning's industrial structure, fully realize that every industrial enterprise is an application scenario of intelligent science and technology, give full play to the advantages of the scenario, and use artificial intelligence and digital technology to empower "hard" industries such as metallurgy, petrochemical and equipment manufacturing, so as to give them wings to take off. Metallurgy, petrochemical and equipment manufacturing are Liaoning's "rich mines". It is necessary to continuously lengthen the industrial chain of "original", dig deep into the value-added space, and promote the advantageous industries to continue to improve to excellence and become bigger and longer. We must firmly grasp the economic activity attribute of technological innovation, firmly promote the in-depth combination of production, teaching and research, and effectively integrate the innovative behavior of scientific research institutions into economic activities. We should adhere to the problem-oriented, goal-oriented and result-oriented approach, further improve our standing position and deepen our understanding from the perspective of development strategy, strive to create a business environment that is convenient to handle affairs, good in the rule of law, strong in cost competitiveness and ecological and livable, and continuously conserve and develop ecology. We must adhere to the ideological line of seeking truth from facts, make the 14th Five-Year Plan realistic and realistic, and refrain from slogan creativity. In order to continuously enrich the connotation of various "brands", we cannot regard the various "brands" we strive for as achievements. It is necessary to set up a clear orientation of discussing heroes by doing things, discussing abilities by solving practical problems, and discussing achievements by high-quality development projects and high-level system innovation achievements, so as to push forward reform, opening up and innovation and achieve new breakthroughs.
Zhou bo, deputy secretary of the provincial party Committee, attended the meeting.
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http://en.dl.gov.cn/News/ChinaNews/27177.jhtml
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Information technology is pervasive and it is crucial that UND has an IT environment that is stable, secure, and innovative.
While aligned with the UND Strategic Plan, the One IT Strategic Plan provides a blueprint for the information technology future at UND.
Strategic Plan Update
2022
2021
2020
2019
Customer Service
We strive to offer quality services by seeking out, listening, and responding to our users’ needs.
Collaboration
We are committed to working together and building relationships with our colleagues at UIT and across the university to leverage and value each other’s expertise and insights.
Innovation
We encourage and experiment with new ideas by continuously striving to improve how we work and deliver services by embracing new technologies and processes.
IT Goals
Create a culture of service excellence where the UND community seeks our services not because they have to, but because they want to.
Provide an information technology environment that meets the current and future needs of the students.
Support University Analytics and Planning to establish a Decision Support System.
Support VP for Research to position UND to achieve Carnegie R1 status.
Support TTaDA to deliver innovative and effective teaching and learning technology services.
Enhance university-wide technology to ensure future computing needs are realized.
Adopt Safeguarding UND initiative as a platform to protect information security resources using industry standards and best practices.
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https://campus.und.edu/campus-services/uit/cio/strategic-planning.html
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Qatar University’s (QU) Foundation Program, under the Deanship of General Studies, organized its '2nd Virtual Academic Excellence Week', through the Microsoft Teams platform from 7th to 9th Dec 2020.
It aimed at exchanging the expertise and the good educational practices of English Language Teaching (ELT) under COVID-19 pandemic situation. This event included training workshops focusing on innovative methods of excellence that enhance online teaching and learning, with the participation of researchers and experts from local and international universities, and attendance of more than 500 ELT faculty, teachers and specialists inside and outside Qatar.
In line with Qatar Vision 2030, the Director of the Foundation Program (FP), Dr. Hezam Al-Awah, pointed out that the event is considered as one of the most important activities that the FP periodically holds for its faculty members and the wider English language teaching community. He also stressed the importance of such professional development opportunities for faculty members to further enrich their knowledge of new academic content and enhance their instructional techniques. He added that the participation of faculty members in such events shows Qatar University's commitment to offering innovative, high-quality opportunities to its faculty members and students. Dr. Al-Awah also thanked the organizing Foundation Program's Academic Excellence and Professional Development committee at Qatar University for their valuable efforts in organizing this event.
During the three-day event, the presenters discussed recent ELT research developments and showcased and shared various ideas, experiences, and research outcomes geared towards strategies of achieving learning outcomes and further enhancing students engagement in virtual learning contexts. David Nunan, a Professor Emeritus of applied linguistics at Hong Kong University and one of the most distinguished educators in the world, presented the opening session, and the pioneer of student-based learning in the 1970's. In the lecture, Professor Nunan discussed this kind of learning and shared exciting highlights of his own experiences about the difficulties encountered by learners in various educational settings and from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Several internationally recognized institutions' speakers from Qatar, the USA, Australia, Finland, and Hong Kong presented mostly on the field of teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). The event covered topics as diverse as a revised learner-centered approach, sustainability in distance teaching, how to increase online student engagement and individual vs institutional response to current educational needs.
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http://www.qu.edu.qa/newsroom/Foundation/QU-hosts-Foundation-Program%E2%80%99s-2nd-Virtual-Academic-Excellence-Week-Fall-2020
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In the delivery of all educational opportunities, Charisma University affirms the following values.
Diversity and Inclusion – We embrace the diversity of individuals, ideas, beliefs, and cultures. We respect the dignity of all persons, the rights and property of others, and the right of all people to hold and express disparate beliefs.
Quality – We strive to deliver education according to world-class standards. We are committed to an uncompromising standard of excellence in teaching, learning, creativity, and scholarship. We pursue excellence in all operations and strive to produce the highest quality outcomes in all endeavors.
Integrity – We strive to build a community of learning and fairness marked by mutual respect. We uphold the principles of honesty, trust, equality, and accountability and ensure that these values are translated into action. We believe that integrity is multi-dimensional and to be upheld by students, faculty members, administrators, librarians, partners, and staff.
Student-Centeredness – We are student-centered in our approach to learning. We promote active learning rather than direct instruction so that learners learn to solve problems, address queries, formulate questions, debate ideas, and collaborate in teams.
Educational Access – We believe that educational access is a fundamental human right. We seek to provide affordable higher education services and resources around the world to audiences where barriers to learning may exist.
Life-Long Learning – We strive to build a community of life-long learners who share a common vision and passionate commitment to continually learn and apply new concepts and ideas both inside and outside the classroom.
Collaboration – We believe that goals and objectives are best attained when stakeholders work with a shared purpose. We model collaboration throughout our teaching and services. We actively seek opportunities to build partnerships and engage with external organizations.
Innovation – We seek imaginative solutions to our challenges and toward fulfilling our mission. We inculcate the value of innovation among our stakeholders, not only in the form of the most effective technological resources that enhance delivery of educational content, but also in pedagogical approaches and instructional strategies.
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https://charismauniversity.org/about-us/charisma-university-values/
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Atoms of radiocarbon behave in the same way as any other carbon atoms except that they Radioactive isotopes (for example C-14) decay over time, a property which makes Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios are most often used to explore a Thus, carbon-12, carbon-13, and carbon-14 are isotopes of the element carbon, and the numbers denote the approximate atomic masses. Among their distinct 14 Jun 2019 Carbon has two stable non-radioactive isotopes, carbon-12 and carbon-13, and one radioactive isotope, carbon-14. The half-life of carbon-14 While the number of protons defines the element (e.g., hydrogen, carbon, etc.) In contrast, radioactive isotopes (e.g., 14C) are unstable and will decay into 20 Dec 2018 C is famously used in archaeological radioactive dating. (See hyperphysics for more on carbon dating).
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We know these steps because researchers followed the progress of the radioactive carbon-14 throughout the process. Radioactive isotopes are useful for establishing the ages of various objects. Learn some applications of radioactivity. Radioactive isotopes have a variety of applications. Generally, however, they are useful because either we can detect their radioactivity or we can use the energy they release.
Workshop on decommissioning Seminarium om - OSTI.GOV
Biogenic chemicals are derived from biospheric carbon, which contains 14 C. Carbon in artificially made chemicals is usually derived from fossil fuels like coal or petroleum, where the 14 C originally present Radioactive carbon-14 is often useful in determining the absolute age of geologic samples because radioactive isotopes decay at a regular rate How old is a bone that has 12.5% of the original amount of radioactive carbon-14 remaining? 17,100 years
Development of the Moon - Lunar and Planetary Institute
Organic materials typically contain small amounts of radioactive carbon and potassium. Cosmic radiation from the Sun and other stars is a source of background radiation on Earth.
2020-01-24 · Carbon Isotopes and Radioactivity .
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Stable isotopes can become preferentially Nuclear Spins of the Carbon Isotopes. F. A. Jenkins. Phys.
If a carbon atom had 7 neutrons, what would it be named? Almost all carbon atoms are carbon-12. This method involves comparing the ratio of radioactive isotopes in the fossil to All living things contain carbon and this carbon exists as a mix of two isotopes
A Study of a GEM Tracking Detector for Imaging Positrons from PET Radioisotopes in Plants.
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carbon (C-14) as well as solubility of nickel are for the decommissioning waste significantly more. Each “parent” radioactive isotope eventually decays into one or at most a few such as radon-222 and carbon-14, may at first seem puzzling. Detailed Thorium Isotope Analysis Image collection. Determination of thorium isotopes in mineral and .
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Ga atoms with atomic weights 63-68, 70 and 72-76 are 135, 281310, Koldisulfid (kolsvavla), Carbon disulphide non-radioactive isotopes, inorganic or organic compounds of such isotopes, whether or not chemically national knowledge within basic radiation protection research and create a platform for carbon ions. Applied Radiation and Isotopes 67: 447453, 2009. tion and fluoranthene exposure on carbon transfer from phytoplankton to zooplankton. 1/12 of the mass of atom of the isotope carbon-12 is the atomic mass unit 13C, is particularly useful for isotopic labelling studies since it is not radioactive, but Incentivising bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) responsibly: Comparing stakeholder policy preferences in the United Kingdom and Sweden. Abstract : 129I is a radioactive isotope (T1/2= 15.7 million years) produced through natural and anthropogenic pathways, but the anthropogenic production is radiation equipment Mechanical engineering and raw materials Higher efficiency not only reduces costs, but also carbon emissions. The RILIS-ISOLDE facility produces radioactive isotopes using the Isotope Separator Översättning av ordet carbon från engelska till svenska med synonymer, three naturally occurring isotopes, with C and C being stable, while C is radioactive, Concentrations of radioactive isotopes of living tissue.
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English. radioactive by-product · radioactive carbon · radioactive chemicals · radioactive cloud · radioactive 1900–1920s: Radiation-emitting isotopes applied as a health elixir (i.e., and CT); carbon nanotubes and nanotechnology, and more . The proportion at which these isotopes occur is almost exactly the same, everywhere on Earth – and this will be very important later. In our example, we are Methods involving nuclear physics are today finding applications in many disciplines, including important areas Isotopes as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Tools. of people and its isotopes are used to power spacecraft and in nuclear medicine. most deadly threats, including nuclear devastation and radioactive waste. Buyisotope.com / Neonest AB sell and support a wide range of high-quality, enriched isotopes (more than 250 stable isotopes and radioactive isotopes).
That’s because plants contain the radioactive isotope carbon-14, which decays over time. The 14 C isotope is important in distinguishing biosynthetized materials from man-made ones.
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https://hurmanblirrikfwza.firebaseapp.com/44400/75921.html
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Since NASA's Curiosity rover's descent on Mars in 2012, it has rolled the planet's dusty surface searching for signs of ancient small life forms like microbes. The rover uses its seven-foot-long arm to drill into rocks and analyze the dust's makeup for chemical fingerprints of the Red Planet's history. A new analysis of sediment samples collected by Curiosity revealed an unusual amount of carbon isotopes, reports Science's Paul Voosen.
Chemical signatures like these are considered strong—but heavily debated—evidence for prehistoric, microbial life here on Earth, but the two planets are ultimately too different to make any definitive claims based on direct comparisons alone. Alternatively, scientists suggest the strange isotopes could have been caused by space dust or the degradation of carbon dioxide from ultraviolet light, reports Andrew Griffin for the Independent. Researchers published details of the carbon signature this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Carbon is considered a building block of all life on planet Earth. In the carbon cycle, carbon atoms move from the atmosphere to the ground and then back to the atmosphere through processes like photosynthesis, decomposition, and human and animal emissions on land and sea. The process of carbon cycling can be used to trace biological activity on Earth, and researchers applied this idea to the possibility of life on Mars, reports Ashley Strickland for CNN.
Researchers reviewed 24 Martian sediment samples collected from six exposed locations in the Gale Crater that contained "mudstones of an ancient lake," Science reports. Before the samples were analyzed, the rover baked them at 1,562 degrees Fahrenheit to separate elements in the soil, per CNN. Baking the samples released methane, which was analyzed by another tool inside the rover that revealed it contained carbon isotopes.
Carbon has two stable isotopes, carbon-12 and carbon-13, the Independent reports. Most organic molecules are made up of carbon-12, and carbon-13 has an extra neutron, which allows it to make stronger bonds, Science reports. When analyzing the samples, the team found that the soils were highly depleted of the isotope carbon-13.
"The samples extremely depleted in carbon-13 are a little like samples from Australia taken from sediment that was 2.7 billion years old," says Christopher H. House, a geoscientist at Pennsylvania State University and the study's first author, in a statement. "Those samples were caused by biological activity when methane was consumed by ancient microbial mats, but we can't necessarily say that on Mars because it's a planet that may have formed out of different materials and processes than Earth."
If a depleted carbon-13 signature were measured on Earth, it would result from microbes consuming methane, CNN reports. The rover on Mars has detected methane, but it is too low to measure carbon isotopes in it, Science reports.
Life isn't the only possible explanation for these carbon isotopes. A large cloud of galactic dust that the solar system passes through every hundred million years could have lowered temperatures on ancient Mars, and froze water that the planet may have had. When glaciers formed, a layer of dust may have been left on top of the ice. The sediment containing the carbon isotopes would have remained long after the ice melted, per CNN. However, the researchers have stated that the Gale Crater has little evidence of past glaciation, and more evidence is needed, the Independent reports.
Another explanation could be carbon dioxide on the Red Planet reacted with ultraviolet radiation and converted the CO2 into other organic compounds like formaldehyde. Mars' atmosphere is 96 percent carbon dioxide. Other studies—including unpublished lab results from Yuichiro Ueno, a planetary scientist from the Tokyo Institute of Technology—have found that UV rays can generate a carbon signal in this way, per Science. "“The reported carbon isotope ratios are exactly what I have expected,” Ueno, who was not involved in the study, tells Science.
"All three possibilities point to an unusual carbon cycle unlike anything on Earth today," House says in a statement. "But we need more data to figure out which of these is the correct explanation. It would be nice if the rover would detect a large methane plume and measure the carbon isotopes from that, but while there are methane plumes, most are small, and no rover has sampled one large enough for the isotopes to be measured.”
Curiosity did come across such a plume in 2019, "but there’s no way to predict whether that will happen again," per NASA.
Editor's Note, January 20, 2022: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that carbon-13 has an extra electron, when, in fact carbon-13 has an extra neutron. The story has been edited to correct that fact.
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https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mars-rover-may-have-found-clue-for-ancient-life-on-the-red-planet-180979412/
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Isotopes are the same chemical elements with varying numbers of neutrons. Each isotope of a particular element has the same number of protons and electrons. Each isotope will have a different mass which corresponds to the number of neutrons present.
Lets look at the example of carbon isotopes. Carbon-12, carbon-13 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon with masses of 12, 13 and 14 g/mol respectively. The "normal" atomic number of carbon is 6. This means that every carbon atom has 6 protons. Therefore, the numbers of neutrons in the isotopes are 6, 7 and 8 respectively.
Isotopes have specific notation to indicate the number of neutrons. The chemical symbol is used with the number of neutrons as a superscript in the left upper corner of the chemical symbol and the atomic number as a subscript on the left lower corner of the chemical symbol.
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https://brainmass.com/physics/isotopes
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Use of isotopes in carbon dating online personals and internet dating feeds
See related questions below I'm no professional on this, but I think I can contribute to something.Isotopes, (I hope you already know this), are types of the same element, but with different mass, usually due to different numbers of neutrons. Carbon-based rocks, such as bitumen and tephra, can also be dated in this manner.
Radioactive isotopes in medicine are used to help diagnose certain disease states and isolate regions in the body.By measuring the ratio between the two isotopes you can calculate how long its been since the organism died. An isotope of an element has the same number of protons but different number of neutrons. Carbon-12 is the normal version of carbon, but Carbon-13 and Carbon-14, which are radioactive, also exist.Because they are radioactive, scientist can use the concentration… The only mass numbers of carbon isotopes that occur naturally are 12 and 13, and the number of atoms with mass number 12 is much greater than the number of atoms with mass number 13 in any carbon from natural sources.Carbon-12 and Carbon-14 are both isotopes of carbon, so they cannot have different numbers of protons.The numbers of protons determines the element's identity. The important isotopes of carbon are carbon-12, carbon-13, and carbon-14.
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https://restorator161.ru/use-of-isotopes-in-carbon-dating-9943.html
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The rate at which C atoms, half of them will decay in 5730 years.
Since this rate is slow relative to the movement of carbon through food chains (from plants to animals to bacteria) all carbon in biomass at earth's surface contains atmospheric levels of C is present at atmospheric levels, the molecule must derive from a recent plant product.
Because the cosmic ray bombardment is fairly constant, there’s a near-constant level of carbon-14 to carbon-12 ratio in Earth’s atmosphere.
Organisms at the base of the food chain that photosynthesize – for example, plants and algae – use the carbon in Earth’s atmosphere.
The 6 proton 6 neutron atoms are said to have a mass of 12 and are referred to as "carbon-12." The nuclei of the remaining one percent of carbon atoms contain not six but either seven or eight neutrons in addition to the standard six protons.Aboveground nuclear testing almost doubled the amount of carbon-14 in the atmosphere. The black arrow shows when the Partial Test Ban Treaty was enacted that banned aboveground nuclear tests. A special kind of radiocarbon dating: Bomb radiocarbon dating.As we mentioned above, the carbon-14 to carbon-12 ratio in the atmosphere remains nearly constant.is a term for radiocarbon dating based on timestamps left by above-ground nuclear explosions, and it is especially useful for putting an absolute age on organisms that lived through those events.In The Cosmic Story of Carbon-14 Ethan Siegel writes: The only major fluctuation [in carbon-14] we know of occurred when we began detonating nuclear weapons in the open air, back in the mid-20th century.is a technique used by scientists to learn the ages of biological specimens – for example, wooden archaeological artifacts or ancient human remains – from the distant past. To understand radiocarbon dating, you first have to understand the word Although an element’s number of protons cannot change, the number of neutrons can vary slightly in each atom.It can be used on objects as old as about 62,000 years. Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons are called isotopes. Most carbon on Earth exists as the very stable isotope carbon-12, with a very small amount as carbon-13.They have masses of 13 and 14 respectively and are referred to as "carbon-13" and "carbon-14." If two atoms have equal numbers of protons but differing numbers of neutrons, one is said to be an "isotope" of the other.Carbon-13 and carbon-14 are thus isotopes of carbon-12.The pathway from the plant to the molecule may have been indirect or lengthy, involving multiple physical, chemical, and biological processes.Levels of C can represent either mixtures of modern and dead carbon or carbon that was fixed from the atmosphere less than 50,000 years ago.
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http://acad56.ru/what-isotope-of-carbon-is-used-for-radioactive-carbon-dating-13434.html
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Eighty in years past, the knowledge of one little isotope aided all of us unravel the secrets of the past.
In early morning hours of March 27, 1940, chemist Martin Kamen sat in a cool, dark authorities facility. Police officers apprehended the disheveled scientist, also fatigued to protest, beyond their lab on University of California, Berkeley and hauled him to your station for questioning. They accused your of committing a string of murders that were held the earlier nights.
However the authorities couldnt pin the criminal activities on Kamen because the scientist have been locked aside inside the laboratory over the past three days, lobbing deuteron particles at a small trial of graphite with his colleague, the chemist Samuel Ruben. After he was released, Kamen moved home for a quick nap, gone back to the research, then made probably the most crucial breakthroughs associated with the twentieth millennium: the carbon-14 isotope.
All every day life is made of carbon dioxide, atmospheric chemist Mark Thiemens from the institution of California, San Diego, says to trendy technicians. The atmosphere features co2. Its area of the procedure for photosynthesis carbon dioxide can be used by plants to produce oxygen. If you’d like to understand something related to biology, you begin with carbon dioxide.
Kamen had been a kid prodigy. Produced in Toronto in 1913, he had been an incredibly skilled musician quickly switching amongst the violin and viola and graduated from high school very early. To aid fund their reports in biochemistry at the institution of Chicago, the guy played sounds in Chicagos various speakeasies. After earning their Ph.D. and yearning for a big change of landscapes, Kamen grabbed a posture at UC Berkeley under the famed physicist E.O. Lawrence.
In Lawrences lab, the guy found Samuel Ruben, a skilled chemist and boxer. Ruben ended up being fixated on solving a biochemical conundrum. Boffins knew that, through photosynthesis, plants developed air. Exactly what is the source? Was just about it carbon?
Kamen and Ruben executed their own tests making use of a strange-looking equipment called a cyclotron. The circular contraption accelerated atomic particles to a couple of % on the speed of light along a cyclical route being write newer nuclei and ions, per John Marra, author of the publication Hot carbon dioxide: Carbon-14 and a Revolution in technology. This subatomic coliseum, some empty electrodes known as a dee, is sandwiched between two big electromagnets.
The researchers had to set up her experiments when it comes to lifeless of evening really the only opportunity the machine ended up being offered. In the day, it had been utilized for larger concern jobs that found latest treatments for cancer tumors. By irradiating hunks of graphite when datingranking.net/pl/raya-recenzja/ you look at the cyclotron, these were capable separate the isotope, and forever transform the comprehension of life and its own crucial foundations.
Experts are especially into a characteristics isotopes: atomic twins containing equivalent amount of protons inside their nucleus, but a unique amount of neutrons. Whenever cosmic radiation submit Earths surroundings, they bombard nitrogen the most prevalent gas within atmosphere with neutrons, causing these to lose a proton and change into different isotopes.
Carbon have three natural isotopes. Each isotope has actually a slightly various mass, and it is thus exclusively recognizable. Carbon-12 have six protons and six neutrons within its nucleus. Carbon-13 have a supplementary neutron. Carbon-12 is one of common isotope, and, alongside carbon-13, is entirely secure.
Carbon-14, but is the isotopic black colored sheep regarding the carbon dioxide group. It will be the rarest isotope of carbon, taking place as soon as out of each and every trillion carbon atoms. This has six protons and eight neutrons, making it radioactive and results in it to decay into Nitrogen-14 at an infrequent but quantifiable speed. The isotope, in essence, serves like a radioactive time-keeper.
Carbon-14 enjoys a half-life of 5,730 years, which means that just about any 6,000 decades, the number of carbon-14 atoms in an example of natural material like, state, bone or material shall be slashed by one half. Because carbon-14s aunt isotope, carbon-12, can be so abundant in the atmosphere, their refined by flowers through photosynthesis, and as a consequence present all residing situations, as well. Researchers are able to get a sample of materials and determine the proportion of steady carbon-12 particles to decaying carbon-14 particles.
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https://powerenergysystem.com/murder-espionage-cosmic-radiation-the-annals-of-2/
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john@skepticalscience...
124.186.160.198
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Atmospheric carbon dioxide has risen by nearly 40% since pre-industrial times. Of course, all this extra CO2 coinciding with our dumping of billions of tonnes of CO2 into the air might be pure coincidence. How can we be sure we're responsible? Extra evidence comes from the different types of carbon isotopes found in the air. The most common carbon isotope is carbon-12 (12C) which is found in roughly 99% of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The slightly heavier carbon-13 (13C) makes up most of the rest. Plants prefer carbon-12 over carbon-13. This means the ratio of carbon-13 to carbon-12 is less in plants than it is in the atmosphere. As fossil fuels originally come from plants, it means when we burn fossil fuels, we're releasing more 12C into the atmosphere. If fossil fuel burning is responsible for the rise in atmospheric CO2 levels, we should be seeing the ratio of 13C to 12C decrease.
That is exactly what we observe. Atmospheric measurements of carbon dioxide find the ratio of 13C to12C (otherwise refered to δ13C) has been steadily decreasing over the last few decades (Ghosh 2003). However, this data only goes back to the 1980s. Fortunately, corals provide a window further into the past. In Evidence for ocean acidification in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia (Wei et al 2009), the authors drilled a coral core from Arlington Reef, situated in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef. This enabled them to measure δ13C going back to 1800.
What they find is the ratio of carbon-13 to carbon-12 is relatively steady over much of the last two centuries. However, it starts to dramatically decrease in the latter half of the 20th Century. Increasing anthropogenic emissions of CO2 not only increased the levels of atmospheric CO2 concentration but also decreased the δ13C composition of the atmosphere. Thus, the decrease in δ13C is attributed to the burning of fossil fuels.
The story doesn't end there. As CO2 increases in ocean waters, seawater pH levels fall. Some key marine organisms, such as calcareous micro-organisms and corals, have difficulty maintaining their external carbonate skeletons when pH levels drop. The coral core extracted from Arlington Reef also provided measurements of boron isotope levels (δ11B), which act as a proxy for seawater pH. They found that from 1941 to 2004, there was an overall trend of decreasing δ11B which corresponds to a drop in pH levels. The positive correlation between coral δ11B and δ13C provides strong confirmation that seawater acidification is closely linked to the anthropogenic CO2 emissions from burning of fossil fuels.Thus fossil fuel burning is a cause of both global warming (which causes coral bleaching) and ocean acidification. To add further insult to injury, the paper also finds that coral bleaching may have the effect of further reducing pH levels. It seems coral reefs just can't catch a break.
|2010-10-11 02:47:01|
|nealjking
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nealjking@gmail...
84.151.44.161
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Looks good.|
|2010-10-11 02:51:27||Thought on these corals|
|Robert Way
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robert_way19@hotmail...
134.153.163.105
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Hey John, |
Good post. I'm kinda curious as to why the contributions of greenhouse gases are so distinct past the mid 1970s in the corals. That to me coincides very well from a time perspective with when it is said that the modern warming forced by CO2 began. I'm sure its coincidental to some degree that the two occur on par with one another and yet it still has me curious as to why after that point the isotope drops so much. Overload mother nature's carrying capacity?
|2010-10-11 07:15:36||decreasing oxygen|
|dana1981
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Dana Nuccitelli
dana1981@yahoo...
71.137.148.215
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Looks good. You could also link to the CO2 is coming from the ocean rebuttal and/or CO2 is a pollutant which also mention the decrease of atmospheric oxygen as evidence that the CO2 increase is anthropogenic. It's not relevant to this post since it doesn't relate to corals, but it might be worth a brief mentioning and link.|
|2010-10-11 13:15:29||Thanks for the feedback|
|John Cook
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john@skepticalscience...
124.186.160.198
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Robert, don't know why the C13/C12 ratio only really starts to drop sharply in the 1970s, considering we'd been emitting fossil fuels all throughout the 20th Century. Maybe it was only when we really started emitting at high levels that it showed up in the ocean signal. Or maybe there's an ocean buffer that delays the reaction. It's not discussed in that paper. But I'm planning a few follow-up posts as I have a few other papers on the topic - maybe they'll have more details and I'll unpack them in later blog posts.
Dana, thanks for the suggestions. Ordinarily I'm a big fan of interlinking between posts (and love how you're always interlinking between your advanced rebuttals). I'm also a big fan of keeping posts as simple and on-topic as possible to avoid readers (aka skeptics) getting distracted by off-topic points. I think I would veer slightly off-topic if I were to shoe-horn those links in but will keep them in mind for future posts. Thanks!
|2010-10-11 14:55:44||good point|
|dana1981
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Dana Nuccitelli
dana1981@yahoo...
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http://www.hi-izuru.org/forum/Blog%20posts/2010-10-11-Feedback%20required_%20The%20human%20fingerprint%20in%20coral.html
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Carbon-12 is the more abundant of the two stable isotopes of carbon (Carbon-13 being the other), amounting to 98.93% of the element carbon; its abundance is due to the triple-alpha process by which it is created in stars. Carbon-12 is of particular importance in its use as the standard from which atomic masses of all nuclides are measured. Its mass number is 12 by definition and contains 6 protons, 6 neutrons and 6 electrons.
Before 1959 both the IUPAP and IUPAC used oxygen to define the mole; the chemists defining the mole as the number of atoms of oxygen which had mass 16 g, the physicists using a similar definition but with the oxygen-16 isotope only. The two organizations agreed in 1959/60 to define the mole as follows.
The mole is the amount of substance of a system which contains as many elementary entities as there are atoms in 12 gram of carbon 12; its symbol is "mol".
This was adopted by the CIPM (International Committee for Weights and Measures) in 1967, and in 1971 it was adopted by the 14th CGPM (General Conference on Weights and Measures).
In 1961 the isotope carbon-12 was selected to replace oxygen as the standard relative to which the atomic weights of all the other elements are measured.
In 1980 the CIPM clarified the above definition, defining that the carbon-12 atoms are unbound and in their ground state.
The Hoyle state is an excited, spinless, resonant state of carbon-12. It is produced via the triple-alpha process, and was predicted to exist by Fred Hoyle in 1954. The existence of the Hoyle state is essential for the nucleosynthesis of carbon in helium-burning red giant stars, and predicts an amount of carbon production in a stellar environment which matches observations. The existence of the Hoyle state has been confirmed experimentally, but its precise properties are still being investigated. In 2011, an ab initio calculation of the low-lying states of carbon-12 found (in addition to the ground and excited spin-2 state) a resonance with all of the properties of the Hoyle state.
The isotopes of carbon can be separated in the form of carbon dioxide gas by cascaded chemical exchange reactions with amine carbamate.
|Lighter:
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carbon-11
|Carbon-12 is an
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isotope of carbon
|Heavier:
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carbon-13
|Decay product of:
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boron-12, nitrogen-12
|Decay chain
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of carbon-12
|Decays to:
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http://theinfolist.com/php/SummaryGet.php?FindGo=Carbon-12
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Today’s Martian atmosphere is tenuous. What little carbon dioxide atmosphere Mars has isn’t enough to keep water on its surface. But geological evidence points to a time when Mars was warmer and wetter. For a warmer climate to have existed, many researchers suggest the planet was once covered in a thicker carbon dioxide atmosphere.
We know solar wind stripped away most of Mars atmosphere. And it continues to this day. But scientists are having a tough time explaining why they haven’t found more carbon, or carbonate, in Martian rocks.
Scientists from Caltech and NASA’s JPL tackled the problem in a paper published this week. Their solution? Mars’ atmosphere was thicker than it was today. But they describe it as a “moderately dense atmosphere.” Surface pressure would have been about the same or less than on Earth. Their research shows Mars’ ancient atmosphere could have evolved into the one we see today and solves the missing carbon problem. It also explains the ratios between carbon-13 to carbon-12 seen.
There are two possible processes that could explain the transition from a thicker Mars atmosphere to the very thin one we see today. One is the carbon dioxide was captured by rocks in the form of carbonate. Or, it was lost to space.
The loss to space scenario has its issues. Sputtering is one way carbon dioxide escapes to space. This happens as the solar wind interacts with the upper atmosphere. And NASA’s MAVEN orbiter recently showed about 100 grams of particles are stripped from Mars’ atmosphere every second.
The issue? Sputtering causes more loss of carbon-12 compared to carbon-13. But not in substantial amounts. The Curiosity rover shows today’s Martian atmosphere contains much more carbon-13 in proportion to carbon-12.
So what’s going on? Hu and his colleagues found a mechanism that could explain the higher amounts of carbon-13. It’s called ultraviolet photodissociation. As ultraviolet radiation (hv) interacts with a CO2 molecule, it breaks the bonds to form carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon (C). The ratio of carbon isotopes is then affected as carbon atoms are lost the space. The lighter carbon-12 isotope is more likely to be lost to space than the carbon-13 isotope. The infographic below visualizes this process.
The researchers then modeled the long-term effects of ultraviolet photodissociation. They found a small amount of escape led to a large fingerprint in the carbon isotopic ratio. Using the models, the researchers were able to figure out Mars’ atmosphere 3.9 billion years ago might have a had a surface pressure slightly thinner than Earth’s atmosphere today.
Ehlmann, who co-authored this week’s study, explains the results.
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https://www.newsledge.com/the-curious-case-of-mars-missing-carbon/
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Libby calculated the half-life of carbon-14 as 5568, a figure now known as the Libby half-life.
The attributes of naturally decaying atoms, known as ‘radioisotopes’, give such atoms several applications across many aspects of modern day life.
It was, and de Hevesy's suspicions were confirmed.
History has forgotten the landlady, but George de Hevesy went on to win the Nobel prize in 1943 and the Atoms for Peace award in 1959.
Some chemical elements have more than one type of atom. Carbon has two stable, nonradioactive isotopes: carbon-12 (12C), and carbon-13 (13C).
In addition, there are trace amounts of the unstable isotope carbon-14 (14C) on Earth.
However, it is also used to determine ages of rocks, plants, trees, etc. When the sun’s rays reach them, a few of these particles turn into carbon 14 (a radioactive carbon).
The highest rate of carbon-14 production takes place at altitudes of 9 to 15 km (30,000 to 50,000 ft).The first practical application of a radioisotope was made by a Hungarian man named George de Hevesy in 1911.At the time de Hevesy was a young student working in Manchester, studying naturally radioactive materials.Over half of the Mo-99 has been made in two reactors: NRU in Canada (30-40% but ceased production in October 2016) and HFR in the Netherlands (30%).The rest is from BR-2 in Belgium (10%), Maria in Poland (5%), Safari-1 in South Africa (10-15%), Opal in Australia (increasing to 20% from mid-2016), and until the end of 2015, Osiris in France (5%).His was the first use of radioactive tracers – now routine in environmental science.
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https://freestyle21.ru/9604uses-of-radioactive-dating.html
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300 light years from Earth in the constellation Musca, the gas giant TYC 8998-760-1 b, along with a companion planet, orbits an infant K-class star about 17 million years old. We’re probably looking at a brown dwarf here rather than a gas giant like Jupiter, for TYC 8998-760-1 b is about 14 times Jupiter’s mass, nudging into brown dwarf territory, and it appears to be roughly three times as large, unusual for brown dwarfs. The planet’s separation from its host star is pegged at 160 AU.
An inflated atmosphere due to processes still unknown? We don’t know, but both this and the companion planet have been directly imaged. Now TYC 8998-760-1 b resurfaces through work with the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope, as reported in the latest issue of Nature. Led by first author Yapeng Zhang (Leiden University, The Netherlands), the team of astronomers detected carbon isotopes in the object’s atmosphere, showing higher than expected carbon-13 content.
Here is the image, first released in 2020, of the TYC 8998-760-1 system, showing the two young planets. One of the co-authors of the Zhang paper, Alexander Bohn (also at Leiden), worked on the earlier imaging as well. The caption is the original one from ESO accompanying the image and does not describe the later work by Zhang’s team.
Image: This image, captured by the SPHERE instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope, shows the star TYC 8998-760-1 accompanied by two giant exoplanets, TYC 8998-760-1b and TYC 8998-760-1c. The two planets are visible as two bright dots in the centre (TYC 8998-760-1b) and bottom right (TYC 8998-760-1c) of the frame, noted by arrows. Other bright dots, which are background stars, are visible in the image as well. By taking different images at different times, the team were able to distinguish the planets from the background stars. The image was captured by blocking the light from the young, Sun-like star (top-left of centre) using a coronagraph, which allows for the fainter planets to be detected. The bright and dark rings we see on the star’s image are optical artefacts. Credit: ESO/Bohn et al.
Different forms of the same atom, isotopes vary in the number of neutrons housed in the nucleus, so that while carbon-12 has six neutrons to go along with its six protons, carbon-13 has seven neutrons and carbon-14 has eight. The distinctions are useful because while chemical properties remain largely the same, isotopes can be distinguished as they react to different conditions and are formed in different ways.
Zhang’s team drew on the distinction between carbon-13 and carbon-12 as marked by the way each absorbs radiation at slightly different colors, using ESO’s Spectrograph for Integral Field Observations in the Near Infrared (SINFONI), mounted on the Unit 3 instrument of the VLT. Expecting about one in 70 carbon atoms to be carbon-13, they found twice the number. The planet’s formation seems to be implicated, according to co-author Paul Mollière (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg):
“The planet is more than one hundred and fifty times further away from its parent star than our Earth is from our Sun. At such a great distance, ices have possibly formed with more carbon-13, causing the higher fraction of this isotope in the planet’s atmosphere today.”
Image: This is Figure 3 from the paper. Caption: The two planets inside the CO snowline denote Jupiter and Neptune at their current locations, whereas TYC 8998 b is formed far outside this regime, where most carbon is expected to have been locked up in CO ice and formed the main reservoir of carbon in the planet. We postulate that this far outside the CO snowline, the ice was 13CO-rich or 13C-rich through carbon fractionation, resulting in the observed 13CO-rich atmosphere of the planet. A similar mechanism has been invoked to explain the trend in D/H within the Solar System. Future isotopologue measurements in exoplanet atmospheres can provide unique constraints on where, when and how planets are formed. Credit: Zhang et al.
The study of isotope abundance ratios has proven significant in studying not only interstellar chemistry and star formation but also the evolution of the Solar System. While its uses in analyzing exoplanet atmospheres are in their infancy, the hope is that future work on a range of exoplanets will offer clues to their formation.
The paper is Zhang et al., “The 13CO-rich atmosphere of a young accreting super-Jupiter,” Nature 595 (14 July 2021), 370-372. Abstract.
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https://www.centauri-dreams.org/2021/07/16/carbon-isotopes-as-clues-to-a-young-planets-formation/
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Nutcracker Man debunked
This week, Thure Cerling and colleagues report in PNAS (2011) carbon stable isotope data from 24 specimens of Australopithecus boisei. This is a huge sample as fossil hominins go, and they give a very consistent picture about the diet of this most robust of the australopithecines. These 24 individuals got between 61 and 91 percent of their carbon from grasses.
My 2005 explainer on stable isotope chemistry and early hominin diets fills in the details about carbon-12, carbon-13 and their relationship to 3- and 4-carbon photosynthetic cycles. The salient aspect of the comparisons involving A. boisei here is that C4 plants, mostly grasses, incorporate relatively more carbon-13 than do other plants, and herbivores assimilate this carbon-13 into their bones and teeth.
The high ratio of grass-derived carbon in A. boisei is fundamentally different from all living and fossil apes, and it is far higher than the values found for other early hominins. The only other primate that comes close is the fossil giant gelada Theropithecus oswaldi, a savanna-living species.
What were these extinct species really eating? Was grass the food? For living geladas, grass consumption includes seeds – a fact that led Clifford Jolly to suggest in 1970 that early hominins might also have specialized on seeds. Of course, humans today also specialize on grass seeds. We call them grains, eat them in bread and drink them in soda. And beer.
But what about A. boisei? The large, thick-enameled premolars and molars, with their low cusps, seem well suited to grinding small hard objects and resisting the resulting wear. But Cerling and colleagues devote a good chunk of their discussion to the description of molar wear in A. boisei and other early hominins. Their argument is that the teeth of A. boisei show no signs of “hard object” feeding:
Of perhaps greater moment than its potential specific simila- rities, the microwear of P. boisei molars, which shows remarkable uniformity over time from about 2.3 Ma to about < 1.4 Ma (9, 24), stands in stark contrast to the wear fabrics exhibited by primate hard-object consumers. Indeed, there is no evidence beyond the anecdotal [e.g., the broken left first permanent molar crown in the KNM-ER 729 P. boisei mandible (8) and the observation that a couple of P. boisei molars show antemortem enamel chipping (25)] that these food items were hard.
These observations are not new, but putting them together with the evidence of grass consumption makes it pretty clear that seed eating was not a predominant source of dietary carbon. The “Nutcracker Man” sobriquet, applied to A. boisei because of its powerful jaw mechanics, must be false. No significant hard object feeding, very low dietary carbon from trees and non-grassy (or sedgy) plants.
Instead, Cerling and colleagues propose that both A. boisei and other early hominins wore their teeth on the, well, grassy parts of grass.
P. boisei cheek teeth display notable gradients of gross wear, resulting in large, deeply excavated dentine exposures, and in this regard, they are similar to other australopith species (e.g., A. afarensis and A. africanus) that also possess low tooth cusps with thick enamel. Thus, like other australopiths, P. boisei undoubtedly had a diet that consisted of foods with abrasive qualitiesthe gross wear is as likely due to repetitive loading of phytolith-rich tough foods as exogenous grit. Thus, either grass or sedge consumption and/or exogenous grit might well have contributed to P. boiseis notable wear gradient.
And:
Recent dental microwear studies suggest that the mechanical properties of A. afarensis (and A. anamensis) diets were nearly identical to those of P. boisei (9, 24, 4042). If this is so, could it be that the australopith masticatory package represents an adaptation to C4 resources such as grasses or sedges? The similarity in dental microwear fabrics among the eastern African australopiths, all of which lack any evidence for hard-object food consumption (9, 24, 4042), is consistent with the notion that their craniodental morphology could reflect repetitive loading rather than hard-object consumption (7, 8, 43).
Grit might get in from eating underground parts like rhizomes. Phytoliths are small, hard silicate structures in the green parts of plants, including the stems and leaves of grass.
Last year I wrote about carbon isotope analysis of two specimens of Australopithecus boisei, the famous OH 5 “Zinj” specimen, and the Peninj mandible. Both specimens show evidence of a high consumption of grass-derived carbon – estimated at 77% and 81% grass-derived carbon, respectively. Those levels are characteristic of grazing animals. Cerling and colleagues show that these values are right in the middle of the range among specimens of A. boisei that cover a half million years in Kenya and Tanzania.
In the paper reporting the carbon stable isotopes of OH 5 and Peninj, van der Merwe and colleagues (2008) suggested that A. boisei may have relied on papyrus as a staple. The culms and rhizomes of papyrus both have substantial nutritional content but are very fibrous and require much chewing and spitting out fiber at intervals. The hypothesis would imply that A. boisei relied on these foodstuffs for the majority of its calories.
Cerling and colleagues do not mention papyrus, and take a much more direct approach on grass-eating. But they do report data on oxygen stable isotopes from the specimens that may be relevant to the ecological context of grass (or sedge) consumption. Oxygen isotopes in bone and teeth reflect the pattern of water consumption by an animal. Oxygen-16 evaporates and transpires preferentially from leaves, so an animal living in an arid environment that gets most of its water from plants will be relatively enriched for the heavier oxygen-18. An animal that depends on drinking water from lakes or rivers will tend to have lower oxygen-18. A. boisei is almost as low in oxygen-18 composition as hippopotamus, suggesting they were strongly dependent on water sources.
A highly water-dependent grass-eating A. boisei is a very different picture of the biology of this robust species. The South African robust species, A robustus, is very different in this regard. These two species are often lumped together, but this is unfair in many ways to their distinctive anatomical patterns. Knowing that their dietary adaptations were very distinct, we should be more inclined to focus on the details where they differ.
Bottom line: A. boisei represents a highly distinctive dietary pattern, not present in any living ape, that no longer exists. At least the giant gelada, T. oswaldi, may also have exploited similar resources. Some grass resources, including papyrus corms and rhizomes, have high caloric and nutritional value, but require adaptations to deal with the fibrous content.
References
Cerling, T. E., Mbua, E., Kirera, F. M., Manthi, F. K., Grine, F. E., Leakey, M. G., ... & Uno, K. T. (2011). Diet of Paranthropus boisei in the early Pleistocene of East Africa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(23), 9337-9341. doi:10.1073/pnas.1104627108
Jolly, C. J. (1970). The seed-eaters: a new model of hominid differentiation based on a baboon analogy. Man, 5(1), 5-26.
van der Merwe, N. J., Masao, F. T., & Bamford, M. K. (2008). Isotopic evidence for contrasting diets of early hominins Homo habilis and Australopithecus boisei of Tanzania. South African Journal of Science, 104(3-4), 153-155.
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http://johnhawks.net/weblog/reviews/early_hominids/diet/boisei-grass-cerling-2011.html
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Number 14 process carbon 14 dating denotes amount
Here’s an example using the simplest atom, hydrogen. Carbon-14 is an unstable isotope of carbon that will eventually decay at a known rate to become carbon-12.
Radiocarbon dating uses isotopes of the element carbon. Cosmic rays – high-energy particles from beyond the solar system – bombard Earth’s upper atmosphere continually, in the process creating the unstable carbon-14. Because it’s unstable, carbon-14 will eventually decay back to carbon-12 isotopes.
There are three carbon isotopes that occur as part of the Earth's natural processes; these are carbon-12, carbon-13 and carbon-14.
The unstable nature of carbon 14 (with a precise half-life that makes it easy to measure) means it is ideal as an absolute dating method.
This new method was based on gas and liquid scintillation counting and these methods are still used today, having been demonstrated as more accurate than Libby's original method (3).
Willard Libby would receive a Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1960.
The method developed in the 1940's and was a ground-breaking piece of research that would change dating methods forever. Libby calculated the rate of radioactive decay of the C isotope (4) in carbon black powder.
There are a number of ways to enter into a career in studying radiocarbon dating.
The unstable carbon-14 gradually decays to carbon-12 at a steady rate. Scientists measure the ratio of carbon isotopes to be able to estimate how far back in time a biological sample was active or alive.
This plot shows the level of carbon-14 in the atmosphere as measured in New Zealand (red) and Austria (green), representing the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, respectively.
is a term for radiocarbon dating based on timestamps left by above-ground nuclear explosions, and it is especially useful for putting an absolute age on organisms that lived through those events.
In The Cosmic Story of Carbon-14 Ethan Siegel writes: The only major fluctuation [in carbon-14] we know of occurred when we began detonating nuclear weapons in the open air, back in the mid-20th century.
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https://goldtchervonets.ru/number-14-process-carbon-14-dating-denotes-amount-4160.html
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The terrestrial biosphere modulates increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) via ecosystem photosynthetic uptake and respiratory release, but our understanding of these processes and how present (and future) climate affect them is poor. Atmospheric CO2 measurements trace net ecosystem exchange, but cannot provide process information. On the other hand, the isotopic ratio of carbon-13 to carbon-12 (expressed as a “d13C” value relative to a reference ratio) is strongly related to isotopic fractionation (i.e. preferential uptake of carbon-12 over carbon-13) during photosynthesis, which is related to stomatal conductance and water use efficiency. By implementing photosynthetic fractionation and a parallel carbon-13 pool system in the Simple Biosphere Model (SiB, v. 4.2), we are able to trace isotopic signatures through a fully prognostic land carbon model to diagnose plant responses. Here we present results analyzing interactions of drought and carbon cycle changes from 2000-2020 across the continental United States (CONUS) region. Drought events were identified using county-level data from the University of Nebraska Lincoln Drought Monitor (UNL DM). We first examined anomalies in plant uptake against anomalies in soil moisture and vapor pressure deficit (VPD), binned by drought severity class as identified by the UNL DM’s Drought Severity Coverage Index. Preliminary analysis indicates uptake and moisture anomalies become more negative during droughts, as expected. We then examined isotopic discrimination in response to drought stress across different ecosystems. Modeled positive d13C anomalies indicate plant stress and less ability to discriminate. Forward simulations with an atmospheric transport model will be used to compare SiB4 isotope fluxes to atmospheric d13C measurements from the Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network. Finally, we test different stomatal conductance formulations in SiB4 to improve the predictability of drought. This is particularly relevant at sites where soil-moisture-VPD interactions show that increased VPD can offset decreased stomatal conductance which tries to limit water loss, implying that atmospheric water demand can outcompete a plant’s ability to conserve water.
Figure 1. (A) Isotopic discrimination as a function of modeled soil moisture at an evergreen needleleaf site in Wyoming shows plant stress is reflected in isotope signatures. (B) Isotopic discrimination also captures differences in drought stress response for the same forest type across different sites in the CONUS region (Metolius Forest in Oregon, GLEES site in Wyoming, Howland Forest in Maine).
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https://gml.noaa.gov/annualconference/abs.php?refnum=23-220414-B
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Organisms at the base of the food chain that photosynthesize – for example, plants and algae – use the carbon in Earth’s atmosphere.
They have the same ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 as the atmosphere, and this same ratio is then carried up the food chain all the way to apex predators, like sharks.
The object's approximate age can then be figured out using the known rate of decay of the isotope.
For organic materials, the comparison is between the current ratio of a radioactive isotope to a stable isotope of the same element and the known ratio of the two isotopes in living organisms.
Radiocarbon dating uses isotopes of the element carbon. Cosmic rays – high energy particles from beyond the solar system – bombard Earth’s upper atmosphere continually, in the process creating the unstable carbon-14. Because it’s unstable, carbon-14 will eventually decay back to carbon-12 isotopes.
Because the cosmic ray bombardment is fairly constant, there’s a near-constant level of carbon-14 to carbon-12 ratio in Earth’s atmosphere.
If one knows how much of this radioactive material was present initially in the object (by determining how much of the material has decayed), and one knows the half-life of the material, one can deduce the age of the object.
Meteorites are among the oldest objects we know about - formed about 4.5 billion years ago. This article describes the principles and methods used to make that determination.
Here’s an example using the simplest atom, hydrogen. Carbon-14 is an unstable isotope of carbon that will eventually decay at a known rate to become carbon-12.Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. 1979, 1986 © Harper Collins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Cite This Source (rā'dē-ō-mět'rĭk) A method for determining the age of an object based on the concentration of a particular radioactive isotope contained within it.
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https://ozpuppets.ru/isotope-dating-old-objects-3559.html
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NASA’s Curiosity rover has measured the total organic carbon content of rocks on Mars for the first time using data from the rover.
“Total organic carbon is one of several measurements [or indices] that help us understand how much material is available as feedstock for prebiotic chemistry and potentially biology,” explained Jennifer Stern of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
“We found at least 200 to 273 parts per million of organic carbon. This is comparable to or even more than the amount found in rocks in very low-life places on Earth, such as parts of the Atacama Desert in South America, and more than has been detected in Mars meteorites.”
A carbon atom bound to an atom of hydrogen is organic carbon. Organic molecules are the basis for life and are built and used by every known species.
It is critical to note that the presence of organic carbon on Mars does not prove the presence of life, since it is also possible that organic carbon comes from non-living sources, such as meteorites, and volcanoes, or is formed by surface reactions.
Prior measurements have detected organic carbon on Mars, but they were either limited to a few compounds or only represented a portion of the organic carbon present in the rocks.
These new measurements reveal the amount of organic carbon in the rocks.
Mars’ surface may be inhospitable for life now, but billions of years ago the climate was similar to Earth’s, with thicker atmospheres and rivers filled with liquid water.
Several scientists agree that organic carbon could have sustained Martian life if it ever existed since liquid water is indispensable for life as we know it.
Mars’ habitability and climate are being examined by Curiosity to advance the field of astrobiology.
Gale crater is the site of an ancient lake on Mars. The rover has drilled samples from mudstone rocks 3.5 billion years old found in the Yellowknife Bay formation of the crater.
The mudstone is formed when clay-like sediment (having been weathered by physical and chemical processes) settles at the bottom of a lake and is buried. This material included organic carbon, which was incorporated into mudstones.
There were numerous other conditions conducive to life at Gale crater, including chemical energy sources, low acidity, and essential nutrients for life, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur.
“Basically, this location would have offered a habitable environment for life, if it ever was present,” revealed Stern, lead author of the paper.
In order to make the measurement, Curiosity delivered the powdered rock to its Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument, which heated it to increasing temperatures in an oven.
To measure the amount of organic carbon in rocks, we convert the organic carbon to carbon dioxide (CO2) using oxygen and heat.
By adding oxygen and heat to carbon molecules, the carbon molecules can break apart, react with oxygen, and produce CO2.
The oven decomposes minerals and releases carbon embedded in them so that it can turn into CO2 by heating the sample to very high temperatures.
Despite being conducted in 2014, it took numerous years of analysis to understand the data and put the results in context with other discoveries made by the mission at Gale Crater.
During Curiosity’s decade on Mars, only one such resource-intensive experiment was conducted.
Additionally, SAM was able to analyze the carbon isotope ratios, which are helpful in identifying the carbon’s source. An isotope is a version of an element with slightly different masses due to the presence of an additional neutron at the nucleus of the atom.
Neutron count differs between Carbon-12 and Carbon-13 based on the weight of the atom. The carbon from life contains a much higher proportion of Carbon-12 because heavier isotopes react more slowly than lighter isotopes.
“in this case, the isotopic composition can really only tell us what portion of the total carbon is organic carbon and what portion is mineral carbon,” explained Stern.
“While biology cannot be completely ruled out, isotopes cannot really be used to support a biological origin for this carbon, either, because the range overlaps with igneous (volcanic) carbon and meteoritic organic material, which are most likely to be the source of this organic carbon.”
The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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The post There is As Much Organic Carbon in Rocks on Mars as in Those of the Atacama Desert appeared first on Curiosmos.
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https://archeology.news/there-is-as-much-organic-carbon-in-rocks-on-mars-as-in-those-of-the-atacama-desert/
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is a technique used by scientists to learn the ages of biological specimens – for example, wooden archaeological artifacts or ancient human remains – from the distant past. To understand radiocarbon dating, you first have to understand the word Although an element’s number of protons cannot change, the number of neutrons can vary slightly in each atom.
It can be used on objects as old as about 62,000 years. Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons are called isotopes. Most carbon on Earth exists as the very stable isotope carbon-12, with a very small amount as carbon-13.
Because the cosmic ray bombardment is fairly constant, there’s a near-constant level of carbon-14 to carbon-12 ratio in Earth’s atmosphere.
Organisms at the base of the food chain that photosynthesize – for example, plants and algae – use the carbon in Earth’s atmosphere.
However it is possible, when dating very old rocks for instance, to use longer lived isotopes for dating on a longer time scale.
Animals, including humans, consume plants a lot (and animals that consume plants), and thus they also tend to have the same ratio of carbon 14 to carbon 12 atoms.On the other hand, if tons of half-lives have passed, there is almost none of the sample carbon 14 left, and it is really hard to measure accurately how much is left.Since physics can't predict exactly when a given atom will decay, we rely on statistical methods in dealing with radioactivity, and while this is an excellent method for a bazillion atoms, it fails when we don't have good sample sizes.is a term for radiocarbon dating based on timestamps left by above-ground nuclear explosions, and it is especially useful for putting an absolute age on organisms that lived through those events.
In The Cosmic Story of Carbon-14 Ethan Siegel writes: The only major fluctuation [in carbon-14] we know of occurred when we began detonating nuclear weapons in the open air, back in the mid-20th century.
Voila, now you can tell how old a sample of organic matter is.
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https://fotoprofit.ru/carbon-dating-material-4177.html
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Study: Simple Life Forms are Common Throughout Universe
A detailed analysis of 3.465-billion-year-old microbial microfossils provides evidence to support an increasingly widespread understanding that life in the Universe is common.
Professor J. William Schopf from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his colleagues analyzed 11 specimens of 5 species of prokaryotic cellular microfossils from the Apex Basalt Formation, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia.
Two of the five species the researchers studied were primitive photosynthesizers, one was an Archaeal methane producer, and two others were methane consumers.
“The evidence that a diverse group of organisms had already evolved extremely early in the Earth’s history strengthens the case for life existing elsewhere in the Universe because it would be extremely unlikely that life formed quickly on Earth but did not arise anywhere else,” they said.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the most detailed ever conducted on microorganisms preserved in such ancient fossils.
“By 3.465 billion years ago, life was already diverse on Earth; that’s clear — primitive photosynthesizers, methane producers, methane users,” Professor Schopf said.
“These are the first data that show the very diverse organisms at that time in Earth’s history, and our previous research has shown that there were sulfur users 3.4 billion years ago as well.”
“This tells us life had to have begun substantially earlier and it confirms that it was not difficult for primitive life to form and to evolve into more advanced microorganisms.”
“Scientists still do not know how much earlier life might have begun. But, if the conditions are right, it looks like life in the Universe should be widespread.”
Professor Schopf and co-authors analyzed the Apex specimens with cutting-edge technology called secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), which reveals the ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-13 isotopes — information scientists can use to determine how the microorganisms lived.
They used a secondary ion mass spectrometer — one of just a few in the world — to separate the carbon from each fossil into its constituent isotopes and determine their ratios.
“The differences in carbon isotope ratios correlate with their shapes. Their carbon-12 to carbon-13 ratios are characteristic of biology and metabolic function,” said co-author Professor John Valley, from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
“The fossils were formed at a time when there was very little oxygen in the atmosphere,” Professor Schopf added.
“I think that advanced photosynthesis had not yet evolved, and that oxygen first appeared on Earth approximately half a billion years later before its concentration in our atmosphere increased rapidly starting about 2 billion years ago.”
“Oxygen would have been poisonous to these microorganisms, and would have killed them,” the scientist said.
Primitive photosynthesizers are fairly rare on Earth today because they exist only in places where there is light but no oxygen — normally there is abundant oxygen anywhere there is light.
And the existence of the rocks the team analyzed is also rather remarkable.
“The average lifetime of a rock exposed on the surface of the Earth is about 200 million years,” Professor Schopf noted.
“When I began my career, there was no fossil evidence of life dating back farther than 500 million years ago. The rocks we studied are about as far back as rocks go.”
“While the study strongly suggests the presence of primitive life forms throughout the Universe, the presence of more advanced life is very possible but less certain,” he said.
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https://paleontologyworld.com/exploring-prehistoric-life-curiosities/study-simple-life-forms-are-common-throughout-universe
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Utilities are fundamental to smart city initiatives, so if cities want to move forward with their smart city plans, more collaboration with utilities is needed. On the final day of the Innovation Accelerator, the group convened for a special panel session to hear about the benefits and challenges of cities and utility companies working closer together. The conversation focused on opportunities and obstacles, and panelists also provided current models that are working and tips for getting started.
Opportunities
Panelists gave many examples of how utilities and cities are working together to transform their communities. This includes:
- Updating lighting with smart street lights that are equipped with sensors.
- Exploring options for energy storage to ensure the system works optimally.
- Encouraging the transition to more efficient and environmentally-friendly energy sources and modes of transportation, including building infrastructure to support electric vehicles.
- Witnessing a change in consumer attitudes as energy efficiency is prioritized, and smart home technology is embraced.
One of the biggest opportunities mentioned was the switch to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. By working with utility companies, cities can be better positioned to reach state and local environmental goals while ensuring that citizens get the services they have come to rely on. Programs such as Green Alternative are also helping to boost knowledge and acceptance of alternative energy in the larger community by installing solar panels on homes in low-income neighborhoods at no cost to residents.
Obstacles
While there are a lot of promising developments on the horizon in the area of smart energy, there are also obstacles to implementing these projects as well as challenges in forming collaborative partnerships between utilities and cities. Some of the obstacles mentioned include:
- Utilities are constrained in what they do because they have to work under strict regulations and must report to the public utility commission. The system is slow and doesn’t allow utilities to be as innovative and nimble as they’d like to be.
- Cities and utilities can often be at different stages in their thinking about smart cities issues such as connectivity, requirements, how to meter sales, etc. This discrepancy makes collaboration difficult because the two parties are not on the same page in the conversation.
- There have been radical changes in the area of smart energy in regards to new technology, costs, and the business models of the utility companies.
- Although costs for technology, such as solar, are coming down rapidly, costs in some areas are still rather high (for example, energy storage).
- Technical developments must be translated into something that actually changes people’s lives (and then these technical projects must be communicated properly, so residents understand how the changes will positively impact them).
A Model for Collaboration
Perhaps one of the best current examples of collaboration between utilities and cities is Cleantech San Diego, an organization that was formed 11 years ago when California started to ramp up its renewable energy goals. At the time, thought leaders recognized that, in addition to positive environmental impacts, there would also be new economic opportunities available with all the new technologies and companies that would be created to reach these goals.
To realize environmental and economic goals, the organization brought together climate scientists, the startup/business community, the academic community, the utility company, and the city government. The initial partners are still at the table today, and more people have been pulled into the conversation along the way.
Today, the economic outlook for clean tech is $6 billion, and there are about 7,000 people employed in the industry in San Diego. Cleantech San Diego helps to shape local, state and federal policies, promote conversations with city officials, community members and students about clean technology, and support clean tech and sustainability initiatives such as electric vehicles and intelligent lighting.
How to Start a Partnership
Some cities have had great success in collaborating with utilities, and with so many opportunities available in the area of smart energy and clean technology, it makes sense to partner with utilities as part of the broader smart cities plan. At the end of the panel session, one member of the audience asked how a city may spark up conversations with utility companies in order to form a partnership. The panelists offered these tips:
- Go into the conversation as equals.
- Be upfront and candid about what the city is looking for (wants and needs).
- Seek a win-win situation where the utility company helps the city, but the city helps the utility company too (such as via permitting and helping the utility through the regulatory process as a partner).
- Pose ideas for how both parties can work together to create that win-win scenario, but also be open to suggestions.
Participants of the Innovation Accelerator envision that in ten years from now, cities will be getting even more energy from renewable resources, smart technology will change the home, sustainable transportation (such as electric vehicles and efficient mass transportation) will be a priority, and there may even be a convergence of the telecommunications industry. Leaders also predict that cities will have better partnerships with utilities, where improved collaboration and communication will bring about solutions to many of the challenges and problems discussed at this Accelerator.
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https://cityinnovatorsforum.com/smart-energy/
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∗Author: Matthew Egan.
2 Introduction
Climate Change is a clear and present threat to all humanity. This is especially true for those living in the CoR, who is one of the fastest warming cities in the country . If humanity is to avoid the worst effects of this danger, then governments at all levels should contribute to alleviating the present crisis. The CoR can, should, and is doing their part to improve their energy mix through a combination of self-owned generation, PPA agreements, and energy saving initiatives, but it can always do more with improved data. Many other cities face similar challenges. The majority of this paper will focus on the Nevadan state of affairs, and Reno in particular. In Nevada, there is a large institutional support for renewables, especially solar energy, both within the state government and the largest Investor Owned Utility, NV Energy . This gives municipalities there a large number of options for growing their renewable portfolio. This paper analyzes Reno’s potential for renewable growth, states various policies that help make a municipality operate more sustainably, and provides policy suggestions. The work presented here is part of undergraduate research support provided by the CoR. The rest of the paper is organized as follows. Section III explains how Reno is situated with the most relevant regulations, as well as what they are currently doing to meet their goals. Section IV explains various methods that any municipality can use to increase their renewable penetration. Section VI states what potential impacts having more renewable energy would have on the grid. Section must generate 28 percent of its energy through renewable VII states what a municipality can or should do when in resources, assuming it receives its energy from a supplier an area with friendly, unfriendly, or mixed institutions who is doing the bare minimum to comply with energy towards renewable growth. Section VIII provides clos- standards, more on that later. Thankfully, this is a lower ing remarks, acknowledges significant contributors to the bound, and the main electric utility for the state, NV paper’s funding and information, and future directions. Energy, is highly committed to encouraging the growth of renewable energy.
3 Energy Sustainability
The CoR is doing their part to ensure the success of renewable energy. The CoR’s Reno Resiliency plan lays out nine initiatives for a more sustainable city . Among other goals, the city wanted to be powered by 50 percent renewable energy by the end of 2020, which it met, have fully renewable power by 2025, and reduce its energy usage by 20 percent compared to its usage figures in 2014, also by 2025. These figures are based around peak load, or the highest amount of energy a group uses over the course of a day, rather than around net load, or the ability to be powered fully renewably, or at least offset the energy consumed at night with solar panels during the day. Both of these figures would require a significantly higher investment into either energy storage or renewables with much higher nameplate generation, i.e. the amount of power manufacturers state a device can generate under ideal conditions, as they are situated in an area where the primary method of renewable energy generation is based around solar, which is highly intermittent, but has its highest time of production roughly coinciding with peak load time. National regulations on renewable energy will not be covered in this paper. As such, this paper shall cover regulations and programs from the PUCN, NV Energy, and the CoR. There are many specific references to legal codes for Nevada, but the programs mentioned are fairly common, so researchers in other states should still find this a useful reference . A. Renewable Portfolio Standard
An RPS is a set percentage that electrical producers in a state are either encouraged or required to produce with either renewable or carbon neutral energy. Fig. 1 shows a map of all states with an RPS, with the referenced website having precise figures for each state . An RPS can serve as a barometer for how likely a government is to assist in the growth of renewable energy. States with high or frequently amended RPS standards can be more easily lobbied for policies shown below than those without an RPS or with low RPS goals. The State of Nevada has an RPS which states that, according to NRS 704.7821.1.(g), “For calendar year 2020, not less than 22 percent of the total amount of electricity sold by the provider to its retail customers in this State during that calendar year [must be produced with renewable energy].” This means in order for the CoR to meet its required goal in its own measures, it Fig. 1:
B. Utility Initiatives
In the 2016 and 2018 Nevada ballots, question 3 passed and failed to pass respectively. Question 3 was an initiative, mostly led by smaller generators such as Solar City, to amend the Nevada constitution to “[prohibit] the granting of monopolies and exclusive franchises for the generation of electricity” . Due to the failure of question 3, NV Energy is still the only provider of energy in Washoe County and the majority of the state. NV Energy has a few goals as of this moment, including a commitment to being very environmentally conscious in its energy production. NV Energy has consistently met and exceeded the state’s RPS standards, reaching 5 percent above the current requirements of 27 percent as of last year . The relevant question for this paper will not be whether or not NV Energy continues this trend, but by how much. Table 1 shows what percentage the CoR must produce or purchase, considering potential behaviors of NV Energy by 2025. As stated previously, NV Energy is likely to exceed the goals of the Nevadan RPS. The bottom row uses the given formula for calculations:
This formula is fairly simplistic. All it says is that the amount that someone needs to generate or purchase renewable is equal to the amount that they want minus the amount that their utility, in this equation NV Energy,generates. Then, this is divided by 100 percent minus the same utility figure. The amount that NV Energy made in the year 2019 can be found publicly on the PUCN website, and was already mentioned in their RPS compliance report.
Table II lays out four potential scenarios, in order of the amount of renewable power generated by a utility and thereby the amount a municipality must save or produce itself. The first assumes NV Energy will make the minimal possible progress and only comply with minimum RPS standards, which is at 34 percent per Senate Bill 358 . The assumptions are that NV Energy exceeds PUCN standards by: nothing, four percent, 3 years, or 2 tiers of the Nevadan RPS regulations, meaning they will be making 34 percent, 38 percent, 42 percent, or 50 percent respectively. The safest assumption would be to follow the median and say by 2025, NV Energy will be providing Reno with at least 40 percent renewable energy. Forty percent is also what NV Energy themselves assume, according to their 2019 RPS Compliance Report .
C. Current Local Initiatives
The CoR has a number of existing renewable power sources across the city, creating in total 81.8 gigawatthours over the course of a month, though billing periods varied from early to mid-January to February 2020, shown in Table I, aggregated for the sake of brevity and privacy. The CoR has not installed a significant amount of new solar in the past few years, and only has one major installation planned at 911 Kietzke Lane for their new police station. Noting this lack of new developments, the CoR will need to reach its goal through more outside measures, such as the ones listed below. Most of the gains made will likely come from saving energy, thereby lowering the amount they need from the utility’s fossil fuels, rather than producing new energy.
4 What Can Be Done
Each section has a table after it indicating the pros and cons of a given solution. None are perfect, but some may be more beneficial than others.
A. Net metering
Net Metering is the process by which people or entities who produce an excess of energy are allowed to sell that energy back to utilities at a rate lower than the retail cost . This allows consumers to become producers, which helps them financially justify installing larger amounts of renewable energy than if they only saved money from not paying a utility. The CoR can apply for this program under current PUCN regulations, thereby reducing the time until a solar panel would break even, in a program similar to designs laid out in . The sooner a city implements a net metering application for new installations, the better the results will be. Table IV demonstrates how much power the State of Nevada has registered which utilizes the net metering programs. It is split into four tiers, with tiers 1 through 3 each being limited to 80 MW of installed solar capacity. This is an arbitrary figure, but it encourages people to install renewable energy sooner rather than later, as they would receive a greater financial benefit from their installations than if they had waited and been limited to lower amounts. Tiers 1 and 2, which grant 95 percent and 88 percent of the retail price of energy respectively, are both no longer available for applications, and Tier 3, which grants 81 percent of energy, is already 90 percent full, assuming all pending net metering applications are accepted. These figures accurately display that the total net metering capacity is closing fast. Therefore, the CoR should state their intentions to invest further in solar energy sooner rather than later so they can reap greater rewards from net metering, and thereby receive greater economic benefit from having PV solar installed.
B. Meter aggregation
Meter aggregation is a subset of net metering, wherein entities who own multiple meters that consume energy, and multiple meters that generate energy can combine these two in a way “…that allows for a single generating system to be used to offset electricity use on multiple meters, without necessarily requiring a physical connection between the system and those meters” . This mainly differs from net metering because net metering can only give credit to the producer for the point that it is being generated at. This means that net metering can only give a financial benefit if the place that uses this electricity already uses a fair amount, which is often in places where space is at a premium, such as downtown areas. Any renewable energy generated by the CoR could be sold on the market for other users, therefore allowing for places with low energy usage, but high solar potential, such as parks, or places with high energy usage, but low solar potential, such as City Hall, to better take advantage of these disparities. If NV Energy and the PUCN could negotiate an arrangement with the CoR, that could lower costs by installing generation on cheaper land or in places which are closer to the grid’s substations. Meter aggregation would thereby make the process of transitioning to green energy more cost effective.
C. Exiting the Utility Grid
To become powered only by renewables, the CoR must receive no power from non-renewable resources. Even receiving one percent of power from a natural gas plant would mean non-compliance with the Reno Resilience measures. Therefore, without RECs to offset the power received from the utility, it is mathematically impossible for the CoR to be powered solely by renewable energy unless the grid is also 100 percent renewable, or it has met all its energy needs through renewables. If those two things cannot be met, the CoR may wish to exit the grid and find another provider of power who could make up the difference in energy they still lack. Please note this should only be done with a clear and distinct plan to find power. NV Energy is extremely committed to renewable energy, and likely will stay as such for the immediate future, not counting some extreme change in company policy. The city may also need to pay an additional stipend to NV Energy if they exit. Casinos such as Wynn, Caesar’s Palace, and MGM had to pay a fee in order to exit because of the loss of revenue NV Energy would receive. Reno, or any municipality, as a customer of similar size, could face similar sanctions if a utility felt the dependability of Reno and the bulk purchases they provide would be a significant enough loss by their departure. Unless it would be deemed demonstrably easier and cheaper than staying and paying more for RECs, and NV Energy is either unable or unwilling to provide the COR with the energy it needs, they should not leave.
D. Community Solar Gardens
Community solar is the establishment of PV solar generation systems that users can subscribe to which will provide them with RECs of no greater than 40 percent of the total amount produced, and limited to 12 megawatts per parcel. If the CoR wanted to, it could contract with an outside third party to install solar panels on their properties, not dissimilar to the current installations. However, as individuals can only take 40 percent of the total power generated, the city would receive smaller direct benefit. This could be an advantage, as it would give a larger indirect benefit to Reno citizens through a combination of education initiatives and subscriptions. A Community Solar Garden would especially help those who lack the capability to install solar systems on their own property, such as renters or low income individuals who, while environmentally minded, may lack the capital to install their own generation . Renters would benefit as it would mean that an entire apartment complex could install and receive energy from a single installation, and lower income people could also cite all their energy from a single source. These people could help to ease the cost for the city, as well as increase local benefit and buy-in to Reno Resilience programs. This may make it more popular, as laid out in a UK study on such community initiatives which shows that if an initiative is labelled as community based, it is more successful if it has a noticeably positive impact on their lives . If the CoR did something like this, either by contracting to build on their land through PPA or under their own authority, it would benefit many people, as well as the city themselves. Low-income people would gain access to solar renewables, the city could build solar panels off site of high-energy demand places and bear a smaller financial burden, and the grid in general would benefit from having more renewable energy. The following section will have more details on the general impacts and benefits of renewables, especially distributed, on the community at large.
E. Renewable Energy Credits
The City of Reno can make its power usage more environmentally conscious through RECs. RECs are ways for anyone to purchase renewable energy from their utility, in this case NV Energy, to state the energy purchased was offset with a certain amount of renewable power . Using RECs for renewable energy has its advantages. For one thing, the simplicity of RECs can be very appealing, and it can be done with no additional infrastructure construction on the City of Reno’s land. The main disadvantages of REC usage is it remains centralized, so it would have higher losses during transmission, and without a concrete example it may be less politically popular, as observers would be skeptical of how well backed the RECs are if they are not fully aware of the system’s intricacies. As of this moment, NV Energy has the NGR program as its best method for encouraging renewable growth . This program was utilized by the City of Las Vegas to meet their needs 100 percent four years ago in 2016 . Pricing is not listed specifically on the document as it is dependent upon the cost of constructing and maintaining the necessary facilities to power an applicant. Many companies and municipalities have contracted NV Energy to meet their energy demands, receiving 558,258,153 kWh in Northern Nevada last year . As of this paper’s writing NGR is closed to new applicants. It may be more or less expensive than typical grid rates. However, given the continuously falling cost of Solar across the state, it would not be unreasonable to say the City could save more money using RECs than having their own on-site facilities. However, the best avenues for REC purchase are not open as of this moment, and RECs lack the benefits can be found in more decentralized methods of power generation. Therefore, until programs such as the NGR become available, the City should continue with its progress on its own terms, and be vigilant for when it opens again to better utilize the resources available to them.
5 Policy Suggestions
Policy suggestions for this are broken up into three sections, based around the surrounding institutions. In the state of Nevada, and in most states, there are two entities a planner should concern themselves with: the Utility, who makes the power, and the Public Utility Commission, who say how the power can be made through regulations. In many states, these two entities frequently collaborate, though there is the potential for disagreement between them. One may also be concerned with fellow members of a city government, but it is likely that if one is considering a resiliency plan that they would already fall into the supportive category. A city can do some things on their own, such as install solar installations or establish a utility, but most of these plans would be made far easier with the support of other groups.
A. Supportive Entities
The best course of action as of this moment for the CoR, and for other areas whose states firmly believe in growing renewable energy, weighing the various pros and cons, would be to invest more in and lobby more for community solar gardens so that lower income people can benefit from renewables and Reno can install solar energy in areas where it would be cheaper to build and maintain. Reno can also invest in energy saving and wait until NV Energy enters into an agreement with the City of Reno to provide the rest of its energy needs through RECs with the benefits of bulk solar facilities. Doing this will provide the benefits from distributed energy for Reno while also lowering NV Energy’s obligation to meet the rest of their needs, thereby reducing their construction cost and time. This suggestion follows for any other local government situated in a region whose government or power company is not only capable of assisting, but has already implemented the infrastructure to create these changes, whether through financial incentives or through more traditional Commandand- Control styled regulations.
B. Antagonistic Entities
Some local governments will be in areas where the utility has a very low amount of renewable penetration, or in states where the government is openly hostile towards renewable energy. This will happen in areas such as West Virginia or Louisiana, who have high economic dependence on fossil fuels. For a municipality in these areas, options may be more limited, or they will have to do more of their own work than other states. The best options for these groups are to find the most cost effective solutions. Many states have more financial incentives for energy savings, so it will be in the best interest of a local government to focus on those. Exiting may be a more valid strategy in these antagonistic areas if a municipality can find a smaller producer who could nonetheless meet their own energy needs, or become that entity if the state’s PUC will allow it. This would undoubtedly be a more costly measure in the short term, but the long term extern. Also, these local governments should group with other local governments, such as the U.S. Climate Alliance. This way, they can buy equipment or power generators at bulk prices that benefit from economies of scale, thereby reducing the capital requirements to meet a given goal.
C. Mixed or Neutral Entities
There are certain places where one group may be supportive of increasing renewable penetration, but another may not. This can be in areas with a strong utility monopoly that has many coal fired power plants, but is in a highly liberal state, like Maryland, or in a conservative state that nonetheless may have a high amount of renewable resources, like Texas. When a utility is unhelpful, but a state government is cooperative, going off the grid will be a far more valid strategy, as a municipality can gain loans to reduce the cost of making their own power, or can find greater support for establishing CSGs with the government. In states that have supportive utilities but unfriendly state governments, investing in RECs with those entities will be easier for a local government. Utilities will be able to provide reduced prices than what the local government could gain if they were to make the energy themselves. They may not have access to other policies such as meter aggregation or CSGs, but would have access to reduced rates for energy efficiency, and may be able to provide special agreements if negotiated well. Overall, the best policy suggestion regardless of the attitudes of surrounding institutions would be to work with other local governments to achieve these goals, and to reference for various ways local governments have achieved renewable energy growth when faced with a neutral, if not openly antagonistic, federal government . Adopting the measures in can also help make a city more sustainable, but may require some adjustments for local climate to account for what sources may work better, what amount of energy can be saved, etc . Even if larger entities are supportive of this change, these will make the transition easier and help to build connections to make other kinds of change easier going forward.
6 Impacts
The impacts of the CoR’s plan from an environmental impact are clear. Using less power and sourcing more from renewable methods of generation means fewer greenhouse gases. Any strategy that employs decentralized power, such as CSG net metering, would have several advantages. One impact would occur inevitably as Nevada uses more solar power, the most economical source of renewable generation for the state, because solar energy is an intermittent source. This means it cannot generate power when needed, so power must either be used or stored instantly. This creates a phenomenon known as the “Duck Curve” wherein the daily demand on the power grid is bent by solar energy, making a steep increase at the end of the day, which means non-intermittent sources such as natural gas must ramp up to meet demand. This is undeniably a disadvantage of solar energyThis can be addressed through on site energy storage, or through better management of energy . Renewable energy would greatly benefit the CoR, both the government itself and those within its jurisdiction. It would improve air quality, grid stability, and help ensure those in the future would be able to live in a better world.’
7 Conclusion
The CoR as of this moment is doing well to meet its renewable energy goals. It has reduced its carbon footprint by using PPAs, net metering, and various energy saving initiatives. As of this moment, though the author lacks direct accounting, it is safe to say the city will meet the initial goal of being powered at 50 percent by renewable energy resources by the end of the year. This is commendable and should be congratulated. However, it is clear that in order to meet its desired goal of being 100 percent renewable within the next five years as planned, it will have to take numerous additional measures. Further research will delve into methods for the CoR to increase the reliability and stability of the renewable holdings it has. It will also research the Resilient Information Architecture Platform for the Smart Grid, or RIAPS for short, which is an open source software and hardware system that allows groups to utilize smaller devices on-site that can help to distribute resources quickly and efficiently. If it takes the measures in this paper, being aware of the pros and cons, it should be possible.
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Biogas 101: Back to Basics, a 2017 webinar from Sustainable City Network, is a free, downloadable, 1-hour program to learn the basics of the biogas conditioning process. The download includes the presentation slides (PDF) and video recording (MP4).
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Energy Efficiency and the Clean Power Plan: Steps to Success and Best Practices in Developing State Lead-by-Example Programs and Considerations for Clean Power Plan Compliance, two 2016 white papers by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, guide states as they embark upon the path to meeting Clean Power Plan emission reduction targets. Even with the Supreme Court stay, energy efficiency is a tool for creating jobs and keeping electricity affordable, and a strategy for reducing pollution.
Energy Efficiency in Separate Tenant Spaces - A Feasibility Study, a 2016 report by the US Department of Energy, finds significant potential to improve energy efficiency during the design and construction of tenant spaces and describes several possible steps to encourage owners and tenants to improve the efficiency of those spaces.
The Greatest Energy Story You Haven't Heard: How Investing in Energy Efficiency Changed the US Power Sector and Gave Us a Tool to Tackle Climate Change, a 2016 report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), quantitatively discusses the importance of energy efficiency in the US power sector.
Energy Efficiency and the Clean Power Plan: Steps to Success and Best Practices in Developing State Lead-by-Example Programs and Considerations for Clean Power Plan Compliance, two 2016 white papers from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), provide a "how-to" guide for states as they embark upon the path to meeting Clean Power Plan emission reduction targets. Even with the Supreme Court stay, energy efficiency is a tool for creating jobs and keeping electricity affordable, as well as a strategy for reducing pollution.
The 2015 State Energy Scorecard, a report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), shows Wisconsin ranked 22nd in energy efficiency. With a score of 18 out of 50, criteria included items like financial incentives, public building requirements, fleets, performance contracting, and research and development. Massachusetts ranked first scoring 44, followed by California scoring 43.5. Illinois and Minnesota both ranked 10th. Iowa ranked 12th and Michigan 14th. Wisconsin's rank fell from 17th in 2014.
Clean Energy Champions, a 2015 report by CleanEnergy States Alliance, shows the importance of state programs and policies. States have pursued many paths to the robust clean energy expansion underway today. The report provides a comprehensive review of all the significant ways in which states have advanced clean energy in the last 15 years with 31 case studies. The study finds four lessons for state effectiveness in advancing clean energy: innovation, consumer protection, distributed generation policies, and broad-based, nonpartisan, or bi-partisan involvement by both parties.
New Horizons for Energy Efficiency, a 2015 report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), found that 22 percent of the total projected electricity use in the year 2030 could be saved by the use of certain energy efficient practices.
Energy Efficiency in Water and Wastewater Facilities, a 2013 guide released by the EPA as part of the Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series, describes how water and wastewater facilities can achieve multiple benefits by improving energy efficiency of their buildings and day-to-day operations. It includes steps and considerations for developing and implementing these improvements to energy efficiency.
Saving Water and Energy through Clothes Washer Replacement in the Great Lakes Region, a 2013 white paper by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), profiles various opportunities for energy and water savings in the residential and commercial sectors.
Army Net Zero: Energy Roadmap and Project Summary, a 2013 report by the US Army partnered with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), assesses opportunities to increase energy security through improved energy efficiency and optimized renewable energy strategies at nine of its installations. The Army tasked NREL to help develop roadmaps and recommend energy projects to meet the Army's Net Zero goals. This report provides summary information, sample projects, and examples.
Beyond the Tip of the Energy Iceberg: Why Retrofits Create More Value Than You Think, an 2013 article by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), discusses the value beyond energy cost savings (VBECs) of deep energy efficient retrofits, including saved energy costs, health and productivity benefits, reputation and leadership, and risk reduction. RMI developed a retrofit value model for assessing VBECs and shows how value knowledge will expand energy investment.
The 2013 City Energy Efficiency Scorecard, a report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), ranks 34 of the most populous U.S. cities on policies to advance energy efficiency. The report includes recommendations and strategies for all cities to lower energy use. The report ranks cities exclusively on energy efficiency efforts. Cities are evaluated on what actions they are taking to reduce energy use in five key areas: buildings; transportation; energy and water utility efforts; local government operations; and community-wide initiatives.
Bright Future Seen for LED Streetlights, a 2012 article from Sustainable City Network, describes several factors to ask about in purchasing LED streetlights to ensure maximum performance and ultimate payback.
Keeping it in the Community: Sustainable Funding for Local Energy Initiatives, a 2012 report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), outlines local funding options for community energy efficiency projects including utility partnerships, energy or carbon taxes, systems benefit funds, bonds, and revolving loan funds. Case studies of city programs using each funding strategy are presented.
Energy Efficiency in K-12 Schools, a 2011 report by EPA, discusses how energy costs are second only to personnel costs as the leading draw on K-12 school district operating budgets. The report describes how to achieve energy savings and is designed for school district energy program managers, school districts and school boards, local government agencies, and mayors and city councils. The report is part of the Local Government Strategy Series.
The 2011 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, a report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), is a comprehensive ranking of the states based on leadership in energy efficiency policy, energy program implementation, and best practices to advance energy efficiency in residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation sectors.
The Flip Your Fridge Calculator, a tool from ENERGY STAR, shows how much your old (10 years and older) refrigerator or freezer costs to operate and how much you can save by flipping it to ENERGY STAR. Carbon pollution savings are shown as well.
EnergyBoom, a website, helps consumers identify the most energy efficient products from laptops and waterheaters to LED lights, cars, and trucks. They use data and analysis from independent and government sources and report the basis for each listing.
The purpose of the policy tool for new buildings, an interactive tool by the Global Building Performance Network (GBPN), shows how 25 of the “world’s best” energy codes (loosely defined) compare across 12 metrics, including their holistic approach to addressing all energy loads in a building, the technical revision process, the establishment of future EE targets, enforcement standards, and integration with other related policy packages. The tool is designed to help identify the combination of elements to move the building stock in a particular region towards zero energy.
The Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), a tool from the Green Electronics Council, uses the standard from a global rating system for greener computers and other imaging equipment. The EPEAT system combines strict, comprehensive criteria for design, production, energy use, and recycling with ongoing independent verification of manufacturer claims. EPEAT can be specified as a requirement in purchasing proposals. Model contract language is provided on the website for PCs/displays, imaging equipment, and televisions. Anyone can look up products and see the level of certification different brands and models have achieved.
Municipal Energy Planning: An Energy Efficiency Workbook, a step-by-step guide prepared by University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension faculty serving on statewide Energy Conservation and Sustainability Teams, provides information for developing an energy efficiency (or energy conservation) plan for municipal governments. This guide seeks to address an educational need of elected officials and municipal staff to improve the energy efficiency of their facilities and operations.
Smart Location Database version 2.0, published by EPA's Smart Growth Program, is a consistent nationwide GIS data resource for measuring location efficiency. The Smart Location Database may be appropriate for use in local and regional planning studies when local data is unavailable. The database includes over 90 variables characterizing the built environment, transit service, destination accessibility, employment, and demographics at the census block group scale. Users can download data for their selected region, view data online in an interactive map, or access data through a variety of web services.
SmarterHouse, a website by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and Enervee, helps consumers find quality products that reduce their energy bills. Consumers can visit the website to find energy-saving tips and buying guidance for purchasing new products like refrigerators and TVs, rated by the 0 - 100 Enervee Score. Shoppers can visit Enervee's portal to find product information, pricing, and incentives offered by their utility.
EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager allows users to track and assess energy and water consumption across a portfolio of buildings by entering energy consumption and cost data into a Portfolio Manager account. Users can benchmark building energy performance, assess energy management goals, and identify strategic opportunities for energy savings.
ENERGY STAR's Most Efficient 2019 List recognizes the most efficient products among those that qualify for the ENERGY STAR label.
2018 Energy Star Top Cities, an annual list from EPA, shows which metro areas were home to the most ENERGY STAR certified buildings in the previous year. These regions continue to make impressive strides in cutting American energy bills and pollution through energy efficiency. More than 32,000 buildings have earned EPA's ENERGY STAR since 1999!
The 10 Tactics of Successful Energy Managers, a 2015 eBook by EnergyCAP, Inc. 2015 shows how the value of energy information is on the rise, how energy performance mandates, both public and private, are proliferating, and how energy management tools are becoming more powerful and complex. This concise eBook provides useful information in a clear, simple, stepwise format to assist energy managers in effectively and efficiently tracking and managing their organization's energy use and communicating energy savings and performance internally and externally.
Focus on Energy operates out of the Office of Energy Innovation and functions as a public benefits program, funded through utility partners. Focus on Energy's programs address businesses, industry, residents, local governments, and schools in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
RENEW Wisconsin (RENEW), an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, advances state renewable energy policies through advocacy, education, and collaborative initiatives.
The Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI) researches electricity systems, transportation and fuels, and sustainability and society, focusing on the transition to new, clean energy systems and solutions . WEI fosters interdisciplinary projects, educates and prepares the energy leaders of today and tomorrow, and enhances public understanding of energy issues.
Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) assesses climate change impacts on natural resources, ecosystems, and regions and evaluates potential effects on industry, agriculture, and tourism. WICCI develops strategies that can be implemented by businesses, farmers, public health officials, municipalities, resource managers, and other stakeholders.
Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP), through the Profitable Sustainability Initiative (PSI), works with state manufacturers to identify and implement projects targeting energy and environmental improvements including energy upgrade audits. PSI Services involve three phases—diagnostic, assessment, and implementation—focused on realizing the highest ROI that can be achieved through profitable sustainability solutions.
The Wisconsin Office of Energy Innovation (OEI) promotes innovative and effective energy policies and programs for the benefit of Wisconsin's citizens and businesses.
The Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs provides federally recognized Indian tribes, including Alaska Native villages, tribal energy resource development organizations, and other organized tribal groups and communities with technical assistance at no cost to advance tribal energy projects. Technicians provide support to assist Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages with energy planning, housing and building energy efficiency, project development, policy and regulation, resilience, and village power.
The Solar Technical Assistance Team (STAT) Network gathers NREL solar technology and deployment experts to provide unbiased information on solar policies and issues for state and local government decision makers. The STAT Network is a project of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office that is implemented in partnership with NREL. The Energy Efficiency Technical Assistance Team assists policymakers and regulators in making informed decisions about energy efficiency programs and policies. Requests for technical assistance must be submitted by state officials, including state legislative or regulatory bodies and their staff members.
The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that promotes renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration. MREA education ranges from the technical, like trainings and certifications for solar and wind installation, to the broad via its annual Energy Fair for the public.
Slipstream, a combination of former organizations Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation (WECC) and Seventhwave, partners with utilities, local and state governments, regulatory agencies, and other organizations to create, test, deliver and scale the next generation of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.
Windustry, a non-profit partnered with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), provides information and tools for evaluating easement contracts, landowner options, and economic impacts of wind energy to rural landowners, elected officials, utility representatives, and community planners.
The Madison Sustainability Plan: Fostering Environmental, Economic and Social Resilience, a 2011 plan written by the Sustainable Madison Committee (SMC) for the City of Madison in Dane County, outlines the vision for becoming sustainable as well as goals in ten categories: Natural Systems; Planning and Design; Transportation; Energy and Climate; Economic Development; Employment and Workforce Development; Education, Arts, and Community; Affordability and Social Equity; Children, Health, and Safety; and Arts, Design, and Culture.
Chapter PSC 119: Rules for Interconnecting Distributed Generation Facilities, a 2017 Chapter from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, outlines rules for distributed generation in Wisconsin.
Assembly Bill 34, a bill from the 2013-14 legislature, would allow the use of nuclear energy to comply with renewable portfolio standards.
Senate Bill 47, a bill from the 2013-14 legislature, would freeze renewable energy standards at 2010 levels for Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Electric Rate Restructuring Webinar: What are the Costs?, a 2014 webinar from UW-Extension, discusses the proposed electric rate structure changes, the issues underlying them, possible alternative approaches, and their potential impacts on energy efficiency, renewable energy and your bottom line. Several Wisconsin electric utilities propose fundamental changes in their pricing to prepare for what they see as an increasingly competitive marketplace, one in which more customers will generate at least some of their own power from renewable sources like solar and biogas. These changes would noticeably increase bills for customers who use less than average amounts of power and substantially lower bills for high users. The pricing changes would make renewable resources less attractive financially and would significantly reduce the incentive for customers to use energy more efficiently. Also, some utilities are proposing rule changes that would further restrict the ability of customers to install renewable energy generation. The utilities argue that their proposed changes would not only allow them to recover their system costs with greater certainty, but would also more fairly allocate those costs among their customers. Learn from a distinguished panel of experts on both sides of the debate.
Net Metering in Missouri, a 2018 report from RENEW Missouri, details net metering’s potential impact on energy affordability and reliability for stakeholders. Net metering is a billing mechanism that allows solar energy system owners to earn credits for the electricity they add to the grid. Findings: Net metering contains ongoing benefits while the main costs to ratepayers are either one-time administrative fees or transfer fees from cross-subsidization effects.
Standards and Requirements for Solar Equipment, Installation, and Licensing and Certification: A Guide for States and Municipalities, a 2017 guide from the CleanEnergy States Alliance, provides information on standards and requirements for solar equipment, installation, and licensing and certification. The guide is designed for state and municipal officials who are developing or revising solar standards and requirements.
A Handbook for States: Incorporating Renewable Energy Into State Compliance Plans for EPA’s Clean Power Plan, a 2015 publication from the American Wind Energy Association and the Solar Energy Industries Association, details how states can incorporate renewable energy into their plans to comply with the EPA’s Clean Power Plan. Renewable energy can provide large emissions reductions in a cost-effective manner when part of a balanced energy portfolio and can provide positive economic returns to a state. This handbook contains detailed information on the impacts of renewable energy policies and programs, calculating carbon reductions from renewable energy, and drafting compliance plans incorporating renewable energy.
Solar Power Purchase Agreements: a Toolkit for Local Governments, a 2015 toolkit from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), can help local governments overcome the common challenges and costs associated with solar power purchase agreements (PPAs). The toolkit is intended to provide the information local governments need to accomplish their solar procurement goals. It contains a variety of resources including general guidance on Request for Proposal (RFP), previously published reports, fact sheets, model PPAs, prior webinars, example RFPs, and executed PPAs.
Deploying Distributed Energy Storage: Near-Term Regulatory Considerations to Maximize Benefits, a 2015 report from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), identifies near-term regulatory policy considerations to help regulators and to facilitate growth in distributed energy storage. The report reviews current state policies and examines: Updating interconnection standards, clarifying eligibility rules for Net Energy Metering programs, creating markets for ancillary services and demand response, designing rate structures that send economic signals to energy storage customers, and implementing a broader scope for distribution system planning and management.
Nevada Net Energy Metering Impacts Evaluation, a 2014 study from Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc. for the Nevada Public Utilities Commission, investigates the value of distributed solar to the state's utilities. Findings for 2014 and 2015 are that, under the current rate structure, rooftop solar reduces costs for all. It is a net benefit to the utility companies and to all Nevada ratepayers - even customers without solar.
Evaluation of Net Metering in Vermont, a 2014-revised report for the Vermont Public Service Department, analyzes the cross-subsidization effects of net metering on Vermont’s ratepayers. Cross-subsidization exists when customers using net metering systems do not pay for utility fixed cost and those costs are shifted onto other retail electricity customers. The report found that net-metered systems do not impose a significant net cost to ratepayers who are not net metering participants.
Does Disruptive Competition Mean a Death Spiral for Electric Utilities?, a 2014 article in Energy Law Journal, examines the disruptive competition facing electric utilities from significant increases in on-site solar generation, as well as new public policies and business practices. The authors detail evidence driving adaptation, identify the special vulnerabilities of utilities as regulated monopolies, and consider how utilities might effectively adapt to emerging conditions.
Third-Party Distributed Generation: Issues and Challenges for Policymakers, a 2014 report from the Energy Center of Wisconsin (now Slipstream), addresses the impact that third-party distributed generation has on utilities and the associated rate design implications. With solar PV system installations increasing and third-party distributed generation contributing to the trend, utilities have acted to reduce the short-term financial impact by requesting approval of increased monthly fixed fees for customers. This report focuses on the market trends in distributed generation, policy actions of different states, and details the current utility cost.
Guide to Successful Implementation of State Combined Heat and Power Policies, a 2013 report from the State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network, provides state utility regulators and other state policymakers with actionable information to assist them in implementing key state policies that impact combined heat and power.
The Potential Impact of Solar PV on Electricity Markets in Texas, a 2012 study conducted by the Brattle Group, evaluates the potential effects of adding solar photovoltaic (PV) generation in the Texas wholesale energy market. Using a hypothetical situation, the study finds that total electricity production costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy prices for electric customers were reduced. During summer months, when energy prices are highest, the short-term benefits of increased solar PV production approach or exceed the likely cost of incremental solar PV generation.
Solar Power Generation in the US: Too Expensive or a Bargain?, a 2011 report, identifies the combined value that solar electric power plants deliver to utility ratepayers and society’s taxpayers. Using New York as a case study, the report found that, overall, solar electric installations deliver between 15 to 40 cents per kWh to ratepayers and taxpayers. The report identified benefits from solar electric power plants, which include environmental, fuel price mitigation, outage risk protection, and long-term economic growth components.
Toward a Sustainable Community: A Toolkit for Local Government, a toolkit from UW-Extension, provides ideas and descriptions of specific actions that a local government can take to transform itself into a model of sustainable practices. These are practices that can result in cost savings and increased employment, as well as enhance environmental quality and community well-being. The message of this toolkit is simple: Local governments can lead by example.
America’s Power Plan, a website that compiles collaborations from more than 100 of the nation’s top energy experts, can help policymakers at the state and local levels address the challenges of improving energy regulatory policies as renewable energy use continues to rise. The website details recommendations for improving policies in key areas: power markets, utility business models, finance poly, distributed energy resources, distributed generation policy, transmission policy, and siting of new power infrastructure.
Case Study: Three Successful PACE Models Collaborate to Provide Best Practices for an Emerging PACE Program, a 2013 webinar from Applied Solutions, leverages the expertise of local government staff to support the design, development, and implementation of energy, water, and transportation public projects. Properly Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Programs from California, Maine, and Florida were highlighted.
The Wisconsin Jobs Project: A Guide to Creating Jobs in Sensors & Controls for Advanced Energy, a 2018 report from the Wisconsin Energy Institute, Midwest Energy Research Consortium, and American Jobs Project, shows that Wisconsin’s sensors and control industry could potentially support an annual average of 44,000 jobs through 2030. Sensors and controls allow systems to respond to changing conditions (weather, changes in input, changes in demand). Wisconsin is poised to tap into the $287 billion global advanced energy systems market due to its strong existing sensor and controls industry, university research expertise, and potential demand for biodigester technology by agricultural businesses. The report outlines a range of policy recommendations that could encourage the development of this growing industry.
The Economics of Electrifying Buildings: How Electric Space and Water Heating Supports Decarbonisation of Residential Buildings, a 2018 report from the Rocky Mountain Institute, analyzes the economics and carbon impacts of electrifying residential space and water heating both with and without demand flexibility—the ability to shift energy consumption in time to support grid needs. The study compared the life-cycle costs of cold climate air source heat pumps (ASHPs) with conventional heating with and without air conditioners under various electric rate structures in Oakland, Houston, Providence, and Chicago.
Wisconsin State Profile and Energy Estimates, an updated in 2018 resource from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, focuses on energy industry statistics for the state of Wisconsin and compares these to other states.
2018 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook, a 2018 publication by the Business Council for Sustainable Energy in partnership with Bloomberg New Energy Finance, provides new industry information and trends for the U.S. energy economy, with an in-depth look at energy efficiency, natural gas, and renewable energy sectors as well as emerging areas such as battery storage and sustainable transportation.
Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2017, a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency, presents key findings related to the continued decline in the cost of renewable power generation globally in 2017. Topics include cost reduction drivers for renewable power, power generation industry trends, and the outlook for renewable energy costs.
2017 U.S. Energy and Employment Report, the second annual employment analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy, finds that the Traditional Energy and Energy Efficiency sectors today employ approximately 6.4 million Americans. These sectors increased in 2016 by just under 5 percent, adding over 300,000 net new jobs, roughly 14 percent of all those created in the country.
The National Solar Jobs Census, an annual report, last published for 2017, by the Solar Foundation, reviews current employment and projected growth in the United States solar industry. The reports includes factors likely to impact the solar industry, as well as information on research and development, production, sale, installation, and use of all solar technologies.
Bringing the Benefits of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to Low-Income Communities, a 2016 resource from the Environmental Protection Agency, offers informational resources to help state and local energy, environmental, housing, social services agencies, non-profits, and utilities understand successful models that they can use to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by bringing energy efficiency and renewable energy to low-income communities.
The Hidden Costs of Fossil Fuels, a last revised in 2016 resource from the Union of Concerned Scientists, examines the hidden health and environmental costs, or externalities, resulting from the extraction, transportation, and consumption of fossil fuels. Externalities including global warming, air pollution, water use, and fossil fuel waste are presented and explained alongside real world examples and the latest research.
Integrating Community Values into the Full Cost of Electricity, a 2016 white paper by the Energy Institute of the University of Texas, examines movement toward community or values-based energy systems and asks if these values should be considered as one of the inputs into a model for the cost of electric service. Traditional cost modeling assumes individuals and communities will choose the lowest cost source for electricity; however, the marketplace is increasingly showing otherwise. The study looks at community energy systems including: District energy utilities, community-owned renewable generation, community approved use of eminent domain, and community choice aggregation. This paper is part of a series of white papers on the full cost of electricity.
Strategic Roadmap on the Energy Water Nexus, a 2015 report from the Midwest Energy Research Consortium (M-WERC) and The Water Council (TWC), projects that the EWN market will grow dramatically from the current $240 billion to nearly $500 billion by 2025. The EWN roadmapping report significantly expands the baseline EWN opportunity set to include many large water and energy embedded consuming applications in agriculture, industry, buildings, and residences outside of the traditional water and energy cycles. The report also defines and classifies six market segments and numerous products that make up the industry, focusing on the most potentially impactful EWN applications. Market projections, by market segment, from both top-down and bottom-up projections are contained in the report.
Empowered: A Tale of Three Cities Taking Charge of Their Energy Future, a 2015 book by Midwest Energy News and author Bentham Paulos, examines the current clash between regulated utilities and cities and their citizens over clean energy sources, energy pricing, and market choice in Boulder, CO, Minneapolis, MN, and Madison, WI.
Spatial patterns of solar photvoltaic system adoption: The influence of neighbors and the built environment, a 2014 article in the Journal of Economic Geography, examines the main drivers influencing the spread of residential solar photovoltaic (PV) system adoption. The analysis may be useful to marketers and policymakers interested in promoting PV systems.
Revolution Now: The Future Arrives for Four Clean Energy Technologies, a 2013 report from the U.S. Department of Energy, focuses on four technology revolutions that are here today: Onshore wind power, polysilicon photovoltaic modules, LED lighting, and electric vehicles. Since 2008 they have achieved dramatic reductions in cost accompanied by a surge in consumer, industrial, and commercial deployment. This analysis explains both the magnitude of and mechanisms behind these nascent revolutions. Each of the sectors examined has also become a major opportunity for America’s clean energy economy.
City Power Play - 8 Practical Local Energy Policies to Boost the Economy, a 2013 report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, shows local government officials how to boost their local economies with clean energy policies that address key economic and environmental problems. A case study is provided for each policy.
The Solarize Guidebook: A community guide to collective purchasing of residential PV systems, a 2012 guidebook by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the City of Portland, provides a roadmap for project planners and solar advocates who want to create their own successful Solarize campaigns. It describes the key elements of the Solarize Portland campaigns and variations from projects across the country, along with lessons learned and planning templates. The guidebook is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, a collaborative national initiative to make solar energy cost competitive with other forms of energy by the end of the decade.
Keeping it in the Community: Sustainable Funding for Local Energy Initiatives, a 2012 report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, outlines local funding options for community energy efficiency projects including utility partnerships, energy or carbon taxes, systems benefit funds, bonds, and revolving loan funds. Case studies of city programs using each funding strategy are presented.
Solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), a 2012 factsheet from the Solar Energy Industries Association, describes what a PPA is, how they benefit consumers, and key points interested consumers should consider before entering into a PPA.
Full Cost Accounting for the Life Cycle of Coal, a 2011 paper published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, presents a life cycle study that analyzes the full range of monetized, external ecological and public health costs resulting from using coal for electricity generation. The authors "estimate that the life cycle effects of coal and the waste stream generated are costing the U.S. public a third to over one-half of a trillion dollars annually ... Accounting for the many external costs over the life cycle for coal-derived electricity conservatively doubles to triples the price of coal per kWh of electricity generated" [beyond the prices we pay for electricity]. Amounts and costs of each of the health, social, employment, and environmental impacts are provided.
Solar PV Project Financing: Regulatory and Legislative Challenges for Third-Party PPA System Owners, a 2010 study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, details five challenges that Third-Party PPA system owners are facing: (1) definition of electric utility as seller of electricity; (2) power generation equipment included in definition of electric utility; (3) defintion of provider of electric services; (4) municipal utilities' and rural cooperatives' concerns over opting into deregulation of electricity generation, and; (5) determining whether third-party owned systems may net meter.
Got Moola, a last updated in 2015 resource from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection Division of Agribusiness compiled for small agricultural businesses in Wisconsin, provides links to banks, technical assistance, funding opportunities, and many programs and organizations to help grow their businesses.
Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE), a tool from the U.S. Department of Energy, provides state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Farm Energy, a website sponsored by the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC), provides information on the Federal Farm Bill, including summaries of new energy programs, REAP application assistance, and energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities that benefit farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide Public Benefits Program, works with residents and businesses to install cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The website provides information, resources, and financial incentives to implement energy projects.
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), a website from PACENation, offers details about a local government initiative in which private capital funding allows property owners to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for residential and commercial buildings. With PACE financing, interested owners repay the cost of energy improvements through an assessment on their property taxes for up to 20 years.
The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), a website from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, offers cost-share grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency improvement or renewable energy development projects.
2018 Getting to Zero Status Update and Zero Energy Buildings List, a report from New Buildings Institute, summarizes the growth and trends from nearly 500 certified, verified, and emerging zero energy projects across the U.S. and Canada. The 2018 list reflects a 700 percent increase in six years from 2012. Wisconsin has five projects: Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, Baraboo (2007), Appleton General Aviation Terminal (2013), Green Leaf Inn in Delavan (2013), UW Arlington Ag Research Station, and Gundersen Health Systems, LaCrosse (2013).
Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) Market Analysis By Equipment (Lighting, Walls & Roofs, HVAC Systems), By Services, By Type, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025, a 2017 report from Grand View Research, indicates that in 2016, the U.S. accounted for the largest market share of the net-zero energy building industry, where onsite renewable sources generate 100% of a building's energy needs. The report analyzes net-zero energy building market trends and projects that the market will reach over $78 billion globally by 2025. Opportunities and barriers involved in achieving net-zero energy targets and the role that green buildings can play in business improvement efforts are discussed as well.
Case Study: Parking Ramp Solar Array in Healthcare, a 2015 report from the U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings Alliance, describes Gundersen Health System's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certified parking structure with solar PV panels that offset 100 percent of its energy needs.
Green Building Economic Impact Study, a 2015 report prepared for the U.S. Green Building Council, quantifies the economic impact of green construction and of Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) green building on the national and state economies. Findings include that green construction will be responsible for 1.1 million jobs and contribute $29.8 billion to the GDP by 2018, with LEED responsible for 386,000 jobs. See infographic for report summary.
The Cost of LEED v4, an updated report by BuildingGreen, answers questions by owners and design teams about the affordability of LEED certification and the costs associated with each sustainable design strategy on a LEED for a new construction project. The report details which credits are likely to produce cost savings, cost synergies for bundling credits, and other strategic information.
A Citizen’s Guide to LEED for Neighborhood Development is a hands-on introduction developed for local environmental groups, smart growth organizations, neighborhood residents and those interested in making their communities greener.
Energy Savings Plus Health: Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for Multifamily Building Upgrades, is an EPA publication to help ensure that energy upgrades to multifamily buildings don't come at the expense of healthy indoor air. Organized around a set of 24 priority issues addressing key pollutants, sources and building systems, the guidelines outline specific assessment protocols for 16 different types of energy or other building upgrades. EPA also developed a "Checklist Generator" tool that lets a user zero in on just the guidelines relevant to the project being undertaken, including a verification checklist to help track progress of recommended actions.
Green Buildings for Cool Cities: A Guide for Advancing Local Green Building Policies by the US Green Building Council and Sierra Club, provides cost effective steps and avenues local governments can take to reduce energy use and green gas emissions of buildings. Buildings are important to target given that they use 70 percent of US electricity and are responsible for 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. This guide includes examples of municipalities engaged in each of the programs highlighted. First published January 2011, Green Buildings for Cool Cities will be updated in 2016.
Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments by US EPA, this 2010 resources guides local officials through assessing their codes and ordinances in relation to green building. This can help officials remove any barriers to sustainable design.
Roadmap to Green Government Buildings, from the US Green Building Council, is a guide for government professionals implementing green building programs and initiatives. It highlights key issues and references resources created by government green building experts.
Wisconsin LEED Certified Buildings, is a searchable database of LEED certified commercial projects in the state, compiled by UW-Extension. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building rating system of the US Green Building Council. As of February 2016, Wisconsin has more than 600 LEED certified and registered projects with most of the buildings in the Quad counties that include Milwaukee, followed by the southern then eastern districts (includes Green Bay and Fox Valley). LEED Gold certification is earned by 109 buildings with 23 at the platinum level. The data base can be searched by building type certification category, firms, municipality, and county.
Wisconsin LEED Certified Buildings, maintained by UW-Extension Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center, is a GIS searchable database of the more than 200 LEED certified projects in Wisconsin and the firms that designed and built them.
Zero Net Energy Policies and Projects, maintained by UW-Extension Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center, is a database of the policies, projects, and research in the U.S. and beyond that are moving zero net energy into goals and the marketplace.
The Capacity Center, a web resource of UW-Extension’s Sustainability Team, provides resources for local governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals interested in sustainable community development. Resources focus on economic development, planning and land use, energy and climate change, agriculture and natural resources, consumer choices, and community stories.
The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is an esteemed certification in the solar industry. The NABCEP locator map lists NABCEP certified solar professionals throughout North America with a search engine by state and certification category. Wisconsin has 41 NABCEP professionals: PV Installer (35), PV Technical Sales (4), Solar Heating Installer (2).
This book by Vaclav Smil explores how human innovations in energy have driven economic and cultural progress over the past 10,000 years. He traces the ways that society exploited energy in order to move forward and describes how energy innovations enabled major societal and technological advancements.
Farm Energy provides expertise on topics such as anaerobic digestion, biofuel, biomass and energy efficiency and renewable energy for rural applications.
Home Energy features information on energy efficiency for both existing and new homes and on renewable energy systems.
Wood Energy presents information on wood as renewable energy with wood sources, technologies, benefits, concerns, policies and incentives and provides case studies and success stories of wood energy applications.
The UW-Extension Environmental Resources Center provides education, information and technical assistance to promote sustainable use of natural resources in program areas such as energy and climate, green building, access to plentiful, sustainably managed sources of food, water and energy.
“Firesouls on Chequamegon Bay,” a Cooperative Extension video, traces the development of a regional community sustainability movement in the Chequamegon Bay area. The region boasts 5 Eco-municipalities, the successful Alliance for Sustainability and a wide variety of green initiatives including Energy Independent Community. The story highlights how UW Extension educators have been engaged in the initiative, as encouragement for others trying to implement sustainable community initiatives in their hometowns.
Star Community Rating System Planning Guide provides guidance on how to use STAR to integrate sustainability into comprehensive, strategic, and sustainability plans.
“Sustainable Marshfield,” a Cooperative Extension video, is a narrative of Marshfield's journey toward sustainability. This city of 20,000 in Central Wisconsin is taking action to improve quality of life, work toward energy independence and make the city a place that embraces the future.
Wisconsin Land Use Megatrends: Energy gives an overview of energy production and consumption trends in Wisconsin over the past 30+ years and discusses the potential and land use impacts of different future energy scenarios.
Renewable Energy: A Gender Perspective, a 2019 report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), analyzes extensive survey data they collected on gender equality in the renewable energy industry to ensure equitable distribution for the large job growth accompanying the global energy transition to renewable, distributed energy systems. Researchers found that globally, women are largely underrepresented, though renewable energy employs more women than the energy sector overall at 32 percent compared to 22 percent. Opportunities and barriers to gender equality are explored, including the diverse skill sets needed along the renewable energy supply chain as opportunities, with perceptions of gender roles that hinder women from pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers as barriers. The researchers propose policies and solutions to advance gender equality in the renewable energy sector. A Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET) has launched along with the second women’s mentoring program beginning March 2019.
Floating PV: Assessing the Technical Potential of Photovoltaic Systems on Man-Made Water Bodies in the Continental U.S, a 2018 paper from the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), found floating PV (FPV) projects across more than 24,000 man-made US reservoirs could generate around 10% of US annual electricity production, which would reduce the land requirements for conventional ground mount PV power plants by at least 2.1 million hectares. This could be useful in the Midwest where there is conflict over solar encroaching on farmland and in areas of the US that are land-constrained.
Solar Knowledge Library, The Solar Institute at George Washington University has created a Solar Knowledge Library that provides videos about key solar energy topics, as well as links to additional resources. The videos are aimed at educating professionals who are not part of the solar industry but still play a key role in expanding solar deployment opportunities in the United States. The library project was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative's Solar Training and Education for Professionals (STEP) program. The STEP program enables solar training and education for professionals in indirect and related fields such as real estate, finance, insurance, fire and code enforcement, and state regulations, and has established new credentials in solar operations and maintenance. The Solar Knowledge Library aims to foster a workforce familiar with solar, improve inspection compliance, expedite system permitting, reduce liability and insurance costs, and increase consumer confidence.
Renewable Electricity Futures Study, This NREL, 2012 study explores the implications and challenges of very high renewable electricity generation levels—from 30% up to 90%, focusing on 80%, of all U.S. electricity generation—in 2050. It provides initial answers to important questions about the integration of high penetrations of renewable electricity technologies from a national perspective, focusing on key technical implications.
The Customers First Coalition (CFC) issue paper, Community Solar in Wisconsin: Responding to Power Customers, highlights the growth of utility-scale community solar offerings from energy providers in Wisconsin. Community solar, also known as shared solar and solar gardens, are solar powered energy plants that pool resources from multiple members of a community to provide power and/or financial benefits in return.
DSIRE - Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency by the US Department of Energy provides state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Energy & Environment Consumer Survey, conducted by the Cleantech Market Intelligence firm, found that, of over 1,000 U.S. adults, 79% have a favorable view of solar energy, and 75% have a favorable view of wind energy – in terms of overall support, these were the top two highest ranked areas in a survey that asked consumers about their views on 12 energy and environmental concepts.
SunEdison produced the Future of Solar Energy short 5 minute Youtube video, January 2015, that highlights solar power as a transformational technology globally. It documents the increasingly rapid uptake of solar photovoltaic systems due to lower, competitive cost of solar panels, more efficient technologies, and the practicality of distributed decentralized energy generation.
Green Power on the Utility Grid gives an overview of renewable energy sources for electric power generation and of policies for renewable electricity in Midwestern states.
Green Power in Wisconsin is a factsheet on the programs and policies for generating electricity with renewable energy sources in Wisconsin.
Project Profiles, compiled by RENEW Wisconsin, provides descriptions of renewable energy projects across the state, with links to resources for each project. The listing includes solar, wind and biogas projects.
Wisconsin Renewables Review of 2011 gives an overview of the progress and setbacks in 2011 to renewable energy policies and projects focused on wind energy, geothermal heat pumps, and solar energy.
Microgrid Resources Coalition (MRC) Formed in 2013, the Microgrid Resources Coalition (MRC) is a non-profit organization comprised of owners, operators, developers, suppliers and investors in the microgrid industry working together to advocate for policies and regulations that support microgrid deployment. The MRC promotes widespread implementation of microgrids through laws, regulations, and tariffs that support microgrid access to the market, compensation for services, and a level playing field for deployment and operation.
The Energy Zones Mapping Tool by Argonne National Lab is a free online mapping tool to identify potential energy resource areas suitable for power generation and energy corridors in the United States. Features include: Nine energy resources: Biomass, Coal, Geothermal, Natural Gas, Nuclear, Solar, Storage, Water, and Wind; flexible modeling of power plant and corridor siting factors such as slope and land protections; tools to generate and analyze potential corridor routes; searchable database of policies and regulations.
Solar Finance Simulator is an online tool that municipalities, universities, hospitals, and businesses can use to forecast the long-term impacts of 4 types of financial investments in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Plugging in their own values, users can simulate and compare financial projections for direct ownership, power purchase agreement (PPA), debt financing, and operating lease. Please direct any questions about the simulator tool to [email protected].
The Energy Aware Planning Guide, developed by the California Energy Commission, presents a menu of strategies and best management practices to help local governments improve energy efficiency, reduce energy consumption through transportation and land use and enhance renewable sources of energy. Each strategy section contains general plan language ideas; implementation ideas; case studies; and resources. It also contains supporting information and references to help local governments organize strategies into an Energy Action Plan and estimate the likely energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction impacts of their strategies.
Energy Self Assessment, created by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), aids farmers and others in identifying ways to reduce energy consumption or produce renewable energy for various agricultural enterprises. It provides information on equipment and methods that can reduce energy usage as well as the cost savings associated with installing equipment.
A climate and energy strategy guide for local governments, EPAs Green Power Procurement: A Guide to Developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs provides information about energy sources that generate no greenhouse gas emissions. This guide is part of EPA's Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series designed to help policy makers and program staff plan, implement, and evaluate cost-effective climate and energy projects that generate environmental, economic, social, and human health benefits.
Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals Project, a collaboration between the US DOE and NREL, provides tools and resources to support the development of an effective and highly skilled workforce in the residential energy upgrade industry. The project defines quality work through a standard work specifications tool, creates accredited training programs and advances professional certification for workers.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has launched the Infrastructure Voluntary Evaluation Sustainability Tool (INVEST), a voluntary, web-based self-evaluation tool enabling state, regional, and local transportation agencies to evaluate the sustainability of their transportation plans, projects, and programs. The tool includes three score cards: systems planning, project development, and operations and maintenance.
The PVWatts Calculator, a new version released by the NREL in September 2014, is a web application that estimates the electricity production of a grid-connected roof or ground-mounted photovoltaic system based on the system’s location, basic design parameters, and system economics. PVWatts calculates estimated values for the system’s annual and monthly electricity production, and for the monetary value of the electricity. The new version more accurately reflects PV performance outputs predicting a 7-9% greater energy output compared to the previous software.
NREL's Renewable Energy Optimization (REopt) early screening tool identifies and prioritizes renewable energy projects at a single site or across a portfolio of sites in multiple cities, states, or countries. Once the REopt analysis is complete, the tool provides a ranked list of renewable energy projects for different potential scenarios and identifies the technology sizes that meet the defined goals at minimum cost, along with the optimal deployment strategies. For more information about REopt, read the fact sheet.
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council's Shared Renewable Energy For Low- to Moderate-Income Consumers: Policy Guidelines and Model Provisions report provides information and tools for policymakers, regulators, utilities, shared renewable energy developers, program administrators, and others to support the adoption and implementation of shared renewables programs specifically designed to provide tangible benefits to low- and moderate-income individuals and households.
Clean Edge's 2016 US Clean Tech Leadership Index tracks and ranks the clean-tech activities of all 50 states and the 50 largest metro areas in the U.S. – from EV (electric vehicles) and renewables adoption to policy, green building and investment activity. The Index is a tool for regional comparative research, a source for aggregated industry data, and a jumping-off point for deep, data-driven analysis of the U.S. clean-tech market.
"Energy Strategy for the C-Suite: From Cost Center to Competitive Advantage, An Introduction to the Unified Approach to Energy Transformation", a brief by EnerNOC, PwC, and Winston Eco-Strategies provides the value proposition for businesses to manage energy strategically and a roadmap for building an energy strategy that will take business performance to a new level.
ACEEE released a report, Strategies for Integrating EVs into the Grid, that examines how utilities and other stakeholders are responding to the large growth in electric vehicles, and how their actions relate to broader environmental goals. The report focuses on five categories of utility strategies: rate design, smart charging, charging station investment and ownership, vehicle purchase incentives, and coordination with state and local efforts. To provide insight into these strategies, the report includes case studies of three utilities that have implemented multifaceted EV integration plans.
This 2017 white paper from Groundswell, a community power nonprofit, details the critical relationship between energy and economic opportunity in the United States, and the case for making renewable energy accessible to low income households, for expanding and supporting energy efficiency programs that align with community solar, and for driving consumer adoption of these programs through place-based community organizations.
This report by the International Energy Agency is prepared to assist those responsible for developing the strategies of businesses and public authorities, and to aid the development of medium term plans for electricity utilities and other providers of energy services. It provides guidance to government officials responsible for setting energy policy and preparing national energy plans and, an overview of PV power systems applications, markets and production in the reporting countries and elsewhere at the end of 2015.
Advanced Energy Now 2016 Market Report is a comprehensive assessment of advanced energy markets by revenue worldwide and in the US, the Advanced Energy Now 2016 Market Report found that the advanced energy revenue grew by 8% in 2014 globally or more than 3 times the rate of the global economy. It is a $200 billion market in the US. The report was prepared by Navigant Research for Advanced Energy Economy business Leaders.
The EPA’s Combined Heat and Power guide was also recently released by their Local Government and Climate and Energy Strategy Series. This guide describes how local governments can utilize combined heat and power to achieve more efficient uses of existing, local energy sources and provides an overview of the benefits, costs, sources of funding, and case studies.
Going Solar in America: Ranking of Solar's Value to Consumers in America's Largest Cities, a report by NC Clean Energy Technology Center with funding from US DOE’s Sunshot grant, January 2015, analyzes energy in America’s 50 largest cities showing that solar can generate both significant monthly savings and long-term investment value. In 42 of 50 cities, solar costs less for average homeowners than energy from some of America’s largest electric utilities.
2016 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) shows that "the U.S. economy has now grown by 10% since 2007, while primary energy consumption has fallen by 2.4%."
Solar Power on the Rise: The Technologies and Policies Behind a Booming Energy Sector, by the Union of Concerned Scientists, 2014, details the major drivers of the rapid adoption of solar power and explores the main types of solar available to individuals, businesses, and utilities. It outlines the technical, economic, environmental, and policy aspects of small- and large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and concentrating solar power systems. Accompanyinginfographics detail the falling rooftop solar costs and their increasing affordability.
Utility-Scale Solar 2014 by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab reveals that the price of solar energy in the US has fallen to a record low of 5 cents per kilowatt hour on average. Some key findings include: installed project cost have fallen by more than 50 percent since 2009; newspaper solar projects generate electricity more efficiently; solar power purchase agreement costs have declined by 70 percent since 2009; and utility-scale is increasingly competitive with a broader market nationwide.
Transforming the Grid from the Distribution System Out: The Potential for Dynamic Distribution Systems to Create a New Energy Marketplace, released July 2014 by the Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI), is a report in which WEI researchers propose a new dynamic distribution system that has the responsibility of tracking load fluctuations, firming intermittent renewables and providing a distribution-level marketplace.
Utility-Scale Solar, released by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in September 2014, is a report that provides data analysis of the latest large utility-scale solar projects in the United States. The report aims to identify technological trends and tracks data on installed project costs or prices, operating costs, capacity factors, and power purchase agreement prices.
Revolution Now: The Future Arrives for Four Clean Energy Technologies, 11/17/2013. This US Department of Energy report focuses on four technology revolutions that are here today: onshore wind power, polysilicon photovoltaic modules, LED lighting, and electric vehicles. Since 2008 they have achieved dramatic reductions in cost accompanied by a surge in consumer, industrial and commercial deployment. This analysis explains both the magnitude of and mechanisms behind these nascent revolutions. Each of the sectors examined has also become a major opportunity for America’s clean energy economy.
Climate Forward: A new Road Map for Wisconsin's Climate and Energy Future, released June 2014 by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, is a report that identifies five “pathways to progress” to reduce Wisconsin’s dependence on fossil fuels and support sustainable energy sources. These solutions focus on energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy, improving transportation systems, carbon storage, and developing sustainable business models. The goal of the report is to shine a light on current conditions, barriers to progress, and opportunities—if Wisconsin chooses to engage and lead in the climate arena.
Renewable Energy Parks Webinar: The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) presented a free webinar in their “Community Renewable Energy Success Stories” program. It provides information on how two cities in Washington and New York integrated multiple renewable energy technologies to create renewable energy parks in their areas.
Achieving 25x25 Goals for Energy Independent Communities are 2 reports by the Energy Center of Wisconsin prepared for the State Energy Office that analyze and aggregate the results of the Energy Independent communities’ profiles and plans of the 2009 and 2010 pilot programs.
“Creating Equitable, Healthy, and Sustainable Communities: Strategies for Advancing Smart Growth, Environmental Justice and Equitable Development” a report by EPA offers low-income, minority, tribal and overburdened communities a range of approaches to shape development that responds to their needs and reflects their values. The report provides a menu of land use and community design strategies that community-based organizations, local and regional decision-makers, developers, and others can use to revitalize their communities. Case studies highlight seven communities that have used these strategies.
"Infrastructure Financing Options for Transit-Oriented Development" a report by EPA's Smart Growth Implementation Assistance Program identifies dozens of infrastructure financing options for transit-oriented development. The report provides examples of how some communities are using specific tools for individual infrastructure components, as well as strategies for combining and bundling tools to create plans that address construction phasing and market growth over time.
“Powering the New Energy from the Ground Up,” from nonprofit organization Climate Solutions, profiles a diverse range of cities that are testing and refining local clean energy and energy efficiency strategies. The report describes city-led clean energy economic developments including financial mechanisms, pilot projects, and clean energy marketing.
“Shares of electricity generation from renewable energy sources up in many states,” a post on the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Today in Energy blog, maps the renewable share of total electricity generation by state with and without hydroelectric generation comparing the statistic in 2001 and 2011.
Wisconsin Energy Statistics, compiled by the State Energy Office, is a comprehensive source including information on energy consumption and generation, renewable energy, and energy prices and expenditures in a given year. The statistics book is available for calendar years 2006-2010.
The Union of Concerned Scientists report of May 2013 titled 'How Renewable Electricity Standards Deliver Economic Benefits' details the many economic benefits of Renewable Energy Standards known as Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards (RPS). 29 U.S. states, including Wisconsin and the District of Columbia, have each passed an RPS. The renewable energy market in the U.S. has grown significantly as a result, and the economic benefits have been far-reaching.
EPA’s On-Site Renewable Energy Generation guide describes a variety of approaches that local governments can use to advance climate and energy goals by meeting some or all of their electricity needs through on-site renewable energy generation. As a part of EPA’s Local Government and Climate and Energy Strategy Series, it this guide is designed to be used by municipal energy coordinators, local energy and environmental agency staff, environmental and energy advisors to elected officials, utility staff, and community groups.
STAR Communities: Measuring Community Resilience with the STAR Community Rating System, This guide shows how municipalities can use STAR’s framework of goals, objectives, and evaluation measures to better understand and baseline community conditions, set goals for improvement, identify best practices, and measure progress over time. It includes metrics and case studies that communities can use to measure local resilience, recognize connected community systems, and start to set a path towards becoming a more resilient and sustainable community.
The SolarResilient sizing tool for solar PV and battery storage systems estimates the required rating and physical size of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage to provide power for extended periods during a large-scale grid power outage. SolarResilient is designed for buildings that form part of a cities resilience strategy - it allows building owners and city departments to develop equipment sizing before embarking on more detailed studies. When used on a portfolio of buildings, optimum performing scenarios can be selected to provide a holistic energy security strategy for a city or county.
This 2017 case study from the City University of New York's Smart DG Hub examines the solar+storage microgrid system in the Marcus Garvey affordable housing complex in Brooklyn, New York, a neighborhood that experiences rolling blackouts more frequently than other parts of the city. The housing complex uses its solar+storage microgrid system to cut electricity costs, improve grid reliability, and provide resilient backup power for tenants during extended outages. The $1.3 million project features an anticipated 6.6 year system payback for the battery storage.
This guide about integrating solar into emergency preparedness by Utah Clean Energy provides essential information about solar + storage and how it can enhance resilience.
The City University of New York’s Smart DG Hub recently formed a Value of Resiliency (VoR) Strategy Team to recognize the value of resilience offered by solar+storage system installation. This report details the Smart DG Hub’s findings from interviews with three key industries—insurance, government, and banking.
Solar Energy Financing Guide: Empowering Wisconsin Local Governments (May 2017): A UW-Extension publication that covers financing for solar projects ranging from local and tribal governments installing solar systems on their own roofs and land, to assisting local businesses and residents with acquiring solar. It includes case studies of successful solar energy systems across the state, and outlines creative local government actions, strategies and partnerships that can lay the groundwork for financing those systems.
The Solar Energy Financing Panel, a recording from the Leading the Charge 2018 Summit in Eau Claire, WI, features the discussion about solar energy financing in Wisconsin.
California Solar Center's Guide to Solar Power Purchase Agreements explains PPAs for businesses, schools, nonprofits, and other organizations. It also provides examples of projects that have been completed using a PPA.
The Community Solar Business Case Tool provides a flexible financial model that projects the costs and benefits to the system developer and subscriber of a single community solar project. The tool development was supported by the US DOE SunShot Initiative's Solar Market Pathways program.
Fact Sheet; How to Estimate Demand Charge Savings from PV on Commercial Buildings This document from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory explains the basics of demand charges- the maximum rate at which a business consumes electricity each month, and provides a new method that a potential customer or PV developer can use to estimate a range of potential savings in demand charges from a proposed PV system.
A new database from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) provides information to utilities, developers, and analysts for assessing distribution grid integration costs associated with PV.
Solar Finance Simulator (May 2017) is an online tool by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association that municipalities, universities, hospitals, and businesses can use to forecast the long-term impacts of 4 types of financial investments in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Plugging in their own values, users can simulate and compare financial projections for direct ownership, power purchase agreement (PPA), debt financing, and operating lease. Please direct any questions about the simulator tool to [email protected].
Solarize Guidebook: A Community Guide to Collective Purchasing of Residential PV Systems, released May 2012 by the US Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, is a resource for project planners and solar advocates who want to power their neighborhoods with solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity. This solar PV volume-purchasing program is designed to lead customers through a process that highlights awareness, education, enrollment, site assessment, decision, and installation. With the guidance of solar professionals, a committee of neighborhood volunteers preselects contractors and puts out information to the community about the limited time offer along with education/information sessions to simplify and demystify the purchase process. Bulk purchasing and installation helps reduce the costs. The guidebook includes case studies, considerations, and a sample timeline to help implement the campaign.
Midwest EVOLVE, The U.S. Department of Energy in February 2017 awarded a three-year grant program, the Midwest Electric Vehicle Opportunities: Learning, eVents, Experience (EVOLVE) project. The program is a partnership between the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest and seven midwestern Clean Cities coalitions in seven states. The purpose of the project is to educate consumers, as well as public and private fleets, about the performance and environmental advantages of electric vehicles.
Reports on EV Charging, released July, 2018 by Greentech Media examine the impact electric vehicle charging infrastructure will have on grids around the world.
Straight Talk about CNG, released January 2015 by MG&E, is a video series aimed to inform businesses about performance, safety, availability, and maintenance of compressed natural gas vehicles (CNG).
Big Fuel Savings Available in New Trucks is a 2-page fact sheet from ACEE and other national organizations that models the projected fuel savings from the EPA and NHTSA fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and engines built for the 2014 to 2018 model years along with an extension beyond 2018 in order to reach 40% reductions from a 2010 baseline. By 2030, this reduction would be the equivalent of saving 1.4 million barrels of oil per day and reduce carbon pollution by 270 million metric tons.
EPA's Our Built and Natural Environments: A Technical Review of the Interactions among Land Use, Transportation, and Environmental Quality, provides evidence that certain kinds of land use and transportation strategies – where and how we build our communities – can reduce the environmental and human health impacts of development. Read the press release. Learn about the webinar.
EPA’s Smart Growth Program has released its Smart Location Database version 2.0. The database is a consistent nationwide GIS data resource for measuring location efficiency. The Smart Location Database may be appropriate for use in local and regional planning studies when local data is unavailable. The database includes over 90 variables characterizing the built environment, transit service, destination accessibility, employment, and demographics at the census block group scale. Users can download data for their selected region, view data online in an interactive map, or access data through a variety of web services.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) are releasing the 2014 Fuel Economy Guide, consumers identify and choose the most fuel efficient and low greenhouse gas emitting vehicles that meet their needs. The 2014 models include efficient and low-emission vehicles in a variety of classes and sizes, ensuring a wide variety of choices available for consumers.
2009 Wisconsin Act 40 (The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) Wind Siting Rules) directed the PSC to promulgate administrative rules that specify the restrictions a political subdivision (a city, village, town or county) may impose on the installation or use of a wind energy system, and to help ensure consistent local procedures for local regulation of wind energy systems. As of March 2011, Wind siting rules, PSC 128, are in effect.
Find It With Focus enables users to locate retailers, installers, contractors, and builders who specialize in wind turbines (residential and business applications).
“The Solar and Wind Energy Supply Chain in Wisconsin,” a study by the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC), details the role of renewable energy companies in job creation and economic growth. The report highlights some of the over 300 companies serving wind and solar energy markets in the state and provides a list of solar and wind companies and their locations.
For wind energy facility developers: FWS issued a document in 2012 entitled Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines (WEG), which provides a structured process for addressing wildlife conservation concerns at wind energy project sites. The WEG are built around a “tiered approach” to assessing potential conflicts. Each of the five tiers builds on information gained from the previous tier, and many smaller-scale or community wind facilities may not need to go beyond Tiers 1 and 2. The tiers encompass both pre-construction and post-construction timeframes and focus on establishing a scientific process focused initially on analyzing the potential project site, and later on gauging and monitoring impacts at that site.
UW-Extension agents trained in sustainable energy.
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https://energyonwi.uwex.edu/resources
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The number of days most federal and state lawmakers have remaining in session before summer break is winding down, sparking a flurry of activity.
In Congress, Republicans are advancing legislation that would prevent the U.S. EPA from enforcing carbon limits on states through the Clean Power Plan (CPP). State leaders are also preparing legislation and public comments in anticipation of the final EPA rule, which is expected to be released sometime in August. The National Conference of State Legislatures offers a comprehensive list of state action on the CPP.
At the same time, policies and regulations are rapidly changing around renewable energy and distributed generation. California, for instance, recently grabbed headlines when the state Senate passed legislation that would dramatically accelerate the deployment of clean energy over the next 15 years.
While some state policies are up for debate, overall, the United States is seeing a rapid expansion of renewable energy use. Today, 11 states generate more than 10 percent of their electricity from non-hydro renewable energy sources, and three of those states -- Iowa, South Dakota, and Kansas -- exceed 20 percent, according to a new report from Clean Edge.
We chronicle many of the latest developments in state-level clean energy news in the following roundup. (You can find last month’s state dispatches post here.)
California
Lawmakers in the California Senate recently passed a dozen bills that would significantly boost the state’s clean energy and climate change mandates, including legislation (SB 350) that would require the state to get 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
Existing law requires renewables to make up at least 33 percent of electricity sold to retail customers in California by 2020. In addition to increasing the state’s renewable energy target, SB 350 calls for cutting petroleum use in the transportation sector by half, and doubling the energy efficiency of buildings over the next 15 years. A version of SB 350 is now making its way through the state Assembly.
A separate senate bill (SB 32) recently passed that would boost California’s greenhouse gas reduction target to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, ahead of the existing target of 80 percent below 1990 levels to be achieved by 2050. The bill aligns with Gov. Jerry Brown’s new greenhouse gas goals.
Anthony Earley, president and CEO of Pacific Gas & Electric, told Greentech Media last week that his utility supports the ambitious greenhouse-gas goals, as long as utilities are given ample flexibility.
“The issue going forward will be, we’re looking for optionality,” said Earley, who is working with the legislature on the package of climate bills. “At some point, costs get very high, and so we’re looking to create an environment where for renewables, energy efficiency and electric vehicles -- use all of those tools to try and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.”
Public Utility Commissioner Michael Picker expressed a similar point of view at a recent conference in Washington, D.C. where he called for shifting away from renewable energy mandates to a more flexible set of climate change goals that take into account reliability issues. Picker pointed to reliability concerns as the primary reason for approving the controversial Carlsbad gas plant proposal.
Outside of the state legislature, California is seeing lots of utility activity on energy storage, the kickoff of a 600-megawatt community solar program, and a new net-zero home initiative.
Arizona
Regulatory staff at the Arizona Corporation Commission recently recommended rejecting changes to solar net metering proposed by Tucson Electric Power until the changes can be evaluated in a full rate case, reports the Arizona Daily Star. The proposal would increase monthly fees by about $22 over what solar customers currently pay.
Staff recently issued the same recommendation for net metering changes proposed by Arizona Public Service that would increase monthly fees on solar customers by $21 per month, up from the current $5 per month charge. Unisource Energy Services has also proposed a new net metering plan, but, unlike the other two investor-owned utilities, the changes were submitted as part of a rate case. In addition to reducing incentives for solar, the case would increase fixed costs and lower charges for energy usage on all customers.
Nevada
Stakeholders in Nevada reached an agreement last month to increase the state’s net metering cap. The deal, brokered by Gov. Brian Sandoval, will allow for 235 megawatts of residential systems to qualify for net metering in NV Energy territory through the end of the year.
Solar advocates lobbied fiercely for the change with the cap approaching. The original law allowed for solar penetration up to 3 percent of NV Energy's peak load. Last month, lawmakers passed a bill giving utility regulators the option of imposing a monthly fee on residential solar customers, but did not increase the net metering cap. The new deal shifts responsibility for net metering policy from the legislature to the public utilities commission going forward.
New Mexico
In mid-May, state regulators in New Mexico unanimously rejected Public Service Company of New Mexico’s (PNM) proposal to increase residential electric rates and apply fees on home solar customers. PNM’s rate case would have increased fixed charged on households by $7.80, plus an additional 16 percent in monthly charges, starting in 2016. New solar customers would have had to pay $21 to $26 per month to connect to the grid.
Regulators said they threw out the rate case because PNM failed to adequately show how those changes would affect consumers. PNM says the rate changes are needed to pay for $585 million in capital expenses, including the restructuring of the San Juan coal plant (which is opposed by environmentalists and clean energy groups). PNM plans to refile its rate case in September.
Colorado
Following the national trend, the Intermountain Rural Electric Cooperative in Colorado is reviewing the credits it offers residential solar customers, the Denver Post reports. At the same time, the state PUC is reviewing the net-metering policy of the state’s largest utility, Xcel Energy. Xcel recently announced that its small-business and residential customers in Colorado will see their bills fall by 4 percent this fall.
Washington
Gov. Jay Inslee recently authorized utilities in Washington state to rate-base EV charging infrastructure, like any other grid investment. The move is widely seen as a positive development for the EV market.
Several pieces of energy-legislation -- including a bill that would effectively eliminate net metering (HB 2045), a bill that would implement a state carbon market (HB 1314), and a bill that would give utilities more flexibility in meeting the state renewable energy target (SB 5735) -- are being held at current status as the legislature enters its second extended session.
Oregon
The Oregon Public Utility Commission is currently reviewing a proposal from Idaho Power that would set the standard contract eligibility cap for wind and solar projects to 100 kilowatts and change the contract term length from 20 years to two years.
Alaska
The Obama administration recently granted conditional approval for Shell Oil to drill off the coast of Alaska this summer. This week, Shell subsidiary Polar Pioneer was met with protestors in kayaks as it tried to exit Puget Sound. The company must wait for final approval on July 1 before it can start drilling.
Alaska is also seeing developments in cleantech. The Department of Energy launched a program to support clean energy development in five Alaskan villages this month. In addition, the Chugach Electric Association announced late last month it will deploy a hybrid battery storage and flywheel project in collaboration with Beacon Power.
Hawaii
Earlier this month. Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed into law the country’s first 100 percent renewable energy requirement. The state currently gets about 22 percent of its electricity from wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable energy resources. Under the law, all of Hawaii’s electricity must come from renewables by 2045.
Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI) -- which supplies power to 95 percent of Hawaii’s population through Hawaiian Electric Company, Maui Electric Company, and Hawaii Electric Light Company -- came out in support of the 100 percent renewable energy goal. The proposed merger between HEI and Florida-based NextEra Energy would provide additional resources to help make the renewable energy target a reality, according to an HEI press release.
Earlier this month, HEI shareholders, the parent company of the state’s three investor-owned utilities, approved the proposed NextEra merger. But not everyone in the state supports the deal. Two activist groups in Hawaii are pushing to have local co-ops take over the state’s electricity operations instead.
Separately, the city and country of Honolulu has agreed to pay a fine and build a $16 million solar power project by 2020 in order to resolve Clean Air Act violations.
Florida
A ballot initiative that would allow for third-party solar ownership in Florida is proving to be highly divisive. The effort is being spearheaded by the conservative group Floridians for Solar Choice, which has collected more than 88,000 signatures in support of the campaign. The Florida League of Women Voters recently came out in support of the initiative and Florida newspapers the Gainesville Sun and Ocala Star-Banner have voiced their editorial support.
But not everyone is in agreement. The Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, for instance, recently filed a brief opposing the Solar Ballot initiative, claiming that the current ballot language does not properly inform voters of potential increases to their electricity rates that would if the amendment is approved. Attorney General Pam Bondi and a number of influential utilities -- Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy, Tampa Electric Co. and Gulf Power -- want the Florida Supreme Court to block the initiative, because they feel the language is “misleading.”
The Supreme Court process is currently underway. Meanwhile, the Florida PSC is accepting comments from utilities, businesses and the general public on practical ways to promote solar energy in Florida through June 23.
Georgia
Gov. Nathan Deal signed a bill (HB 57) into law last month that allows for third-party ownership of rooftop solar in Georgia, which doesn’t have a net metering policy. The measure also allows Georgia Power to recoup interconnection costs from solar customers.
In addition, Georgia Power is taking advantage of the new law by launching its own rooftop solar business. Solar advocates are concerned that the utility would use its monopoly advantage to dominate the market. Georgia Power has yet to finalize the program (which is set to launch on July 1), but the company asserts its rooftop solar product will be offered solely through its unregulated arm.
South Carolina
Stakeholders in South Carolina finalized a compromise agreement last month, which South Carolina Electric & Gas anticipates will lead to 85 megawatts of new solar capacity in the state by 2021. The agreement allows rooftop solar customers to benefit from net metering credits, and it also allows customers who may not be able to install their own solar system to participate in a community solar project and still get a credit on their bill.
In addition, SCE&G plans to issue a request for proposals for large-scale solar projects, with the aim of installing at least 30 megawatts of utility-scale solar by the end of 2016.
North Carolina
North Carolina is currently considering legislation (H332) that would freeze the state’s renewable electricity standards, rather than see the state meet 12.5 percent of its energy needs with renewables by 2021. Major internet brands Apple, Google and Facebook, all of which have data centers in the state, have come out in strong opposition to the bill. The legislature is scheduled to be in session at least through the end of the month.
West Virginia
Solar co-ops are cropping up around West Virginia, most recently in Wheeling and Morgantown. The city of Charleston, as well as Monroe and Fayette counties, have already formed co-ops with help from the nonprofit group WV Sun.
Kentucky
The state of Kentucky is one of the strongest opponents to the EPA Clean Power Plan. The state has refused to submit a compliance plan and was a part of a 12-state lawsuit challenging the rule. But ironically, the state could end up complying with the rule “accidentally” as natural gas continues to push coal-fired generation out of the market, according to Inside Climate News.
Louisiana
A trio of bills in the Louisiana legislature (HB 510, HB 779 and HB 817) that would have rolled back credits for solar projects in the state have languished in the State House.
Entergy, meanwhile, is planning to build the first utility-scale solar-plus-storage project in New Orleans. At the recent Edison Electric Institute annual convention, Entergy CEO Leo Denault said New Orleans is becoming a hub of energy innovation and education, with thousands of new tech jobs being created over the next decade. “It’s a time of almost unprecedented opportunity in the South,” he said.
Texas
The Texas legislature adjourned last month without repealing the state’s renewable portfolio standard and its Competitive Renewable Energy Zones transmission initiative, North American Wind Power reports. Throwing out the RPS would have severely affected the market for trading and selling renewable energy credits.
At the regulatory level, Texas is mulling changes to its competitive energy market that could create new opportunities for distributed energy resources. Regulators are also considering changes to the treatment of demand response. A recent study revealed that Texas could have saved more than $200 million over five days in 2012 and 2013 if regulators allowed demand response to fully participate in ERCOT’s market.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signed a bill this month outlawing cities and counties in the state from implementing bans on hydraulic fracturing. Fallin said the aim was to make state standards uniform. Texas recently finalized similar legislation.
Residential customers that own distributed generation in Oklahoma could soon see demand charges on their bills under a new tariff structure regulators are studying, The Oklahoman reports. Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. and Public Service Co. of Oklahoma have both indicated they will apply for new tariffs before the end of the year.
Kansas
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed a bill (SB 91) into law late last month that made the state’s 20 percent renewable energy portfolio into a voluntary target. Wind already produces more than 20 percent of Kansas’ electricity, according to the American Wind Energy Association. SB 91 also repealed a lifetime property tax exemption for customer-sited energy generation, while maintaining a tax exemption for existing renewable energy projects and giving a 10-year tax exemption to new renewable energy projects. New projects were previously offered a lifetime exemption.
Brownback signed a separate bill last month directing the state to develop a plan to comply with the U.S. EPA’s Clean Power Plan. The law comes despite ongoing opposition to the climate initiative. Kansas was one of a dozen states that attempting to sue against the rule, but the case was thrown out for being premature.
Changes in the Kansas legislature come as Westar Energy seeks to increase fees on rooftop solar customers through a rate case, KCUR.org reports. National solar advocates say the move will kill the state’s rooftop solar industry (there are only about 300 rooftop solar customers in Kansas today). However, the state’s independent ratepayer advocacy group commended Westar for addressing solar before it becomes a major disruption to the grid. The Alliance for Solar Choice, a national rooftop solar group, has been barred from participating in the rate case.
Missouri
Lawmakers in coal-reliant Missouri have sent legislation to the governor requiring a broad review before the state sends a Clean Power Plan implementation plan to the EPA. Lawmakers are currently considering legislation (HB 215) that would prevent the enforcement of any federal regulation before it's been considered by the General Assembly.
Illinois
This spring, the Illinois state legislature has been debating several divisive pieces of controversial legislation concerning the future of nuclear energy, net metering and the state’s renewable energy standard. However, those initiatives “fizzled” when the regular legislative session ended in June, the Chicago Tribune reports. Lawmakers could take up the legislation during a two-week session in the fall, after the Clean Power Plan is released, or wait until the New Year.
The CEO of Exelon, the largest nuclear generator in the U.S., said the company would decide what to do with its three struggling nuclear plants in September, after legislation the utility backed failed to advance.
Wisconsin
Last fall, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission approved requests from Madison Gas & Electric, Wisconsin Public Service and Wisconsin Energy Corp (WECO) to increase their fixed charges, which the utilities said was necessary to offset losses from distributed generation.
In recent weeks, Northern States Power, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy, announced it will also seek to increase customers’ fixed charges starting in 2016. If approved by regulators, Xcel’s fixed charge would more than double -- from $8 a month to $18, the LaCrosse Tribune reports. In exchange, the utility said it would reduce the average rate by about 0.7 cents per kilowatt-hour. Wisconsin Public Service is currently seeking another fixed fee increase (from $19 to $25), six months after its last raise.
These proposals have been met with strong opposition from advocacy groups, including the newly-formed Alliance for Fair Utilities, Repower Madison and The Alliance for Solar Choice. These groups blame Public Service Commission representatives appointed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker for the “regressive electricity billing schemes.”
Meanwhile, Gov. Walker, who is an expected presidential candidate, issued a letter to President Obama calling the EPA Clean Power Plan “unworkable.”
In other Wisconsin news, Minnesota regulators have approved WECO’s proposal to acquire Integrys Energy Group. The deal needs one more “yes” vote from regulators in Illinois in order to move forward. The Wisconsin utility issued pro rata dividends last week ahead of the pending acquisition of Integrys.
Minnesota
Minnesota is on the cusp of a solar boom. SolarCity announced a partnership with Minnesota's Sunrise Energy Ventures this week to develop up to one hundred 1-megawatt community solar installations. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission recently approved the $250 million Aurora Solar Project by Edina-based Geronimo Energy to build more than 100 megawatts of solar at 21 sites around the state. And one small Minnesota town plans to offset 100 percent of its electricity use through community solar.
Developments on community solar in Minnesota come as a dispute continues between Xcel Energy and solar developers over the co-location of solar gardens. Stakeholders are hoping to reach a settlement before the state PUC takes up the issue next week, the Star Tribune reports. Combined with customer-sited generation, Xcel Energy predicts there will be 300 megawatts of solar operating in its territory by 2020.
On the legislative front, Gov. Mark Dayton signed the 2015 Jobs and Energy Bill into law this month that requires to state to draft a Clean Power Plan implementation program and allowed customers of cooperative electric associations and municipal utilities to qualify for net metering on projects under 40 kilowatts.
North Dakota
Regulators in North Dakota have denied Xcel Energy’s application for an advanced determination of prudence for 187 megawatts of solar power from three projects designed to meet a mandate in Minnesota.
“I don’t believe North Dakota customers should have to pay for the result of policies in a state that they didn’t have a say in passing,” said Commission Chairwoman Julie Fedorchak, the Forum News Service reports.
Michigan
Michigan lawmakers continue to work their way through a package of energy-related bills (HB 4055, HB 4518, HB 4519, SB 295, SB 297). A suite of bills generated by Democrats seek to double the state’s renewable energy portfolio to 20 percent, while Republicans hope to end the renewable energy target altogether.
The Michigan legislature worked year-round, but progress is likely to be slow. The Democrats’ proposals have yet to make it out of any committee, with the House scheduled for just six days in session through August.
Ohio
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is considering changes to the state’s net metering policy, while a case opposing the policy brought by American Electric Power is still pending, Midwest Energy News reports. Over the next few months, PUCO will also be evaluating requests from several utilities for guaranteed income on certain power plants, the Columbia Dispatch reports.
Ohio’s Energy Mandates Study Committee, established last year by SB 310, which put a two-year freeze on the state’s alternative energy standard, continues to evaluate the future of the state’s renewable energy and efficiency goals. A new report by Environmental Entrepreneurs found there are approximately 89,000 Ohioans that work in the clean energy sector, and that many of these jobs would be lost if the policy were to completely disappear. The subcommittee is expected to issue a report in September.
Pennsylvania
An order from the Pennsylvania PUC set to come out any day will determine how the state’s energy efficiency sector is structured for the next five years. The stakes are high for companies that work in this space, largely because of the way Pennsylvania’s energy saving goals are currently set up.
First, utilities are limited in how much they can spend on efficiency each year. Second, utilities face penalties if they don’t meet their targets. Plus, the commission uses a cumulative accounting period so that only investments made during a specific five-year period count toward the target. Because of this structure, the utilities are dissuaded from taking risks and making long-term investments, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
"There is a lot at stake in Pennsylvania. The Commission is designing a five-year phase, and if they get the goal structure wrong, it could stall or delay investment in efficiency and demand response in the next few years,” said Jim Kapsis, vice president of regulatory Affairs at Opower, in an interview. “But if they get it right, Pennsylvania will become a real growth engine over the next half decade."
As the PUC weighs reforms, legislation has been introduced that would allow commercial and industrial customers to opt out of the state’s efficiency targets. At the same time, environmental groups are calling for Pennsylvania to set higher targets for C&I customers.
Maryland
Maryland quietly adopted a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing last month as Gov. Larry Hogan let a 30-day veto period on the measure expire. The legislation officially becomes law on October 1.
Gov. Hogan also signed a bill last month in support of community solar through a three-year pilot. The projects will be regulated by the state PSC. Meanwhile, the Maryland PSC approved Exelon Corporation’s $6.8 billion proposal to purchase Pepco. The final decision now rests with regulators in Washington, D.C.
Virginia
Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced a plan last month for Virginia to reduce retail electricity consumption by 10 percent by 2020 -- two years earlier than the previous goal. McAuliffe created a 12-member Executive Committee on Energy Efficiency to support the initiative. Virginia currently ranks 35th in efficiency measures and policies, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
New Jersey
New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities is seeking to double incentives for energy storage to $6 million in next year’s budget for clean energy programs. Storage will help backup generation from the more than 35,000 renewable energy projects deployed in the state. New Jersey’s current renewable energy target calls for 22.5 percent of electricity to come from renewables by 2020. Lawmakers are currently considering legislation (S 2444) that would bump up the target to 80 percent renewables by 2050.
New York
The New York Public Service Commission is moving forward with the creation of a distributed resource market through the Reforming Energy Vision initiative, albeit with some difficulty. Under the proceeding, utilities are required to propose demonstration projects by July 1. Central Hudson Gas & Electric became the first utility to submit a project proposal last month. Utilities are required to file their distributed system implementation plans by December 15.
While the PSC works to change the architecture of the power sector, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority announced new funding for seven energy storage projects as part of the REV initiative. The state is also looking for new ways to support the deployment of large-scale clean energy projects. Earlier this month, state’s energy research authority proposed to spend $1.5 billion over the next 10 years to promote the development in renewable energy projects. The program is subject to review by the PSC.
Connecticut
A bill (570) designed to set limits on the fixed fees utilities can charge residential customers in Connecticut failed to pass the House before the legislative session ended, Utility Dive reports. The bill sought to encourage energy efficiency by “reducing, capping or eliminating” fixed charges.
Massachusetts
Electric utilities in Massachusetts are quickly approaching the state cap on net metered solar projects, which solar advocates say will stall the solar industry. National Grid already hit the cap in March. Gov. Charlie Baker's administration supports raising the limits in the near term, but not without a long-term plan to address the burden on ratepayers. Earlier this month, Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey said that she supports an immediate cap increase.
Separately, the Baker administration has announced a $10 million energy storage initiative that will support storage companies in the Commonwealth and identify options for storage deployment through a comprehensive two-part study.
Maine
After correcting a typo that restored $38 million in efficiency funding, Maine regulators are still grappling with how to incentivize solar in the state. An amendment added to a sweeping energy bill (LS 1263) calls for developing an alternative to net metering in Maine that ensures “the maximum level of compensation for a given technology does not exceed the ratepayer benefits as determined by a commission evaluation of the specific benefits of that technology.”
The amendment recommends following the directives in a white paper entitled "A Ratepayer Focused Strategy for Distributed Solar in Maine,” which was produced by the Office of the Public Advocate. Under this proposal, a “Solar Standard Buyer” would interface directly with solar customers, and “aggregate the energy, RECs, capacity value, and ancillary services potential and monetize these in the applicable markets.”
Solar advocates oppose any changes to net metering in Maine. The conservative pro-solar group Tell Utilities Solar Won't Be Killed announced it will launch a major TV advertising campaign in Maine calling on Gov. Paul LePage to oppose Democratic-sponsored legislation that would alter the state’s net metering policy.
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https://www.greentechmedia.com/squared/state-bulletin/california-is-on-track-for-a-major-renewable-energy-boost1
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BY PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
DERRY – Calling it a “603 win for clean energy” Gov. Chris Sununu signed two bills into law Thursday morning that focus on advancing renewable energy initiatives.
Both bills enjoyed bipartisan support and are among the last measures expected to be signed into law from this past session.
Sununu, state legislators, and local officials gathered at the Derry town transfer center where in 2018 the town established a solar energy array.
The Net Zero Task Force in Derry is working on a plan to allow the town to reach net-zero emissions by 2025 for the municipality and was chosen as the site for the bill signing https://www.derrynh.org/net-zero-task-force.
One of the measures Sununu signed into law is Senate Bill 91, which is omnibus legislation on renewable energy and utilities, which advocates have said, allows the Public Utilities Commission to be careful not to shift added costs to the consumers.
The law relates to the installation, interconnection, and use of energy storage systems by customers of utilities and also addresses hydroelectric generators that share equipment for purposes of interconnection to the electric grid.
And it directs the Public Utilities Commission in developing alternative tariffs for net energy metering.
It also establishes a commission to study limited electrical energy producers.
House Bill 315 allows municipalities and school districts to build larger renewable energy projects.
It revises the procedures applicable to municipal or county aggregators and municipal electric utilities for the aggregation of energy services.
The new law also establishes an exemption under net energy metering for group net-metered facilities that generate electricity to offset the electrical requirements of a group consisting of political subdivisions.
Sununu said it was a huge win for clean energy and compromise to allow larger solar power arrays to be built without “crushing” costs to ratepayers.
He said New Hampshire needs renewable energy projects in the state and the way it is done in this state is different than in other parts of the country. He said it is about everyone coming to the table to work on a solution.
Sununu noted several years ago there was a similar effort that was not successful but legislators kept at it.
State Sen. David Watters, D-Dover, who sponsored Senate Bill 91, issued a statement following the bill’s signing.
“The clear need for examining and expanding our renewable energy options has never been more evident. Expanded net metering will help our citizens, businesses, and industries become more innovative, reduce their energy costs, and ultimately reduce local property taxes. My section of this bill dealing with energy storage is essential for moving all sources of renewable energy forward, including solar and offshore wind. There is much work to be done to bring us closer to a sustainable future, and I am confident that this legislation represents the next step in New Hampshire’s path forward,” Watters said.
Net metering in New Hampshire got a big boost today after HB 315, was signed into law, said Sen. Kevin Avard, R-Nashua, a long-time proponent of expanding net metering for municipal projects and prime sponsor of SB 109 that was combined with HB 315.
“After years of discussion and negotiations, I am delighted that we are finally increasing the net metering cap for cities, towns, and school districts. This will allow local governments to save money on electric bills, lower local property tax rates, encourage local investment, and increase in-state energy production, avoiding the need for costly new transmission infrastructure. With HB 315 now law, this is not only a big win for the city of Nashua, but for communities across the state,” Avard said.
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http://indepthnh.org/2021/08/26/renewable-energy-bills-signed-into-law-in-derry/
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Short’s Brewery recently unveiled a 40-kilowatt rooftop solar array to provide about 10 percent of its electricity.
Editor’s note: On September 2, Groundwork and our new Clean Energy Policy Specialist Dan Worth submitted the written testimony below to the Michigan Senate Energy & Technology Committee concerning Senate Bill 438—a bill introduced by Senator John Proos to repeal provisions of the Clean, Renewable, and Efficient Energy Act. We support a stronger state Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), more energy optimization, and full retail credit for residential and commercial solar systems. SB 438 does the opposite. Groundwork is advocating for a 25% state RPS and a 25% reduction in energy use by 2025 to help Northern Michigan residents and businesses save energy and money.
September 2, 2015
Dear Senate Energy & Technology Committee members,
I’m writing on behalf of the 3,000 supporters of the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, in Traverse City. Formerly the Michigan Land Use Institute, we’ve worked for 20 years on economic development that grows jobs and protects our state’s environment. Thank you for the opportunity to engage your committee.
First, I want to thank Senator Nofs for his part, seven years ago, in enacting energy reform legislation that triggered the rise of new Michigan wind, solar, and efficiency industries. In our region, that reform motivated a local utility to bring energy efficiency improvements to 600 Traverse City homes—helping families and contractors. It also enabled another local utilitt to launch the state’s first community solar project, purchase cheap wind power, and better protect our air, water, and health. It encouraged Northport to move toward 100 percent renewable energy. Those are just three examples of how, across the state, the 2008 standards gave clean energy a toehold in Michigan, in many creative, often community-based ways.
Before moving to Michigan, I helped communities, businesses, and homeowners develop weatherization and renewable energy in Massachusetts and California. Both states have better clean energy policies than we do, which is why they do extraordinarily well in the clean energy economy. We can have that future, too.
But SB438, which eliminates efficiency, renewable and net metering standards, will stop Michigan’s most hopeful new industry—clean energy—in its tracks. California and Massachusetts are succeeding not because of better wind or sun or insulation crews, but because they have stronger policies.
Here’s an example: Last Friday, Short’s Brewery, which employs about 100 people in Elk Rapids, unveiled a 40-kilowatt rooftop solar array to provide about 10 percent of its electricity. The project used Michigan-made equipment, was installed by Michigan contractors, and will quickly add to Short’s bottom line. But it took the combination of a $35,000 rural development grant and, crucially, full retail credit from the utility for Short’s homemade electricity to make the numbers work.
It’s a great project, but it could have been better. Unlike California and Massachusetts, Michigan limits net metering projects paying retail to a scant 20kW per meter. Unlike those states, Michigan and its utilities offer no solar incentives, because we have no standards for solar development and thus no reason for them.
SB 438 would eliminate the one slender thread that makes projects like Short’s viable, with or without grants—net metering at the retail rate. Businesses like Short’s, all over the state, won’t be able to make their own electricity, strengthen their own financial standing, and become even more successful if installing solar power doesn’t make financial sense.
What deeply impressed me at Short’s were the young innovators. Joe Short, who returned to northern Michigan to open a business spoke about the importance of self-owned solar to his business and community, while his employee’s daughters cut the ribbon. The contractor, CBS Solar, of Copemish, is a family business, too, assembling and installing panels. CBS wants to grow its business by helping other families and businesses cut energy costs, create jobs and protect our air and water.
These are just some of the folks we know in northern Michigan whom SB 438, in its present form, would seriously harm by crippling net metering.
Net metering opponents argue it’s unfair to other customers to allow Short’s to save on retail energy costs by making some of its own electricity. In fact, distributed solar helps customers and utilities. Solar can make the grid more resistant to storm outages, and can save utilities from building more power plants, running ultra-expensive peaker plants, building additional costly distribution substations, buying volatilely priced fuel, spending more on pollution controls, and wasting power via line loss. Distributed solar is good for everyone.
A final point: Supporters of this legislation often say the Legislature shouldn’t be involved in picking winners and losers. They argue Michigan ratepayers have helped prime the pump for these new technologies, and it’s time for them to compete head-to-head.
But that ignores a lot of history. Traditional, centralized generation is so entrenched within utility business models that power companies will not move any closer toward truly clean and renewable energy than they are required to.
Moreover, traditional generation has received generous subsidies for a century, while Michigan’s clean energy efforts have had, at most, eight years of modest subsidies. Arguing that eight years is enough for these new technologies to now compete with old ones, subsidized for decades and forever at the center of utilities’ business models, is simply wrong. It ignores history and the practical realities of today’s energy industry.
We want Michigan to prosper, to remain Pure Michigan, to call some of its many former young residents back home to a bright, strong future. Getting our energy policy right is crucial, but Senate Bill 438 does the opposite. It is a giant step backwards that will harm people, businesses, and the environment, and do nothing to improve our competitive position in a world rushing toward a clean energy future.
Please do what it takes to allow Michigan, with its great work force, matchless manufacturing heritage, and strong entrepreneurial spirit to be a world leader, rather than a Johnny-come-lately follower. Expand, rather than eliminate, our renewables, energy optimization, and net metering laws. They are crucial to our future success.
Sincerely,
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https://www.groundworkcenter.org/letter-to-lansing-on-sb438-let-energy-innovators-lead/
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In a continued effort to stabilize New England’s electricity rates while meeting the Commonwealth’s Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) goals, the Baker-Polito Administration has filed two bills this summer to diversify the state’s energy portfolio. In July, legislation was filed to facilitate the procurement of cost-effective, hydropower generation, followed earlier this month with a bill to establish a long term, market-predictable, sustainable framework for further solar development.
An Act Relative to Energy Sector Compliance with the Global Warming Solutions Act, filed in the State Senate on July 9, seeks to require Massachusetts utilities to jointly, and competitively, solicit long-term contracts for clean energy generation resources and associated transmission together with the Department of Energy Resources. In addition to the benefits this legislation will bring to the regional electricity market, clean energy generation will position Massachusetts to reach its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. The Baker-Polito Administration remains committed to achieving the emission reduction goals of the GWSA – a 25 percent reduction of emissions below 1990 levels by 2020.
“This legislation is critical to reducing our carbon footprint, meeting the goals of the Global Warming Solutions Act and protecting ratepayers already stuck by sky high energy prices. Increasing the flow of hydroelectric power into Massachusetts and New England diversifies our energy portfolio and makes it clear we are ready to collaborate with our neighboring states to secure cost-effective, carbon-reducing energy solutions for the region.”
Governor Charlie Baker
As a pivotal component of the Baker-Polito Administration’s mission to diversifying the Commonwealth’s energy portfolio, hydroelectric procurement ensures affordability and reliability for Massachusetts ratepayers through a balanced approach of renewable energy investments.
On August 7, Governor Baker submitted An Act relative to a long-term, sustainable solar industry with the House of Representatives. This legislation maintains strong support for solar generation in the Commonwealth by raising the private and public net metering caps two percent each, to six and seven percent, respectively. This increase will provide immediate support for projects being developed in service territories where the caps have already been reached, and provides the Department of Public Utilities with the authority to raise the caps further, as needed in the future. Additionally, this framework will work to bolster the ability of the Commonwealth to meet the 2020 target of 1,600 megawatts of solar development, well ahead of schedule.
“The Baker-Polito Administration remains committed to lowering the costs of large solar projects across the state, while continuing to encourage the development of rooftop solar growth by excluding residential and small business programs from net metering caps.”
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton
The legislation recognizes the growth and maturity of the state’s solar industry and works to achieve cost-savings by creating a market-based net metering credit for installations developed after the 1,600 megawatt goal is reached, at a reasonable cost to ratepayers. Furthermore, this proposal leverages the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit to the maximum extent before their expiration date on December 31, 2016. Beyond the 1,600 megawatt goal, the legislation provides for a slightly higher credit value for solar installations developed by government entities, municipalities, low income ratepayers, and community shared net metering projects, as the net metering credits for these customers will be at the higher level of the basic service price.
While the Administration is working to expand renewable, clean energy as part of Massachusetts’ energy portfolio, grants have also been announced to support local efforts to reduce risks from coastal storms, flooding, erosion and sea level rise. The grants, totaling $2.2 million, are provided by the Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) and have been awarded to Barnstable, Boston, Brewster, Chelsea, Dennis, Edgartown, Essex, Falmouth, Lynn, New Bedford, Plymouth, Quincy, Sandwich/Barnstable, Scituate and Winthrop.
“These grants are part of our administration’s commitment to helping the Commonwealth’s cities and towns address the impacts of coastal storms and the effects of a changing climate in new, innovative and effective ways. With these programs and others, we will ensure that Massachusetts continues to be a leader in addressing climate change.”
Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito
CZM’s Coastal Community Resilience Grant Program and the Green Infrastructure for Coastal Resilience Grant Program advance local efforts to increase awareness and understanding of climate impacts, as well as implement measures that use natural or non-structural approaches as a viable alternative to hard structures like seawalls and groins. Grants can be used for planning, feasibility assessment, analysis of shoreline vulnerability, design, permitting, construction and monitoring for projects that provide storm damage protection and enhance natural resources.
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http://blog.mass.gov/governor/energy/diversifying-our-energy-portfolio-supporting-coastal-communities/
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Justin Brant is a Senior Associate in the Utility Program with the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, where he works with utilities and consumer groups to advance energy efficiency in SWEEP’s six-state region. His work also includes appearing before public utility commissions and state legislatures, and collaborating with utilities and other stakeholders.
Before joining SWEEP, he worked at The Cadmus Group, a nationwide energy and environmental consulting firm. At Cadmus, he advised Fortune 500 companies, state and local governments, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on policies and programs that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as encouraging energy efficiency and renewable energy use.
Earlier, Justin was Assistant Director of the Electric Power Division at the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU). There, he developed policies and oversaw implementation of Massachusetts’ cutting-edge energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. He also played a lead role in developing state policies to modernize the electric grid, to promote development of electric-vehicle charging stations, and to move consumers to time-of-use electric rates.
Justin graduated from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in biology. He also holds an M.S. in Soil Science from Oregon State University, where he studied the effects of climate change on forest productivity.
During his free time he likes to ski, hike, and ride his many bicycles.
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https://swenergy.org/staff/justin-brant
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In January, we published a list of the top 10 utility regulation trends of 2018. With 2019 beyond the halfway point, we check in on the top public utility commission (PUC) actions and trends so far this year.
Ten prominent trends and actions stand out above the rest, from renewables increasingly dominating utility resource plans, to wildfires sparking utility safety and liability concerns in California, to transportation electrification investments becoming more widespread from coast to coast.
Below is an executive summary of the complete roundup, which has specific examples of state PUC action. (You can read AEE's full version here.)
1. Renewables dominating utility resource plans
During the first six months of 2019, the trend of recent years toward a more advanced, clean and flexible grid has continued. This has largely been driven by the continued price decline in renewables. In most states, it is now often cheaper to build new wind and solar plants (in some cases even when paired with storage) than to operate existing fossil-fuel power plants. Utilities are starting to take notice, and renewables are dominating their long-term resource plans.
At least nine states plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. have now set 100 percent clean energy targets. New Mexico’s Public Regulation Commission approved Public Service Co. of New Mexico’s latest integrated resource plan, which calls for the retirement of all coal-fired generation by 2031. And in Michigan, DTE Electric Co. and Consumers Energy Co. proposed plans to phase out coal by 2040. We’ve also seen action in Colorado, Indiana, Georgia and Mississippi.
2. Rethinking the utility business model
Many states are exploring changes to the traditional cost-of-service regulatory model to move toward a system that better reflects new market conditions, allows utilities to take advantage of the growing service economy, and rewards performance against established goals rather than inputs.
Early this year, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission finalized Phase 1 in its performance-based regulation investigation for Xcel Energy, and New York’s Con Edison filed a petition to increase annual electric and gas delivery revenues with earnings adjustment mechanisms, a performance incentive coming out of the Reforming the Energy Vision initiative. More performance-based regulation work is taking place in Colorado and Hawaii.
3. Distribution system planning for distributed resources
The distribution grid is the backbone of a reliable electric system used to deliver electricity from the transmission system to individual consumers. Modern planning processes are critical for providing essential electric service efficiently and cost-effectively. As distributed energy resources (DERs) deployment continues to grow, utilities and DER companies are seeking ways to maximize the benefits of DERs to the system, while maintaining reliability and reasonable costs for customers.
New York and California have continued to refine their distribution system planning processes in 2019, while several additional states have taken steps to implement processes of their own, including Hawaii, Michigan, Minnesota and New Hampshire.
A core output of distribution system planning is recognizing opportunities for new advanced technologies and services to meet system needs — which we explore next.
4. Non-wires alternatives to traditional utility investments
Non-wires alternatives (NWAs) to traditional investments in transmission and distribution equipment are increasingly being looked to as viable options in several key states.
The next steps to making NWAs a widespread reality are to 1) identify the areas where NWAs can meet a need at a lower cost than a traditional utility investment and 2) develop a framework to implement and/or procure the NWA solution. Several states have made significant progress so far in 2019.
Con Edison in New York outlined a plan to continue its Brooklyn-Queens Demand Management program through 2021. Central Maine Power and Emera Maine filed recommendations that would eliminate their existing incentive to favor transmission and distribution investments over NWAs. And the California Public Utilities Commission issued a ruling modifying the distribution investment deferral framework, an annual process to identify, review and select opportunities for third-party-owned DERs to defer or avoid traditional capital investments.
5. Wildfire liability challenging California utilities
In January, the largest investor-owned utility in California — Pacific Gas & Electric — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy because of accrued liabilities resulting from the devastating wildfires of 2018. As part of the bankruptcy process, PG&E sought and received approval for $5.5 billion in financing to support operations and ongoing safety initiatives during the bankruptcy process.
There are still a lot of unanswered questions that will need to be sorted out through the courts. One of the most important for the advanced energy industry will be whether PG&E is granted the ability to renegotiate a portion of their existing $34.5 billion in renewable energy contracts to help pay down their debts — a decision that could encumber California’s efforts to meet its clean energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals. Outside of the bankruptcy process, the wildfires kick-started wide-ranging investigations into wildfire prevention and cost recovery plans, as well as PG&E’s safety culture.
The California Public Utilities Commission opened an investigation to determine if PG&E, as currently constituted, is able to provide safe electric and gas service and to review alternatives to PG&E's current management and operational structures; established a Commission Advisory Panel of experts to advise on corporate governance issues; introduced four proposals for public comment to improve PG&E’s safety culture; and adopted a set of criteria and a methodology for conducting a financial “stress test” for future wildfire cost recovery.
6. Increasing access to renewable energy
As renewable energy has become more competitive on price, customers are increasingly looking for ways not only to power their operations with 100 percent renewable energy, but also to dampen price volatility and reduce energy costs. There are several avenues and best practices that states and utilities can take to increase access to renewable energy ranging from direct access programs to renewable energy tariffs to community solar programs.
This year, Xcel Energy in Minnesota filed for approval to expand its pilot renewable energy tariff aimed at businesses (Renewable*Connect) into a full-fledged program. The California Public Utilities Commission opened a rulemaking to implement SB 237, reopening the state’s Direct Access program. In Virginia, Dominion Energy filed an application for a 100% renewable energy tariff for customers with under 5 MW of peak demand. And Florida Power & Light proposed a solar subscription program (SolarTogether) for customers of all rate classes.
7. Community-choice aggregation
Community-choice aggregation or municipal aggregation has been around for a few decades, but it has risen in popularity over the past couple of years, driven in large part by communities wishing to take control over how their energy is generated.
The concept of CCA is fairly simple. CCAs are classified as governmental entities, most often formed by cities and/or counties, that procure power on behalf of their residents. While the CCA provides power for residents, the designated utility still provides transmission and distribution service in the area.
In California, CPUC staff estimated that by 2025 over 85 percent of California’s IOU retail load could be served by CCAs and other Direct Access providers (up from about 20 percent today). New York recently refined its framework to make it easier to form CCAs, leading several municipalities to file implementation plans.
Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities opened an investigation into improving the retail electric competitive supply market and established two working groups. This is timely, as the City of Boston petitioned the DPU to approve a CCA plan to procure power for its residents.
8. Strategies to electrify transportation
The deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure has risen to the fore in many jurisdictions, as improvements in technology have dramatically expanded the EV market and PUCs have continued to develop focused transportation electrification strategies.
California continues to lead on transportation electrification, with 49 percent of the nation’s electric car sales originating in the Golden State. A new CPUC process, DRIVE OIR, to develop a transportation electrification framework is underway with a staff proposal expected in October.
Besides developments in Wisconsin, Missouri, New York, Vermont and Arizona, there were utility proposals or statewide investigations in Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan (DTE Electric and Consumers Energy), Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina (Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Carolinas) and Texas. Many are eyeing the benefits of electrifying transportation, including the medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sector.
9. Grid modernization investments for DERs and large-scale renewables
Grid modernization is often used in the electricity industry as a catchall term for grid investment. However, at AEE, we view grid modernization as part of the foundational investments needed to enable a reliable and flexible grid. Such a modern grid platform is essential to fully integrating DERs, balancing increasing levels of large-scale renewables and enhancing the customer experience.
The first step toward grid modernization is often advanced metering infrastructure, similar to Indiana Michigan Power’s filing in Indiana. Other states are looking at grid modernization more holistically like the Arkansas Public Service Commission and in the District of Columbia.
10. Net metering and valuing DERs
Net energy metering (NEM) has been successful in spurring the adoption of distributed generation across the country. As net-metering-eligible resources continue to decline in price, the number of NEM customers has increased, which has led to pushback in many jurisdictions.
Over the past couple of years, states have taken various approaches to successor tariffs to NEM, ranging from reductions in net metering rates for exported electricity to the development of regulatory structures to more precisely value and source services from DER. This year saw significant action in Connecticut and New York, with some less favorable trends in Idaho and Louisiana.
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Coley Girouard is a principal at Advanced Energy Economy. Read his complete roundup with more details on state PUC action here.
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https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/top-10-utility-regulation-trends-of-2019-so-far
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Clean energy and climate action are mainstream concepts with the public these days, but at Virginia’s General Assembly they have yet to gain much traction. Last year saw one renewable energy bill after another die in committee, along with legislation mandating lower energy use through energy efficiency and climate measures like having Virginia join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
The only major energy legislation to pass the GA in 2018 was the infamous SB 966, the so-called “grid mod” bill that included spending on energy efficiency and a stipulation that 5,500 megawatts (MW) of utility-owned or controlled solar and wind is “in the public interest.” But the bill didn’t actually mandate any efficiency savings or renewable energy investments, and it contained no support for customer-owned solar.
So clean energy advocates and climate activists are trying again, though the odds against them look as tough as ever. Republicans hold a bare majority of seats overall, but they dominate the powerful Commerce and Labor Committees that hear most energy bills. And Republicans overall (though with some exceptions) are more hostile to clean energy legislation than Democrats, and more willing to side with utilities against customers and competitors.
In particular, the House energy subcommittee has been a regular killing field for renewable energy bills. It consists of 7 Republicans and 4 Democrats, and last year every clean energy bill but one lost on party-line votes. Bills don’t advance to the full committee, much less to the House floor, unless they garner a majority in the subcommittee.
Over at Senate Commerce and Labor, Republicans hold an 11-4 majority on the full committee, and none of the Democrats are what you would call environmental champions. The electric utility subcommittee does not appear to be active this year.
A scattering of other clean energy and climate bills have been assigned to House Rules (which Republicans dominate 11-6) and Appropriations (12-10), where a subcommittee will several energy-related bills with fiscal impacts (at least three have been assigned to date). Some Senate bills will go to Finance.
Of course, this is an election year in Virginia, with every House and Senate seat up this fall. Legislators have reason to worry that the 2017 “blue wave” could turn into a 2019 flood tide that sweeps out not just vulnerable Republicans, but Democrats facing primary challenges from the left.
Will that persuade some of them to finally support clean energy, or at least some of the pragmatic initiatives that have broad popular support?
That’s the hope driving a number of bills framed around supporting market competition and customer choice, enabling private investments in renewable energy, and saving money for consumers and taxpayers. These are themes that appeal as much to conservatives as to liberals.
But a lot of these bills have the same problem they’ve always had. Dominion Energy opposes them, and Dominion controls the legislature.
Both Dominion and elected leaders maintain the fiction that it’s the other way around. That fiction allowed Senator Wagner and Delegate Kilgore, the chairmen of the Commerce and Labor Committees, to “refer” solar bills for secret negotiation between utilities and the solar industry via the private, closed-door Rubin Group.
About that Rubin Group
Frankly, I’ve never understood the notion that the solar industry ought to be able to work things out with the utilities so legislators don’t have to make decisions themselves. Solar installers negotiating with Dominion is like mice negotiating with the cat. The cat is not actually interested in peaceful coexistence, so it’s hard to imagine an outcome that makes life better for the mice.
And however much they insist they support solar, Kilgore, Wagner and company act like they’re secretly pleased that Kitty is such a good mouser. I don’t know how else to explain the way they lecture the mice on the virtues of compromise.
The Rubin Group has managed to produce legislation where the interests of the utilities and the solar industry align, primarily in ways that help utility-scale solar farms. When it comes to net metering and customer solar generally, however, Dominion hasn’t been willing to give up anything unless it gets something in return—and as it already has everything but the crumbs, progress seems to have stalled. I hear negotiations remain ongoing, however, so this isn’t the last word.
On the other hand, the solar industry did reach an accommodation with the electric cooperatives this year over customer solar. As member-owned non-profits, the coops are sometimes more responsive to the desires of their customer-owners, and this seems to be evidence of that. (Though see this blogpost from Seth Heald about the failures of democracy and transparency at Virginia’s larges coop, an issue now in litigation before the SCC.)
With the solar industry stalled in its talks with Dominion and a sense of urgency mounting, customer groups and other solar industry alliances have stepped into the void. Several bills seek to preserve and expand the market for customer solar with bills removing policy barriers. The most comprehensive of these is the Solar Freedom legislation put forward by Delegate Keam (HB 2329) and Senators McClellan and Edwards (SB 1456), removing 8 non-technical barriers to renewable energy deployment buy customers. Other net metering bills have similar provisions that tackle just one barrier at a time.
Another group of bills don’t seem intended to win Republican support, much less Dominion’s. Bills that will dramatically alter our energy supply, put Virginia at the forefront of climate action and rein in utility power have no chance of passage this year, but may become part of a platform for strong climate action next year if a pro-environment majority wins control of the GA.
The list below may look overwhelming, so let me just note that this is not even comprehensive, and additional bills may yet be filed.
I’ve separated the bills into categories for easier reference, but watch for overlap among them. I’ve put Solar Freedom up first (because I can!); after that, bills are ordered by number, with House bills first.
Solar Freedom
HB 2329 (Keam) and SB 1456 (McClellan and Edwards) is the Solar Freedom bill that removes barriers to renewable energy installations by utility customers, mostly in the net metering provisions, and adds language to the Commonwealth Energy Policy supporting customer solar. The 8 provisions are:
- Lifting the 1% cap on the total amount of solar that can be net metered in a utility territory
- Making third-party financing using power purchase agreements (PPAs) legal statewide for all customer classes
- Allowing local government entities to install solar facilities of up to 5 MW on government-owned property and use the electricity for other government-owned buildings
- Allowing all customers to attribute output from a single solar array to multiple meters on the same or adjacent property of the same customer
- Allowing the owner of a multi-family residential building or condominium to install a solar facility on the building or surrounding property and sell the electricity to tenants
- Removing the restriction on customers installing a net-metered solar facility larger than required to meet their previous 12 months’ demand
- Raising the size cap for net metered non-residential solar facilities from 1 MW to 2 MW
- Removing standby charges for residential and agricultural net metering customers
Other renewable energy bills
HB 1683 (Ware) gives electric cooperatives greater autonomy, including authority to raise their total system caps for net metering up to 5% of peak load.
HB 1809 (Gooditis) follows up on last year’s HB 966 by making the renewable energy and energy efficiency provisions mandatory. If utilities don’t meet annual targets, they have to return their retained overearnings to customers.
HB 1869 (Hurst), SB 1483 (Deeds) and SB 1714 (Edwards) creates a pilot program allowing schools that generate a surplus of solar or wind energy to have the surplus credited to other schools in the same school district.
HB 1902 (Rasoul) would provide a billion dollars in grant funding for solar projects, paid for by utilities, who are required to contribute this amount of money through voluntary contributions (sic).
HB 1928 (Bulova) and SB 1460 (McClellan) expands utility programs allowing third-party power purchase agreements (PPAs) for renewable energy while continuing to restrict the classes of customers who are allowed to have access to this important financing tool.
HB 2117 (Mullin) and SB 1584 (Sutterlein) fixes the problem that competitive service providers can no longer offer renewable energy to a utility’s customers once the utility has an approved renewable energy tariff of its own. Now that the SCC has approved a renewable energy tariff for APCo, this is a live issue.
HB 2165 (Davis and Hurst) and HB 2460 (Jones and Kory), and SB 1496 (Saslaw) provide an income tax credit for nonresidential solar energy equipment installed on landfills, brownfields, in economic opportunity zones, and in certain utility cooperatives. This is a Rubin Group bill.
HB 2192 (Rush) and SB 1331 (Stanley) is a school modernization initiative that includes language encouraging energy efficient building standards and net zero design. It also encourages schools to consider lease agreements with private developers, but does not seem to contemplate the more common use of third-party power purchase agreements.
HB 2241 (Delaney) establishes a green jobs training tax credit.
HB 2500 (Sullivan) establishes a mandatory renewable portfolio standard (RPS) for Virginia, eliminates carbon-producing sources from the list of qualifying sources, kicks things off with an extraordinarily ambitious 20% by 2020 target, and ratchets up the targets to 80% by 2027.
HB 2547 (Hugo) and SB 1769 (Sturtevant) makes changes to the net metering program for customers of electric cooperatives. The overall net metering cap is raised from the current 1 percent to a total of 5%, divided into separate buckets by customer type and with an option for coops to choose to go up to 7%. Customers will be permitted to install enough renewable energy to meet up to 125% of previous year’s demand, up from 100% today. Third-party PPAs are generally legal, with a self-certification requirement. However, the coops will begin imposing demand charges on customers with solar, to be phased in over several years, replacing any standby charges. In the House version only, one additional provision allows investor-owned utilities (Dominion and APCo) to ask the SCC to raise the net metering cap if they feel like it, but I’m told it is not expected to be in the final legislation. This bill was negotiated between the coops and the solar industry via the “Rubin Group.”
HB 2621 (Ingram) and SB 1398 (Stanley) authorize a locality to require the owner or developer of a solar farm, as part of the approval process, to agree to a decommissioning plan. This is a Rubin Group bill.
HB 2641 (Gooditis) makes third-party power purchase agreements for distributed renewable energy resources legal statewide.
HB 2692 (Sullivan) allows the owner of a multifamily residential building to install a renewable energy facility and sell the output to occupants or use for the building’s common areas.
HB 2741 (Aird) establishes a rebate program for low and moderate-income households that install solar.
HB 2792 (Tran) and SB 1779 (Ebbin) establishes a 6-year pilot program for municipal net metering for localities that are retail customers of investor-owned utilities.
HJ 656 (Delaney) would have the Virginia Resources Authority study the process of transitioning Virginia’s workforce from fossil-fuel jobs to green energy jobs.
SB 1091 (Reeves) imposes expensive bonding requirements on utility-scale solar farms, taking a more drastic approach than HB 2621 (Ingram) and SB 1398 (Stanley) to resolving the concerns of localities about what happens to solar farms at the end of their useful life.
Energy Efficiency (some of which have RE components)
HB 2243 (Sullivan) creates an energy efficiency revolving fund to offer no-interest loans to local government, public schools, and public institutions of higher learning.
HB 2292 (Sullivan) and SB 1662 (Wagner), dubbed the “show your work bill,” requires the SCC to provide justification if it rejects a utility energy efficiency program.
HB 2293 (Sullivan) establishes a stakeholder process to provide input on the development of utility energy efficiency programs.
HB 2294 (Sullivan) establishes mandatory energy efficiency goals for electric and gas utilities.
HB 2295 (Sullivan) creates an energy efficiency fund and board to administer it.
HB 2332 (Keam) protects customer data collected by utilities while allowing the use of aggregated anonymous data for energy efficiency and demand-side management efforts.
SB 1111 (Marsden) requires utilities to provide rate abatements to certain customers who invest at least $10,000 in energy efficiency and, by virtue of their lower consumption, end up being pushed into a tier with higher rates.
SB 1400 (Petersen) removes the exclusion of residential buildings from the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, which allows localities to provide low-interest loans for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements on buildings.
HB 2070 (Bell, John) provides a tax deduction for energy saving products, including solar panels and Energy Star products, up to $10,000.
Energy transition and climate
HB 1635 (Rasoul, with 9 co-patrons) imposes a moratorium on fossil fuel projects, including export facilities, gas pipelines and related infrastructure, refineries and fossil fuel exploration; requires utilities to use clean energy sources for 80% of electricity sales by 2028, and 100% by 2036; and requires the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy to develop a (really) comprehensive climate action plan, which residents are given legal standing to enforce by suit. This is being referred to as by the Off Act. (Update: HB 1635 passed Commerce and Labor on January 23 and heads to the floor of the House. Read this blogpost to understand what’s going on.)
HB 2735 (Toscano) and SB 1666 (Lewis and Spruill) is this year’s version of the Virginia Coastal Protection Act, which would have Virginia formally join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). It dedicates money raised by auctioning carbon allowances to climate adaptation efforts, energy efficiency programs, and coalfields transition. The Governor has made this bill a priority.
HB 1686 (Reid, with 14 co-patrons) and SB 1648 (Boysko) bans new or expanded fossil fuel generating plants until Virginia has those 5,500 MW of renewable energy we were promised. This is referred to as the Renewables First Act.
HB 2611 (Poindexter) would prohibit Virginia from joining or participating in RGGI without support from two-thirds of the members of the House and Senate, making it sort of an anti-Virginia Coastal Protection Act.
HB 2501 (Rasoul) directs the Division of Energy at DMME to include a greenhouse gas emissions inventory in the Virginia Energy Plan.
HB 2645 (Rasoul, with 13 co-patrons), nicknamed the REFUND Act, prohibits electric utilities from making nonessential expenditures and requires refunds if the SCC finds they have. It also bars fuel cost recovery for more pipeline capacity than appropriate to ensure a reliable supply of gas. Other reforms in the bill would undo some of the provisions of last year’s SB 966, lower the percentage of excess earnings utilities can retain, and require the SCC to determine rates of return based on cost of service rather than peer group analysis.
HB 2747 (Kilgore) and SB 1707 (Chafin) create a Southwest Virginia Energy Research and Development Authority which will, among other things, promote renewable energy on brownfield sites, including abandoned mine sites, and support energy storage, including pumped storage hydro.
HJ 724 (Rasoul) is a resolution “Recognizing the need for a Green New Deal in Virginia which promotes a Just Transition to a clean energy economy through lifting working families.”
Other utility regulation
HB 1718 (Ware) requires an electric utility to demonstrate that any pipeline capacity contracts it enters are the lowest-cost option available, before being given approval to charge customers in a fuel factor case.
HB 1840 (Danny Marshall) allows utilities to develop transmission infrastructure at megasites in anticipation of development, charging today’s customers for the expense of attracting new customers.
HB 2477 (Kilgore) would eliminate one of the few areas of retail choice allowed in Virginia by preventing large customers from using competitive retail suppliers of electricity, including for the purpose of procuring renewable energy, in any utility territory with less than 2% annual load growth. (I haven’t confirmed this, but that might be Dominion as well as APCo.)
HB 2503 (Rasoul) requires the State Corporation Commission to conduct a formal hearing before approving any changes to fuel procurement arrangements between affiliates of an electric utility or its parent company that will impact rate payers. This addresses the conflict of interest issue in Dominion Energy’s arrangement to commit its utility subsidiary to purchase capacity in the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.
HB 2691 (O’Quinn) establishes a pilot program for electric utilities to provide broadband services in underserved areas, and raise rates for the rest of us to pay for it, proclaiming this to be in the public interest.
HB 2697 (Toscano) and SB 1583 (Sutterlein) supports competition by shortening the time period that a utility’s customer that switches to a competing supplier is barred from returning as a customer of its utility from 5 years to 90 days.
HB 2738 (Bagby) and SB 1695 (Wagner) authorizes utilities to acquire rights of way on land that the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority decides could attract new customers to the site, and allows utilities to recover costs from existing customers. Because, you know, having utilities seize Virginians’ land for speculative development is already going so well for folks in the path of the pipelines. Who could complain about paying higher rates to help it happen more places?
SB 1780 (Petersen) requires, among other things, that utilities must refund to customers the costs of anything the SCC deems is a nonessential expenditure, including spending on lobbying, political contributions, and compensation for employees in excess of $5 million. It directs the SCC to disallow recovery of fuel costs if a company pays more for pipeline capacity from an affiliated company than needed to ensure a reliable supply of natural gas. It requires rate reviews of Dominion and APCo in 2019 and makes those biennial instead of triennial, and provides for the SCC to conduct an audit going back to 2015. It tightens provisions governing utilities’ keeping of overearnings and provides for the allowed rate of return to be based on the cost of providing service instead of letting our utilities make what all the other monopolists make (“peer group analysis”).
This article originally appeared in the Virginia Mercury on January 17, 2019. I’ve updated it to include later-filed bills and one or two that I missed originally.
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https://powerforthepeopleva.com/2019/01/18/your-guide-to-2019-climate-and-energy-bills/
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Back in January, we published a list of the top 10 public utility commission issues to watch in 2016. With 2016 heading into the home stretch, we check in on the top issues facing utility commissions so far this year. Not surprisingly, the challenges PUCs are grappling with are all over the map: sweeping changes in utility business models, utility M&A, grid modernization, rate design, smart meter data access, demand charges for residential customers, energy storage, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, to name a few. Here is a status check of the Top 10 matters before PUCs to date.
Note: some links in this post reference documents in DocketDash, BillBoard or PowerPortal, all part of AEE's software platform, PowerSuite. Click here and sign up for a free 14-day trial of PowerSuite.
1. California Leading Out West
Since we last checked in, the California Public Utilities Commission has been very busy. Receiving the most attention is Commissioner Michael Florio's regulatory incentive proposal, which he introduced on April 4 in California’s Integrated Distributed Energy Resources (IDER) proceeding. The proposal is intended as a pilot program to test the effect of incentives on utility sourcing of services from DER, addressing the potential conflict between the Commission's policy objectives and the utilities' financial objectives. The Commission held a series of workshops (the most recent one was held on August 4) to consider and develop a process to test the regulatory incentive proposal. As a result, Commissioner Florio issued a revised proposal on September 1 and ordered reply comments on the revised proposal by September 22.
California is also immersed in a variety of other 21st century electricity system initiatives. Their Distribution Resource Plan proceeding - focused on how the state's investor-owned utilities can capture the value of DER in their distribution systems - is about to issue a Track 2 final decision (expected sometime in August) on demonstration and pilot projects. A Track 3 final decision on policy and coordination issues is expected by the end of 2016.
In other California developments, on June 9 the Commission authorized $111 million in new funding to continue the New Solar Homes Partnership - financial incentives for homeowners, builders, and developers to install solar on homes. That same day, the Commission adopted 2017 Demand Response bridge funding (to improve existing programs before the full integration of DR as a supply resource in the CAISO market in 2018). On June 23, the Commission approved revisions to the Self Generation Incentive Program. On July 22, the Commission directed utilities to develop plans by November for engaging with new customers on several time-of-use (TOU) rate pilots (i.e., informing new customers of tariff choices and assisting customers in choosing the correct rate). The Commission has also continued to work with CAISO to asses peak electricity usage patterns in order to develop future time-of-use rates (with a final decision expected by the end of the year). And the Commission has been working to develop a process by 2017 for an integrated resource planning (IRP) framework for California's utilities. Last but not least, on August 11, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) asked for approval to retire the 2,240 MW Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant by 2025 and replace the output with a combination of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy storage.
2. New York Leading in the East
After more than two years years of policy formulation, New York’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) proceeding is finally revving toward implementation. On May 19 the New York Public Service Commission issued the highly anticipated Track Two order adopting ratemaking changes to create a modern regulatory framework that aligns utility revenue models with consumer interests and policy objectives. The new system will allow utilities to create shareholder value by integrating third-party solutions (e.g. software services for cloud computing) and capital such as DERs that reduce system costs and improve the efficiency, flexibility, and resiliency of the grid. The goal is to enable market activity and assist in building a robust retail market.
The PSC is also engaging stakeholders in a collaborative process to identify new approaches for valuing DER. It is working on both an interim successor to net metering and a long-term full-value-of-DER methodology, both based on the “LMP+D” approach where LMP represents all wholesale market values and “D” represents all other values, including distribution system benefits and environmental externalities (which are not fully captured in market prices). The goal is to have an interim methodology adopted in 2016 so the utilities can implement it by mid-2017, while working on successive iterations and improvements with an eye towards completing development of the full-value methodology in 2018. AEE Institute has been busy working behind the scenes to facilitate a transition plan with both utilities and solar developers as well as developing a framework based on the “LMP+D” approach.
Other key proceedings to keep an eye on in New York include the utilities' distributed system implementation plans (DSIPs) proceeding, which opened on July 26 (initial comments are due by September 12 and reply comments are due by September 26); the utilities' Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) handbooks proceeding, which opened on July 27 (reply comments are due by September 26); and three proceedings opened on August 9 around utility revenue reforms (16-M-0428 and 16-M-0429) and rate design reforms (16-M-0430) to implement the REV Track 2 order. The PSC also made significant revisions to their Clean Energy Standard - more on that later.
3. First Smart Meters, Then Access to Data
Timely and convenient access to data for customers and third parties is critical to support the transition to a modern grid. Large investments in advanced metering infrastructure (over 41% of all meters as of January 2015), increased adoption of DERs, and upticks in experimental and alternative rate designs are leading states to investigate their data access rules.
In March, the Illinois Commerce Commission established Green Button Connect as the automated electronic delivery method for third parties to access customer data in order to increase the benefits of Illinois' investment in advanced metering infrastructure. In May, Xcel Energy in Colorado reached a settlement agreement to address customer data access issues and agreed to consider implementation of Green Button Connect at some point in the near future. In June, staff of the Public Utility Commission of Texas recommended that the Commission open a rulemaking to address issues around Smart Meter Texas (SMT) - a web portal that enables a customer and the customer's retail electric provider to access the customer's usage data. As a result, in July the Commission opened two rulemakings - one on third party authorization to access data and one on SMT governance. And in August, the Customer Energy Usage Data working group, in Minnesota’s long open data access and privacy policies proceeding, filed a report with recommendations to the Commission (a comment period is expected to open up soon).
Back on the eastern seaboard, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission continues to investigate a standardized solution for a secure web portal for the acquisition of smart meter data, with utilities submitting technical implementation plans in July. In August, the New York Public Service Commission opened a proceeding focused on utility revenue reforms and aggregated data access requirements.
4. No Shortage of Action In Utility Mergers and Acquisitions
Since the beginning of the year, Exelon-Pepco ($6.8 billion), Cleco Partners-Cleco Power ($4.7 billion), Emera-Teco Energy ($10.4 billion), and Southern Company-AGL Resources ($12 billion) have all received final approval for their merger & acquisition requests.
Requests in Texas and Hawaii did not receive the same warm reception. In September 2015, Hunt Consolidated and various other investors filed for approval to acquire the largest T&D utility in Texas, Oncor, for $17.6 billion and convert it into a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). In March the Commission approved the merger, but in May Hunt withdrew its proposal because of differences with the Commission over whether a portion of the tax savings resulting from the REIT structure (up to $250 million a year) should be shared with ratepayers. Now Hunt has filed a new proposal and is competing with other bidders, most notably NextEra Energy, for the acquisition.
On July 15, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission rejected the long pending $4.3 billion merger between NextEra Energy and Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI). The Commission said the merger was not in the public interest and failed to show a commitment to the state's clean energy goals.
Other M&A action included a $12.2 billion proposed acquisition of Westar Energy by Great Plains Energy that must be approved by FERC, the Missouri Public Service Commission, and the Kansas Corporation Commission. And Fortis Inc.'s proposed $11.3 billion acquisition of ITC Holdings Corp. still must be approved by the Federal Communication Commission, FERC, and regulatory agencies in Kansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
5. Modernizing the Grid
New York is not the only state in the northeast undertaking grid modernization initiatives. In March, the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission opened an investigation to improve visibility and understand the costs and benefits of various activities on the distribution system and investigate rate structures appropriate for a changing distribution system. The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (NHPUC) is making strides in their own right. In April, the Commission initiated a working group process to explore the following topics: distribution system planning, customer engagement with distributed energy resources (including advanced metering functionality, rate design, customer data, and customer education), and utility cost recovery and financial incentives. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities is also moving forward with hearings on their utilities’ 10-year grid modernization plans (15-120, 15-121, 15-122, and 15-123) set to begin in November.
In the midwest, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is continuing its effort as the first vertically integrated state undertaking comprehensive reforms. In March, Commission staff released a report laying out a process to move forward with its grid modernization proceeding. The report specifically said the next steps would include plans for integrated distribution planning, hosting capacity analysis, smart inverters, AMI, customer usage information, third party aggregation, and time-varying rates (TVR).
Other states/jurisdictions that are moving forward with grid-mod proceedings include Illinois (also investigating software as a service for cloud computing), the District of Columbia, and Missouri.
6. Alternatives to Traditional Rate Design
Utilities in Colorado and Arizona may soon be joining utilities in California in moving toward default TOU rates. Last year, the California Public Utilities Commission required the state’s big IOUs to adopt default TOU rates by 2019. In Colorado on August 15, Xcel Energy entered into a non-unanimous settlement agreement with over 20 parties which, among other things, introduced two new TOU pilots to test moving toward a default TOU rate for residential customers in 2020. In Arizona on August 11, UNS Electric received approval for a default TOU rate for new residential and small commercial customers (the default non-TOU rate for existing customers will have a $2 increase in the fixed charge to encourage people to move to the TOU rate) and a customer education plan to inform customers on the benefits of TOU rates.
Several other states are investigating alternative rate designs as well. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission opened an investigation at the beginning of the year on the heels of several controversial rate case requests in order to consider alternative ratemaking mechanisms such as revenue decoupling, incentive regulation, or other mechanisms that encourage utilities to better implement energy efficiency and conservation programs. In February, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority opened a proceeding to conduct a full cost of service study and rate design review to establish a standardized methodology that would provide a framework for the state’s electric distribution companies’ future rate requests. Public hearings on the study are to begin in October. At the end of April, the Arkansas Public Service Commission opened a proceeding to consider changes to their renewable DG policies and net metering rules. In May, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission initiated a proceeding to develop new alternative net metering tariffs and to consider the costs and benefits of behind the meter distributed generation (DG) and alternative rate structures (including time based tariffs). In June, the Public Utilities Commission of Texas opened a rulemaking to investigate alternative ratemaking mechanisms, with a final report due to the legislature by January 2017.
And in September, the Nevada net metering debate continued to swirl. On September 13, NV Energy, SolarCity, and the Bureau of Consumer Protection, filed a settlement with the Nevada Public Utilities Commission to grandfather existing net metering customers (as of the end of 2015) under the original retail rate net metering tariff for a period of 20 years (opposed to the new rates which tripled the fixed charge and reduced the net metering credit). Coincidentally, on the same day, a Carson City district judge overturned the new net metering rates for existing customers, which made no provision for grandfathering, saying the charges were a “denial of fairness and due process through inadequate notice.” The court decision may be appealed to the state Supreme Court, but a Commission decision on the settlement (arriving as soon as the end of the month; a hearing is set for September 19) may ultimately put the issue to rest.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners (NARUC) issued a draft manual on DER compensation and rate design in July to assist regulators in navigating the challenges and policy develops inherent in the changing electricity system. AEE submitted comments on September 2 in response, encouraging NARUC to make additional improvements. The final manual is expected to be released in November.
7. Demand Charges for Residential Customers?
Utilities from across the country seem to be in lockstep, beginning a trend toward something new for residential customers: demand charges. While no utility has been able to impose mandatory demand charges for all of their residential customers, there has been no shortage of proposals.
At the beginning of the year, Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. proposed tacking on a demand charge for residential and small commercial customers in its general rate case. However in June, the proposal received pushback from a variety of parties recommending the elimination of any new demand charges until further testing (the Commission is expected to make a final decision soon). Last year, UNS Electric in Arizona proposed a mandatory demand charge for residential customers in its rate request. After much blowback, including a letter from Chairman Doug Little in April expressing concerns over the proposal, the Commission in August rejected the proposal.
In May, Exelon and Commonwealth Edison in Illinois (formerly Chicago Edison, which enacted the first demand charge in 1898) introduced a new bill that would mandate a residential demand charge. In June, the largest utility in Arizona, Arizona Public Service (APS), proposed three default demand charge rates for residential customers as part of its 2016 general rate case. This is a trend that will continue to bear watching.
8. The Next Big Thing: Energy Storage
Energy storage is gaining momentum and becoming an increasingly important asset for our energy system - and PUCs are taking notice. At the beginning of the year, APS received approval for a residential level pilot program, consisting of 75 homes exploring different combinations of energy storage technologies. The Arizona Corporation Commission further ordered APS to report on the costs and benefits of the program by this October and spend an additional $4 million to develop a program to facilitate energy storage technologies through DR or load management. In May, in another part of the Grand Canyon State, the Commission gave Tucson Electric Power (TEP) the green light for two 10 MW energy storage pilot projects as part of its 2016 Renewable Energy Standard plan.
In March, the nearby Colorado Public Utilities Commission approved Xcel Energy’s proposal to invest $9.1 million in two energy storage projects as part of its Innovative Clean Technology Projects Program. One of them - called the Panasonic Solar-Battery Microgrid Project - will include a 1.3 MW solar array and a battery storage system capable of holding 2 MWh of power. The other - called the Stapleton Project - will include up to six battery storage systems along the distribution system to support up to 330 rooftop solar installations.
Other important developments include the Public Utility Commission of Oregon’s energy storage investigation, which issued draft project proposals on August 19. The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada’s investigation into energy storage technology held a workshop on August 3 to discuss storage valuation and will hold a workshop on September 13 pertaining to utility planning and distribution. Meanwhile, California continues to lead the nation in energy storage (1.3 GW mandate by 2020), with a proposed decision due before the end of the year on its open proceeding evaluating the Commission’s energy storage framework and policies.
9. Electric Vehicle Infrastructure - A New Revenue Stream?
Utilities in many states are looking to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations as a way to expand their rate base and shore up their revenue streams. This has been a controversial issue in many states, where improving EV infrastructure has to be balanced with its effect on ratepayers and on third-party EV charging companies.
To start the year off, Avista Utilities in Washington proposed a $3.1 million, two-year electric vehicle charging station pilot. In April, the Commission approved the pilot, which will install AC Level 2 charging stations at 120 single-family homes; 100 at workplaces, fleet and multi-unit dwelling locations; and 45 at public locations, as well as seven DC fast charging stations at public locations.
The Nevada Public Utilities Commission opened an investigation in January and recently held a workshop on August 23. On the other side of the country in Connecticut, the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) opened an investigation in July into the implementation of electric vehicle time of day rates for residential and commercial customers. In April, the Kentucky Public Service Commission approved Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities’ proposal to install and operate 20 EV charging stations. In August, Ameren Missouri proposed a three-year $570,000 pilot program to install and operate six electric vehicle charging stations along Interstate 70. And on the flip side, in September, the Kansas Corporation Commission denied Kansas City Power & Light's (KCP&L) proposed Clean Charge Network (CCN) - which included 1,000 charging stations in their service territory - stating that there is currently little demand for the charging stations, that ratepayers should not be paying to finance new stations, and that private businesses and homeowners are already installing charging stations on their own.
Finally, don’t forget California, which has been ground zero for EVs the past couple of years, with Executive Order B-16-2012 setting a target of putting 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) on the roads by 2025. In March, CPUC expanded its ongoing EV rulemaking to include laying the groundwork for electric corporations to develop programs and make investments to accelerate widespread transportation electrification.
10. Renewable Energy Becomes Mainstream
As renewable energy resources have become increasingly cost competitive, states have become more and more ambitious in raising their renewable portfolio standards. In 2015, Hawaii (100% by 2045), Vermont (75% by 2032), and California (50% by 2030) set the standard; this year, other states have followed suit.
In March, the Oregon legislature passed SB1547, raising that state’s renewable portfolio standard to 50% by 2040. In June, Rhode Island signed into law S2185 increasing its renewable energy standard to 38.5% by 2035. In July, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser signed B21-0650, extending the DC RPS to 50% by 2032. And in August, the New York Public Service Commission adopted a Clean Energy Standard mandating that 50% of New York's electricity come from renewable sources by 2030 and directing $965 million in subsidies over the next two years, with adjustments every two years until 2029, to the Fitzpatrick, Ginna and Nine Mile nuclear plants.
We explored this topic in a webinar featuring Robert Powelson, a commissioner with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and the incoming president of NARUC, and Mateo Jaramillo, Vice President of Products and Programs, Tesla Energy. Click here to see the recorded webinar:
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https://blog.aee.net/top-10-utility-commission-issues-of-2016-so-far
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The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) recently issued an order giving greater flexibility to renewable energy projects seeking to qualify for Massachusetts’ net metering program. Net metering allows the owner of a renewable energy project (such as wind or solar) to receive a retail credit for at least a portion of electricity it generates and feeds back into the grid. In a previous order, the DPU defined the terms facility and unit in order to provide guidance as to which projects can qualify for net metering in Massachusetts.
The recent order confers on the DPU and local distribution companies flexibility to relax certain eligibility requirements for net metering. In a previous order, the DPU made eligibility contingent on the generating facility being located on a single parcel of land, with a single point of interconnection, behind a single meter. While these eligibility criteria offer clear, easily verifiable parameters for net metering projects, they can also inhibit the development of certain net metering projects, such as large public net metering facilities up to 10 MW, which may be safer and more reliable and efficient if interconnected to the electric grid at multiple points.
The DPU’s recent order declines to grant any blanket exemptions from the eligibility criteria, but it does allow individual exceptions to be granted when required for optimal interconnection. A petition for an exception to the single parcel rule may now be filed with the DPU, and an exception to the single meter or single point of interconnection may now be sought from the local distribution company. The DPU explained that local distribution companies are best situated to determine what constitutes optimal interconnection on their distribution system. The order directs the distribution companies to apply a consistent standard in granting exceptions, but it declines to establish additional documentation requirements that must be submitted to the distribution companies.
Along with their new authority to grant exceptions, the distribution companies have the responsibility to ensure that net metering services are provided only to eligible customers. The DPU is requiring distribution companies to develop a means of evaluating all customers’ and facilities’ eligibility for net metering services at an early stage of project design. The distribution companies must submit a joint proposal addressing how they will evaluate eligibility for net metering services and when they will communicate with customers about eligibility.
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https://www.energybusinesslaw.com/2013/07/articles/project-development-and-finance/massachusetts-dpu-adopts-procedures-for-relaxing-eligibility-for-net-metering-renewable-energy-facilities/
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Palmerston North, New Zealand Local governments have significant power to influence the energy choices of their citizens. They administer and regulate water supply, waste collection, public transport, and infrastructure. They own buildings, land, waste treatment facilities and vehicle fleets and they have close proximity to citizens and businesses.
Many cities and towns have already encouraged energy efficiency measures, but relatively few have enhanced the deployment of renewable energy projects within their boundary. As demand for energy services continues to grow, the energy infrastructure that every city and town depends upon will need to be expanded and upgraded. This provides the opportunity to increase the deployment of renewable energy technologies and distributed energy systems, and hence gain multiple benefits.
A range of policies have already been employed by a few cities to stimulate local renewable energy development and achieve these multiple benefits for local citizens including energy security, reduced air pollution, sustainable development, improved health, employment, as well as helping to meet national or state ambitions for greenhouse gas emission reductions. Policies include local governance by authority, by provision, by enabling, by leadership, by self-governance, and by combinations of such approaches. Mayors of mega-cities, down to small-town officials, have successfully introduced such policies, although these vary with location, local resources, and population.
Current Status of Urban Centres
More than 50% of the world’s population now live in urban environments and this proportion will continue to grow over the next few decades. They produce around 71% of global, energy-related, CO2 emissions which is likely to rise to 76% by 2030. In OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operations and Development) countries, many cities have already taken initiatives to reduce their energy demand through improved efficiency and conservation, in an endeavour to reduce their dependence on imported energy and reduce their carbon footprints. In many cases, an increased uptake of renewable energy technologies could also be an economically viable solution to energy security and climate change mitigation, especially when all the other co-benefits are taken into account.
Above: Barcelona’s renewables model has been replicated across Spain
For some cities, particularly those in non-OECD countries, additional drivers have been to reduce local air pollution and move towards sustainable development and growth. Overall however, only a small proportion of local governments worldwide have developed policies and projects specifically to better utilise their local renewable energy resources and capture the benefits.
Several leading and progressive cities and towns have already taken innovative decisions to enhance the deployment and use of renewable energy resources within their geographic boundaries. For example the borough of Merton in London, England, introduced a regulation that all new buildings would have to meet at least 10% of their total energy demand from renewable energy technologies that are integrated into the building structure. The so-called ‘Merton rule’ has encouraged architects, designers and developers of buildings to also consider energy efficiency as a high priority, in order to keep the share of renewable energy down to a manageable level – 10% of a little energy is cheaper than 10% of a lot. This regulation has now been copied by many other local authorities throughout the UK.
Similarly, in 2000 Barcelona introduced ordinance for solar water heaters to be installed on all new and retrofitted buildings and, with various modifications, this has now been replicated throughout Spain as a national directive. Even more ambitiously, the small Austrian town of Güssing has largely succeeded in becoming fossil fuel free by implementing a range of renewable energy projects. It receives numerous visitors from other local governments wishing to follow its example.
City mayors, councillors, local captains of industry, small and medium enterprises, and indeed all members of an urban community should consider the opportunities that might encourage the efficient utilisation of their local sources of renewable energy. Overall aims of a local government in developing supporting policies might be to:
- inspire all members of their urban community to gain a greater understanding of the potential for renewable energy and to comprehend how its enhanced deployment could benefit themselves as citizens as well as local businesses;
- provide guidance and understanding to national, state and regional policy-makers as to how incentivising their local communities could help meet national and international energy use objectives; and,
- enable national policy-makers to better appreciate the roles that local municipalities might play in increasing renewable energy deployment, and hence moving further towards the desired transition from fossil fuels to a sustainable energy future.
Leaders and officials of local governments have started to become more involved in climate change policy-making by strategic planning; formulating, approving and implementing policies; evaluating their effectiveness; and disseminating successful actions for replication elsewhere. Successful policies instigated by large and small city councils and local municipalities from around the world have resulted in the significant uptake of renewable energy projects. These could easily be adopted by other local governments. Regardless of the size of a community, the policy principles involved are similar. Some national governments have encouraged this trend, for example, by returning the revenue from the sale of carbon credits to the local municipality that invested in an accredited renewable energy project. Palmerston North, in New Zealand, is an example where the local landfill gas site generates around 35,000 carbon credits each year, 149,000 having been sold for some €600,000 (US$ 813,000) to the Austrian government prior to the Kyoto Protocol being signed, and others sold more recently to Toyota NZ.
The Role of Technology Development
A wide range of renewable energy technologies are in the market place and can be readily employed to meet the energy services needed by city residents and businesses to provide heating, cooling, electricity and mobility. Production of heat, cold or electricity can occur within or close to the city boundary, usually by building medium-scale projects, either developed solely by the local authority or in partnership with private industry. Any locally available, primary renewable energy resources coming from biomass, hydro, geothermal, solar and wind can be exploited for this purpose. If generated at the large-scale outside the city boundary, the ‘green energy carriers’ such as biofuels or concentrating solar power, can be purchased and brought into the city for distribution to users.
Cities tend to target a specific renewable energy resource that best suits their conditions. For example, solar PV systems suit cities in lower-latitude, high sunshine, regions; geothermal power suits cities located near the tectonic plates; and bioenergy for heating or CHP (combined heat and power plants) is most common in areas with a forest industry located nearby. Cities with such a prime resource often try and develop, or attract, business ventures and investments relating directly to it. District heating schemes based on geothermal or bioenergy sources have proven to be efficient and cost effective in many cities. District cooling schemes are also maturing and good practical examples exist in several locations, including those using new solar sorption technologies.
Many cities already utilise their local renewable energy resources cost-effectively. Some smaller towns have even become fossil fuel free – although it is usually easier for a small community, located in rural surroundings, to achieve a high renewable energy contribution than it is for a mega-city trying to meet a similar objective. Cities located near the coast, or on islands, may be able to benefit from offshore wind and also, in future, from ocean energy technologies currently under development.
At the small-scale, the trend towards distributed energy (DE) has already begun in some cities and has also encouraged the development of building-integrated energy systems. The potential for a transition to ‘digital energy’ systems has now been realised. As shown in figure 1, below, this may be based on the deployment of smart meters, intelligent grids, integration of demand side management and energy storage technologies (including electric vehicles) – as well as new technologies, such as sorption chillers, biomass Stirling engines, and roof-ridge-mounted wind turbines at the demonstration stage, often supported by investments from local governments. This transition of the traditional energy system is technically very complex, but is developing rapidly. A sustainable energy future could depend on a wise combination of both centralised and DE systems that utilise technological advances throughout the supply chain.
Regulations and policies to support DE are already under development in several leading cities. RD&D investments are being made, not only by traditional utilities such as National Grid, Dong Energy and Duke Energy, and power generation equipment manufacturers such as Alstom, but also by large telecommunication and information technology companies including Intel, Google and Vodafone, and automobile manufacturers including Mitsubishi. Current concerns over data ownership and privacy issues remain to be resolved, however.
Above: Figure 1. Representation of a distributed generation system with two-way flows of electrons and of revenue through smart meters and intelligent grids
Local Governance Options and Approaches
Since a municipality owns and operates a range of buildings and facilities it can do what it wishes in terms of their management and energy supply (with energy efficiency usually high on the list). It also collects, treats and disposes of solid and liquid wastes (keeping within national regulations). As a land owner, it can develop projects within its boundary. Based on these responsibilities, many examples exist of city councils taking on a self-governance role by introducing, designing and developing renewable energy projects and systems for their own activities. The city thereby becomes a role model for local businesses and citizens to follow where appropriate, as well as for other similar size municipalities to emulate.
To stimulate actions outside of its ownership control, a local government often has the power to employ governance by authority (depending on its legal status as devolved by the regional, national or state government). It can thereby determine and introduce regulations set to meet certain objectives. Governance by leadership is where such objectives can be set in the form of a target and deadline date agreed by the community. The target might be fairly broad, such as reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions or increasing the share of renewable energy, or be more specific, such as aiming for a defined number of solar water heaters being installed or achieving a given percentage share of buildings to be connected to a biomass district heating scheme. Once a target has been agreed, in order to ensure the deadline is met, or possibly exceeded, regulations may need to be developed. These could mandate, for example, that all local buses and taxis will be run on a specified blend of biofuels, or that all new building construction will have to include the installation of a ground source heat pump.
Above: Municipalities have mandated that their vehicle fleets use biofuels
Larger local governments are often in a position to provide governance by provision in which various forms of financial incentives are offered to encourage renewable energy project deployment. There is usually a cost involved in such policies so ideally their cost-effectiveness needs to be measured in some way and monitored. Municipalities may also facilitate businesses and citizens to go beyond the minimum legally required of them at the national level by taking voluntary actions and establishing voluntary agreements.
Finally, most local municipalities are usually in a good position to undertake governance through enabling by providing education, training, advice, research and information services for its local businesses and citizens. In many cases it has been shown that both regulations and financial incentives can be more successful when undertaken in parallel with an information and educational campaign (IEA, 2007).
These various types of governance arrangements can exercise their functions by using a range of specific policy instruments (Martinot et al., 2009). In reality the boundaries between each category tend to be obscure. Policies are rarely implemented in isolation and it is more usual to develop and introduce a suite of complementary policies simultaneously (see box panel on page 79 ).
In Conclusion
Local authorities can serve as a vehicle to implement top-down policies from national governments and to ensure national mandates are carried out and deliver meaningful results. The local approach can help to demonstrate what is possible, at what costs and who the winners and losers might be. Social experimentation relating to renewable energy deployment can be undertaken at the local level and, where successful, adopted nationally. National governments therefore need to enable action at the local government level in order to fully integrate renewable energy and climate considerations into urban development strategies.
While there are many examples of cities that are starting to act on climate change and security issues by developing support policies to stimulate renewable energy activities, there are many more that have not yet appreciated the serious need for urgent action. If each of the many successful renewable energy projects and innovative policies undertaken by leading cities could be replicated a hundred fold during the coming decade, then the role of cities and towns as facilitators of change in the energy sector would be significant.
Ralph E. H. Sims is Professon of Sustainably Energy, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
This article is based upon the IEA report of the same title, written by the author and published in late 2009. The goals of the report are to show how renewable energy systems can benefit citizens and businesses, assist national governments to better appreciate the role that local municipalities might play in meeting national and international objectives, and help accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future. The report includes case studies chosen to illustrate how enhanced deployment of renewable energy projects can result, regardless of a community’s size, wealth, state of development, or location. The term ‘city’ refers to urban conglomerations administered by local municipalities and ranging from mega-cities with populations of several millions to small towns – urban settlements of several hundred people.
Sidebar: Policy Recommendations for Local Governments
- An assessment of available energy resources, together with analyses of future energy demands and costs of alternative supplies to meet heating, cooling, electricity and transport demands, should be undertaken prior to promoting the use of renewable energy. The assessment should include the potential for renewable energy projects based around water supply, wastes, and land managed by the local authority. Seasonal and daily variations in energy demand need to be considered.
- Development of renewable energy deployment policies should be undertaken in association with energy efficiency measures. In most countries, leading cities have attempted to reduce their energy demand through improved efficiency and energy management incentives, and this has been recognised as a key policy priority. Putting parallel policies in place to support the use of renewable energy by the local community usually makes good sense.
- The evolution of decentralised energy systems will vary with the location, existing energy infrastructure, renewable energy resources available, and energy business ownership status. Local governments could take a lead role by developing policies that will help support the transition of the conventional energy sector to a less centralised system.
- A wide range of policies is already evident for councils to select from that will lead to greater renewable energy deployment. None of these would suit all cities, so careful evaluation is required to determine those policies which are most appropriate to match the local conditions.
- Regardless of size, a city should undertake renewable energy policy developments in association with other policies, including national policies linked to sustainability goals and climate change, and local policies relating to energy security, energy access, health, employment, equity and reducing energy demands. Policies that are not directly energy-related can influence renewable energy uptake.
- Support from citizens and local businesses for the greater deployment of renewable energy technologies based on a good understanding of the issues is essential. The personal benefits that would result for individuals and businesses need to be identified and disseminated. Leaders of municipalities can motivate their residents, offer them enhanced pride in their community as a result of being an early adoptor, as well as provide them with greater energy independence, energy security, employment and social cohesion. Strong leadership based on clear objectives is essential.
- Many local governments tend to follow early innovators rather than lead. The advantages for cities that lead in the design, investment and monitoring of renewable energy demonstration projects that can be easily replicated, include pride and the creation of a strong national and international interest. Training centres and industrial parks based around a demonstration project can help to educate citizens, attract outside interest, and provide a critical mass of skilled personnel.
- Cities with relatively few policies in place to support and encourage the use of their renewable energy resources should evaluate the policies of leading municipalities and determine whether similar benefits could accrue. Any constraints set by their own specific set of circumstances would need to be identified.
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https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/wind-power/yes-in-my-front-yard/
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Manager- Government Affairs
Company Overview:
Leeward Renewable Energy is a growth-oriented renewable energy company that owns and operates a portfolio of 21 wind farms across nine states, with 20 in operation and one under construction, totaling more than 2,000 MW of installed capacity. We are currently developing a [15+] GW portfolio of wind, solar, and energy storage projects in energy markets across the U.S.
Job Summary:
The Manager will be responsible for advancing opportunities for utility scale solar in specified regions of North America. This role is responsible for managing regulatory and market developments, and for representing Leeward in public proceedings and forums. The individual will lead the development of SAGUARO policy priorities and strategies in selected regions, relevant trade associations, and in meetings with government staff and officials and other relevant stakeholders.
The Manager will lead Leeward’s activities, in conjunction with industry stakeholders, to grow renewable opportunities nationally. These activities will include promotion of the benefits of utility scale renewables among utility regulators and market operators, driving policymaker interest in renewable energy, support of policy development, and driving the interface between key policymakers and Leeward subject matter experts on these market creation efforts.
This candidate must have an understanding of legislative and regulatory processes for the procurement and development of utility scale renewables, program designs, utility business models, the North American power industry, organized market products and operations, and a capability to utilize that understanding to create increased opportunities for renewables through energy policy. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential Functions:
- Drive the development of new market opportunities for utility scale renewables
- Support regulatory initiatives and organized market activities that advance new markets for renewable energy development and operations, as aligned with SAGUARO strategic objectives
- Work with trade organizations and other NGOs to broaden the influence of SAGUARO in advancing utility scale renewable development
- Work with utility organizations and joint action agencies to drive awareness and provide education among utilities and their supporting organizations
- Increase SAGUARO’s visibility in leading utility scale renewable policies throughout the region
- Represent SAGUARO in key stakeholder environments to ensure company energy policy objectives are met
- Working closely with internal business units to assess, prioritize, and respond to policy developments
- Lead development and implementation of regulatory and market strategy in selected states
- Build interest among stakeholders for policies in support of SAGUARO’s business objectives
- Support subject matter expert meetings with public officials and staff
Qualifications:
- 6-10 years’ experience in government, regulatory, and/or market affairs
- BA, with focus on policy, economics, or energy preferred
- JD or Master’s in policy, economics, or energy related field preferred
- Experience managing a diverse set of energy policy issues
- A proven track record of successfully building relationships with energy regulators and legislators to enable energy policy goals; building policy positions; and, driving initiatives towards desired regulatory outcomes
- Experience working with electric utilities, building trust and relationships to support shared goals
- Demonstrated ability to develop compelling promotional strategies to create new, and further leverage existing, opportunities to advance policies among utilities, regulators and non-government type organizations
- Demonstrated passion for renewable energy
- Evidence of strong strategic thinking, communication, planning, organization and execution
- Prior experience presenting analyzed data to key stakeholders and senior level management
Physical Demands:
- Position will require sitting for long periods of time.
- Occasionally lift 20-pound or more
- Willingness and ability to travel at least 25% of time
Leeward Management Services, LLC is committed to employing a diverse workforce, and provides equal employment opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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https://pac.org/job/manager-government-affairs-47/
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As Kathleen’s Wynne’s government releases Ontario’s 2017 Long-Term Energy Plan (LTEP), Delivering Fairness and Choice, Patrick Brown’s Progressive Conservative Party (PCP) prepares to vote on two policy resolutions that seek to unwind major parts of the Liberal environmental strategy.
Among the recommended policy resolutions up for vote at the PCP November 21, 2017 policy convention are proposals to repeal the Green Energy Act (which implemented the Liberals’ renewable energy and conservation strategy)
R31. PC Party policy is to repeal the Green Energy Act (more appropriately known as the Bad Contracts Act) (Sponsored by the Energy PAC with input from the Perth-Wellington, Peterborough-Kawartha and Flamborough-Glanbrook Ontario PC Riding Associations).
and to cancel the Liberals’ Climate Change Action Plan and its cap and trade scheme)
R35. PC Party policy is to cancel the Liberal slush fund known as the Climate Change Action Plan, dismantle cap-and-trade, and withdraw from the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), and to return 100% of revenues from Trudeau’s Federal carbon pricing benchmark to taxpayers as verified by the Auditor General (Sponsored by the Environment PAC with input from the Eglinton-Lawrence and London West Ontario PC Riding Associations).
This policy does not make clear what position the PCP would then take on carbon pricing. Patrick Brown has said in his keynote address to the 2016 Annual Party Convention that “Climate change is a fact. It is a threat. It is man-made, We have to do something about it, and that something includes putting a price on carbon.”
Key Elements of LTEP 2017
Here are the key initiatives summarised in LTEP 2017
Chapter 1. Ensuring Affordable and Accessible Energy
The projected residential price for electricity will remain below the outlooks published in the 2010 and 2013 LTEPs. The projected electricity prices for large consumers will, on average, be in line with inflation over the forecast period. This is the result of previous investments that delivered a cleaner and more reliable energy system, anticipated benefits from Market Renewal, and cost-reduction measures.
- Ontario’s Fair Hydro Plan reduced electricity bills by an average of 25 per cent for residential consumers and will hold any increases to the rate of inflation for four years. As many as half a million small businesses and farms are also benefiting from the reduction. Ontario’s Fair Hydro Plan builds on previous actions that reduced electricity costs for families, farms and businesses.
- Ontario will share the costs of existing electricity investments more fairly with future generations by refinancing a portion of the Global Adjustment, spreading the cost of the investments over a longer period of time.
- Residential customers served by local distribution companies (LDCs) with some of the highest rates are getting enhanced distribution rate protection. This will save eligible customers as much as 40 to 50 per cent on their electricity bills.
- The First Nations Delivery Credit reduces the monthly electricity bills of on-reserve First Nation residential customers of licensed distributors.
- The government will enhance consumer protection by giving the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) increased regulatory authority over unit sub-meter providers.
- The government will continue to support expanded access to natural gas, giving consumers greater choice and aiding in the economic development of their communities.
Chapter 2. Ensuring a Flexible Energy System
While the demand for electricity is expected to remain steady, and the demand for fossil fuels is expected to decline, Ontario needs a flexible energy system that can meet any of the possible future outlooks. Market Renewal in the electricity sector will allow the province to adjust to changes and cost-efficiently acquire the electricity resources that are needed to meet future demand.
- Market Renewal will transform Ontario’s wholesale electricity markets and ultimately result in a more competitive and flexible marketplace.
- The Market Renewal process will develop a “made in Ontario” solution, taking lessons learned from other jurisdictions while collaborating with domestic market participants and taking into account the Province’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets.
- Ontario’s cap and trade program, as well as programs and initiatives in the Climate Change Action Plan will support efforts to decarbonize the fuels sector.
- Delivering Fairness and Choice aims to maximize the use of Ontario’s existing energy assets in order to limit any future cost increases for electricity consumers.
- Cap and trade will increase the price of fossil fuels and affect how often fossil-fueled generators get called on to meet the province’s electricity demand. This will help reduce the province’s greenhouse gas emissions and shift Ontario towards a low-carbon economy.
- The government will direct the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to establish a formal process for planning the future of the integrated provincewide bulk system.
- Ontario will continue to exercise strict oversight of nuclear refurbishments and ensure they provide value for ratepayers.
Chapter 3. Innovating to Meet the Future
Innovative technologies have the potential to transform Ontario’s energy system. New pricing plans, net metering, energy storage and the electrification of transportation will give customers more control and choice over how they generate, use and pay for energy.
- The government will work with the OEB to provide customers greater choice in their electricity price plans.
- The net metering framework will continue to be enhanced to give customers new ways to participate in clean, renewable energy generation and to reduce their electricity bills.
- Barriers to the deployment of cost-effective energy storage will be reduced.
- Utilities will be able to intelligently and cost-effectively integrate electric vehicles into their grids, including smart charging in homes.
- The government’s vision for grid modernization in Ontario focuses on providing LDCs the right environment to invest in innovative solutions that make their systems more efficient, reliable and cost-effective, and provide more customer choice. The government will build on its success and renew and enhance the Smart Grid Fund. This will continue the Province’s support of Ontario’s innovation sector and help overcome other barriers to grid modernization.
- The IESO will work with the government to develop a program to support a select number of renewable distributed generation demonstration projects that are strategically located and help inform the value of innovative technologies to the system and to customers.
- The government intends to fund international demonstration projects to help Ontario’s innovative energy companies diversify to foreign markets.
- The Province will collaborate with the federal government, universities and industry to support the province’s nuclear sector.
- The government will work with the IESO to explore the development of a pilot project that explores the energy system benefits, and GHG emission reductions, from the use of electricity to create hydrogen.
- Innovative uses for Ontario’s natural gas distribution system will be pursued.
Chapter 4. Improving Value and Performance for Consumers
As the energy sector becomes more consumer-focused, users will want increased transparency and accountability from the companies and agencies that provide energy services. Utilities and regulators will need to respond by renewing their focus on efficiency and reliability, and looking at new ways of doing business.
- The Province expects the OEB to continue to enhance its efforts to improve the performance of LDCs.
- The government will look to the OEB to identify additional tools and powers that could be used to make utilities more accountable to their customers, promote efficiencies and cost reductions, encourage partnerships, and ensure regulatory processes are cost-effective and streamlined while also accommodating changing utility business models.
- The government will work with the OEB and LDCs to redesign the electricity bill to make it more useful for consumers in understanding and managing their energy costs.
- The government will look to the OEB to review the standards for reliability and quality of service for transmitters and distributors and for options to improve the standards and will ask the IESO to review how its planning and policies can improve reliability for customers.
- The government will direct the IESO to develop a competitive selection or procurement process for transmission, and to identify possible pilot projects.
- The government will look to the IESO and the OEB to promote the right-sizing of transmission and distribution assets at their end of life.
- A new transmission corridor is needed in the northwest Greater Toronto Area given the size of the forecasted growth. Further studies will identify a specific corridor.
- The Province will provide greater transparency for consumers on gasoline pricing through the OEB‘s transportation fuels review.
Chapter 5. Strengthening our Commitment to Energy Conservation and Efficiency
Ontario is committed to putting conservation first, both as a resource for the energy system and as a tool for consumers to manage their energy costs. The government and its agencies will continue to assess the achievable potential for energy conservation, explore how to integrate existing conservation programs with new Green Ontario Fund programs, and empower consumers with access to data and tools, such as through the Green Button initiative. The transition to a capacity auction will present opportunities for demand response to grow further and compete with other resources, based on system needs.
- Demand Response capacity realized each year will depend on system needs and the competitiveness of demand response with other resources.
- The government will continue to set advanced efficiency standards for products and appliances, and will explore setting or updating energy efficiency standards for key electrical equipment in drinking water and wastewater treatment plants.
- The government and its agencies will further encourage LDCs to pursue energy efficiency measures on their distribution systems to achieve customer electricity and cost savings.
- The Green Ontario Fund will provide energy consumers with a co-ordinated, one-window approach to encourage conservation across multiple energy sources and programs.
- The government is committed to expanding Green Button provincewide and intends to propose legislation that would, if passed, enable it to require electricity and natural gas utilities to implement Green Button Download My Data and Connect My Data.
- Beginning July 1, 2018, combined heat and power projects that use supplied fossil fuels to generate electricity will no longer be eligible to apply for incentives under the Conservation First Framework or the Industrial Accelerator Program. Behind-the-meter waste energy recovery projects will continue to be eligible, as will renewable energy projects, including those paired with energy storage systems.
Chapter 6. Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change
Ontario’s robust supply of electricity will play a key role in enabling the transition to a low-carbon economy. The Province will continue to work to support the deployment of clean energy technologies.
- Ontario remains committed to an electricity system that includes renewable energy generation and supports the goals of Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan.
- The government will encourage the construction of near net zero and net zero energy and carbon emission homes and buildings to reduce emissions in the building sector.
- The government is proposing to expand the options for net metering to give building owners more opportunities to access renewable energy generation and energy storage technologies.
- The government will continue to work with industry partners to introduce renewable natural gas into the province’s natural gas supply and expand the use of lower-carbon fuels for transportation.
- Building on current activities, the government will strengthen the ability of the energy industry to anticipate the effects of climate change and integrate its impacts into its operational and infrastructure planning.
Chapter 7. Supporting First Nation and Métis Capacity and Leadership
First Nations and Métis are showing leadership in Ontario’s energy sector, with an unprecedented level of involvement. At the same time, First Nations and Métis face unique challenges in accessing clean, reliable and affordable energy – challenges the province and its agencies will work with them to address.
- The government will review current programs in order to improve the availability of conservation programs for First Nations and Métis, including communities served by Independent Power Authorities.
- The Province, working with the federal government, will continue to prioritize the connection of remote First Nation communities to the grid and support the four First Nation communities for which transmission connection is not economically feasible.
- The Aboriginal Community Energy Plan program will be expanded to help communities implement their energy plans and support Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan.
- The government will engage with First Nations and Métis to explore options for supporting energy education and capacity building, the integration of small-scale renewable energy projects, net metering and other innovative solutions that address local or regional energy needs and interests.
- Innovative financing models and support tools will be investigated to address barriers to the financing of projects led or partnered by First Nations or Métis.
- The government will report back to First Nations and Métis between LTEPs to provide updates on the Province’s progress and seek ongoing feedback.
- The government’s Natural Gas Grant Program will support the expansion of natural gas access to First Nation communities.
Chapter 8. Supporting Regional Solutions and Infrastructure
The Province is working with regions and local communities to develop plans for meeting their diverse energy requirements.
- The government will continue to work with its agencies to implement the Conservation First policy in regional and local energy planning processes.
- With the first cycle of regional planning completed, the government is directing the IESO to review the regional planning process and report back with options and recommendations that address the challenges and opportunities that have emerged.
- Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan has reinforced the importance of community energy plans, and indicated the government’s continued support for them.
- The Province has established seven pipeline principles to evaluate oil and natural gas pipelines, and is committed to public engagement when it undertakes reviews of major pipeline projects.
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Manning Environmental Law is a Canadian law firm based in Toronto, Ontario. Our practice is focussed on environmental law, energy law and aboriginal law.
Paul Manning is a certified specialist in environmental law. He has been named as one of the World’s Leading Environmental Lawyers and one of the World’s Leading Climate Change Lawyers by Who’s Who Legal.
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https://manningenvironmentallaw.com/2017/10/27/ontario-government-issues-its-long-term-energy-plan-2017-as-opposition-plans-to-unwind-cap-and-trade/
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September 11th, 2017 by John Farrell Originally published at ilsr.org.
A federal policy enacted nearly 40 years ago has breathed life into an ongoing argument at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission over utility opposition to a wind-solar hybrid project proposed in the rural city of Red Lake Falls.
The law, known as PURPA, was designed to promote local renewable generation by requiring utilities — even monopolies — to buy their electricity from qualified distributed and renewable facilities that can provide power at prices that roughly match the utilities’ “avoided cost” for electricity. But even after all this time, questions loom over exactly how to calculate that value. Utilities would like the number to be as low as possible, to deter competing power suppliers. Power producers, on the other hand, want to account for as many “avoided costs” as possible.
At issue is whether existing utility methodology fully reflects the avoided cost of distributed wind-solar hybrid projects like the one proposed for Red Lake Falls. Typically, the avoided cost calculation includes avoided energy (purchased or generated) and avoided capacity (to meet system demands). It infrequently includes avoided transmission costs, an opportunity for facilities like the Red Lake Falls project situated near substations, compared with far-flung traditional power plants.
Minnesota statute may exacerbate the problem by allowing the utility to use the cost of another renewable energy project as a proxy avoided cost, even if that project has very different benefits. For example, most renewable energy projects serving Otter Tail Power are wind only, providing little overlap with daytime peak energy use. But the Red Lake Falls project includes solar that, when combined with wind, will have a relatively high level of availability during peak demand hours. Valuing this benefit is a key role of the avoided cost methodology.
Ahead of a discussion at the Commission over how to proceed with the dispute, ILSR and several allies submitted a letter urging a more comprehensive, broader analysis. While Red Lake Falls provides an example of why it matters, clarifying the process for accurately calculating avoided cost would forge an easier path for similar projects to come online in the future. Without that kind of guidance, protracted proceedings between small-scale developers and deep-pocketed utilities–the project and utility have already been in negotiations for over a year–threaten to derail local energy growth.
The letter is included below, lightly edited for clarity. It builds on earlier comments from ILSR on the importance of addressing issues presented in the docket.
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance respectfully submits this letter in preparation for the April 6 hearing:
The Importance of Timely Resolution
Briefly, we would like to reiterate the importance of a timely complaint resolution process as noted in our comments filed February 10. Although there are many arguments to weigh in this case, the combination of a lengthy and unsuccessful negotiation with the utility and a lengthy dispute resolution process may, regardless of outcome, make it challenging for the Red Lake Falls (or subsequent) qualifying facilities to come to market. Long development timelines threaten the availability of project financing.
The Need for Investigation
Regardless of the Commission decision in resolving this complaint, we strongly support decision option #8 for setting up a separate investigation (per the Commission’s authority under 216B.17).
The importance of this investigation is underscored by the numerous other proceedings examining the changing and increasingly decentralized nature of the electricity system. The value of solar methodology (Docket No. 14-65) provided an alternative to net metering that more robustly accounts for the value of this particular distributed energy resource, and is now in use for community solar projects. The report by ICF International (Docket No. 15-556) on grid modernization notes that the grid will see increasing use of distributed energy resources and that a key element in designing the grid to meet this shift is pricing that accurately reflects locational and other attributes. The interconnection standards proceeding (Docket No. CI-16-521) is updating rules for the grid in recognition that more decentralized energy production is forthcoming.
Across all these proceedings, the Commission and utilities are adapting grid rules to accommodate cost-effective alternatives to traditional methods of supplying energy and capacity to electric customers. Distributed energy projects like the one proposed for Red Lake Falls will be increasingly effective in supplying low-cost electricity, providing peak power capacity, and — when interconnected near substations — avoiding transmission costs incurred by larger, traditional power plants. But the rules have not kept pace with the opportunity to deploy cost-effective electricity supply to Minnesota utilities.
The concern of Otter Tail Power (expressed in their comments filed February 10) is that Juhl Energy’s “proposed PPA rate exceeds Otter Tail’s avoided costs.” This sentiment mirrors concerns voiced by many Minnesota (and non-Minnesota) utilities about net metering and its relationship to the value of solar, which have been contested by solar energy producers. Minnesota has so far been a leader in addressing this issue head on, resolving the value dispute between producers, utilities, and customers by establishing a common methodology for calculating the value of solar.
In particular, the avoided cost methodology relies on a comparison to a “least cost renewable energy facility,” a generic comparison that overlooks the distinctly different operating characteristics and grid benefits of a wind/solar hybrid project like Red Lake Falls.
The Commission can address the larger question of fairness for utilities, producers, and customers by developing a common methodology for long-term estimates of utility avoided costs that accounts for the differing energy and capacity benefits of renewable energy technologies (or even their location-based avoided costs, such as transmission capacity). Like value of solar, such a methodology would provide consistency across different utility service territories, could reduce the need for individual dispute resolution processes, and facilitate more opportunities for utilities to integrate cost-effective renewable energy.
Including Health Cost/Value of Avoided Illness in Energy Pricing
September 11th, 2017 by Steve Hanley
Power plant emissions — including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter — cause or aggravate respiratory and cardiovascular health, often leading to hospitalization or even death, as documented by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine and others. However, the rapid growth of pollution-free wind power in recent years has helped to decrease emissions of these harmful pollutants.
Solar power is also doing its part, of course. “From 2007 to 2015, solar and wind power deployment increased rapidly while regulatory changes and fossil fuel price changes led to steep cuts in overall power-sector emissions. Here we evaluate how wind and solar climate and air-quality benefits evolved during this time period,” the report authors write. “We find cumulative wind and solar air-quality benefits of 2015 US$29.7–112.8 billion mostly from 3,000 to 12,700 avoided premature mortalities, and cumulative climate benefits of 2015 US$5.3–106.8 billion. The ranges span results across a suite of air-quality and health impact models and social cost of carbon estimates. We find that binding cap-and-trade pollutant markets may reduce these cumulative benefits by up to 16%. In 2015, based on central estimates, combined marginal benefits equal 7.3¢ kWh (wind) and 4.0¢ kWh (solar).”
Wind power is now the country’s largest renewable energy capacity source, with enough installed to power 25 million average American homes every year.
The LBNL study covered a 9 year period. It found that all parts of the United States benefited from wind energy energy generation. The Mid-Atlantic and Upper Midwest regions benefited the most, since they are the areas in which coal-fired generating facilities are most prevalent. Many opponents of wind power claim the federal production tax credit costs taxpayers a great deal of money, but the study found that in the Mid-Atlantic region, the health benefits of wind power were equivalent to between $100 to $250 per megawatt-hour, which is 4 to 10 times greater than the value of the tax credit. In the Upper Midwest, the benefit was between $50 to $120 per megawatt-hour.
The researchers estimated the amount of avoided emissions between 2007 and 2015 using the EPA’s Avoided Emissions and geneRation Tool. It provides a statistical yardstick for determining the amount of emissions avoided by using wind and solar energy. It looks to see which US power plants are most likely to decrease energy production as the result of the availability of renewables.
For last year, the American Wind Energy Association calculated that American wind power generated $7.4 billion in public health benefits through avoided SO2 and NOX emissions, based on cost assumptions provided by the Harvard School of Public Health. Previous work by LBNL found that state policies that promote renewable energy policies have economic benefits that are far greater than their cost, due principally to lower health care expenses.
Fossil fuel advocates like to pooh-pooh the claim that lower emissions mean lower health care costs. They would prefer to scream about how unfair it is for government to pick winners and losers in business, as if government has no business protecting citizens from health risks.
Only those with a severely stunted concept of ethical behavior could argue they should be allowed to continue poisoning people with the waste products created by their economic enterprise. If we all emptied the contents of our septic systems onto their lawns, they would soon start singing a different tune, just like Rex Tillerson, who used to be the head of one of the world’s largest fossil fuel companies but went to court to prevent a competitor from engaging in fracking operations in the vicinity of his home.
How much more evidence do we need that fossil fuel advocates — including the Idiot in the Oval — are two-faced, lying weasels who are content to poison most living things just so long as they can make a profit doing so?
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https://www.rapidshift.net/including-avoided-cost-for-electricity-when-valuing-local-generation-by-wind-and-solar/
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NOTE: In July 2020, the New York Public Service Commission adopted a net metering successor tariff for mass market net metering projects interconnected beginning on January 1, 2022. The successor tariff retains the same overall structure as the Phase One NEM tariff adopted in 2017, but adds a "Customer Benefit Contribution" (CBC) charge intended to cover the costs of state-funded programs. The CBC is based on installed DG capacity and differs by utility; it ranges from $0.69-$1.09 per kW per month.
Introduction
New York's original net-metering law, enacted in 1997, applied only to residential photovoltaic (PV) systems up to 10 kilowatts (kW). Over the years, the law was expanded to include other forms of electric generation equipment including farm waste, wind, micro-hydro, fuel cell, and combined heat and power systems. Net metering is available on a first-come, first-served basis to customers of the state's major investor-owned utilities, subject to technology, system size and aggregate capacity limitations. Net metering allows the electric customers who own eligible electricity generation system to offset their utility electricity bill on a volumetric basis from the electricity generated by the system owned by the customer.
In 2015, the Public Service Commission (PSC) initiated the Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) proceeding with a vision towards a comprehensive reform in the state’s electric utility practice and regulatory paradigm. The REV initiative seeks to create a next generation of utility business models that are customer-centric and driven by technological innovation and private investments to provide resilient, affordable, and clean energy in the State. As a part of the REV proceeding, the PSC recognized the need for the development of a more accurate method of valuing distributed energy resources beyond net metering.
In March 2017, the PSC published an order on transiting from compensating distributed energy resources (DER) through net metering to the development of Value of Distributed Energy Resource (VDER) tariffs that more accurately reflect the costs and benefits of DERs on the grid. The PSC order provides a gradual transition process from net metering to VDERs over phases to avoid drastic changes in the market.
Grandfathering and the transition plan
All distributed energy projects that were interconnected prior to March 9, 2017 will be grandfathered and will continue to be compensated through net energy metering as before, unless the customer opts for the VDER tariff.
Phase One: Phase One of the transition includes two components- i) Phase One Net Energy Metering (NEM) and ii) Phase One Value Stack. Phase One NEM is identical to the previous net energy metering except the term limit of the contract is set to 20 years. Starting March 9, 2017, until January 1, 2022 all mass market DER projects interconnected to the grid will be compensated through Phase One NEM tariff (beginning on January 1, 2022, newly interconnected customers will be compensated using the successor tariff adopted in July 2020, which retains the structure of Phase One NEM but with an additional capacity-based Customer Benefits Contribution charge). Remote net metered customers, large on-site, and community distributed generation projects that have already paid 25% of interconnection costs, or have an executed Standard Interconnection Contract will be compensated through the Phase One NEM. Projects that don’t qualify for the Phase One NEM will be compensated based on Phase One Value Stack tariff.
Phase One Value Stack is only available to technologies and projects that were previously eligible for net metering. The Value Stack tariff will be based on monetary crediting for net hourly electricity exported to the grid. Excess credit will be eligible for carry over to subsequent billing and annual periods. Projects eligible for the Value Stack will have a term length of 25 years from their in-service date. The Value Stack for net hourly electricity exported to the grid will be calculated based on the value of:
- Energy Value based on Day Ahead hourly zonal locational-based marginal price (LBMP),
- Capacity Value based on retail capacity rate based on performance during the peak hour in the previous year
- Environmental value based on the higher of the Clean Energy Standard Tier 1 Renewable Energy Credit (REC) price or the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC)
- Demand Reduction Value (DRV) and Locational System Relief Value (LSRV) based on de-averaging of utility marginal cost of service studies
Community Distributed Generation (CDG) projects on the Phase One Value Stack Tariff will also receive Market Transition Credit (MTC) equal to the difference between the retail rate and the value stack. The MTC capacity for CDG is allocated into three Tranche buckets with decreasing values from the base rate
Phase Two: On May 2017, the PSC will commence the discussion on Phase Two of the transition process.
Hybrid Energy systems: In December 2018, the PSC issued an order accepting the Hybrid Tariff for distributed energy systems that include battery storage (hybrid facilities). These tariff will govern the compensation of for hybrid facilities. The interconnection of hybrid facilities was approved by the PSC order in April 2018. The tariff designed provides that the energy injected through storage medium does not received the Environmental Value (E), and the MTC credit under the value stack. The tariff includes four options. Option A and Option B offer E, MTC and Capacity Value for all injections by ensuring that only renewable energy injected. Option C uses multiple meters to determine whether injections are from renewable energy or not, and Option D uses monthly netting. The tariff is effective January 1, 2019.
Eligible Technologies
The eligible technologies and the system size limits remain the same for the Phase One of the net metering transition process. Publicly-owned utilities are not obligated to offer net metering; however, PSEG Long Island offers net metering on terms similar to those in the state law. Below is listing of the system size limitations, organized by technology and eligible sector.
- Solar: 25 kW for residential, 100 kW for farms, 2 MW for non-residential
- Wind: 25 kW for residential, 500 kW for farm-based, and 2 MW for non-residential
- Fuel Cells: 10 kW for residential, 1.5 MW for non-residential
- Micro-hydroelectric: 25 kW for residential, 2 MW for non-residential
- Biogas: 2 MW (farm-based only)
- Micro-CHP: 10 kW (residential only)
Energy Storage projects paired with eligible DER will be eligible for compensation under Phase One NEM or Value Stack tariff for mass market on-site projects. Community Distribution Generation (CDG) and Remote Net metered (RNM) projects, or large on-site systems will be compensated at Value of Stack tariff.
Aggregate Capacity
The total amount of net metering available in the state is capped at aggregate limit determined by the Public Service Commission (PSC). The aggregate limit was previously set at 1.0%, which was tripled to 3% by PSC in October 2012, and doubled again in 2014 to 6% of the utility’s 2005 electric demand. In 2015, the PSC in response to utilities reaching the 6% aggregate capacity limit, allowed the aggregate capacity to float until the successor to net metering policy was developed.
The March 2017 PSC order on the net metering transition plan eliminated the previous aggregate cap based on a peak load calculation. The PSC instead provided that all the projects interconnected after March 9, 2017 should not impact more than 2% of each utility’s incremental net annual revenue. The provision is put in place to limit the impact of VDER tariff on non-participants.
As a way of monitoring the impacts of the DERs the PSC requires the utilities to report when they hit 85% of the recommended capacity size allocations for each of the utilities. This will provide the PSC time to determine the subsequent action if necessary.
|CHGE||O&R||NGrid||NYSEG||CE||RGE|
|MWs||30||25||100||20||90||5|
|85% capacity (MW)||25.50||21.25||85.00||17.00||76.50||4.25|
Net Excess Generation
For most types of systems, customer net excess generation (NEG) in a given month is credited to the customer's next bill at the utility's retail rate. However, for residential micro-CHP and fuel cell systems NEG is credited at the utility's avoided cost rate. A slightly different methodology using a monetary credit ($ as opposed to kWh/volumetric) is used for customers on demand meters. At the end of each annual billing cycle, most customers (i.e., residential PV and wind and farm-based wind and biogas systems) will be paid at the utility's avoided-cost rate for any unused NEG. Compensation for unused NEG produced by non-residential wind and solar systems is not addressed by the statute, however, the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) determined in its February 2009 order that unused NEG for such systems should be carried forward from one year to the next. Likewise, residential micro-CHP and fuel cell customer-generators are not permitted to monetize NEG after a year or any other period, but may carry forward unused credits indefinitely. Recently enacted S.B. 1149 did not identify a specific annual reconciliation protocol for micro-hydroelectric facilities, but the recently approved utility tariffs provide for indefinite carryover.
In May 2011 the PSC issued an order addressing two aspects of the NEG crediting process for customer generators. First, the order requires utilities to adopt consistent NEG credit calculations that include all kWh-based customer charges beginning June 1, 2011. Prior to this, some utilities did not include certain charges (e.g., the System Benefits Charge (SBC) and Renewables Portfolio Standards (RPS) surcharge) in the calculation of NEG credits. Second, the order also requires utilities to allow customers eligible for an annual cash-out of unused NEG at avoided cost, such as residential solar customers, to make a one-time selection of the annual period in question. This provision will apply to both existing and new net metering customers and is intended to avoid circumstances where the time period used for the annual cash-out is disadvantageous for some customers (i.e., large amounts of NEG being cashed-out at a lower rate). Several utilities already permitted customer-generators to make such an election.
Any excess credit from VDER Phase One tariff can be carried over to next monthly billing period, including over the end of the annual period, however at the end of the contract these unused credits will be forfeited.
Remote Net Metering
In June 2011 the state enacted legislation (A.B. 6270) allowing eligible farm-based and non-residential customer-generators to engage in "remote" net metering of solar, wind, and farm-based biogas systems. Micro-hydroelectric facilities were added as eligible for this arrangement in August 2012. The law permits eligible customer-generators to designate net metering credits from equipment located on property which they own or lease to any other meter that is located on property owned or leased by the customer, and is within the same utility territory and load zone as the net metered facility. Credits will accrue to the highest use meter first, and as with standard net metering, excess credits may be carried forward from month to month. Revised utility tariffs incorporating this change for solar, wind, and farm-based biogas systems became effective December 1, 2011. The August 2012 extension to micro-hydroelectric customer-generators will require further tariff revisions.
In October 2015, the PSC issued an order requiring the utilities to i) allow customers to assign credits from multiple host accounts to one satellite account such that the sum of all the credits do not exceed 2MW per satellite account; and ii) permit the satellite accounts with less than 2MW in host account credits to be interconnected on site generation.
The legislation and subsequent PSC orders also establish rules relating to customer responsibility for interconnection costs (e.g., new meters, transformers, or other equipment) and limitations on such costs. Cost treatments vary by customer type and system size (see § 66-j and 66-l for details).
Community Net-Metering
In July 2015 the NY Public Service Commission (PSC) issued an order that established a Community Net-metering in the State. The community net-metering allows multiple customers subscribe and receive credits to the electricity produced from off-site renewable generation facility. This policy makes it possible for renters, low-income residents, and homeowners to receive credits for renewable energy who previously could not install renewable generation facility in their homes.
In general a community energy project requires a minimum of 10 members. In March 2017, the commission allowed a waiver for a minimum ten member requirement for community distributed generation projects that are located on the site of a property serving multiple residential or non-residential customers. The group may include a single individual subscriber that has demand greater than 25kW, who will be limited to 40% of the total facility’s output. Other subscribers will be limited to individual demand less than 25kW, and their total energy use must aggregate to at least 60% of the facility’s output. The maximum size of the community energy system is limited to 2 MW. Any single entity, including facility developer, ESCO, municipal entity, business, non-profit, LLC, partnership, or other form of business or civic association can be the sponsor of the community energy facility. The sponsor will be responsible for building and operating the facility.
Implementation of the program is divided into two phases. First phase of the program will last till April 30, 2016, during which the community net metering will serve as an introductory phase. During this period, the projects will be limited to siting distributed generation in areas where it provides greatest locational benefits to the larger grid, and in areas that promote low-income customer participation. The second phase will begin in May 1st 2016 when the community net metering projects will fully implemented throughout the other utility service territories.
Environmental Attributes
New York Generation Attribute Tracking System (NYGATS) tracks the attributes of electricity generated in or imported into the State and eligible to create and certify Renewable Energy Credits (REC). 1 REC represents the environmental attributes of 1 MWh of electricity generated through a qualifying renewable energy source. REC can be traded as commodities to demonstrate compliance to the State’s Tier I Renewable Energy Standard requirement or retired voluntarily to claim the environmental attribute of renewable energy generation.
Under previous net metering and Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) policy, the issue of RECs generated by net metering customers was not addressed as New York did not have a standard REC market. The current Clean Energy Standard in New York includes a Renewable Energy Standard (RES) that requires the utilities comply with the requirements via purchase or RECs or through compliance payment.
Behind the meter projects that were previously eligible to bid into Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Main Tier solicitations will not be eligible to bid into Tier 1 solicitation by NYSERDA (exemptions apply). No behind the meter projects will be eligible to bid into Tier 1 solicitation conducted by NYSERDA. The RECs from these projects will be provided to the system owners for voluntary retirement, they cannot be traded or exchanged. These RECs will not be eligible for compliance for Tier 1 RES requirement, however they will be counted towards overall Statewide 50% by 2030 renewable resource goal.
DER project enrolled in the Phase One NEM including on-site mass market, small wind projects, RNM, and on-site large projects will be ineligible to bid into RES Tier 1 solicitation and will not count towards the utility’s compliance mandate, it will instead be retired on customer’s account. RECs from Community Distributed Generation projects will be counted by default towards the Utility’s Tier 1 obligation unless the customer choose to opt out.
All the RECs from the customers interconnected on the Value Stack tariff will be transferred by default to the utility for compliance for Tier I for exchange of environmental value component. The customer may choose to retain the RECs however and forgo the credit from environmental value on the tariff.
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https://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-rebates-and-incentives/new-york/net-metering
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A huge public-private solar development is advancing across three towns in Rhode Island.
The University of Rhode Island (URI) and the local towns of South Kingstown and Narragansett created the South Kingstown Solar Consortium, whose goal is to develop a solar project that will generate economic benefits for all three partners while boosting the amount of renewable energy flowing into the state’s electric grid.
In the works for more than three years, the project will eventually cover 267 acres of land in West Kingston, South Kingstown and West Greenwich. Of the 42 acres at the West Kingston and South Kingstown locations, 28 are non-farmable, capped waste-disposal sites, where the panels will be installed on ballasted platforms so the capped material remains undisturbed.
On Thursday, URI and its private, municipal and state partners held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the West Kingston and South Kingstown sites. A similar celebration is planned for the West Greenwich site when it becomes operational.
The consortium solicited proposals from private developers to construct and maintain the solar farms at no net cost to the consortium members. It signed 25-year contracts with Kearsarge Solar to develop the West Kingston and South Kingstown sites and with Energy Development Partners (University Solar LLC) to develop the West Greenwich site.
The capacity of the installations will be 40 MW, which is expected to deliver 48,000 MWh of energy to the grid annually. This will help the state meet Gov. Gina Raimondo’s goal of having 100% of the energy consumed by state government supplied through renewable sources by 2025.
The initiative is a virtual net metering project, in which the energy generated flows into the electrical supplier’s grid, according to David Lamb, assistant director of facilities services and utilities at URI. State law requires that developers of such projects must be able to offload net metering credits to a public or quasi-public entity – in this case, the consortium members.
“We are supporting the development of renewable energy that will be supplied to the grid, and in turn, the consortium members receive credits that will reduce costs on their monthly utility bills,” Lamb explains.
URI expects to receive credits worth $1.2 million in savings annually on its electric bill when all sites are operational, according to J. Vernon Wyman, assistant vice president of business services at URI. As a consumer of more than 75 million kWh of electricity per year, URI has an estimated annual electric bill of roughly $9.4 million.
For the first 10 years of operation, the private developers receive renewable energy certificates (RECs) that they can trade or sell. The credits are non-tangible commodities, with each one worth 1 MWh of electricity generated from a renewable source. In the 11th year of the contracts, these RECs transfer to the consortium members.
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http://roofnrays.com/rhode-island-partners-building-40-mw-solar-development-across-three-towns/
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On April 11, 2019, Governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares signed into law the Puerto Rico Energy Policy Act (the “Act”). The Act sets in motion a drastic transformation of Puerto Rico’s energy policy and the island’s generation and grid infrastructure, with high-reaching renewable energy goals and modernization targets for the electric system and the current rate structure. The scope of the Act can be summarized as follows:
✓ The new policy promotes a more decentralized energy system with active participation and incentives for the private sector, and facilitates the creation of energy cooperatives, microgrids and the interconnection of new generation sources; turning the average energy consumer into an energy producer or “prosumer”.
✓ The Act introduces significant amendments to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Act1, redefining the powers of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (“PREPA”), paving the way for private electric service companies to enter the market. It also strengthens energy storage incentives, eliminates solar production taxes, and promotes regional storage projects geared towards facilitating the interconnection of renewable sources.
✓ Among other key legislative changes, the Act amends the Energy Relief and Transformation Act2, increasing the powers and responsibilities of the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (the “Bureau”), previously known as the Puerto Rico Energy Commission. Among other tasks, the Bureau shall revise existing rate structures in order to reduce the price tag on costumers, while ensuring that investments made by electric service companies are not affected. Two of the most significant amendments to Act 57-2014 have to do with a new Net Metering Program, which will allow automatic interconnection and 30-day net metering approvals for systems below 25 kW; and the reduction of the current approval time for commercial and industrial solar projects to 90 days. The Bureau will be tasked with creating net metering policies within the next five years. In the meantime, a policy rule of “true net metering” for the next five years shall be honored, with a 20-year grandfathering provision for new clients. The Bureau will also have 180 days to develop guidelines for Demand Response Programs. Once established, electric service companies will have six months to present a structured plan, focusing on the projected benefits that both residential and commercial customers shall receive during peak hours. Finally, all public instrumentalities and municipal governments will be subject to new energy efficiency requirements and will be responsible for implementing strategies to reduce the energy consumption of their installations, pursuant to the annual goals set forth by the Bureau.
✓ The new law also amends the Energy Diversification Act 3 to set short, medium and long-term goals for the island’s generation sources. Specifically, it bans the concession of new energy contracts for coal plants, with a target of eliminating the burning of said fuel by 2028. Also, the Act proposes that by 2025, 40 percent of the island’s energy should come from renewable energy sources. By 2040, renewable energy generation should account for 60 percent, before achieving the ultimate goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.
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https://www.ferraiuoli.com/news/pr-development-development-of-energy-policy-in-puerto-rico-2/
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Cortisol is the main stress hormone. It is a natural built-in alarm system, playing a crucial role in driving and, in many cases, perpetuating the stress response.
Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands in response to a particular event or thought the brain as identified as a stressor, which activates the stress response, also known as the “fight-or-flight” response.
The hypothalamus, the ‘ruler’ sitting in our brain, tells the pituitary gland (the commandant in chief) to ready the adrenals, activating the sympathetic nervous system and triggering the stress response. This pathway is also called the HPA axis, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis.
As the above illustration shows, the HPA axis is controlled by negative feedback producing a high concentration of stress hormones in circulation which inhibits the hypothalamus and pituitary, effectively shutting down the stress response. The state of alarm is lifted and all systems in the body return to their normal functioning.
However, under certain circumstances, stress can become chronic. Reliving traumatic experiences, rumination, anxiety (anticipatory stress), and depression can relentlessly fuel the stress response, as well as chronic infections and gut disorders (a cause and an inevitable symptom of stress. Whenever the “fight-or-flight” mode is activated, all secondary systems, including digestive capabilities are switched off), and metabolic disorders (i.e. diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease).
The common factor in all these conditions is inflammation, and inflammation in itself is a stressor for the body.
Chronic stress keeps the brain on high alert, activating the HPA axis, and ordering the adrenals to produce more stress hormones.
This provokes:
- Dilation of the pupils
- Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and red blood cell production to supply the body with oxygenated blood and nutrients
- Reduced blood flow to the skin, visceral organs, and kidney
- Bronchodilation, to allow more airflow through the lungs
- Reduced digestive functions (e.g. decreased enzyme production and function, gut motility, and more), to divert energy to other parts of the body
- Glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis (the breakdown of glycogen, protein, lipids, and other substances) to increase glucose levels in the circulation and available stores for tissues requiring energy
- Decreased insulin sensitivity
- Protein catabolism and amino acid mobilisation (muscle wastage)
- Decreased immune response
- Increase sweating to help cool down the body
Elevated Cortisol levels for extended periods negatively affect virtually every aspect of physiology and lead to HPA axis dysregulation (also known as adrenal fatigue, a widely used non-medical term).
As a result of cortisol, high levels of glucose remain in the circulation. At the same time, body cells shut down insulin receptors to keep blood glucose levels high (insulin is the key to opening the door to glucose). In the long-term, this may lead to insulin resistance. The pancreas has exhausted its resources by producing extreme levels of insulin to which the cells are not responding. All because cortisol is a dominant hormone, and the stress response is constantly activated.
As a dominant hormone, cortisol can also prevent the release or function of other hormones, including melatonin.
Melatonin is released in the evening as normal levels of cortisol drop and helps us fall asleep. As cortisol levels remain high, melatonin release is delayed, and people often experience a second wind around 6:00 pm and may find it difficult to quiet down and sleep. Usually, people feel “wired-and-tired.” It seems they cannot switch off and may chronically suffer from insomnia (it may take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep or may wake up several times in the night, or find it difficult to go back to sleep).
If we understand that chronic stress is a response to a beast waiting for us at the entrance of the cave where we’re hiding, it’s easy to imagine that we would only sleep with one eye opened (literally). This is how anxiety is identified by the body. It is continuously on high alert because the danger is imminent.
When the body remains on high alert, it mobilises every possible resource to provide the required energy to face or run away from danger. But, since we’re able to activate the stress response with mere thoughts, there isn’t an actual danger to run from and the energy is not used but instead is stored in adipose tissue around the waist and visceral organs. The best stores for immediate release whenever the stress response is activated (fat is sent to the liver to produce glucose). This leads to increased belly fat (apple-shaped body).
One of the biggest problems with hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) is the inevitable hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) that follows, because of the delay in insulin response. And so, we may crash, feeling extremely tired, and instinctively reach for highly calorific snacks and stimulants (e.g. caffeine and sugar). This creates a vicious cycle, also known as the ‘energy roller coaster,’ with highs and extreme lows. In itself a stressor for the body. In fact, hypoglycaemia is one of the biggest stressors in the body, forcing an immediate release of cortisol to increase blood sugar levels.
As fatigue sets in, consumption of caffeine and sugar usually increases too. It may be difficult for people to wake up in the morning and keep their energy levels stable during the day. A greater intake of caffeine also interferes with adenosine, a neurotransmitter involved in sleep (levels increase from the time we wake up until we eventually feel tired and fall asleep). Furthermore, people who have difficulties sleeping are also more likely to snack past their bedtime and exceed their daily calorie intake, which, research shows, is directly linked to obesity and diabetes, and many other health problems, including stress-related mood disorders and impaired cognitive function.
It may also go a lot deeper. Thyroid function and thyroid hormones can also be affected, leading to chronic fatigue and further weight gain. Metabolism is slowed down, all the while people feel like eating more to “boost” energy levels.
Cortisol also prevents T3 function (the active form of the thyroid hormone), by pulling the hand break in the like of reverse T3 (rT3). The aim is to preserve energy to run away from danger, and so the engine is over-revving but it\’s going nowhere until there is no more fuel and all resources have been exhausted over time, and the engine stalls (e.g. adrenal exhaustion, autoimmunity, and cognitive dysfunction).
You are more and more stressed. You shun nutritious foods. You exercise less. You lose muscle mass and put on more and more weight. You sleep less and less, and snack more and more.
And the cycle continues. Until you break the cycle.
At Nutrunity UK, our mission is to help people take control of their health and blood sugar levels and give them all the tools they need to achieve their goals. Book your free online consultation (wherever you are in the world).
– Olivier
All information, content, and material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. The information supplied through or on this page, or by any representative or agent of The Wellness Universe, is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or other professional advice. Health-related information provided through this website is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems or to prescribe any medical devices or other remedies. The Wellness Universe reserves the right to remove, edit, move or close any content item for any reason, including, but not limited to, comments that are in violation of the laws and regulations formed pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. None of the posts and articles on The Wellness Universe page may be reprinted without express written permission.
Following six years intensive training, Olivier is today a registered Naturopath, Nutritional Therapist, and Iridologist, also, certified in Sport and Exercise, helping people understand where they are today and to take control of their own health and be happier, full of vitality.
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https://blog.thewellnessuniverse.com/cortisol-sleep-weight-gain/
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Examining the Question: Can Stress Cause Cancer?
The Dangers of Stress
Stress acts as a relevant and integral piece of our daily lives. Defined as a stimulus that precipitates a physiological reaction in the brain, stress functions to activate a response in the body that has historically served as a survival mechanism for the human population. Stress can be caused by daily responsibilities and routines, or more traumatic events such as development of an illness or hospitalization. Sustained levels of elevated stress responses cause profound alterations in proper functionality of immune system physiology. This can potentially lead to development and propagation of various chronic illnesses, including cancer.
The magnitude and duration of elevations in stress hormones affects immune cell trafficking and function, thereby affecting health outcomes. In order to further understand this concept, it is important to survey the types of immune system responses responsible for overall health and well-being.
How Stress Affects the Protective Immune System
First, the protective part of the immune system mechanistically functions to elicit immediate action in response to wounds, trauma, and/or infection. This involves many of the ‘fight or flight’ hormones – such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol. In terms of cancer, this piece is vital for appropriate monitoring of cell surveillance, especially in terms of cancer progression, invasion, and metastasis. With overactivity, the effects of this aspect of the immune system become more burdensome than beneficial. In fact, enhancement of carcinogenic properties due to overstimulation of these hormones is most notable in prostate, ovary, breast, and colon cancer cells. In addition, chronic stress has been shown to suppress the functionality of this part of the immune system, thereby negating appropriate activity and response to cancerous cells. Mice studies demonstrate chronic stress likely contributes to increased tumor burden and likelihood of new blood vessel growth and metastasis in the cancer environment. Human studies have further revealed that higher, sustained diurnal cortisol levels indicative of high stress showed significantly decreased and sluggish immune function.
High Stress and the Inflammatory Immune System
The second major response from the immune system occurs following a higher level of stress that leads to cellular production of inflammatory mediators, above what is naturally produced. A sustained period of stress-induced inflammatory mediator production creates an environment where cancer may begin, progress, and/or spread. This is evidenced by sites of chronic inflammation eventually developing into an associated cancer (ie: gastrointestinal autoimmune disease potentially leading to gastrointestinal cancer.) In addition, quality of life for a patient with a cancer diagnosis may be greatly impacted by the sustained level of inflammation, leading but not limited to fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbances. A human study demonstrated a greater negative affect or mood in post-surgical breast cancer patients was related to pro-inflammatory cell production and involvement favoring disease progression.
Stress Management
At certain times, it can be rather challenging to completely avoid or mitigate stress; however, it’s important to note the power of managing the response to the stress. It has become clear that psychological well-being and perceived quality of life significantly impacts survivorship amongst patients diagnosed with cancer. Many known techniques can indirectly modulate the stress responses as noted above; thereby increasing the effectiveness of immune function overall. Although specific studies detailing outcomes of emphasizing stress management techniques and modulation of physiology as it relates to cancer are not readily available, one can glean profound conclusions based on existing published material.
Effective techniques for managing the stress response:
- Mindfulness-based techniques
- Yoga/meditation
- Nature or forest bathing
Mindfulness Techniques to Combat Stress
Mindfulness-based techniques require bringing attention or an awareness to present emotions while withholding judgement. In other words, it involves becoming more aware of one’s emotional, mental, and physical experiences in the present moment without being influenced or becoming overwhelmed by them. This allows one to gain theoretical control over their perceived thoughts in a particular situation. Mindfulness-based techniques can be performed in conjunction with other activities such as guided meditation, yoga, cognitive behavioral therapy, and guided imagery. A study evaluating the effects of yoga in patients with breast cancer showed an overall decrease in pro-inflammatory cells following a three-month regimen.
Another study conducted on patients with stage I-III breast cancer focused on the use of psychosocial interventions providing stress reduction and emotional support. It demonstrated that including mindfulness meditation and yoga increased the likelihood of maintained telomere length, indicative of positive prognosis.
Lastly, a study researching the effects of mindfulness-based techniques, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy, confirmed a decrease in evening serum cortisol and an increase in cells related to cancer immunosurveillance. Not to mention that mindfulness implementation also served to benefit quality of life, especially in terms of pain, insomnia, fatigue, and overall perceived outlook.
The Effect of Forest Bathing on the Body
Spending time in nature provides quantifiable mental and physical benefits in relation to immune function and stress response. Recognized as a relaxation and stress-management technique, forest bathing or a leisurely trip through a forested area has proven to affect cellular activity as well as overall emotional health. More specifically, inhalation of vaporized oils naturally produced by trees, called phytoncides, has been shown to increase cellular immune activity and count–specifically natural killer cells which play a role in cytotoxicity and cancer cell death. Serum testing revealed that this increased activity has been shown to last for up to 30 days post-exposure to nature. In addition, it has been shown that salivary levels of the main stress hormones, including cortisol, epinephrine, and adrenaline were reduced following time spent in nature. Randomized trials have demonstrated that images of nature lessened stress activity within the brain in conjunction with decreased perceived mental rumination of thoughts.
Altering the Stress Response for Well-being
In conclusion, opportunity exists for altering one’s response to stress which in turn may affect quantifiable and qualitative aspects of cancer and quality of life. It is evident that introducing techniques to moderate the stress response have confirmed positive effects in activation of the immune system. This may play an impactful role in overall patient well-being within various stages of cancer care.
References and Resources
Antoni MH, Lutgendorf S, Blomberg B, Carver CS, Lechner S, Diaz A, Stagl J, Arevalo J, and Cole S. Cognitive-behavioral stress management reverses anxiety-related leukocyte transcriptional dynamics. Biological Psychiatry 2012;71: 366-373. [PubMed: 22088795].
Carlson LE, Beattie TL, Giese-Davis J, Faris P, Tamagawa R, Fick LJ, Degelman ES, Speca M. Mindfulness-based cancer recovery and supportive-expressive therapy maintain telomere length relative to controls in distressed breast cancer survivors. Cancer. 2015 Feb 1;121(3):476-84. doi: 10.1002/cncr.29063. Epub 2014 Nov 3. PMID: 25367403.
Coussens LM, Werb Z. Inflammation and cancer. Nature. 2002;420: 860-867. [PubMed: 12490959].
Dhabhar FS, Saul AN, Holmes TH, et al. High anxiety is associated with higher chronic stress burden, lower protective immunity, and increased cancer progression. PLoS One. 2012;7: DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033069.
Kiecolt-Glaser K, Bennett J, Andridge R, Peng J, Shapiro C, Malarkey W, Emery C, Layman R, Mrozek E, and Glaser R. Yoga’s impact on inflammation, mood, and fatigue in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2014:32 (10): 1040-1049. [PubMed: 24470004].
Li Q. Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function. Environ Health Prev Med. 2010;15(1):9-17. doi:10.1007/s12199-008-0068-3
Saul AN, Oberyszyn TM, Daugherty C, et al. Chronic stress and susceptibility to skin cancer. J Nat Cancer Institute. 2005;97: 1760-1767.
Sephton SE, Dhabbar FS, Keuroghlian AS, et al. Depression, cortisol, and suppressed cell-mediated immunity in metastatic breast cancer. Brain Behav Immun. 2009;23: 1148-1155. [PubMed 19643176].
Wurtzen H, Dalton S, Elsass P, Sumbundu A, Steding-Jensen M, Larsen R, Andersen K, Flyger H, Pedersen A, and Johansen C. Mindfulness significantly reduces self-reported levels of anxiety and depression: results of a randomized controlled trial among 336 Danish women treated for stage I-III breast cancer. European Journal of Cancer. 2013;49: 1365-1373. [PubMed: 23265707].
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https://www.naturemedclinic.com/examining-the-question-can-stress-cause-cancer/
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We all know the effects of stress on health and wellbeing because we experience them. We can’t always predict when they’re going to hit us, though, or how hard. Sometimes we can’t even predict what’s going to make us feel stressed out in the first place. What we sail through on one occasion can derail us on another.
In an article on stress on health and wellbeing, the U.S. National Library of Medicine explains that stress is a feeling of tension that can come from any thought or event that provokes feelings of anger, frustration or nervousness. It’s your body’s response to a challenge or demand. The Mental Health Foundation adds that it’s common to feel stress when we experience something unexpected, new or threatening to our sense of self. It can also pop up when we feel we don’t have control.
Learn more about an anxiety treatment program. Call us today at 1.844.675.1022.
Why Does Stress Effect Our Health and Wellbeing?
How we deal with stress is based partly on how we interpret a situation. If we think a stick is a snake, we’ll react differently than if we perceive it as just a stick. All sorts of other factors come into play as well, including the following:
Genetic factors
To some degree, we inherit the way we react to stressful situations. The journal Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience published a study on genes and stress that found genes related to our sympathetic nervous system and to the HPA axis that are associated with an altered stress response.
Environment
Where we spend our time matters. Your home or office building can help calm your nervous system or rev it up. An article on environment and mental health points out that crowds and loud noises can increase cortisol, one of the most important stress hormones. Other important environmental factors are levels of natural light, clutter and chemical exposures.
Personality
A handful of personality characteristics have been associated with how well we deal with stress. Scientific Reports notes that different parts of our personality are associated with different aspects of the stress response. Extraversion and openness are both associated with a lower level of cortisol activation when people encounter stressful situations.
Previous experiences
Whether or not we view the world as basically a safe place is based a great deal on our early experiences. Traumatic events, either in childhood or adulthood, are especially important. A report on the effects of traumatic stress on the brain notes that trauma can cause lasting changes. Because of them, when people experience future stressful events, they may have a heightened response, with higher levels of the stress hormones cortisol and norepinephrine.
Diet and nutritional status
When we don’t eat well, we don’t have the biological fuel we need to combat stress effectively. The Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences notes that we need more energy, oxygen and circulation when we’re stressed, which requires a nutrient-dense diet. Many different vitamins can be helpful, but the B vitamins seem especially important, with some of them helping to regulate norepinephrine and other stress-related body chemicals.
Sleep
Sleep and stress are very closely linked. When we don’t sleep, it causes us stress, and when we’re stressed, we don’t sleep. Banner Health reports that lack of sleep makes our bodies release more cortisol.
Fitness
In an article entitled “The Role of Exercise in Stress Management,” the American College of Sports Medicine reports that exercise improves how we handle stress by changing hormone responses and affecting brain chemicals.
The Effects of Long-Term Stress on the Body
The body’s response to stress is designed to help us address whatever we feel threatened by. We produce chemical messengers that prepare us to fight or run away. We become more alert, and our muscles become tense and ready to act.
When we have an episode of brief, acute stress, like when we see a car coming toward us, or our child is too close to the edge of a cliff, these body chemicals can be very helpful and help us avert disaster. On the other hand, we often live with chronic, prolonged stress. Long-term stress is caused by things like relationship struggles, work demands or financial pressures. Our body keeps producing chemicals to help us fight. But what’s helpful in the short term can be harmful over time.
These are some of the ways that stress affects our physical health.
We get more headaches
Headaches can have multiple causes, and stress can contribute to many of them. Stress causes muscle tension, for example, and tense muscles in the neck, shoulders, jaw or scalp can cause headache pain.
Stress can also cause insomnia, and that can also contribute to headaches. A Healthline article on headaches and sleep notes that when people don’t sleep well, they produce more proteins that cause chronic pain.
We experience an upset stomach
It’s not surprising that stress can cause an upset stomach because there’s a direct connection between the brain and the GI tract. This is what’s known as the gut-brain axis. One of the most important parts of this axis is the vagus nerve. This is a large nerve that sends signals in both directions, from the brain to the gut and vice versa. These signals travel quickly, so stress can cause digestive issues almost immediately.
We develop high blood pressure
When your brain tells your body to be prepared to fight or flee, it increases your heart rate and narrows your blood vessels, causing your blood pressure to rise. The Mayo Clinic reports that stress can increase blood pressure and that ideally when the stressful situation passes, it returns to normal. Unfortunately, even temporary blood pressure spikes can damage your heart, blood vessels, and kidneys.
Our immune system weakens
Cortisol, which we produce under stress, helps us by making the body’s fuel supply more available. If cortisol levels stay high for too long, it begins to break down our muscles and suppress the immune system. We become more likely to catch a cold or another infection, and it takes us longer to recover.
We have a decreased sex drive and poor reproductive health
As is the case with digestion, when the body is under stress, it doesn’t consider the reproductive system to be an essential player in getting through the crisis. So it turns it down to use resources in other body systems. A Science Daily report on stress and the reproductive system explains that this is due to the way that hormones are affected by stress and interact with each other. Cortisol inhibits the body’s main sex hormone, which suppresses sexual interest, sperm count and ovulation.
Get Help With the Effect of Stress on Health
Sometimes the best way to control the effects of stress on health and wellbeing is to take a complete break from your everyday routine. And let professionals help you reset your life. We can do that for you. Give us a call at 1.844.675.1022, and let today be the beginning of a new chapter in your life.
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https://www.my5palms.com/addiction-blog/common-effects-of-stress-on-health-and-wellbeing/
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With all that is happening across the nation stress levels are at an all time high for many.
Stress not only affects you emotionally but can wreak havoc on your health. It also weakens your immune system and right now we need everyone’s immune systems functioning at their optimal level.
Some of the most significant health problems related to too much stress include:
▪️ Weakened immune system
▪️ Heart disease
▪️ Asthma
▪️ Obesity
▪️ Diabetes
▪️ Headaches
▪️ Depression & Anxiety
▪️ Gastrointestinal problems
▪️ Alzheimer’s disease
▪️ Accelerated aging
▪️ Premature death
Research shows that the inability to adapt to and recover from stress can actually lead to and/or exacerbate the above mentioned health issues.
When under stress, the body releases stress hormones and activates the fight or flight response of the sympathetic nervous system. While this is helpful in an emergency situation such as getting you out of a burning building, or a circumstance that could be harmful to you, having this stress response turned on for a long period of time is actually detrimental to your health.
“The long-term activation of the stress-response system and the overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones that follow can disrupt almost all your body’s processes.”
This puts a significant amount of stress on the nervous system which can lead to illness and disease.
Additionally, because your nervous system coordinates the actions of your immune system, chronic stress can lead to a compromised immune system.
One of the best things you can be doing for your health is to get regular chiropractic adjustments.
The right type of chiropractic adjustment can actually assist your brain and nervous system in being better able to adapt to stressors in your life leading to a better functioning body, including a better functioning immune system.
Get adjusted.
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https://truchiro.org/can-your-thoughts-weaken-your-immune-system/
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By Michael Rallo, Rutgers University ’17
Exposure to trauma is an integral part of the human experience. Through the years, such reactions to traumatic events have been termed “soldiers’ nostalgia,” “irritable heart,” “shell shock,” “battle fatigue,” “post-Vietnam syndrome,” and “gross stress reaction.” Many different names for symptoms – sleep disturbances, flashbacks, anxiety, and fear – are now recognized as one psychological condition: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).1 Healthcare providers can quickly name the populations most at risk for developing PTSD: members of the armed forces, victims of violence, and those afflicted by overwhelming disaster. However, the general population often fails to realize that we, the healthcare community, also bear the stress and trauma that can manifest itself in PTSD.
People encounter stress every day. While most can often overcome stressors such as a difficult exam or challenging day at work, some incidents – witnessing patients’ deaths, coworkers committing suicide – cannot be handled alone. Burnout and PTSD in healthcare workers are becoming a greater problem. Future healthcare workers must learn to recognize the signs of these conditions themselves and take steps toward alleviating them. They can only promote the health of their patients by maintaining their own.
Physiologists have long been interested in understanding how the body responds to and copes with stressors. Homeostasis describes the tendency of biological systems to maintain a stable equilibrium. Biological and psychological stressors disrupt this equilibrium and initiate a cascade of physiological mechanisms to restore it, a reaction known as the stress response. Dr. Hans Selye, an Austrian-Canadian endocrinologist, pioneered the first work in establishing the stress response.2 He found that organisms undergo three distinct stages in response to “noxious stimuli,” which he termed general adaptation syndrome. The first stage, known as the alarm reaction, is the body’s immediate reaction to a stressor in which it prepares itself for physical activity. We often term this “fight or flight.” During this period, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, leading to increased blood pressure and heart rate, dilated pupils, sweating, etc. Stress hormones such as adrenaline, cortisol, and norepinephrine are maintained at high levels to continue these effects for the duration of the stress. This reaction mechanism is quite beneficial; it primes our circulatory system, large muscle groups, and brain for a period of extreme exertion such as evading or confronting a stressor. The second stage is resistance; the body’s adaptation to the continued stress and its efforts to reduce the impact of the stressor. Hormone levels decrease, but are still elevated, maintaining the body in a constant state of threat.2 Finally, if the stressor is not removed, the third stage, exhaustion, ensues. Hormones like cortisol, while essential to the stress response, have damaging side effects, which can deplete the immune system. The body is no longer capable of sustaining the stress and will develop a pathological state.3 Conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and immunodeficiencies are all associated with chronic stress. It is essential to understand this stress response because future healthcare providers will continue to experience it throughout our lives. The average man or woman must take action to relieve stress and burdens so that they can lead healthy, balanced lives.
Sudden traumatic events, such as those experienced in combat or by victims of violence, trigger the stress response described above. In most cases, the reaction subsides naturally once the stressor is removed. Sometimes an individual may experience problems that last long after the situation is over, and they may be diagnosed with PTSD. PTSD is defined as “a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event” and is characterized by symptoms such as flashbacks, avoidance of feelings associated with the trauma, feeling “on edge”, and intense changes in mood.4 To be diagnosed with PTSD, one must meet the criteria set forth by the American Psychological Association in the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Current criteria include re-experiencing, avoidance, negative cognitions and mood, and heightened arousal. The impact of these symptoms on one’s work and relationships is also considered in the diagnosis.4 It is estimated that 7-8 out of every 100 people will be diagnosed with PTSD at some point in their lives.3 Studies done on nurses, paramedics, hospital emergency personnel, and physicians have revealed a higher prevalence of PTSD in these populations; in one study, nurses were shown to have a 35% prevalence of nightmares related to their job. The recurrence of such nightmares and other PTSD-related symptoms were often associated with end-of-life care and traumatic events.6,7,8
Major strides have been taken in identifying the underlying neurophysiological causes of PTSD. The era in which PTSD was viewed as a “weakness” with no physical cause is coming to an end. A variety of physiological factors are altered in patients with PTSD including endocrine hormones, neurochemicals, and brain circuitry or “wiring.”9 Interestingly, altered hormone cortisol levels are shown in individuals diagnosed with PTSD. However, the direction of the alteration (increased or decreased) remains inconsistent across several studies.10 Many researchers believe that an “imbalance” in brain chemicals (i.e. neurotransmitters) is the cause of several psychological disorders. While it is hard to describe what an “imbalance” in the brain looks like, altered levels of catecholamines (e.g. dopamine and norepinephrine) and serotonin have been found in patients suffering from PTSD.9 When altered, these neurotransmitters, which are responsible for normal communication between neurons in the brain, may negatively impact behavior, mood, and emotions. Finally, heightened activation of the amygdala, a brain structure that processes the emotions associated with memories, especially fear, has been found upon presentation of stressful stimuli to PTSD patients.11 While this is just a brief overview of the physical correlates, it demonstrates the strides that have been taken to understand PTSD. Further research will bring us closer to identifying therapeutic targets for treating victims.
The most difficult question comes now: how do we take care of those who have built their lives on caring for others? Healthcare workers and combat veterans – two populations at high risk for PTSD – pride themselves on their strength and ability. The stigma that PTSD is a fault or a weakness makes it difficult for these individuals to admit that they need help. For this reason, both military and civilian organizations have established campaigns to eliminate the stigma of PTSD and encourage victims to seek help. For example, the Cleveland Clinic has implemented a “Code Lavender” program through which its staff can call a “Code Lavender” to receive mental rehabilitation during difficult shifts in which they have lost one or more patients or witnessed devastating trauma. The program inspires a sense of community and supports the emotional needs of physicians and nurses.12 Similarly, “The Code Green Campaign” was initiated in 2014 to raise awareness of the high rates of PTSD and suicide in first responders and to reduce the stigma of getting help.13 Through television programs and social media campaigns, such as “Humans of New York,” PTSD has worked its way into the public eye. Aside from raising awareness, research through the Department of Veterans Affairs is working to understand, treat, and possibly prevent PTSD. This research has demonstrated the efficacy of prompt mental health care, prolonged exposure therapy, and deep brain stimulation in treating PTSD.14 No individual should ever feel ashamed of admitting that they have PTSD. In fact, the earlier one seeks help, the easier it will be to get treatment and recover.
Stress and trauma are two elements experienced by nearly every person in every walk of life. Fortunately, our bodies are well prepared to deal with these physical ailments or psychological stressors. Some stressors are so prolonged that they overwhelm the body’s capabilities, and lead to sickness or fatigue. These bodily symptoms emphasize the importance of recognizing and handling the stress of everyday life. Other stressors, such as intense psychological trauma, induce severe reactions and result in long-term conditions such as PTSD. In these cases, it is essential for an individual to seek early therapy and work towards overcoming the trauma. Future healthcare providers will be subjected to a stressful work environment plagued with illness, death, and trauma. When events may become too difficult to handle alone, programs and strategies that acknowledge the risks for stress conditions will serve as crucial support mechanisms for providers.
References:
- Friedman, Matthew J. “PTSD: National Center for PTSD.” History of PTSD in Veterans: Civil War to DSM-5. Veterans Administration, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2016.
- Everly, G.S., and J.M. Lating. “Chapter 2: The Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Stress Response.” A Clinical Guide to the Treatment of the Human Stress Response. 3rd ed. New York: Springer, 2013. 17-51. Print.
- Charmandari, Evangelia, Constantine Tsigos, and George Chrousos. “Endocrinology of the Stress Response.” Annual Review of Physiology 67 (n.d.): 259-84. Web.
- “Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder.” Mental Health Information. National Institute of Mental Health, 1 Feb. 2016. Web.
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 2013. Print.
- Mealer, Meredith, Ellen L. Burnham, Colleen J. Goode, Barbara Rothbaum, and Marc Moss. “The Prevalence and Impact of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Burnout Syndrome in Nurses.” Depression and Anxiety 26.12 (2009): 1118-126. Web.
- Iranmanesh, Sedigheh. “Post-traumatic Stress Disorder among Paramedic and Hospital Emergency Personnel in South-east Iran.” World J Emerg Med World Journal of Emergency Medicine 4.1 (2013): 26. Web.
- Laposa, J.M., and L.E. Alden. “Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Emergency Room: Exploration of a Cognitive Model.” Behaviour Research and Therapy 41.1 (2003): 49-65. Web.
- Sherin, Jonathan E., and Charles B. Nemeroff. “Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: The Neurobiological Impact of Psychological Trauma.” Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience 13.3 (2011): 263-78. Web.
- Delaney, Eileen. “The Relationship between Traumatic Stress, PTSD and Cortisol.” Naval Center for Combat & Operational Stress Control (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
- Shin, L. M. “Amygdala, Medial Prefrontal Cortex, and Hippocampal Function in PTSD.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1071.1 (2006): 67-79. Web.
- “The Amazing Way This Hospital Is Fighting Physician Burnout.” The Huffington Post, 2 Dec. 2013. Web.
- “The Code Green Campaign.” The Code Green Campaign, n.d. Web.
- “VA Research on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).” Office of Research and Development. U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2016.
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http://themedicaldecoder.com/2017/01/caring-for-the-healers/
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It can sometimes be hard to escape the effects of stress in our everyday lives. In fact, constant stress can turn into distress when one or more systems in the body are agitated for prolonged periods of time. Statistics show that about 43% of all adults claim that stress affects certain aspects of their health. Even naturopaths support the fact that reasons why 75 to 90% of patients visit primary care doctors is because of stress-related reasons.
Stress and chronic fatigue syndrome
Since chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) seems to have no physical cause, its diagnosis is deemed somewhat controversial. But seeing patients over and over again with the same symptoms typical of CFS has convinced many practitioners that it is a real and debilitating condition. New studies on the origin of CFS conclude that those who suffer from it have an imbalance in the HPA-axis, which can affect the cortisol and DHEA hormones in the body. It appears that unusually low concentrations of cortisol first thing in the morning may be connected to a higher incidence of fatigue in those who suffer from CFS, or what naturopaths identify as adrenal fatigue or hypoadrenalism.
Stress and the link to depression
It seems that those who experience stressful situations on a regular basis are at greater risk for developing major depression. Scientists conclude that constant exposure to stressful conditions kills neurons and prevents the process of neurogenesis in the hippocampus, which is usually needed for a healthy stress response. Chronic stress also interrupts serotonin (5-HTP) neurotransmission by significantly reducing both 5-HTP neurotransmission and 5-HT1A autoreceptor sensitivity.
Stress and the connection to high blood pressure
As the body prepares its stress response, it releases adrenaline and cortisol, two hormones responsible for temporarily tightening the vasculature and increasing blood flow to the organs responsible for enforcing the “fight or flight” response. Continuous stress can cause sustained high blood pressure thereby increasing the chances of heart disease, particularly in those who also have high cholesterol levels. In addition, those who are experience stress on a regular basis are more likely fall into negative coping behaviours like smoking and overeating, which can also contribute to heart disease.
Stress and its effects on Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The enteric nervous system is sometimes called the body’s second brain. It’s part of the nervous system that has a special connection to the gastrointestinal system, which is sensitive to emotions like anger, anxiety and panic. These and other strong feelings can trigger pain and cramping symptoms in the gut. It is believed that stress and other emotions can affect the communication signals between the brain and gut and lead to symptoms of IBS.
Stress and infections
Chronic stress causes the body’s adrenal glands to continuously secrete high levels of a stress hormone called cortisol. Cortisol acts as a protective mechanism by subduing the immune system and reducing inflammation by suppressing T-cells and compromising the release of histamine. If a chronic stress pattern is allowed to continue, the immune system may become suppressed and increase a patient’s chances of infection and exposure to disease.
Stress and the association with migraines
Studies show that chronic stress triggers nerve cells to create a pain-producing substance called “substance P”. Substance P is capable of dilating blood vessels and releasing allergic compounds like histamine, which can trigger inflammation, pain and migraine headaches.
The relationship between stress and PMS
In the world of hormones, cortisol and progesterone compete for common receptors, meaning cortisol can interrupt progesterone activity and clear the way for estrogen dominance when one is chronically stressed and exposed to high levels of circulating cortisol. Estrogen dominance is affiliated with typical premenstrual syndrome symptoms, like mood swings, breast tenderness, fatigue, irritability and depression. Estrogen dominance can also affect fertility and reproductive function. We know that chronic stress can impair the release of serotonin, which is thought to be a mood regulator. If serotonin levels fluctuate, PMS symptoms can flare.
The stress/diabetes connection
When the body’s under stress it releases cortisol, which in turn prompts glucose stores to be released into the blood. This creates energy to fuel the muscles for a “fight or flight” response. Stress also raises blood sugar levels and increases cortisol which causes cells to become insulin resistant. The detrimental end result is high blood sugar. Indirectly, stress also causes us to eat poorly, resulting in increased blood sugar levels and a higher chance of developing diabetes.
Stress and thyroid issues
Studies show that chronic adrenal stress compromises the functions of the hypothalamus and pituitary, which are two critical glands used in the production of thyroid hormone. Inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha, released during the body’s stress response, have also been shown to lower the HPA axis and diminish levels of thyroid- stimulating hormone (TSH). TNF has also been shown to interrupt the conversion of T4 to T3, the more active thyroid hormone. Also, inflammatory cytokines released during the stress response have been shown to alter thyroid receptor site sensitivity, especially when extended. This creates a condition similar to insulin resistance as thyroid receptors become insensitive to circulating thyroid hormone despite the fact that hormone levels are normal.
Stress and developing ulcers
When the body’s under stress, its defense mechanisms divert blood away from the digestive system in favour of organs like the muscles and the heart, which are involved in deploying “fight or flight” responses. If stress is allowed to be ongoing, blood flow to the stomach lining can decrease, with the end result being damage and weakness when the sensitive gastric epithelium is exposed to the acidic pH of the stomach. A type of erosion occurs and can contribute to stress-induced gastritis.
There’s no doubt that stress brings on many debilitating conditions. You’ll be hard pressed to think of any other disease where stress doesn’t play a role. Reducing stress levels and learning to manage stress effectively is a major part of practicing preventative medicine. It won’t only help manage current health problems, but may also have long reaching benefits.
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https://canprev.ca/blog/how-stress-can-cost-you-your-health/
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National Stress Awareness Month began in April 1992 and is sponsored annually by the Health Resource Network. U.S. Council for Athlete’s Health would like to promote stress awareness and normalize the need to seek the aid of healthcare professionals for stress relief.
There are several definitions for stress. The Oxford dictionary defines stress as “pressure or worry caused by problems in somebody’s’ life or having too much to do.” Merriam-Webster dictionary states that stress is “a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation.” Stress is a perceived emotional response to a situation experienced by the individual and creates reactions throughout the body which can negatively affect your health.
How do you recognize stress since it can manifest in diverse ways under various conditions? Stress can be seen in four distinct categories.
Physical: headaches, sickness, indigestion, heartburn, ulcer, stomachache, rapid breathing, rapid pulse, weakened immune system, increased blood pressure, diarrhea, nausea, infertility, amenorrhea, erectile dysfunction, muscle spasms, shortness of breath
Emotional: anxious, fearful, angry, frustrated, sad, depression
Behavioral: insomnia, substance abuse: drugs/alcohol, overeating or loss of appetite
Mental: irritable, inflexible, short tempered
When your brain senses danger (stress), there is a cascade of events that occur to prepare the body. This includes the release of hormones such as epinephrine. Epinephrine is released by the sympathetic nervous system triggering the Fight-or-Flight Response which increases alertness, reflexes, rise in blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for bringing the body back to homeostasis once danger subsides. High levels of cortisol are found in people who suffer from a chronic state of stress. Prolonged exposure to cortisol could lead to adverse health conditions since the body cannot sustain this elevated state for long periods of time. Chronic stress can increase the risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke while exacerbating diagnosed conditions such as asthma and diabetes.
Stress can be diagnosed by observing any of the symptoms mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, stress share several signs and symptoms with other health conditions. Due to these similarities with other ailments, diagnosing stress can create challenges to a diagnosis and seeking treatment options. Healthcare providers such as physicians, counselors and mental health therapists use a battery of resources when diagnosing stress. A health history is obtained to see if there are any stress related indicators. A thorough physical examination is conducted to see if there are any vital measurements outside the norm. Physicians can utilize blood tests to seek any imbalances in hormones such as cortisol.
Seek the aid of a healthcare provider any time you feel overwhelmed. A mental healthcare provider is trained to confidentially diagnose mental health conditions and provide customized treatments based on the individual's needs.
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https://www.uscah.com/blog/uscah-recognzies-stress-awareness-month/
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I have worked in a prison for the last seven months. Nearly everyone who I have seen for clinic visits has reported some degree of trauma in their childhood. Studies corroborate this and show that 90% of juveniles committing crimes have a history of childhood trauma. The crucial and poignant message is that past trauma imprisons us in a cycle that impacts us throughout our lives.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Childhood Trauma is Common
Our brains rely on the past as a reference point. Much of the brain’s processing is subconscious, as the brain rapidly assesses the environment, cues, and circumstances. That neurons fire 200 times per second is testimony to our decisions being made even before we realize them.
Humans have an innate survival instinct that calls upon the body to protect itself from direct or indirect threats. Stressors include interactions with others, the environment, and even situational stress conjured up by the brain itself. When stressors are ongoing or are moderately severe, they may leave an indelible impression on our brains and bodies – this is trauma.
Traumatic events in childhood may influence the development of chronic diseases as adults. Unfortunately, physical and sexual abuse in children is common. A random sample of 10,000 Canadian residents showed a rate of child physical abuse of 31.2% and sexual abuse higher in females (12.8%) compared to males (4.3%) (MacMillan HL, 1997). A national US sample of 34,000 adults showed a prevalence of child sexual abuse of 10.14% (24.8% in men, and 75.2% in women) (Perez-Fuentes G, 2013).
Abuse sets up an adaptive cycle of fear aversion and repeated stress response. Trauma leads to a dysregulation of hormones and neurotransmitters, changes in the brain, and behaviors. Eventually, the behavioral adaptations of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can increase someone’s risk of developing a chronic disease.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Being the witness to or victim of a trauma leads to feelings of insecurity, helplessness, and fear. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) either causes a person to have a heightened state of awareness and fear, or deactivation with numbness and withdrawal (Sherin, 2011). There is a dysregulation of the emotion and stress response systems in PTSD. Psychological trauma corresponds to changes in the brain that are similar to those seen in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Imaging studies of patients with TBI or PTSD show impairments in the long axons to the prefrontal cortex – an area implicated in emotional regulation (Weis C, 2022).
The criteria for PTSD are listed in the table below.
Definition of PTSD: DSM-5 Criteria
- Exposure to traumatic stressor – direct, indirect, or repeated
- Recurrent, involuntary intrusive memories – traumatic nightmares, flashbacks, intensive or prolonged distress
- Avoidance – avoiding places, conversations, people, or experiences that even remotely remind them of an experience, trauma-related thoughts/feelings, external reminders
- Negative alterations in thinking and mood – inability to recall key events: persistent negative beliefs and expectations; persistent negative fears, horror, anger, guilt, shame; diminished interest in activities; constricted affect.
- Alterations in arousal and reactivity – irritable and aggressive; self-destructive; hypervigilance; problems in concentration
- Functional social or occupational impairment
- Symptoms lasting longer than 30 days
- Significant disruption in normal life pursuits
Biology of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Imagine walking on a trail in the woods and encountering a mountain lion. The brain coordinates an action: to confront the mountain lion, showing your dominance by making loud noises and stretching your body tall; staying still and waiting for it to leave; or running away and hoping that it cannot catch you. All of these responses are coordinated by the brain.
The biological changes of PTSD are endocrine, neurotransmitter, and anatomical.
Endocrine response
A stressor is registered by the body as a threat. The innate pathway to prepare for an injury or threat to life is the fight-or-flight pathway (autonomic nervous system) regulated by the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. Consider it the brain’s effort to protect the cells of the body from a risk of pain, injury, or death.
The brain’s coordinates this instinct to prepare the body to make an action toward or away from a noxious stimulus. The brain conducts the responses in the body by way of neurotransmitter production. Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) from the hypothalamus leads to the production of adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) from the pituitary. This hormone triggers the production of cortisol in the adrenal gland.
Cortisol affects the cells of various tissues leading to changes including an increased heart rate, dilated pupils, and the opening airways, shown in the infographic below. The brain adapts to an excess cortisol production by turning down the signal (CRF) to produce more. Interestingly, lower cortisol levels prior to a trauma may predispose to PTSD.
Neurotransmitter changes
The principal neurotransmitters (NTs) in the stress response are the catecholamines epinephrine (adrenalin) and norepinephrine. The brain triggers the increase in these NTs as it faces a stressor, which directly affect the heart, lungs, and other organs. They ready the body for an acute response, with an increase in blood pressure and pulse, often referred to as “fight, flight, or freeze.” On the other hand, serotonin levels and Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels are decreased, increasing awareness and memory effects.
Stress ties in with the body’s aversion to pain and attraction to pleasure. Cortisol increases dopamine production, leading to a motivation response and provoking a movement away from the pain and toward a pleasure. Studies support that dopamine dysregulation may play a crucial role in the development of behaviors such as drug addiction and chronic diseases. The stress becomes intertwined with coping strategies – such as exercise, meditation, a high-carb diet, sex, smoking, alcohol, and drug abuse.
Brain neuroplasticity
Hebb’s theory relates to how the brain strengthens its neurocircuitry when neurons are recruited – “if it fires, it wires.” After a significant stress response, the brain remodels, mainly in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. Studies using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) show reduced volumes in these structures (Bremner J, 1999).
Where there is a structural change, there is a functional change. The hippocampus and prefrontal cortex are responsible for memory and emotional regulation.
The Impact of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder on Chronic Diseases: The ACEs Study
A past history of a significant traumatic event or chronic trauma can predict mental illness as well as a risk for chronic diseases.
In 1998, a pivotal study the ACEs study factored the influence of environmental exposure to trauma on the incidence of chronic diseases and mental health conditions.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic experiences that occur from birth to up to seventeen years of age. Examples of ACEs include physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, living with someone who abused drugs or alcohol, and losing a parent through divorce, death, or abandonment. Environmental risk factors include communities with few activities for young people, poverty, food insecurity, and easy access to drugs or alcohol in a community.
ACEs are common. In a 2014 UK retrospective study, almost 50% of the population had at least one ACE and 9% had 4 or more ACEs (Bellis, 2014). Those with 4+ ACEs had increased odds for smoking (4-fold), heavy drinking (3.7-fold), incarceration (9-fold), and morbid obesity (3-fold). The ACEs study reveals in its correlations a way to envision mental and physical illness as a behavioral adaptation to trauma.
Posttraumatic Stress, Diabetes, and Obesity
In 67,853 women in the Nurses’ Health Study II, assessed for lifetime abuse from 1989 to 2005, child or teen physical abuse rates were 54%, and sexual abuse was 34% (Rich-Edwards, 2011). Moderate to severe physical and sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence was a risk factor to the development of diabetes as adults (hazards ratio (HR) of 1.26 for moderate physical abuse and 1.54 for severe physical abuse; 1.16 for unwanted sexual touching, 1.35 for forced sexual activity, and 1.69 for repeated forced sex) (Rich-Edwards, 2011).
A review of a similar population of women (n=54, 282) showed a correlation, in a dose-response manner, between symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the likelihood of diabetes mellitus – with nearly a 2-fold increased risk (HR 1.8) of DM in women with the highest number of PTSD symptoms (Roberts, 2015).
Conclusions
Chronic diseases result from behaviors that lead to inflammation. About 6 in 10 US Americans have a chronic disease; 4 in 10 have two or more. As many as 75 to 90 percent of all clinical concerns are stress related. Posttraumatic stress disorder is an important instigator to behaviors that place a person at risk of chronic diseases. The article on how to fireproof your health centered on inflammation as the cause of chronic disease. Harmful behaviors take us to inflammation, and the root cause of these behaviors is trauma. A journey to optimal health benefits from a sensitivity to past traumas and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
PTSD leads to emotional and nervous system dysregulation, essentially locking a person into a behavioral cycle. Trauma-informed healthcare may offer strategies to address the root cause of a chronic disease and empower a patient to overcome the trauma that imprisons them.
Bibliography.
Bremner J. Alterations in brain structure and function associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. Semin Clin Neuropsychiatry. 1999; 4(4): 249-55.
MacMillan HL, et al. Prevalence of child physical and sexual abuse in the community. Results from the Ontario Health Supplement. JAMA. 1997; 278(2): 131-5.
Perez-Fuentes G, et al. Prevalence and Correlates of Child Sexual Abuse: A National Study. Compr Psychiatry. 2013; 54(1): 16-17.
Rich-Edwards J, Spiegelman D, et al. Abuse in Childhood and Adolescence as a Predictor of Type 2 Diabetes in Adult Women. Am J Prev Med. 2010; 39(6): 529-536.
Roberts A, Agnew-Blais J, et al. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Sample of Women. JAMA Psychiatry. 2015; 72(3): 203-210.
Sherin J. Post-traumatic stress disorder: the neurobiological impact of psychological trauma. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2011; 13(3): 263-278.
Weis C, et al. Emotion Dysregulation Following Trauma: Shared Neurocircuitry of Traumatic Brain Injury and Trauma-Related Psychiatric Disorders. Biological Psychiatry. 2022; Vol 91(5): 470-477.
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https://yourhealthforumbydrcirino.org/2022/02/25/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-and-the-rise-of-chronic-diseases/
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By Dr. Amy Davis, MD
Stress comes in a variety of forms – traumatic emotional events, physical injury, infections, inflammatory conditions, sleep deprivation, nutritional deficiencies, food sensitivities, and toxins.
To the body stress is stress – the response to the stress, whatever the source, is the same.
- Stress places demands on the body and activates two systems: the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) which results in a series of adaptations known as the “stress response”.
- Acute stress, like a physical injury, mobilizes the stress response, which is essential to survival, by producing adrenalin causing the eyes to dilate, faster breathing, faster heart rate and increased blood pressure and blood flow to organs needed to fight off danger (muscles, heart, liver).
- Chronic stress is associated with elevated cortisol levels. Prolonged stress produces prolonged levels of cortisol which results in:
- • Central obesity
- Increased blood pressure
- Loss of muscle
- Osteoporosis
- Immune suppression and frequent illness
- Depression and memory impairment
- Increased blood sugar
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Imbalanced microbiome and leaky gut
Common triggers of the chronic stress response include:
- Chronic sleep deprivation – not getting enough sleep
- Emotional and / or physical trauma
- Acute physical stress
- Burnout
- Work stress
Overwhelmingly, it is the psychological rather than physiological stress which has the capacity to elevate and maintain the stress response.
Stress leads to alterations of the HPA Axis and Adrenal gland function.
Stage 1 may lack symptoms and the body is able to return to baseline.
Stage 2 (adrenal fatigue) the cortisol level is chronically elevated, the individual is “stressed”, may have anxiety attacks, mood swings or depression.
Stage 3 (adrenal exhaustion) the body can no longer produce cortisol adequately and profound fatigue, apathy, lack of motivation, depression, brain fog, muscle pain, poor sleep quality, inflammation and allergies, and early menopause may occur.
What can you do?
- Stress Reduction – breathing, moderate exercise, meditation, yoga
- Get plenty of sleep
Dietary ChangeLow glycemic foods
- Frequent meals
- No stimulants
- Consider a food elimination diet to determine food sensitivities
Nutritional support
- B-Complex
- Vitamin C
- Magnesium
- Phosphatidylserine
- Adaptogenic herbs – Ashwgandha, Rhodiola, St John’s Wort, Panax ginseng, licorice root
Join me Wednesday April 25th at 1:30 for Restoring the Balance – Stress Reduction and Group Hypnotherapy Event. Sign up required, space is limited.
Best of Health!
Dr. Amy Davis M.D.
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https://thehealthyplanet.com/2018/03/stress-a-functional-medicine-perspective/
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Hello Everyone!
Everyone encounters emotional distress or major upheavals in their lives that can trigger a wide range of unexpected feelings, major disruptions to their daily functioning (sleep, exercise and diet), or clinical disorders (depression, anxiety, PTSD, DID, etc). In Chinese medicine, mental health problems are viewed as imbalances between the yin and yang energies of the body, including consideration of lifestyle, diet, and constitution.
Emotional and physical disruptions produce imbalance of Qi in the meridians: Acupuncture can be an adequate modality for treating mental health issues because treatments plans are customized and designed to address root causes of patterns by helping to restore balance at all levels, spirit, body and mind. This is often best achieved in an integrative setting (along with psychotherapy, somatic experiencing, EMDR, CBT/DBT, etc). If you experience a psychiatric emergency call 911.
(missed previous newsletters? archive is here)
Quick Links
Stress
Stress is a biological response to demanding situations and causes the body to release hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline. Many factors can trigger a stress response but some patients suffer from chronic stress in which their body is nearly always in a state of heightened alertness. Chronic stress puts pressure on the body for an extended time which can lead to many physical and psychological symptoms. Symptoms of chronic stress include irritability, fatigue, headaches, difficulty concentrating, disorganized thoughts, difficulty sleeping, changes in appetite, and/or frequent infections or illnesses. Over a long period, chronic stress can contribute to mental disorders as well as physical disorders such as heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, diabetes, respiratory infections, and a weakened immune system. In TCM, chronic stress can cause a blockage of the energy flow that can then lead to depression.
Anxiety
Depression
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder triggered by traumatic events. Symptoms include recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event, reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks or re-exeperiencing), severe emotional distress, or physical reactions to something that reminds the patient of the event. Individuals may also experience negative emotions, depression, avoidance, problems with memory, difficulty maintaining close relationships, irritability, being always on guard, self-destructive behavior, and trouble concentrating and sleeping. Research has shown that the Default Mode Network (DMN) is disrupted in PTSD patients. DMN is a network of brain regions with many centers that are connected. DMN activities between those centers correspond to self-referential thought that is active when the brain is at wakeful rest and is deactivated when the individual is focused on the outside world. Disruption of the connectivity of this network by a traumatic experience causes an increase in the excitation of the activity centers and results in PTSD symptoms. Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is the sequelae of early childhood abuse and/or neglect. In addition to PTSD symptoms it can present with dissociation, re-victimization, somatization, disruptions in identity etc.
You can perform a quick evaluation of your PTSD status by using the PTSD Check List for Civilians (PDF). Remember that it is essential to work with qualified mental health practitioners to heal from PTSD (always ready to refer and work as a team!). In the US, 7 to 9% of the population suffers from PTSD with increased incidence in populations subject to higher exposure to traumatic events (military, medics, firefighters etc).
How TCM Can Help
In TCM, we often associate different emotions to different elements and organs. TCM works in conjunction with allopathic medicine modalities (including pharmacology and psychotherapy) but also offers a bridge to advanced somatic, transcendent and spiritual modalities. It is unusual to separate the body from the mind (Descartes again didn't do a favor to anyone). The body is the mind (the western psychological model has focused on brain chemistry for the most part although this is changing).
It is also said that memories are stored in the Blood ("The body keeps the score") in which case we work towards resolving Qi and Blood stagnation while simultaneously regulating and normalizing the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
No one needs to go through recovery alone. I'm here to help you regain balance in your body and mind as well as guide you or loved ones towards other practitioners in the field.
Herbs & Mental Health
Chinese herbology can relieve emotional distress by treating the root cause of the mental state. In conjunction with acupuncture, herbal therapy can help restore balance in the body and mind. Chinese herbal medicine is often prescribed in these two ways:
Upon requesting for herbal medicine, please inform me of all medications you are currently taking as some herbs may have adverse reactions to certain pharmaceuticals.
Diet & Mental Health
A very large body of evidence now exists that suggests diet is as important to mental health as it is to physical health,” says Felice Jacka, president of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research. “A healthy diet is protective and an unhealthy diet is a risk factor for depression and anxiety.” For example, see below our recommendations for foods to avoid and foods to favor for depression (or for everyone for that matter!):
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https://us18.campaign-archive.com/?u=39cdf65db563bc83a009d9649&id=eaf0b7d851
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Stress as a Survival mechanism
Humans tend to associate stress with negativity without realizing the positive triggers it can produce under the right circumstances.
Take, for instance, the fight-or-flight response we experience in moments of fear, panic, or danger; from the subtlety of an athlete before a competition, a public speaker addressing a crowd, or the more dangerous scenario of jumping off a burning building.
In all three situations, stress can be a real challenge to overcome, as it elicits instinctual signals for action whether negative or positive, and the real or perceived experience acts as the evolutionary guide to repeat or refrain from the activity in the future.
After the act is performed and depending on the outcome, the individual is encouraged or discouraged to repeat the experience, which can be regarded as an adaptation reaction.
Our ancestors would have used this as a survival mechanism to navigate the danger from predators and other dangerous situations, subsequently passing on optimized genes down to us over millions of years
Stress propels us to act by producing the hormone, Cortisol, which signals for the mind to activate the body in response to an observed emergency.
Usually, this is a good thing, but prolonged exposure can lead to the overproduction of cortisol, leading to chronic stress situations, which is detrimental to health.
This is especially true in the current actively switched on and technology-propelled society where the stress is always present but not visible, chipping away our emotional and physical balance and our ability to function.
A study by the American Psychological Association highlights the alarming levels of stress across all age groups in the world today, especially in the United States, and it turns out that we are more stressed-out than any other time in recorded history.
Unfortunately, the remedy to this problem has focused on administering prescription drugs – a practice steeped in 19th-century proclivities, and proven to be ineffective in the long run with serious side effects.
The popularity of natural health has encouraged people to seek alternative options like natural foods and supplements, which provide the body with essential nutrients that keep it stabilized and functional.
There is also the option for more intrinsic meditative methods for relief, like our D.O.S.E framework, which teaches how to alleviate stress through our Oxygenation process.
It encourages using oxygen to create mindfulness that helps us train our minds to overcome obstacles and create better lifestyle choices, so we can develop the skills to manage stress better.
Chronic Stress - Definition, Symptoms and Remedies
What is Chronic Stress – Definition
If mismanaged, Chronic stress can:
- trigger cortisol which accelerates the heart rate, increases tensions in the muscles, changes the functionality of the immune system, increases blood pressure and blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, and encourages obesity
- Accelerate harmful coping mechanisms like binging on unhealthy food, alcohol, smoking, experiencing irritability, restlessness and insomnia
- It can also short circuit the gastrointestinal health, subdue or over excite emotional and mental health
So how do you manage Stress then?
It is important to understand that completely avoiding stress is just as harmful as the overexposure to it, so the median point is managing stress effectively to accentuate rather than diminish life.
Diet, Oxygen, Sleep and Exercise – DOSE, is our flagship and simple approach to managing stress, and can help identify, analyse, and prioritize our stressors and recommend ways to manage them successfully.
Our DOSE program begins with a useful kit from Thorne Research Lab’s at-home stress test, which uses saliva samples to measure the two primary adrenal gland markers of stress – cortisol and DHEA and then in addition to the test results, Thorne will provide a personalized plan for your diet, lifestyle, and (if indicated) supplements to help you manage stress.
Here are some Great Supplements to manage Stress
DOSE promotes the use of natural methods that improve lifestyle habits, like better nutrition and hydration, regular exercise and restful sleep and harnessing the power of meditative mindfulness.
Within nutrition, we believe that supplements can be extremely beneficial to enhance areas of the body where food is not as effective, like our hormones, which the body utilizes to respond to stress.
Here are seven Thorne supplements we have used and can endorse for stress management
Hemp oil plus is a safe and effective approach to balance the body’s reaction to stress and anxiety. According to Thorne, it is a;
“ blend of phytocannabinoids that supports and regulates one of the body’s most important, yet little-known, systems — the endocannabinoid system.* and by nourishing this system, Hemp Oil + benefits users by relieving stress, easing discomfort, and even improving gut health”.
We can’t say enough about this product. It’s like magic – only better!
2. Memoractiv™
Thorne’s Memoractiv is a nootropic that combines herbal extracts proprietary nutrients that support creativity and mental focus, promotes a general feeling of calmness, and helps with blue screen filtering. If you’ve ever worn anti-blue screen glasses, you can relate to the soothing effect it has on the eyes. It also has a slow release mechanism, low-dose caffeine content for alertness and concentration, so it is ideal for late night work or studying and generally people who burn the midnight oil. Memoractiv can be paired with Hemp Oil + for more mental concentration and if nothing else, both are a stellar combination.
This merges the best essential B vitamins, with additional pantothenic acid to support optimal adrenal and immune functions.
The Adrenal glands Stress and the hormones related to stress take a toll on your adrenal glands. Adrenal Cortex supports healthy adrenal function because it promotes a balanced stress response.* It’s formulated with a unique extract from adrenal cortex tissue, which plays a valuable role in supporting healthy adrenal glands – while also helping maintain immune function and promoting an energetic feeling.*
5. Relora Plus
Help curb habitual stress-eating habits and decrease anxious feelings with this blend of two botanicals (used in the practice of traditional Chinese Medicine for more than 1,500 years) and six essential B vitamins.* Relora Plus supports restful sleep and balances cortisol and DHEA levels.*
Formulated with a natural inhibitory neurotransmitter – GABA, the PharmaGABA-250 helps maintain healthy stress management and promotes a good night’s sleep.* PharmaGABA is formulated with a natural source of the inhibitory neurotransmitter – GABA. Natural GABA increases the brain’s relaxing alpha-wave production and reduces the stress-related beta waves – creating a profound sense of physical relaxation whilst sustaining mental concentration focus.*
7. Rhodiola
Rhodiola, is a stress-relieving botanical, categorized as an adaptogen because of increases the resistance to chemical, biological, and physical stressors and enhances mood, sleep and concentration.
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https://pvehealth.com/supplements-for-emotional-health-and-stress-relief/
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It’s no revelation that men and women are affected by stress differently and therefore responses are different too. Is it down to genetics? Is it biological? Is it just testosterone? Or is it societal pressure?
In this article, featuring Dario Maestripieri Ph.D., a Psychology Today contributor, We take a look over the most comprehensive studies of recent times along with expert opinions to give you a greater understanding of why men and women respond differently to stress.
So what is stress exactly?
According to the Stress Management Society, stress is primarily a physical response to a threat.
That physical response is usually from pressures from stimuli that can be imparted upon someone internally or externally. When under stress, the body switches into what’s commonly known as ‘fight or flight’ mode and the stress responses are reactionary to either of those, depending on the situation.
The stress response is actioned by the body releasing hormones and chemicals like adrenaline, cortisol, epinephrine and oxytocin that prepare the body for what’s to come.
Importantly, under stress, the body prioritises the most necessary bodily functions and shuts down those deemed unnecessary at the time, such as digestion. Some of the primary hormones active under stress suppress appetite therefore decreasing the sense of hunger. People who are under persistent stress or those affected by constant anxiety may be more likely to have chronic elevations of these hormones, resulting in prolonged appetite suppression.
The difference between stress and anxiety
Stress and anxiety are often linked and can contribute to deeper periods of depression too.
- Stress » 3 in 4 people have felt overwhelmed or unable to cope with stress (MHF)
Generally a short-term experience, stress is the body’s reaction to an external threat. Stress is often periodical and triggered by short-term stimuli and can also be perceived positively by producing a more focused mental state. Long-term stress, however, can result in insomnia, poorer concentration, and ability impairment of tasks that, under normal circumstances, would be completed easily.
- Anxiety » 1 in 10 people will experience debilitating anxiety in their life (Anxiety UK)
A sustained mental health problem, that’s often triggered by stress, anxiety doesn’t always subside once the threat has been dealt with. Anxiety is something that has to be managed by someone for longer periods of time than stress, usually. The effect of anxiety on someone can be significant, depending on the severity and the person themselves, socially is where it hits most but it can also affect the individual occupationally and areas of function that would otherwise be easy to do.
- Depression » 1 in 10 people are reported to have depression in the UK (Independent)
Being of a low or flat feeling mood for long periods of time, so much so, that feeling affects everyday life. Symptoms of depression include low self-esteem, self-hate, constant worrying, anxiety, tiredness, frustration and sadness. Mildly, depression doesn’t stop leading a normal life but makes everything harder to do and seem less worthwhile. At its most serious, depression is life-threatening due to the incessant self-hatred thoughts that can lead to suicidal thoughts or the will to give up living life.
It’s the length of time that differentiates
- Stress is typically shorter: threat > reaction > solution.
- Anxiety is typically longer term and doesn’t subside as quickly as dealing with a stressful situation.
- Chronic stress can lead to anxiety which if not dealt with can lead to longer term depression.
How do men react to stress?
Men, historically, compartmentalise and repress their emotions to either fight or flight (run from danger). It would be fair to say that, naturally, men are more likely than women to respond to stress with anger, aggression, escaping or hiding, or an alternative method that relates to an immediate reaction. Now this is directly linked to the biological makeup of males and the chemical reactions that happen under stress, but this can also be seen as a societal pressure that men are the strong ones in the household and emotion shouldn’t be shared. More on this topic soon.
Biologically speaking, men naturally release less oxytocin than women, which softens the reaction of cortisol by relaxing the emotions, so therefore have a stronger reaction of adrenaline, cortisol and epinephrine which raises the blood pressure causing a more immediate (short-lived) response.
How do women react to stress?
Due to the increase in oxytocin and reproductive hormones, such as oestrogen, women will naturally nurture and reach out to others in an effort to both protect themselves and their young. Women have to focus on relationships. This is backed up by female self-esteem and identity are both dependent upon feelings of adequacy in relationships.
Comparatively, men are more interested in personal performance and how well they’re competing. Instinctively, they won’t interpret social cues as well as women, so when a man says, “I didn’t know you were angry” to a woman, even though you might have made it clear you were, he’s probably telling the truth.
The key differences between the two
Stress reactions are driven by hormones in both men and women. The main hormones: adrenaline cortisol, epinephrine and oxytocin aren’t produced in equal measures – and this is, essentially, why men and women react differently to stress.
Several studies (notably the Journal of Counseling & Development and Clinical Psychology Review 11) have concluded that it’s social expectations that affect how we react to stress and their imparted psychological effects. Consequently, men and women are exposed to different types of stress and deal with that stress based on cultural norms.
This type of restrictiveness of gender roles can have negative implications, especially bias towards females, as women are more likely than men to have a common mental health problem.
If you’re worried about stress, anxiety or depression please visit Mind’s Support.
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https://nightslides.com/lifestyle/why-men-women-react-differently-to-stress-in-2018/
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I’ve been writing on the theme of obesity for the last few weeks, and will wrap this series up tomorrow. (It’s a short week, what with the Thanksgiving holiday, and so tomorrow’s article will be the last for this week.)
I’ve written about many causes of obesity – diet, chemicals in foods, sugar/high fructose corn syrup, cars.
Another cause of obesity, and a major cause at that, is stress.
Stress is a major cause of living a High Density Lifestyle, and a major cause of obesity – that’s why I’ve said throughout this series that being obese can get you trapped in the treadmill of a High Density Lifestyle.
What is it about stress that leads to obesity?
There’s two main reasons: behavioral and physiological.
Behaviorally, stressed-out people will often eat even when they’re not hungry – this is known as stress eating or emotional eating, and the food choices made are usually not the wisest.
Physiologically, there’s a few factors that lead to obesity. One factor is cortisol and cortisol-induced insulin.
When faced with a stressful situation, the body triggers the stress response, the fight-or-flight response. This leads to the secretion of cortisol, adrenaline and other stress hormones along with an increase of blood pressure, breathing and heart rate.
The natural stress response is usually short-term and self-regulating. When the threat is gone, the body returns to normal. As cortisol and adrenaline levels drop, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure, as well as energy levels return to their baseline levels. Other systems inhibited by the stress response return to their regular activities.
The natural stress response goes awry when stress is constant and excessive. In today’s society, most people are inundated with overwhelming stress. For those constantly dealing with excessive and chronic stress, the body’s fight-or-flight response is constantly on. In turn, the resulting stress hormones released are chronically high.
Chronically high levels of cortisol plays a big role in the development of obesity.
Cortisol helps the body handle stress, so when stress goes up, cortisol also goes up. Cortisol stimulates fat and carbohydrate metabolism during stressful situations. This leads to increased blood sugar levels required for fast energy. In turn, this stimulates insulin release which can lead to an increase in appetite.
When the immediate stress is over, cortisol lingers to help bring the body back into balance after stress. One of the ways it gets things back to balance is by increasing appetite to replace the carbohydrate and fat used for the flight or fight response.
The problem is that in today’s society, stress-causing situations — such as traffic jams or computer malfunctions — don’t require the body to use up a lot of energy. So, cortisol ends up causing the body to refuel after stress even when it doesn’t really need to refuel. This excess fuel or glucose is converted into fat, resulting in increased storage of fat.
What makes matters worse is that cortisol-induced high levels of insulin also leads to increased production and storage of fat. This means that exposure to chronically high levels of cortisol and cortisol-induced insulin are major main reasons why stress can lead to increase in body fat and obesity.
Another physiological reason that was found recently for why stress leads to obesity is a molecule that the body releases when stressed called NPY (neuropeptide Y). NPY appears to unlock certain receptors in fat cells, causing them to grow in both size and number.
NPY was discovered by researchers during an experiment in which stressed and unstressed mice were fed either a standard diet or a high-fat, high-sugar, “comfort food” diet.
As expected, the mice on the high-fat, high-sugar diet gained fat while those on the standard diet did not. But researchers found the stressed mice on the high-fat, high-sugar diet developed more body fat than the unstressed mice fed the same diet.
The good news of all this is that stress-induced obesity can be overturned by the learning of simple stress management techniques.
And for that matter, diet-induced obesity can be overturned by the learning of better food habits.
So there is hope!
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https://drmichaelwayne.com/blog/stress-a-major-cause-of-obesity/
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Since the development of the NMR spectrometer in the 1950s, NMR spectra have been widely used for the elucidation of the 2D structure of newly synthesized and natural compounds. In the 1980s, the high-resolution NMR spectrometer (> 300 Mhz) and 2D experiments were introduced, which opens up the possibility to determine the 3D structure of large molecules, especially biomolecules. However, NMR spectroscopy has been rarely applied to drug analysis. This book illustrates the power and versatility of NMR spectroscopy in the determination of impurities in and the content of drugs, the composition of polymer excipients, the characterization of isomeric drug mixtures, the complexity of drugs with small-size components or ions, and the behavior of drugs in acid and basic solution. In addition, NMR spectroscopy and especially the hyphenated technique with HPLC is shown to be a powerful tool to measure a drug and its metabolites in various body fluids. The solid state NMR technique can give information on the structure, especially the conformation of drugs and excipients in drug formulations. Recently, SAR by NMR, introduced by Fesik, impressively demonstrated the potential of NMR spectroscopy in drug development and in the characterization of the interaction between large molecules and ligands. The complexation between proteins, lipids and cyclodextrins with drugs is described. Finally, NMR imaging (MRI and MRS) can be used to characterize the liberation of drugs from a drug formulation. Furthermore, the distribution of substances in plants, in animals, in tissues and in humans can be visualized by imaging. In short, this book covers all aspects of drug analysis.
NMR in Pharmaceutical Science
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Release Date : 2015-09-28
Category : Medical
Total pages :504
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NMR in Pharmaceutical Sciences is intended to be a comprehensive source of information for the many individuals that utilize MR in studies of relevance to the pharmaceutical sector. The book is intended to educate and inform those who develop and apply MR approaches within the wider pharmaceutical environment, emphasizing the toolbox that is available to spectroscopists and radiologists. This book is structured on the key processes in drug discovery, development and manufacture, but underpinned by an understanding of fundamental NMR principles and the unique contribution that NMR (including MRI) can provide. After an introductory chapter, which constitutes an overview, the content is organised into five sections. The first section is on the basics of NMR theory and relevant experimental methods. The rest follow a sequence based on the chronology of drug discovery and development, firstly 'Idea to Lead' then 'Lead to Drug Candidate', followed by 'Clinical Development', and finally 'Drug Manufacture'. The thirty one chapters cover a vast range of topics from analytical chemistry, including aspects involved in regulatory matters and in the prevention of fraud, to clinical imaging studies. Whilst this comprehensive volume will be essential reading for many scientists based in pharmaceutical and related industries, it should also be of considerable value to a much wider range of academic scientists whose research is related to the various aspects of pharmaceutical R&D; for them it will supply vital understanding of pharmaceutical industrial concerns and the basis of key decision making processes. About eMagRes Handbooks eMagRes (formerly the Encyclopedia of Magnetic Resonance) publishes a wide range of online articles on all aspects of magnetic resonance in physics, chemistry, biology and medicine. The existence of this large number of articles, written by experts in various fields, is enabling the publication of a series of eMagRes Handbooks on specific areas of NMR and MRI. The chapters of each of these handbooks will comprise a carefully chosen selection of eMagRes articles. In consultation with the eMagRes Editorial Board, the eMagRes handbooks are coherently planned in advance by specially-selected Editors, and new articles are written to give appropriate complete coverage. The handbooks are intended to be of value and interest to research students, postdoctoral fellows and other researchers learning about the scientific area in question and undertaking relevant experiments, whether in academia or industry. Have the content of this handbook and the complete content of eMagRes at your fingertips! Visit: www.wileyonlinelibrary.com/ref/eMagRes
Pharmaceutical Analysis
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Release Date : 2009-02-12
Category : Science
Total pages :384
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The use of analytical sciences in the discovery, development andmanufacture of pharmaceuticals is wide-ranging. From the analysisof minute amounts of complex biological materials to the qualitycontrol of the final dosage form, the use of analytical technologycovers an immense range of techniques and disciplines. This book concentrates on the analytical aspects of drugdevelopment and manufacture, focusing on the analysis of the activeingredient or drug substance. It provides those joining theindustry or other areas of pharmaceutical research with a source ofreference to a broad range of techniques and their applications,allowing them to choose the most appropriate analytical techniquefor a particular purpose. The volume is directed at analytical chemists, industrialpharmacists, organic chemists, pharmaceutical chemists andbiochemists.
Spectroscopic Analyses
Publisher : BoD – Books on Demand
Release Date : 2017-12-06
Category : Science
Total pages :240
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The book presents developments and applications of these methods, such as NMR, mass, and others, including their applications in pharmaceutical and biomedical analyses. The book is divided into two sections. The first section covers spectroscopic methods, their applications, and their significance as characterization tools; the second section is dedicated to the applications of spectrophotometric methods in pharmaceutical and biomedical analyses. This book would be useful for students, scholars, and scientists engaged in synthesis, analyses, and applications of materials/polymers.
Pharmaceutical Excipients
Publisher : CRC Press
Release Date : 1999-02-23
Category : Medical
Total pages :688
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Meeting the need for a hands-on guide elucidating the role of molecular spectroscopy in the physical characterization of pharmaceutical solids, two experts from the industry gather theoretical discussions of infrared, Raman, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. They provide recommendations on spectral data acquisition techniques and include 600 spectra for 300 of the most commonly used excipients. Complete with references, equations, tables, and a CAS registry number index, the book covers the drug development process, including chemical identification of substances, investigative studies, competitor analysis, problem solving activities, reproduction of spectral data, and more.
Disordered Pharmaceutical Materials
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Release Date : 2016-03-28
Category : Science
Total pages :544
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A one-stop resource for researchers, developers, and post graduate students in pharmaceutical science. This handbook and ready reference provides detailed, but not overloaded information -- presenting the topic without unnecessarily complex formalism. As such, it gives a systematic and coherent overview of disordered materials for pharmaceutical applications, covering fundamental aspects, as well as preparation and characterization techniques for the target-oriented development of drug delivery systems based on disordered crystals and amorphous solids. Special attention is paid to examine the different facets and levels of disorder in their structural and dynamic aspects as well as the effect of disorder on dissolution and stability. Chapters on processing induced disorder and on patenting issues round off the book. As a result the book helps overcoming the challenges of using these materials in the pharmaceutical industry. For pharmaceutical and medicinal chemists, materials scientists, clinical physicists, and pharmaceutical laboratories looking to make better and more potent pharmaceuticals.
Handbook of Pharmaceutical Analysis
Publisher : CRC Press
Release Date : 2001-11-09
Category : Medical
Total pages :608
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Exploring the analysis of pharmaceuticals, including polymorphic forms, this book discusses regulatory requirements in pharmaceutical product development and pharmaceutical testing. It covers methods of drug separation and procedures such as capillary electrophoresis for chromatographic separation of molecules. Additional topics include drug formulation analysis using vibrational and magnetic resonance spectroscopy and identification of drug metabolites and decomposition products using such techniques as mass spectrometry. The book provides more than 300 tables, equations, drawings, and photographs, and convenient, easy-to-use indices, facilitating quick access to each topic.
Applications of NMR Spectroscopy; Vol. 6
Publisher : Bentham Science Publishers
Release Date : 2017-12-04
Category : Science
Total pages :240
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Applications of NMR Spectroscopy is a book series devoted to publishing the latest advances in the applications of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in various fields of organic chemistry, biochemistry, health and agriculture. The sixth volume of the series features reviews focusing on NMR spectroscopic techniques for studying tautomerism, applications in medical diagnosis, in food chemistry and identifying secondary metabolites.
NMR Spectroscopy in Liquids and Solids
Publisher : CRC Press
Release Date : 2015-04-10
Category : Medical
Total pages :360
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NMR Spectroscopy in Liquids and Solids provides an introduction of the general concepts behind Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and its applications, including how to perform adequate NMR experiments and interpret data collected in liquids and solids to characterize molecule systems in terms of their structure and dynamics. The book is composed of ten chapters. The first three chapters consider the theoretical basis of NMR spectroscopy, the theory of NMR relaxation, and the practice of relaxation measurements. The middle chapters discuss the general aspects of molecular dynamics and their relationships to NMR, NMR spectroscopy and relaxation studies in solutions, and special issues related to NMR in solutions. The remaining chapters introduce general principles and strategies involved in solid-state NMR studies, provide examples of applications of relaxation for the determination of molecular dynamics in diamagnetic solids, and discuss special issues related to solid state NMR— including NMR relaxation in paramagnetic solids. All chapters are accompanied by references and recommended literature for further reading. Many practical examples of multinuclear NMR and relaxation experiments and their interpretations are also presented. The book is ideal for scientists new to NMR, students, and investigators working in the areas of chemistry, biochemistry, biology, pharmaceutical sciences, or materials science.
NMR Spectroscopy
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Release Date : 2013-12-13
Category : Science
Total pages :734
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Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the most powerful and widely used techniques in chemical research for investigating structures and dynamics of molecules. Advanced methods can even be utilized for structure determinations of biopolymers, for example proteins or nucleic acids. NMR is also used in medicine for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The method is based on spectral lines of different atomic nuclei that are excited when a strong magnetic field and a radiofrequency transmitter are applied. The method is very sensitive to the features of molecular structure because also the neighboring atoms influence the signals from individual nuclei and this is important for determining the 3D-structure of molecules. This new edition of the popular classic has a clear style and a highly practical, mostly non-mathematical approach. Many examples are taken from organic and organometallic chemistry, making this book an invaluable guide to undergraduate and graduate students of organic chemistry, biochemistry, spectroscopy or physical chemistry, and to researchers using this well-established and extremely important technique. Problems and solutions are included.
Encyclopedia of Spectroscopy and Spectrometry
Publisher : Academic Press
Release Date : 2016-09-22
Category : Science
Total pages :3584
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This third edition of the Encyclopedia of Spectroscopy and Spectrometry provides authoritative and comprehensive coverage of all aspects of spectroscopy and closely related subjects that use the same fundamental principles, including mass spectrometry, imaging techniques and applications. It includes the history, theoretical background, details of instrumentation and technology, and current applications of the key areas of spectroscopy. The new edition will include over 80 new articles across the field. These will complement those from the previous edition, which have been brought up-to-date to reflect the latest trends in the field. Coverage in the third edition includes: Atomic spectroscopy Electronic spectroscopy Fundamentals in spectroscopy High-Energy spectroscopy Magnetic resonance Mass spectrometry Spatially-resolved spectroscopic analysis Vibrational, rotational and Raman spectroscopies The new edition is aimed at professional scientists seeking to familiarize themselves with particular topics quickly and easily. This major reference work continues to be clear and accessible and focus on the fundamental principles, techniques and applications of spectroscopy and spectrometry. Incorporates more than 150 color figures, 5,000 references, and 300 articles for a thorough examination of the field Highlights new research and promotes innovation in applied areas ranging from food science and forensics to biomedicine and health Presents a one-stop resource for quick access to answers and an in-depth examination of topics in the spectroscopy and spectrometry arenas
Process Analytical Technology
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Release Date : 2008-04-15
Category : Science
Total pages :472
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The use of real or near real time measurement of chemical production process parameters as the basis for achieving control or optimisation of a manufacturing process has wide application in the petrochemical, food and chemical industries. Process analytical chemistry (PAC), or process analytical technology (PAT) as it has recently been called, is now being deployed in the pharmaceutical industry, where it is seen as a technology that can help companies to improve their conformity with manufacturing compliance regulations. The objective of this book is to provide a starting point for implementing process analytical chemistry tools in process monitoring applications or as part of a total quality management system. Written from the perspective of the spectroscopist required to implant PAT tools in a process environment, attention is focussed on measurements that are made "in process" at-line or off-line, providing data on product during manufacture. With chapters covering the key spectroscopic tools, their applications in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries and basic chemometrics, the novice can quickly develop a sound understanding of the most practical technologies and applications. Implementation strategies are fully covered and address some of the critical issues that need to be tackled when setting up a PAT project – including choosing a project with a sound business justification in the first place.
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https://www.macnabclanuk.org/nmr-spectroscopy-in-pharmaceutical-analysis/
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This Department has established well equipped and modern Physics, Chemistry & Language labs to upgrade basic technological skills of the first year students. The fundamental laboratories in the department are:
The Engineering Physics Laboratory:
Further, facilities are available for measuring optical fibre parameters like numerical aperture, attenuation etc. In the lab we also offer holographic studies. The basic focus in the Engineering Physics Laboratory is to develop scientific temper and encourage students to innovate in diverse technical areas for better understanding of technical and engineering problems. We believe that after conducting experiments under the able guidance of the faculty members, the students will have a sound theoretical and practical knowledge and they will be able to demonstrate the ability to identify, formulate and solve real-world technical problems.
Various Equipments of Engineering Physics Lab
|BASIC LASER KIT
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This apparatus is used to measure the wavelength of visible light. It can also measure the spacing of grating.
Specifications:
Laser power: 5 mW
Laser wavelength: 650 nm
Gratings LPI: 12000
ELECTRICAL VIBRATOR
This apparatus is used to find the frequency of AC mains. This can also verify the law of vibrations of stretched strings.
Specifications:
Frequency of vibrator: 50 Hz
Field magnet strength: 100G
Rod material: Soft Iron
Linear mass density of thread: 0.0015 g/cm
TDIELECTRIC CONSTANT APPARATUS
Specifications:
Radio frequency generator range:9-10MHz
Micro ammeter range: 0-50μA
Material of fixed capacitor: Aluminium.
Variable Gang Capacitor: 22-354pF
By using this apparatus, one can measure the dielectric constant and polarizability of a given dielectric slab.
STEWART & GEE’S APPARATUS
This apparatus is based on tangent law of magnetism, this apparatus is used to plot the variation of the magnetic field of the current carrying circular coil on the axis. It can also be used to verify Biot Sawart’s law.
Specifications:
No of turns of copper wire: 5, 50, 500
Size of copper wire: 24 SWG
OPTICAL FIBRE KIT
Using the optical fiber kit, one can measure NA and attenuation coefficient of the fiber. Bending loss can also be measured with the help of this kit.
Specifications:
Oscillator Frequency: 20 kHz
CRO: Dual channel 20 MHz
Fiber Type: Single Mode step index fiber
Fiber Length: 1m, 2m, 10m
Numerical aperture of fiber: 0.5
MICHELSON INTERFEROMETER
SPECTROMETER
The Engineering Chemistry Laboratory
The Engineering Chemistry Laboratory has been designed to acquaint the students with practical knowledge of the basic phenomenon/concepts of chemistry that they face during course of their study in the industry and engineering field. The students will be able to understand and explain scientifically the various chemistry related problems in the industry/engineering and develop experimental skills for building technical competence. Also, students will be able to enhance the thinking capabilities in the modern trends in Engineering & Technology, learn and apply basic techniques used in chemistry laboratory for preparation, purification and identification. They learn to employ the basic techniques used in chemistry laboratory for analyses such as chromatography, spectroscopy, volumetric titrations, conductometry and stalagnometric method.The laboratory is equipped with Spectrometers, Conductivity meters, Colorimeters, pH meters, BOD Incubator, Flame photometers etc. to familiarise students with a variety of methods used to study matter from the molecular perspective. Various experiments cover the analysis of water (acidity, residual chlorine, hardness, BOD, COD measurements); spectroscopic studies of molecules; synthesis of organic polymers and chromatographic studies etc. In addition, further equipments and chemicals are available for the analysis of polluted water samples. The basic aim of the experiments conducted in the Laboratory is to train the students as both scientists and engineers in order to enhance their problem solving abilities and mould them into successful professionals and responsible citizens.
Various Equipments of Engineering Chemistry Laboratory:
|PENSKY MARTENS APPARATUS
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This apparatus is used to measure flash point & fire point of lubricating oils, fuel oils, solvents, solvent containing material and suspension of solids.
In the Pensky–Martens closed-cup flash-point test, a brass test cup is filled with a test specimen and fitted with a cover. The sample is heated and stirred at specified rates depending on the material that is being tested. An ignition source is directed into the cup at regular intervals with simultaneous interruption of stirring until a flash that spreads throughout the inside of the cup is seen. The corresponding temperature is its flash point.
This meter is used to measure the ability of water-based solutions to carry electric current using probes to produce electrical voltage when placed into a solution
It is a convenient instrument for measurement of conductivity of various electrolytes such as caustic content of rinse water, Electrolytic impurities of Distilled/Demineralised water, Sulphuric acid, concentration in pickling baths, Anodizing tanks, Soil conductivity and other applications.
DIGITAL COLORIMETER
A colorimeter is a device used in colorimetry. In scientific fields the word generally refers to the device that measures the absorbance of particular wavelengths of light by a specific solution. This device is commonly used to determine the concentration of a known solute in a given solution by the application of the Beer-Lambert law, which states that the concentration of a solute is proportional to the absorbance. Digital colorimeters are widely used across different work areas including, environmental testing, clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical analysis, and biochemistry. Besides being used for basic research in chemistry laboratories, colorimeters have many practical applications such as testing water quality by screening chemicals such as chlorine, fluoride, cyanide, dissolved oxygen, iron, molybdenum, zinc and hydrazine. They are also used to determine the concentrations of plant nutrients such as ammonia, nitrate and phosphorus in soil or hemoglobin in blood.
HOT AIR OVEN
The electrical device which is widely used in medical products manufacturing industries, rubber industries, and many more to perform the process of sterilization using dry heat is known as Hot Air Oven. The instrument works on the basis of dry heat to sterilize the specimens and articles. The instrument can be operated at a temperature of 50° Celsius to 250° Celsius or 122° Fahrenheit to 482° Fahrenheit. The instruments are also known as the thermostat that controls the temperature. The device is provided with the digital panel to control the temperature digitally.
The device is equipped with the double-walled glass wool insulation that helps to conserve the energy to maintain the level of heat inside the cabinet as the inner layer of the cabinet is the less conductivity of heat energy whereas the outer layer is of metal. The instrument is widely used in pharmaceutical industries to sterilize the medical tools and instrument. It is a double walled chamber made up of stainless steel inside. The instrument works on the principle of fine gravity air convection in a highly heated electrical chamber of the unit. The instrument comprises of a double walled design and PID temp. Controller & automatically control units that helps to maintain the homogeneous temperature in the cabinet, return back to the preset temperature easily after opening the door of the hot air oven machine. It is a highly economical operation that offers simple operation of heating and drying of the common material. The instrument does not produce any kind of noises.
WATER DISTILLATION UNIT
Glass Water distillation units produce highly treated and disinfected water for laboratory usage. The distillation process removes minerals and microbiological contaminants and can reduce levels of chemical contaminants.
Water distillers are neither intended to treat water that is visually contaminated nor intended to convert waste water to safe, microbiologically. A water distiller works by boiling water into water vapour, condensing it and then returning it to its liquid state. It is collected in a storage container.
Digital Language Lab (DLL)
Other facilities include a Spin Coater (Apex), Solvo thermal, Sol Gel and Co-precipitation Techniques, Electrochemical Cell for growth of Nanowires, Dual Source Meter (Keithley) for I-V Characteristics of fabricated Nano devices.
Achievements: Nano wires of copper (200nm) have been fabricated using electrochemical Cell and Templates synthesis techniques. Hetro-structure of Cu-Se and CdS Nano wires have been grown in the range of 10-200nm. Using chemical synthesis route we have prepared Nano particles and Nano rods Nano Needles of Barium Carbonate, Iron Oxolate, Ba Hexa-ferrites ,Zinc Oxide, Cadmium Oxide and Cadmium Sulphide .Nano particles of Zinc Oxide have been fabricated following Quenching Method with variation in time and temperature. The same composition has been prepared by Hydro Thermal Method also. SEM, TEM, XRD, UV- vis and FTIR characterization have been done for all these samples and reported in International journals of repute. The results of our investigation would certainly be helpful in the fields of Nano electronics, Opto electronics and Material science
Various Equipments of Nano-Technology Laboratory:
Atomic-force microscopy (AFM) or scanning-force microscopy (SFM) is a type of scanning probe microscopy (SPM), with demonstrated resolution on the order of fractions of a nanometer, more than 1000 times better than the optical diffraction limit. The information is gathered by “feeling” or “touching” the surface with a mechanical probe. Piezoelectric elements that facilitate tiny but accurate and precise movements on (electronic) command enable very precise scanning. The AFM has three major abilities: force measurement, imaging, and manipulation.
In force measurement, AFMs can be used to measure the forces between the probe and the sample as a function of their mutual separation. This can be applied to perform force spectroscopy.
For imaging, the reaction of the probe to the forces that the sample imposes on it can be used to form an image of the three-dimensional shape (topography) of a sample surface at a high resolution. This is achieved by raster scanning the position of the sample with respect to the tip and recording the height of the probe that corresponds to a constant probe-sample interaction (see section topographic imaging in AFM for more details). The surface topography is commonly displayed as a pseudo-colour plot.
In manipulation, the forces between tip and sample can also be used to change the properties of the sample in a controlled way. Examples of this include atomic manipulation, scanning probe lithography and local stimulation of cells.
Simultaneous with the acquisition of topographical images, other properties of the sample can be measured locally and displayed as an image, often with similarly high resolution. Examples of such properties are mechanical properties like stiffness or adhesion strength and electrical properties such as conductivity or surface potential. In fact, the majority of SPM techniques are extensions of AFM that use this modality.
The AFM has been applied to problems in a wide range of disciplines of the natural sciences, including solid-state physics, semiconductor science and technology, molecular engineering, polymer chemistry and physics, surface chemistry, molecular biology, cell biology and medicine.
Applications in the field of solid state physics include (a) the identification of atoms at a surface, (b) the evaluation of interactions between a specific atom and its neighbouring atoms, and (c) the study of changes in physical properties arising from changes in an atomic arrangement through atomic manipulation.
In cellular biology, AFM can be used to (a) attempt to distinguish cancer cells and normal cells based on a hardness of cells, and (b) to evaluate interactions between a specific cell and its neighbouring cells in a competitive culture system.
VACUUM COATING UNIT
Vacuum coating and metalizing is the process of adding a thin film of aluminium or other coating to a material.
In principle, the process calls for the evaporation of the coating material inside a vacuum chamber, after which it condenses onto a web of substrate as it passes through.
Paper and film metalizing is utilized in the packaging and decorative market segments. The barrier and decorative markets are noted for their wide variety of products from beer labels to chip bags.
A thickness of less than one micrometer is generally called a thin film while a thickness greater than one micrometer is called a coating. It can be used in
- Electrical conduction: metallic films, transparent conductive oxides (TCO), superconducting films& coatings
- Semiconductordevices: semiconductor films, electrically insulating films.
- Optical films: anti-reflective coatings, optical filters
- Reflective coatings: mirrors, hot mirrors
- Tribologicalcoating: hard coatings, erosion resistant coatings, solid film lubricants
- Energy conservation& generation: low emissivity glass coatings, solar absorbing coatings, mirrors, solar thin film, photovoltaic cells, smart films
- Magnetic films: magnetic recording
- Diffusion barrier: gas permeation barriers, vapour permeation barriers, solid statediffusion barriers
- Corrosionprotection:
- Automotive applications: lamp reflectors and trim applications,Vinyl record pressing, manufacture of gold and platinum records.
SPIN COATER
Spin coating is a procedure used to deposit uniform thin films to flat substrates. Usually a small amount ofcoating material is applied on the center of the substrate, which is either spinning at low speed or not spinning at all. The substrate is then rotated at high speed in order to spread the coating material by centrifugal force. A machine used for spin coating is called a spin coater, or simply spinner.
Rotation is continued while the fluid spins off the edges of the substrate, until the desired thickness of the film is achieved. The applied solvent is usually volatile, and simultaneously evaporates. So, the higher the angular speed of spinning, the thinner the film. The thickness of the film also depends on the viscosity and concentration of the solution and the solvent
Spin coating is used for many applications where relatively flat substrates or objects are coated with thin layers of material. The material to be made into the coating must be dissolved or dispersed into a solvent of some kind and this coating solution is then deposited onto the surface and spun-off to leave a uniform layer for subsequent processing stages and ultimate use.
Some technologies that depend heavily on high quality spin coated layers are:
- Photo resist for defining patterns in microcircuit fabrication.
- Dielectric/insulating layers for microcircuit fabrication – polymers, SOG, SiLK, etc.
- Magnetic disk coatings – magnetic particle suspensions, head lubricants, etc.
- Flat screen display coatings. – Antireflection coatings, conductive oxide, etc.
- Compact Disks – DVD, CD ROM, etc.
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https://www.davietjal.org/departments/ug/applied-sciences/as-lab-facilities/
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The Science Department at ANS believes that practical work enriches students learning and improves their thinking skills. It gives the students the chance to practice the scientific method and hence to gain greater appreciation for the science and the natural world.
In our school, there are four fully equipped labs: one to serve the elementary school, and the three other labs, physics, chemistry, and biology, to meet the requirements of the national and international programs.
The labs are not limited to conducting experiments; they are extensively used to do scientific projects, conduct researches, and prepare for the extended essays and internal assessments for the IB students.
ANS has a lab for two international competitions: "First Lego League FLL"' and "F1 in Schools". These competitions are designed to encourage students to learn more about science and technology in an interactive and creative environment.
In our labs, we are keen on applying safety precautions, proper chemical storage, and accurate labeling. The labs are provided with all tools to ensure safety for students.
The labs are supervised by three full time lab technicians; their tasks include preparing the experiments, supervising students during lab work, and finding alternative solutions to contingent situations. Teachers schedule lab visits throughout the year to support the curriculum. Students visit the labs as early as kindergarten.
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http://www.ans.edu.jo/en/WebContentListsTabs.aspx?PageID=55
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Solutions are utilized to some degree in almost all biological research applications. Therefore understanding how to measure and manipulate them is imperative to any experiment. In this video, concepts in preparing solutions are introduced. Solutions consist of a solute dissolved in solvent to yield a homogeneous mixture of molecular substances. Solutions are generally identified by their components and corresponding concentrations. Concentrated solutions are diluted through various methods, such as serial dilution. This video also lays a foundation for the accurate preparation of solutions. For example, the video reviews how to measure volumes with precision through use of the appropriate volumetric container as well as how to read the volume when a meniscus is present. Some applications for measuring volumes are then presented. Gel electrophoresis is a commonly used laboratory procedure which requires preparation of a percent weight volume solution as well as parallel dilution of a concentrated stock solution. Use of a serial dilution to prepare standards for generating a standard curve in protein quantitation is also demonstrated.
Procedure
Understanding the concepts behind solution concentration and measuring volumes in the lab are two important aspects of nearly every experiment.
Solutions are made up of a solute dissolved in solvent to yield a homogeneous mixture.
Solutions are generally identified by their components and corresponding concentrations.
To correctly arrive at the correct solution concentration, you must be familiar with the many different containers available for volume measurements.
Poor technique when measuring volumes can lead to incorrect concentrations and be the difference between a successful or failed experiment.
When performing experiments, it is imperative to know the exact concentration of solutions used.
Concentration is most commonly expressed as molarity. A one molar solution contains one mol of solute per liter of solution (B+C). When making solutions in the lab, the mols of solute can be determined from the measured mass of the molecule and its molecular weight.
Solutions can also be prepared and quantified as percent concentrations from the weight of solute per unit volume of solvent, known as a percent weight-volume solution.
Keep in mind that the solute is sometimes in liquid form. In this case, the percent concentration can be expressed as the volume of liquid solute per unit volume of solvent, referred to as a percent volume-volume solution.
For frequent use, concentrated solutions of stable compounds, known as stock solutions, can be prepared. Stock solutions may be labeled as a multiple of the concentration in the final working solution. Here you see a 10X solution.
These stock solutions can be diluted as necessary with solvent to achieve the desired concentration.
Alternatively, a dilution can be prepared from a more concentrated solution using a parallel dilution. Using this simple calculation, a solution of desired concentration and desired volume can be prepared from a stock solution of known concentration. The resulting volume can be diluted to the total volume of the solution to achieve the desired concentration.
However, in some situations, the dilution factor, which is equal to the final volume divided by volume of stock solution needed for the dilution, is too large. This makes parallel dilution impractical as the necessary volume of the stock solution would be too small to accurately measure.
With the serial dilution technique, a stock solution can be used to make a dilute solution, which can then be diluted further to make a more dilute solution and so on until the desired concentration is met.
When measuring volumes in the lab you will come across many containers that can hold liquid. However, it is important to realize that not all of these vessels are designed for accurately measuring volume.
Non-volumetric containers, such as beakers and Erlenmeyer flasks, are designed for mixing and storing solutions and are generally not calibrated. Instead, the measurements, or graduations, on the side represent approximations of liquid capacity.
Conversely, volumetric labware is designed to measure exact volumes of liquid substances. Volumetric labware is denoted with the capacity it is calibrated to hold as well as the letters TC or TD.
TC stands for “to contain” and is generally found on volumetric flasks and graduated cylinders, which are calibrated to hold a precise volume of liquid.
TD denotes “to deliver” and is usually found on measuring devices designed to dispense liquid, such as pipettes and syringes.
Volumetric flasks are generally used to prepare solutions of a specific concentration. After dissolving the solute, solvent is added to the flask until the total volume reaches the graduation line. Adding the “quantity sufficient” to reach this volume is known as Q.S.’ing the solution.
When Q.S.’ing the solution, the top of the liquid curves where it meets the flask. This is called the meniscus and is caused by surface tension. In an aqueous solution, the meniscus is concave, and should be read at the lowest point of the curve.
There are several vessels designed to measure and deliver specific volumes of liquid. When choosing volumetric labware, always select the smallest device that will accommodate the desired volume to achieve the highest accuracy.
When measuring volumes of liquid above 50 mL, graduated cylinders are the appropriate choice.
Serological pipettes are generally used to measure and deliver volumes in the range of 0.1 to 50 mL.
For volumes of 0.2 microliters to 5 mL, micropipettors should be used.
When plastic pipette tips are not compatible with the liquid to be measured, glass Hamilton syringes are an alternative for accurate measurement of volumes in the microliter range.
Now that we have covered the basics of working with solutions, we’ll discuss how some of these concepts are applied in research.
DNA Gel electrophoresis is a technique used to separate a mixed population of DNA fragments, to estimate their size, by applying an electric field to move the negatively charged molecules through a gel matrix made of agarose – a carbohydrate from seaweed
In preparing the gel matrix, percent weight/volume solutions are commonly used to make 1% weight/volume agarose gels.
Generally electrophoresis requires large quantities of running buffers. Because of their frequent use and large volumes, these buffers are usually diluted from more concentrated 10x stock solutions.
To achieve the desired 1x buffer, one unit volume of the stock solution is diluted in 9 unit volumes of purified water.
In microplate reader experiments, the concentration of unknown samples of protein are often determined based on a set of samples of known concentrations called standards.
Serial dilutions are often used to generate standards of incrementally-higher concentrations, so that ultimately, a standard curve can be generated and the concentration of unknown sample determined.
You’ve just watched JoVE’s introduction to understanding concentration and measuring volumes. In this video we reviewed some basic concepts such as calculating concentration, performing dilutions , and how different types of labware are used to measure volumes. Applications of some of the concepts introduced in this video were also discussed for molecular biology and biochemistry.
Thanks for watching and remember to always use accuracy and precision when measuring volumes.
Subscription Required. Please recommend JoVE to your librarian.
Disclosures
No conflicts of interest declared.
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The course will provide an overview of some of the basic concepts and principles of chemistry. Starting with the structure of the atom, the course will proceed on to basic chemical reactions, the formation of ions, states of matter, chemical equilibrium, and chemical bonding, and will incorporate examples from the biological sciences. Co-requisite: CHM L115.
The laboratory sessions will provide an overview of some of the basic concepts and techniques of general chemistry experiments. The students will conduct experiments that illustrate the concepts and principles learned in the Survey of Chemistry course lectures. Co-requisite: CHM 1115.
Emphasis is placed on the periodic table and stoichiometry, including chemical properties, physical states, and structure. Prerequisite: Pass MTH 1112 with at least a C (or a score of 0, 1, or 5 on the math placement exam). Co-requisite: CHM L142.
Experiments dealing with the periodic table, atomic structure, the gas laws, and stoichiometry. Co-requisite: CHM 1142.
Acid-base theory, solutions, chemical equilibria, thermodynamics, kinetics, and electrochemistry. Prerequisites: CHM 1142/L142. Co-requisite: CHM L143.
Experiments in acid-base theory, solutions, chemical equilibria, thermodynamics, kinetics, and electrochemistry. Co-requisite: CHM 1143.
The theoretical principles of modern quantitative wet-chemical methods for determining composition and concentration with rigorous treatment of solution equilibria. Prerequisites: CHM 1143/L143. Co-requisite: CHM L242.
The practice of modern quantitative wet-chemical techniques in analytical chemistry. Co-requisite: CHM 2242.
An introduction to the chemistry of carbon compounds that develops the theoretical principles underlying organic materials.
Prerequisites: CHM 1143/L143. Co-requisite: CHM L342.
Experimental techniques and skills for preparing, manipulating, and reacting organic molecules. Co-requisite: CHM 3342.
A continuation of CHM 3342 with emphasis on modern organic synthesis. Prerequisites: CHM 3342/L342. Co-requisite: CHM L343.
Experimental techniques and skills for preparing, manipulating, and reacting organic molecules. Co-requisite: CHM 3343.
An introduction to the principles of chemical thermodynamics, reaction kinetics and chemical equilibrium. Prerequisites: CHM 3343; PHY 2253/L253; or PHY 2263/L263. Co-requisite: CHM L350.
Practical applications of thermochemistry, colligative properties, and reaction kinetics. Co-requisite: CHM 3350.
This course describes the molecular basis of life and discusses the structure, function and metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleid acids. Prerequisites: CHM 3343/L343. Co-requisite: CHM L352.
This lab illustrates biochemistry lecture material and acquaints the student with biochemistry techniques and equipment.
Theory and applications of thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, and transport properties with an emphasis on the description of ideal/non-ideal gases and solutions. Prerequisite: CHM 3343; PHY 2253 and L253 or PHY 2263 and L263; MTH 1126. Co-requisite: CHM L381.
Introduction to methods and techniques used in the physical chemistry laboratory, including experiments in calorimetry, phase equilibria, reaction kinetics, and transport properties. Co-requisite: CHM 3381.
A continuation of CHM 3381 with an introduction to surface phenomena, quantum chemistry, and spectroscopy with an emphasis on properties of surfaces, atomic and molecular structure, molecular orbital theory, and photochemistry.
A continuation of CHM L381 with an introduction to methods and techniques in computational chemistry and spectroscopy.
Prerequisite or Co-requisite: CHM 3382.
A study of topics of special interest, such as advanced physical chemistry, advanced analytical chemistry, advanced organic, group theory, surface chemistry, and colloid chemistry. Prerequisites: CHM 2242, 3343.
A more in-depth study of many of the topics studied in Organic Chemistry I and II. Topics include reaction mechanisms, synthetic methods, structure determination using spectroscopic techniques, and stereochemistry. Offered only at Dothan. Prerequisites: CHM 3343/L343.
An introduction to principles governing polymer synthesis, characterization, and the physical properties of polymers. Topics covered will include molecular weight distribution, polymer composition, characterizations, property-structure relationships, step-growth and chain-growth polymerization and copolymerization. Prerequisite: CHM 3381.
Spectroscopy of inorganic molecules, detailed molecular orbital applications, descriptive chemistry of the transition elements, including organometallic and bioinorganic compounds. Prerequisites: CHM 2242, 3381.
Preparation and characterization of inorganic compounds. Experience will be provided in techniques such as using a tube furnace and handling air-sensitive compounds with a glove gab and Schlenk line. Prerequisite or Co-requisite: CHM 4444.
The operating principles of modern analytical instrumentation for determining composition and concentration. Prerequisites: CHM 2242, 3343; PHY 2253/L253; or PHY 2263/L263. Co-requisite: CHM L445.
The practical application of select modern analytical instruments to qualitative and quantitative examination of matter. Considerable attention is given to the instrument and elementary electronics involved in each. Co-requisite: CHM 4445.
This course will present the reactions, regulations, and organization of metabolic pathways. It is a continuation of CHM 3352, with emphasis on carbohydrate metabolism, aerobic metabolism, lipid metabolism, and other advanced topics in biochemistry.
Prerequisite: admission to TEP; Co-requisite: SED 4454 Internship Seminar for Secondary Education.
A survey of teaching methods and materials appropriate for teaching in the content areas for grades 6-12. Topics addressed will include teacher evaluation in the public schools, collaboration with special education teachers, and lesson planning formats. In addition, teaching methods, selections organization and use of chemistry/science materials for grades 6-12 will be covered in detail. A professional laboratory experience is included in this course. Prerequisite: admission to TEP.
Additional information is listed under Independent Study and Research in the section on Academic Regulations.
Principles of preparing and presenting an oral presentation on a selected chemical topic in the current literature.
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https://resources.troy.edu/catalogs/1819undergraduate/html/16U-chm.html
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- Email:
- [email protected]
- Opinion
Letters: January 2018
You tell us about motherhood in science, Ernest Rutherford and why all roads shouldn’t lead to London
- Review
Christmas gift guide
Our top picks from this year’s popular science books
- Webinar
Quality management of the Karl Fischer system
Join us to explore the various options for standardising a Karl Fischer system. This webinar will assist in proper standard selection to maximise the accuracy of results
- Webinar
Optimising your experimentation process using JMP: GSK case study
Learn how GSK’s Design of Experiments approach has resulted in a more efficient development process and delivered greater understanding and control of their drug production processes
- Opinion
Letters: December 2017
Your thoughts on exploding tanks, dicholoromethane and closing down the lab for Christmas
- Podcast
Book Club - Chemistry
First-time novelist Weike Wang takes us inside the mind of a Chinese American PhD student in Boston
- Webinar
Future chemistry: exploring the possibility space
Find out how to accelerate discovery by understanding vast and complex chemistry problems with visual and predictive data modelling
- Webinar
Digital transformation: fuelling innovation in the chemical industry
Discover how advances in digital technology are transforming the chemical industry
- Webinar
Who says there are no shortcuts to great chemistry?
Now more than ever with ChemDraw® and ChemOffice 17, you can spend less time drawing and more time conducting and capturing your research, whether you are a chemist or a biochemist.
- Webinar
Benchtop NMR applications – dodgy drugs, industrial analysis and research
Learn about practical applications of high resolution benchtop 1 and 2‑D NMR spectroscopy in various chemistry labs using 60 MHz benchtop spectrometers.
- Opinion
Letters: November 2017
Your thoughts on absurdism, SI measures and Brexit
- Podcast
Book Club - A crack in creation
The development of Crispr, and the ethical questions raised by new genome editing techniques
- Webinar
Solving the issues in standardisation of stereochemical representations
Learn about technology that solves the issue of interpreting 3D stereochemical information implied in 2D structure representations.
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https://www.chemistryworld.com/chemistry-world/1210.bio
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As the director of Barnard’s Organic Chemistry Labs, senior lecturer Meena Rao is responsible for the technical aspects — the nuts and bolts — of making sure students have a safe and productive classroom experience while conducting experiments and proving theorems. Yet when she teaches her course The Jazz of Chemistry, she brings a creative approach to the science and leads students on a journey to explore how chemistry permeates nearly every aspect of our lives.
“There is chemistry everywhere and in everything, and that’s what students are going to learn in this class,” said Rao. Organized as a lecture seminar with a lab component, the course covers topics that are both expected — such as chemistry’s application in medicine, petrochemicals, and forensic science — and unexpected, like its use in cosmetics, art restoration, food flavors, beverages, and other consumer goods.
One area the course will explore is the chemical of gems. While the chemical structure of rubies and emeralds are very similar, students will explore what accounts for their difference in color. At the end of the semester, Rao’s budding scientists will have gained hands-on experience in the techniques that various industries use involving chemistry, further emphasizing the multifaceted applications of science.
Rao hopes that students will have more than their curiosity piqued after taking the class; she wants them to be less intimidated by the sciences. “Chemistry is not [something] to be afraid of; it’s to be explored and enjoyed,” explained Rao. “When I see students open up by learning these subjects, that is the beauty of this course — and teaching — for me.”
To learn more about Rao’s course, The Jazz of Chemistry, watch the video above.
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https://barnard.edu/news/barnard-courses-welcome-class-senior-lecturer-meena-rao
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Milwaukee Precision Casting, Inc. is experienced in pouring 316 stainless steel casts for a variety of applications. 316 ss is known for its superior corrosion resistance, making it ideal for any application that is too corrosive for the use of 304 ss. The reason for the higher corrosion resistance is due to the higher molybdenum and nickel content of the 316 grade. 316ss is a ferritic stainless steel, meaning it has a chromium content of 10.5%-27% and a carbon content less than 0.1%. Ferritic stainless steels are slightly magnetic and incapable of hardening through heating.
Though 300 series stainless steel cannot be hardened, it can be solution annealed, resulting with a range of RB 70-100. Chemistry is a factor when achieving a hardness, so the chemistry will determine whether the alloy holds a range of RB 70-75 or holds a range of RB 90-95.
Additional characteristics of 316ss:
- High resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chlorine environments
- Resistant to rust, sodium and calcium brines
- Cast 316 is slightly magnetic
- Good elevated temperature strength
- Austenitic
Ideal for use in harsh environments, 316 ss is particularly useful if exposure to salt, chlorides or chlorinated solutions is an issue. When deciding if 316 is the correct type of stainless steel for your project, make sure to account for both the process and the environmental factors of the application. Common industries and applications include:
- Automotive – commonly used for gears
- Petrochemical - processing equipment
- Paper and Pulp – used for its resistant properties to sulfurous acids
- Food & Dairy
- Marine Environments
- Pharmaceuticals
- Surgical Equipment
- Plates
- Housings
If you’re application or environment does not require resistance to chlorides, chlorinated solutions or salt, check out our page on 304 ss.
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https://www.milwaukeeprec.com/316-ss.html
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With purified water commonly used in a wide variety of scientific and clinical applications, it is vital to ensure the correct level of purity is achieved and maintained.
TYPE 2 WATER
What is Type 2 Water?
The water type defines the water specification regarding the level of contaminants such as organics, ions, pyrogens and bacteria.
Type 2 water is water that has undergone a general level of purification in order to meet lab water purity requirements. Type 2 water has a resistivity level of up to 10 MΩ-cm.
Type 2 water, also known as Pure Water, is typically used for general lab applications that do not require a higher level of water purity (Type 1) including:
- Histology
- Titrations
- Stability Tests
- General Chemistry
- Feed to Type 1 Systems
- Stainless Steel Autoclaves
- Nitrogen-phosphorous (NP) Analyzers, PH solutions
- Biochemical Oxygen Demand/Chemical Oxygen
TYPE 2+ WATER
How is Type 2+ Water Different to Type 2?
Type 2+ water is used for general laboratory applications which require a higher inorganic purity than Type 2 water. Type 2+ offers a resistivity level of up to 15 MΩ-cm through full recirculation and also includes a UV, which most Type 2 systems do not have.
- Electrochemistry
- Dissolution Testing
- Surface Tension Experiments
- Spectrophotometry
- Particle Analyzers
Type 2 and 2+ water undergoes a general level of lab water purification to remove contaminants and impurities such as:
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University Teacher Resume
This university teacher resume informs you about the specific skills and contents that are to be included in the resume. It represents you as the suitable candidate applying for the post. Here is a sample resume for University teacher which can be utilized for reference.
Freddie Gray
Hammond
Idaho
39546-2568
Cell: 521-195-7138
Email: [email protected]
Career Objective : Seeking the position of a university teacher in your reputed university which would help me to utilize my efficiency and work experience for the all-round development of the students
Skills:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Ability to interact with the students and discuss latest developments in the field of Chemistry
- Ability to identify the problems of the students and assist them to resolve them
- Ability to maintain the records of the students, formulate new educational programs and study material for them
- Ability to complete all the administrative tasks assigned
- Excellent decision making, problem solving, and organizational abilities
- Ability to demonstrate and convey the experiments to the students in class and in lab
- Ability to prepare lesson plans, assignments, and test papers for the students
Technical skills:
- Good knowledge of computers and ability to use it for maintaining the academic records of the students
Educational qualifications and license:
- PhD in Chemistry from ABC University, in the Year 20XX
- Master of Science in Chemistry from ABC University, in the year 20XX
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from ABC University, in the year 19XX
Certifications:
Teacher Certification Course in Chemistry from ABC University, in 20XX
Professional Experience :
ABC University, Idaho
March 20XX-present
University Teacher
Responsibilities:
- Preparing lesson plans for the students and assignments for the students
- Writing and publishing scholarly articles in various science journals
- Participating in various conferences and presenting research papers
- Maintaining relationship with the other departments of the college
- Participating in all the activities of the college
- Providing career counseling to the students
XYZ University, Idaho
April 19XX- 20XX
University Teacher
Responsibilities:
- Organizing various competitions, seminars, and conferences in school
- Delivering lectures and demonstrating practical assignments to the students in Chemistry lab
- Assisting the Head of the Department in the various administrative activities
- Writing and publishing academic books for the students
- Evaluating the student’s exam papers and maintaining the records
- Formulating and providing recommendations for improving the curriculum
Areas of interest:
- Writing, publishing articles, and conducting research
- Attending conferences and maintaining a good relationship with the people in the field
- Strong desire to teach the students and provide them career counseling
Hobbies:
Painting and collecting stamps
Preferred Place of Work:
Idaho
Personal Details:
- Name: Freddie Gray
- Date of Birth: XX/XX/19XX
- Employment status: Full Time
- Relationship status: Married
Reference:
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https://teacherresumes.org/university-teacher-resume
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Several years of experience in synthetic methodology, small molecules, multi-step synthesis, optimization of reaction conditions of small to large scale synthesis of natural compounds that have application to SAR, Bio- Conjugation, Biopharmaceutical, as well as agricultural chemistry applications.
Four years’ experience Consulting in Heterocyclic Chemistry and Natural Products for devising and advising efficient synthesis of Beta-Lactams, (Applicable to Carbapenems), Benzodiazepines, various classes of Heterocyclic Alkaloids, Terpenes, Sesquiterpenes, Asymmetric Synthesis, Synthesis of small molecules and medium complex intermediates, amino acid derivatives, short peptides, Peptidomimetics, Carbohydrates, and compounds as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, (API).
Several years’ of experience in manipulating air sensitive compounds, and the use of organo-metallics such as Rhodium, Cobalt, and Palladium, Organisilicon for synthesis of various compounds. Use of palladium complex reagents to carry Heck, Susuki, Stille, Sonogashira coupling and intramolecular reactions for Carbon-Carbon bond formation in synthesis of Cyclic Acetogenins
Achieved, and conceived multi-step synthesis of natural product synthesis of cyclic compounds such as terpene, sesquiterpene, C-C bond formation, asymmetric synthesis of small molecules, natural products, synthesis of heterocyclic compounds, lipids, glycolipids, and glyco- amino lipids compounds. Achieved synthesis of complex cyclic acetogenins as pesticides and fungicides for crop protection, cross metathesis reactions, coupling and cyclization reactions with palladium complexes.
Several years of experience in Carbohydrate Chemistry, modification of Carbohydrate, Functional Groups Modification. Elaborated, conceived and achieved synthetic methodology for construction of difficult glycosidic bonds by a synthetic methodology called Intramolecular Glycosylation unrealizable by conventional glycosylation. These glycosidic bonds are present in many natural compounds that display interesting biological activities as anti-cancer, anti-cardiac agents and anti- viral agents, such as Saponins, Glyco-Anthracyclines and various other glycoconjugates, application to Carbohydrate Polymers, Carbohydrate Dendrimers, Oligosaccharide Synthesis, Protein Binding, Biocatalysis,
Two years’ experience in Process Chemistry, worked in clean GMP laboratories in medium to large scale of monosaccharides, disaccharides, trisaccharides, to be used for preparation of polysaccharides vaccines.
Applicable to Synthesis of Carbohydrate Polymers, Carbohydrate Dendrimers, SAR Analysis, Bioconjugation, and Guar Gum Synthesis and Click Chemistry.
Experience in Process Chemistry, Process Optimization, and Generation Process Data, worked in clean GMP Laboratory Clean Room. In medium large and large scale of diverse monosaccharides, small molecules for preparation of large glycoconjugates vaccines. Writing reports in Laboratory notebooks in SOP model strictly conform to GMP Regulations. Achieved parallel synthesis of various natural products, heterocycles, carbohydrates, and glycoconjugates.
Experienced in synthesis of amino acids derivatives, solution and solid phase synthesis of peptidomimetics.
Applicable to Peptide Nucleic Acids, (PNA), and Protein Chemistry.
ANALYTICAL AND COMPUTER SKILLS
More than ten years’ experience in characterization of compounds by using 1D-NMR, 2D-NMR (H-H COSY, C-H COSY, HMBC, TOCSY, ROESY, etc.), Mass, IR-UV spectroscopy.
Many years’ experience in techniques of purification and separation of many classes of compounds by analytical and preparative HPLC, Standard and Reverse Phase Chromatography, Flash Chromatography, GC-MS, LC-MS. Several year of experience and knowledge in the utilization of chemistry search program soft wares such as Sci-Finder, Reaxys, File Registry Chemical drawings (STN) and CAPLUS File Registry, Chemsketch, Chemwindows, Chemdraw, NMR-programs to retrieve and process 1 -and 2 –dimensional NMR spectrums. Others: PowerPoint, MS-Word, Word Perfect, Excel, Windows 1998, 2000, 2003-2013.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Successful years of experience working as a chemistry lecturer and tutor
Sound knowledge and understanding of instruction theory and practice.
Ability to work collaboratively with administration and colleagues.
Excellent oral and written communication with leadership qualities.
Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
Excellent motivation and instructional skills.
Many years’ experience in developing questions for Examinations with comprehensive rationale,
as well as correction of examinations.
Many years’ experience in tutoring Sciences General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Advanced Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry I, (Thermodynamics), Analytic Chemistry, (Quantitative Analysis), High School Chemistry, AP and Normal Level, Mathematics, (Algebra I , II, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus) , French Tutoring to College, High School , Junior High School and School Level Students.
Fluent in English, French, German, (speaking and writing), have taught, tutored in all three languages.
Junior Patent Examiner Experience
Junior patent examiner in Organic Chemistry, Biotech, Pharmaceutical.
Skills of patent examining applications for scientific inventions, search of prior art by using multiple scientific and patent search software toward finding prior art. Use of scientific specialty to determine prior art, patentability or non-patentability of organic chemistry inventions pertaining to Biotech-Pharma.
SV ChemBiotech, Inc
April 2010 - July 2016
Edmonton
Eberhard-Karl- University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
January 2000 - January 2005
Organic Chemistry
Carbohydrates & Glycoconjugates:
Developed and devised the total stereo and region-selective synthesis of cyclic disaccharides by Intra-molecular Glycosylation, an efficient methodology to create difficult glycoside linkages present in natural glycol-conjugates; unachievable by the conventional glycosylation method. The cyclic products can be transformed into Saponins, large classes of glycoconjugates that bears terpepnes, triterpenes, steroids, production and construct polysaccharide vaccines, various glycoconjugates, and dendrimers of medicinal importance. Applications to SAR, and Bioconjugation. Purification and separation of compounds by analytical and preparative HPLC, Standard and Reverse Phase Chromatography, Flash Chromatography.
Characterization of compounds by using 1D-NMR, 2D-NMR (H-H COSY, C-H COSY, HMBC, TOCSY, ROESY, etc.), GC-LC-MS, MS, IR-UV spectroscopy.
Full Time Adjunct Professor in General, Organic and Advanced Chemistry Laboratory, and Exercises Classes (PhD. Candidacy Years)
Five years teaching experience as Full Time Adjunct Professor in lecturing and assisting graduate and undergraduate candidates in laboratory experiments in General, Organic and Advanced Organic Chemistry at Eberhard-Karl- University of Tübingen, Germany. Experienced in mentoring and providing guidance Master and Bachelor’s candidates insights in their research projects in laboratory experiments and recent chemical analytical instrumentations including writing their thesis. Experienced in preparing, rationally writing examinations, as well as correcting examination and laboratory reports of undergraduates and graduate candidates.
Developed and maintained student’s interest in chemistry by organizing various exercise sessions.
Worked towards improving student participation in exercise lectures. Provided a positive environment in motivating student. Ensured to maintain excellent group management.
Laboratory Management for instruments, material resources in chemicals that is reagents, solvents, acids, bases for continuous flow and needs to ensure continuous carrying of experiments.
Managed laboratory safety by teaching and advising candidates the use of flammable solvents, acids, bases.
Coordination for budget management of our laboratory for new computer software, analytical instrumentation, new chemicals, management of laboratory spending, coordinate invitation specialist from corporation to hold seminar regarding the use of most recent analytical instruments.
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https://www.innoget.com/users/54627
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Analytical chemistry is the scientific art of specifying and evaluating the structure and constitution of a matter. It is basically the science of acquiring, managing, executing, and relaying information related to the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the substances. The analytical chemist shoulders the responsibility of finding out logical solutions for all issues evolving in almost every domain of chemistry by employing his proficiency in chemistry, statistics, and assorted instrumentations. This is one of the challenging positions in the field of chemistry and adds epochal contributions to the different sectors of science.
The chemist may spend his career in a versatile mode, as a substantial range of his skills and knowledge can be utilized in a diverse reach of occupations viz., manufacturing, medical research, biotechnology, pharmacy and development, food testing, law and criminal investigation, etc. Likewise, his individual responsibilities are also quite diverse and touch the distinct facets of chemical research and analysis. He operates in governmental, academic, and industrial spheres where he is involved in supporting law and marketing, enhancing products and procedures, conducting laboratory experiments, and modeling and patterning instrumentations for analysis.
An analytical chemist spends most of his time in the laboratory, understanding the nature and chemical bonding of different substances. He is hired to receive support in various experiments and analyzing procedures which include specific contemporary routines such as spectroscopy, electro-chromatography, bioanalysis, polymer analysis, etc.
Some of the major responsibilities are illustrated below:
Other responsibilities include:
The professional should be acquainted with the process of chemical mixing and possess an acknowledgeable background of chemistry.
The important skills required are:
Other skills incorporate:
Most of the work is laboratory based which includes experimenting on chemical substances and studying on how they interact with each other and their surroundings. They follow the appointed health and safety standards while carrying out analysis and scientific investigations. Government agencies, biopharmaceutical and food management organizations, chemical laboratories, consultancies, research councils, etc., are primary employers for this job profile.
A solid academic background is generally expected to make a durable impression on the employers. A degree in chemistry/applied chemistry/biochemistry or related field with a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or above is required.
Even though there has been downsizing of the analytical laboratory personnel in the current time, the prospects still remain to flourish for skilled professionals with a good academic background. Those trained in handling a fanlike ambit of instruments and implementing useful analytical techniques can look to fill vacancies in top-graded organizations. Freshmen or novice candidates can take up contractual or temporary employment to acquire substantial experience and specialize in specific areas. Paying and non-paying internships and short-term assignments are effective modes of practically exploring the field and receiving great opportunities.
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https://www.popular-wedding-songs.com/job-descriptions/medical/analytical-chemist.html
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Job Title:
Chemical and physical science technicians
Job Description:
Chemical and physical science technicians perform technical tasks to aid in research in chemistry, physics, geology, geophysics, meteorology and astronomy, and in the development of industrial, medical, military and other practical applications of research results.
Tasks:
Tasks include
- collecting samples and preparing materials and equipment for experiments, tests and analyses
- carrying out routine laboratory tests and performing a variety of technical support functions to assist chemical and physical scientists in research, development, analysis and testing
- (c).controlling the quality and quantity of laboratory supplies by testing samples and monitoring usage and preparing detailed estimates of quantities and costs of materials and labour required for projects, according to the specifications given
- setting up, operating, and maintaining laboratory instruments and equipment, monitoring experiments, making observations, and calculating and recording results
- preparing materials for experimentation such as freezing and slicing specimens and mixing chemicals
- collecting and testing earth and water samples, recording observations and analyzing data in support of geologists or geophysicists.
Specific Occupations:
31111
Assistant, laboratory (chemical/educational institutes/medical)
31112
Technician (chemistry/physics/astronomy/geology/geophysics/ meteorology/ oceanography)
31113
Tester, petroleum refinery
Similar O*NET Careers (USA) :
International Careers(ISCO):
Source Of Info:
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https://www.tucareers.com/pscocareers/3111
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What does a research chemist do? Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills
Research chemists study chemical compounds and use this research to create and improve processes and products, from new drugs and medical treatments to manufactured goods such as cosmetics, electrical goods and food and drink. Research chemists will mainly be laboratory-based. Possible research themes include: chemical biology, computational chemistry, green chemistry, materials chemistry, medicinal chemistry and synthesis.
You can also be a research scientist in other areas, such as biology and physics. Take a look at our research scientist job description for more information.
A research chemist’s typical day-to-day tasks include:
- working as part of a team in a research laboratory
- setting up laboratory equipment and conducting tests and experiments
- recording and analysing data
- presenting results to senior research staff
- researching and writing papers, reports and reviews
- preparing funding applications
- supervising junior staff, including laboratory technicians
- keeping up to date with relevant scientific and technical developments
If you’re a research chemist in an academic setting, you can also expect to get involved in the teaching side, giving lectures to chemistry students at your university.
Typical employers of research chemists
- Chemical companies
- Government and private laboratories
- Environmental agencies
- Public funded research councils
- Universities
- Food and drink manufacturers
- Materials companies
- Consumer goods manufacturers
- Pharmaceutical companies
Research posts, particularly those with permanent contracts, attract strong competition from job applicants. Vacancies are advertised online, by careers services, in national newspapers, in relevant scientific publications such as New Scientist, Science, and Chemistry World, and in journals published by professional institutions. Speculative applications are advisable, for which directories such as Current Research in Britain may be useful.
- The recruitment process is likely to involve a technical interview. Read our article on technical interviews to find out what these involve and how you can tackle them.
- If you'd like to find out what your salary might look like, take a look at our article on how much you might earn in science on our TARGETcareers website.
Qualifications and training required
You can only become a research chemist if you have a good degree (a 2.1 or above) in a relevant science subject such as chemistry or biochemistry.
A relevant postgraduate qualification such as a research-based masters or a PhD is also normally required, particularly for permanent positions or senior research positions. Read our article on scientific postgraduate study to explore your different options.
Postdoctoral research, practical research and laboratory work experience are all beneficial, and frequently required, for academic posts.
A school leaver could get into the science industry through an apprenticeship as a laboratory technician, which may involve being supervised by, and supporting the work of, a research chemist. However, it’s not possible to progress to a research chemist role without getting a degree. To find out more about getting into science via a school leaver route, visit the science section of TARGETcareers, our website aimed at school leavers.
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https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-descriptions/454445-research-chemist-job-description
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A weighing machine is also recognized as a weighing scale. The measurement causes decoherence and therefore results in the diverse branches to grow to be noticeably diverse. It is right that you also have a massive quantity of different “realitie” prior to and without having measurement, but it really is not what men and women usually refer to as “branching”. As an alternative, they use the word to refer to some thing, vaguely speaking, macroscopic. As I emphasize in my video, that’s a matter of definition. I would appreciated if you would spend some far more interest to what I say prior to proclaiming that I am talking nonsense.
It is also fascinating simply because quantization is a pervasive feature of modern physics. But what is its fundamental meaning? I mean, rather than starting with a classical technique and then quantising it, we actually must have a recipe for constructing quantum systems ab initio. That to me is the really fundamental method. I consider Sorkins performing some brave function by tackling this hard query.
In some methods we might examine the quantum measurement query with the numerous body difficulty in classical mechanics. A classical program with three or a lot more bodies, generally of course believed of as tiny spheres or points, is not normally integrable. There are some particular conditions exactly where several body issues are integrable, see Perelman on Lie algebraic techniques of integrable systems, and this has a curious analogy with quantum states in over-total coherent states and condensates, but most a lot of body classical systems have a Lyapunov exponent that puts a finite time limit on how integrable it is in the future offered a level of precision in numerics. Quantum measurement concerns have some parallel to this, exactly where the detection of a quantum program with a handful of quantum numbers is made with a huge technique, that is deemed classical in the Bohr strategy and although is actually a big N quantum system.
3. Perform sampling: A strategy in which a large quantity of observations are created over a period of time of a single or group of machines, processes or workers. Every observation records what is happening at that instant and the percentage of observations recorded for a particular activity, or delay, is a measure of the percentage of time during which that activities delay happens.
Grading is a strategy employed either to maximise or minimise the size of a pattern. This becomes essential when large numbers of distinct sized garments have to be created in a fairly shorter time as is carried out in the garment sector. If we define pattern grading , then we can say it is a approach of enlarging or diminishing a style pattern, generating it attainable to get suitable fit for all sizes without having altering the title for a given compilation of anthropometric measurements that are suitable for a individual whose body measurements lie within certain tolerance limits of the garment size measurements.
Spectroscopy is well suited for industrial environments, exactly where a wealth of data can be derived from instrumentation that monitors raw stock, processes and finished goods. Non-get in touch with, non-destructive spectral measurements are effortlessly deployed across a production line for process monitoring and handle in true-time (Figure 1). Custom imaging systems can be integrated into approach setups to extract higher-contrast spectral data at visible and infrared wavelengths.
Thomas Payne: Every single random procedure generates a definite outcome, not a probability. The assignment of probabilities to the attainable outcomes is only what defines the procedure as “random”. The only occasions on which we can, in a sense, “observe” probabilities is when they are approximated by relative frequencies in repeated experiments on identical systems. If those experiments are performed, they produce frequencies which agree with the assumption that the Schrödinger equation is valid in the course of the measurement procedure and they frequently contradict the probabilities calculated from the collapse postulate.
Now, if you believe that the wave-function merely describes the expertise an observer has then you may say, of course it needs to be updated if the observer makes a measurement. Yes, that’s quite reasonable. But of course this also refers to macroscopic ideas like observers and their information. And if you want to use such ideas in the postulates of your theory, you are implicitly assuming that the behavior of observers or detectors is incompatible with the behavior of the particles that make up the observers or detectors. This calls for that you clarify when and how this distinction is to be created and none of the existing neo-Copenhagen approaches clarify this.
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https://dorogovo.net/concept-machine-tool/
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At some level the situation will no doubt be a little like in the evolution of a typical class 4 cellular automaton, as illustrated below. Given some initial set of persistent structures, these can interact to produce some intermediate pattern of behavior, which then eventually resolves into a final set of structures that again persist.
In the intermediate pattern of behavior one may also be able to identify some definite structures. Ones that do not last long can be very different from ones that would persist forever. But ones that last longer will tend to have properties progressively closer to genuinely persistent structures. And while persistent structures can be thought of as corresponding to real particles, intermediate structures are in many ways like the virtual particles of traditional particle physics.
So this means that a picture like the one below can be viewed in a remarkably literal sense as being a spacetime diagram of particle interactions—a bit like a Feynman diagram from particle physics.
One immediate difference, however, is that in traditional particle physics one does not imagine a pattern of behavior as definite and determined as in the picture above. And indeed in my model for the universe it is already clear that there is more going on. For any process like the one in the picture above must occur on top of a background of apparently random small-scale rearrangements of the network. And in effect what this background does is to introduce a kind of random environment that can make many different detailed patterns of behavior occur with certain probabilities even with the same initial configuration of particles.
The idea that even a vacuum without particles will have a complicated and in some ways random form also exists in standard quantum field theory in traditional physics. The full mathematical structure of quantum field theory is far from completely worked out. But the basic notion is that for each possible type of particle there is some kind of continuous field that exists throughout space—with the presence of a particle corresponding to a simple type of structure in this field.
In general, the equations of quantum field theory seem to imply that there can be all sorts of complicated configurations in the field, even in the absence of actual particles. But as a first approximation, one can consider
A collision between localized structures in the rule 110 class 4 cellular automaton.
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https://www.wolframscience.com/nks/p540--quantum-phenomena/
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This is a Quora answer that I wrote three years ago, to a question about wave-particle duality, the effects of observation on the system being observed, and Einstein's views.
I prefer not to think of quantum physics too much in terms of this wave-particle duality business, because it hides something far more fundamental. Namely that at the quantum level, physics is not characterized by numbers, but rather, by non-commuting quantities, which Dirac called q-numbers.
This has numerous consequences, not the least of which is that because of the rules of arithmetic that apply to these quantities, not all of them can be simultaneously number-valued. In short, when you observe, say, the momentum of an electron (that is to say, you set up an experiment in which the electron’s momentum interacts with a classical apparatus, forcing the momentum to be in a so-called eigenstate, i.e., be number-valued) its position cannot be number-valued: this electron at this time has no classical position. This is important to emphasize: it is not the limitations of our instrumentation or our inability to measure something. You cannot measure what does not exist.
This is why it is fundamentally wrong to say that measuring the electron’s momentum, say, affects its position and introduces an uncertainty. This was, of course, Heisenberg’s view but we have come a long way since Heisenberg. Quantum reality is something much more profound: in an experimental configuration in which the electron’s momentum interacts with a classical apparatus, the electron has no classical position at all.
So what does it have instead? This electron would have a position characterized by a q-number. The q-number does not tell you what the position is; but it can tell you what the probabilities are of measuring specific values of position, that is, the probability of finding the electron in different places.
And when you look at the governing equation of these probabilities, it will typically be a wave equation. This wave equation tells you the probability that, given prior measurements (e..g, that prior measurement of the electron’s momentum) how the probability of finding the electron evolves from place to place and from time to time. But if there is, in fact, a measuring apparatus that interacts with the electron’s position at some point in space and time, that will constrain the position of the electron to be number-valued then and there. So it will be observed, as always, as a point-like particle with a definite position even though at no other time did it have a classically defined position.
There is, by the way, a fairly revealing classical analogy to all this. Never mind position and momentum. Think instead about an ordinary sound and two of its properties: the time when it is heard and its frequency. When a sound is a perfect sine wave, its duration is infinite, so the time when it is heard is ill-defined. Conversely, think of a momentary sound like a gunshot. Its timing is very well defined but in the frequency domain, that loud pop is a combination of a myriad frequencies; there is no well-defined pitch. The two quantities are related to each other by a so-called Fourier transform, just like the position and momentum of an elementary particle are related to each other by a Fourier transform. So when one of the two has a well-defined classical value (i.e., it is represented by a so-called Dirac delta function) the other would be a sine wave of sorts.
Einstein’s views… Einstein mostly objected to the idea that quantum physics is about probabilities, as he believed firmly that physical reality exists independent of our ability to observe it. I think that if he lived longer and had been given a chance to become familiar with quantum field theory, especially its modern formulations, he would have welcomed it. In particular, he would have liked the idea that in a typical quantum field theory calculation, there are no probabilities. Everything is exact, including conservation laws that are exactly satisfied, or the calculation of various cross-sections that an interaction can have. This would have made it a lot clearer that probabilities enter the scene when we introduce the fiction of a classical measuring apparatus, manifested in the form of “external legs” of a Feynman diagram, for instance. Alas, Einstein died 62 years ago, when QFT was still in its infancy, and its spectacular successes (in particular, the foundational role it plays in the Standard Model of particle physics) were still many years, even decades away.
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http://www.vttoth.com/CMS/physics-notes/353-on-wave-particle-duality
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In 1955, Julian Schwinger began work on the foundations of quantum field theory while employed at Harvard. The result was what is now known as “Schwinger’s Measurement Algebra”. The algebra was described in four of his 1959-1960 papers: . Schwinger used his algebra to teach introductory quantum mechanics. He joined the faculty at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1972 and his lecture notes from there resulted in two textbooks that many of his students then used when they taught introductory quantum mechanics. These textbooks cover the usual subjects in a standard quantum mechanics class. Where they are distinct is in their introduction to the subject, the algebra that this paper expands.
Schwinger’s first paper “The Algebra of Microscopic Measurements” describes his measurement algebra. His measurements can be thought of as beam splitters where one is concerned with only one of the exits. The algebra relates to how one models a complex beam splitter that consists of a series of beam splitters connected together by arranging for the output of one beam splitter to be used as the input of the next. The reader of Schwinger’s paper will note that while his notation is different, the properties of the elements of his algebra are similar to those of mixed density matrices. We will use density matrix notation in this paper. We expand Schwinger’s results to include the classical situation as well as imperfect and thermal beam splitters. To simplify the discussion, we will mostly consider binary measurements.
There are two reasons for reading this paper. The first is that Schwinger’s beam splitter model provides the most direct method of passing from the classical to the quantum domain. Since Schwinger’s method is completely general for quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, this provides an immediate connection between the classical and quantum situations and may provide an improved understanding of the foundations of quantum mechanics for students. In addition, binary measurements are arguably the easiest introduction to quantum physics and we introduce subjects that usually require much more preparation such as geometric phase, Berry-Pancharatnam phase and quantum statistics. The second reason is that some problems in quantum mechanics are far easier to understand in one formulation than in the others . Schwinger’s formulation is particularly useful in putting the symmetries of quantum mechanics on an algebraic basis. We demonstrate this by introducing a Schwinger algebra model of the elementary fermions.
1.1. Beam Splitters
The physical apparatus we’re considering is a beam splitter. The beam splitter has a single entrance and two exits. Entering particles must take one of the two exits. Suppose that the particles are all identical of type “1” and that they do not influence one another and that they arrive at a beam splitter with a rate . We use here (instead of ) for our rates in order to match the notation in the physics literature for beam splitters described with quantum mechanics. Our is the square root of a rate, so its units are . In general, may be complex.
Suppose that a particle has a probability of exiting the upper exit so that the probability of exiting the lower exit is . Then the rate of particles in the upper exit beam is and the rate at the other exit is . See Figure 1.
If we know the input rate and the upper exit output rate, then we can obtain the lower exit output rate by subtraction. Accordingly, for the remainder of this
Figure 1. Trivial beam splitter splits a beam of type 1 particles arriving at a rate . Particles take the upper exit with probability so the output rate for the upper exit is and the output rate for the lower exit is . We’ve written the equations in terms of amplitudes rather than rates in order to match the standard quantum beam splitter notation.
paper, we will ignore the lower exit and concentrate only on the upper exit. For clarity, our drawings will continue to include the lower exit but we will not write formulas for it.
1.2. Outline
Schwinger noted that what makes quantum measurements different from classical is that a quantum measurement of one property (say spin in the +z direction) can disturb the system so that the results of a previous quantum measurement (of spin in another direction), no longer applies. Schwinger considered compound beam splitters obtained by putting the output of a first beam splitter into the input of a second beam splitter. He showed that these experiments can be represented by Hermitian matrices and that a compound beam splitter is represented by the product of its constituent beam splitter matrices.
In general, Hermitian matrices do not commute. For the Schwinger measurement algebra this means that changing the order of measurements can have a physical effect. If in addition to being Hermitian the matrices are also diagonal, then they will commute and the measurement order does not matter. In Section 2, we consider classical beam splitter experiments with imperfections or at temperature. We show that these experiments can be modeled with diagonal Hermitian matrices, that is, with real diagonal matrices.
Section 3 continues the analysis to the quantum case by allowing for nonzero off diagonal entries in the matrices. For simplicity, we specialize to spin-1/2 Stern-Gerlach experiments. We find that the quantum situation is a natural extension of the classical situation. We show why quantum mechanics uses complex numbers and amplitudes instead of probabilities, and we introduce the ideas of geometric phase, Berry-Pancharatnam phase, superselection sectors, quantum symmetries and quantum statistics.
As a unique formulation of quantum mechanics, Schwinger’s measurement algebra can be expected to provide unique applications to Nature. Our analysis of superselection sectors concludes that their algebras are block diagonal in form. This suggests that we reverse the process. We can start with an algebra and from it derive the particle content. We include Section 4 as a speculation on the nature of the Standard Model fermions and dark matter. The paper concludes with a conclusion and acknowledgements.
2. Classical Beam Splitters
The two outputs of the beam splitter of Figure 1 have intensities and . These intensities add up to , the intensity of the original beam. If we combine the two exits back together we obtain an exit beam with intensity and expect that this beam will be indistinguishable from the original beam.
The beam splitter of Figure 1 is described with only a single number, the probability of a particle leaving the top exit, . Suppose we have another beam splitter, this one with the corresponding probability . Assuming independence, a particle will make it through both beam splitter’s top exits with probability . See Figure 2. This process can be continued with any number of consecutive beam splitters. If we have n beam splitters with probability , the probability of a particle making it through all of them is .
2.1. Classical Thermal Beam Splitters
To introduce thermal effects, let’s suppose that a trivial beam splitter has its two probabilities and , depend on temperature T according to a positive energy difference and temperature T via the Boltzmann factor
(1)
The proportionality can be determined by the requirement that and add to 1. So we divide by the sum of the right hand sides to get the
Figure 2. Two trivial beam splitters connected together. Particles of type 1 arrive at rate . The beam splitters have probability and so the overall probability is the product and the output beam has a rate of .
probabilities:
(2)
In the high temperature limit , the probabilities approach .
At the low temperature limit, the probabilities go to and near zero, they are approximately
(3)
In this cold limit, putting n beam splitters together by taking the exit ports to the input port of the next beam splitter will give a final upper exit port probability of and this corresponds to decreasing the temperature from T to T/n:
(4)
Thus connecting identical thermal beam splitters has the effect of reducing the temperature. This temperature effect will also work in the quantum situation.
2.2. Classical Two Particle Beam Splitters
The reader may be relieved to read that now we consider beam splitters that act on a particle beam with two kinds of particles, type 1 and type 2. The two particles arrive with rates and and the probabilities that they leave via the upper exits are and . If the output of the beam splitter is sent to another identical beam splitter, the probabilities will square so that
(5)
We can rewrite the above equations in diagonal matrix form:
(6)
See Figure 3.
The reader may notice that we could have put the and numbers into vectors instead of matrices. We’re doing it with matrices so that our presentation will be compatible with the density matrices of quantum mechanics. For arguments supporting density matrices as a superior way of representing quantum states see .
Figure 3. Two identical, classical beam splitters connected together. Particles of type 1 and 2 arrive mixed together in a single beam with rates and . The beam splitters have probability and for the two types so their overall probabilities are and . This can be expressed with matrix multiplication.
With the probabilities for the two particle types being and , the corresponding probabilities for the lower exit will be and . This is represented by a matrix with those numbers on the diagonal. So if we recombine the lower and upper exit ports the resulting experiment will be represented by the sum of the two matrices which is the unit matrix:
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https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=83315
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Quantum theory is a theory which produces probabilities, but it is not entirely clear what precisely those probabilities are probabilities of. If, as is often suggested, they are probabilities of observations, then perhaps we need to be able to distinguish observations from other classes of events. We might be able to do that by understanding and characterizing observers. But if observers really constitute a special class of entity, then perhaps that is because they are the entities which have, or which are, minds.
Yes.
In the course of developing the theory, I showed, mainly in unpublished work, that many of its earlier versions were untenable. For example, I once considered a definition for a complex structure which I hoped would characterize observers, but which turned out to be satisfied by the pattern formed by the leaves of a tree blowing in the wind.
It is also, of course, possible that quantum mechanics does not apply to macroscopic objects. Experimental evidence for this has long been sought. Maybe one day it will be found.
Refutability is important for scientific theories, but it is not the only mark of virtue. Science is too broad an enterprise for any single criterion to provide an adequate measure of interest. Explanatory power and consistency are also important. The aim of my theory is a coherent explanation of how the empirical evidence and the mathematical structure of quantum theory can be consistent with our individual subjective experiences.
There have been many suggestions about what quantum theory might tell us about the nature of reality. Some of these suggestions are hopelessly vague. Trying to build a vague idea into a technically-consistent framework is a powerful way of understanding what it might really mean, whether it can really work, and what its consequences might really be. It will also involve answering specific questions which may be of wider relevance.
I start with the vague idea of the many-worlds interpretation and the vague idea that quantum measurements might have something to do with observers. I translate this into the idea that all quantum possibilities are observed possibilities and that what can be observed depends on the structure of observers. So then I need to produce technical analyses of “observer structures” and of “quantum possibilities”. Some of the specific question I address include:
In the context of local quantum field theory, how might definite information-bearing structures be constituted in the warm wet brain? (Donald 1990)
What are the mathematical properties of a function which could be used to compute quantum probabilities for transitions between local quantum states which may not be pure? (Donald 1992, 1995, 1986)
What combinatorial structures can be used to express the causal relations between a finite family of spacetime sets? (Donald 1995)
Is it plausible that consciousness could supervene merely on the instantaneous state of a brain? (Donald 1997)
Can probabilities for the experiences of an individual observer be defined? Is such a definition compatible with our observations? (Donald 1999)
Is it necessary to specify the concept of a “world” in a many-worlds theory? (Donald 2002)
What is the role of infinitary mathematics? (Donald 2003)
A form of idealism is among the consequences which I see as ultimately stemming from the vague ideas with which I started. I also conclude that this makes it necessary for there to be laws defining the nature of observers. These laws seem necessarily to be both quite complicated and somewhat arbitrary (Donald 1999). Another conclusion is that, at a fundamental level, time is an aspect of our structure as individual observers, rather than a co-ordinate of a fixed observer-independent spacetime.
No. I not believe that there is any evidence or necessity for such coherence. In particular, as I discuss here, I do not believe that the brain has somehow evolved any special capacities which make it in any way like a “quantum computer”.
Instead my starting point is the idea that we seem to be able to experience only that limited subset of all possible quantum states which correspond to our being aware of single (unsuperposed) definite answers to suitable empirical questions. (Is that spot on that photograph here or there? Is that cat dead or alive?)
I therefore begin, in Donald 1990, with an analysis of how we ought to describe a brain which is processing definite information. According to conventional neurophysiology, a brain which is processing definite information is, essentially, a brain which has a definite pattern of neural firing. Adapting this description to the context of a universal quantum theory, involves expressing it in abstract terms and developing, in Donald 1995, a concept of a definite pattern of information within the mathematics of quantum theory. This does require an analysis at sub-neural length scales, and ultimately leads to some radical metaphysics, but it does not require innovations in neurophysiology.
The problem of the unity of consciousness, sometimes referred to as the binding problem, has two aspects. The ontological aspect is concerned with the individuation and wholeness of separate minds while the psychological aspect concerns the perceptions of those minds.
I propose a solution to the problems of quantum theory which solves the binding problem, not by large scale quantum coherence, but by putting individual minds and their structures at the forefront of ontology. My focus in considering the mind-body problem is on trying to specify the “body” which forms the structure of a particular “mind”. This is a far from trivial task given the extent to which quantum theory calls the nature of all physical systems into question. The outcome of my analysis yields a description, in Donald 1999, of individuated structures which grow in an organic fashion, filling-in and completing themselves as they do so. These self-completing structures are abstract reflections of the total pattern of an individual's neural firings, interpreted by conventional neuropsychology as a representation of that individual's perceptions.
Quantum coherence merely allows certain dynamical processes on certain state spaces. It has been suggested that the binding problem would somehow be solved were such processes to exist on a sufficiently large scale in the brain. I do not believe that they do.
Occam's razor is the idea that entities should not be multiplied without necessity.
The necessities that drive many-minds interpretations are compatibility with physical theory and the avoidance of solipsism.
The many-minds idea allows us to make sense of the Schroedinger cat problem by permitting certain events to lead to multiple observed futures. It allows us to make sense of the quantum locality problem by permitting two distant observers (“Alice” and “Bob”) to make independent local choices between different localized measurements with different sets of independently observed local futures. The independence implies that when Alice and Bob eventually meet they may encounter any of several of the other's possibilities. Avoiding solipsism requires that we assign consciousness (or reality) to everyone we could meet who is sufficiently similar to ourselves. So Alice should assign reality to each of Bob's possible futures, and, by symmetry, to each of her own.
More generally, Occam's razor refers to a principle of parsimony in physical theories. Many-minds theories are parsimonious in that they do not require every detail of future reality to be fixed by the initial state of the universe. That state can be taken to be simple. The complexity we observe is then a reflection of our individual experiences of outcomes of stochastic events. Complexity only exists for the observers who have experienced it.
Realism: in the sense that I believe that our possible experiences and their probabilities are determined by truths about reality which are independent of our abilities to know or verify them.
Not Relativism: scientific and logical truths are the same for everyone. However, I think that morality is partly learned, partly reasoned, and partly innate.
Not Pragmatism: scientific laws are not true because they are useful. However, I believe that the nuture, the acceptance, and the imposition of moral responsibility are all justified on pragmatic grounds.
Physicalism: only in the sense that I believe that the truths about reality which determine our possible experiences and their probabilities are mathematical laws which include, and extend, the laws of physics. I am not a materialist, although, as I note in my summary,
In much of my writing, there is a tension between a final fully-consistent but highly abstract analysis and a preliminary analysis posed in comprehensible terms. The preliminary analysis may describe, for example, a quantum state for a physical brain in the sort of physical world that we see around us. Ultimately, however, this is to be superseded by an understanding of such apparent worlds as mere appearance; merely a reflection of the abstract information-bearing structures which constitute our minds.
Dualism: in the sense that I believe in the existence both of minds and of the laws which determine their possible experiences. I also believe that probabilities exist and are experienced.
Not Platonism: mathematical truths are simply necessary logical consequences. Scientific laws however are contingent. Those which happen to be true are therefore special and can be said to “exist”.
Idealism: in the sense that I believe that the material world is mere appearance and that law-obeying minds are the fundamental entities. In as far as initial conditions are required, I believe that they are simple and can be subsumed into the laws.
Epiphenomenalism: only in the sense that I believe that consciousness has no power over the course of events. I believe that free will is an illusion, albeit a necessary one.
Not Functionalism: I believe that consciousness must obey specific laws which restrict the nature of its (apparent) physical substrate. Patterns of (apparent) behaviour, either actual or possible, are not sufficient.
Not Solipsism: in the sense that I think it most likely that all possible lawful mental histories exist, each with its own probability. And yet I also believe that every mind is an experience of one of the ways in which your own life might have developed.
Scepticism: about our abilities to discover the most fundamental scientific truths and about my own beliefs.
The situation of split-brain patients illustrates some fundamental issues about the nature of consciousness.
In order to develop a solution to the problem of the interpretation of quantum theory, I set out to provide a characterization of an “observer”. Having done this, I have a theory which purports to provide an identification of those entities which have minds. This theory can be tested for plausibility by considering if it identifies as having minds those entities which we imagine do have minds and if does not identify as having minds those entities which we imagine not to have minds.
Unfortunately, however, it is impossible to test such an identification directly, for exactly the same reasons that it is impossible to claim with certainty that any particular person or machine has, or is, a mind; whether or not that person is behaving in some particular way. Even self-identification can be problematic. In my view, quantum theory calls the existence of all physical objects, including brains, into question, and points us towards an alternative ontology according to which it is minds which exist rather than brains. This means that mind is a form of being rather than an access to self-knowledge. My consciousness is what I am. My communicable understanding of my consciousness through what I say, or think, or believe need not necessarily be complete or correct.
For the people who appear to others to be split-brain patients, the obvious question is whether they exist as one mind or as two. This question might have no answer, but it does according to my theory. Leaving to one side the technicality that the theory actually associates each of “us” with a cloud of minds, the answer is that split-brain patients are essentially single minds. This follows from the ideas in sections 3 and 4 of Donald 1999.
I do not view this consequence of my proposals as being either particularly plausible or particularly implausible. In either case, we could try to imagine what it would like to be such a mind. In the single mind case, for example, there would no longer be the usual “natural” consistency in experiences at any moment. As a split-brain patient, this would leave someone with the possibility of being simultaneously aware both of a toad and of a stool, but with no direct awareness of the simultaneity or of any inconsistency.
What my work on the many-minds interpretation of quantum theory suggests to me in this context is
that reality is very different from appearance,
that brains and minds are distinct; indeed that the brain is but a shadow of the mind,
that our possibilities and their probabilities are determined by objective and impersonal physical laws,
that apparent physical brain structure represents the way that every detail of consciousness is a consequence of the workings of those laws,
that we should not think of our lives as merely threescore years and ten but as a vast range of possibilities branching out from each moment.
As answers, the third and fourth statements say no while the last says that perhaps it may not matter as much as one might think.
At present, I have no plans to place these papers in the print literature. They are freely available from here and from the physics e-print archive. They can be cited by their quant-ph numbers. For example, “Progress in a Many-Minds Interpretation” can be cited as “quant-ph/9904001”.
I write my papers using Plain TeX. TeX is a wonderful and very widely-used mathematics typesetting system. A program for processing TeX will convert the “TeX source” versions of the papers into typeset mathematics. This is how my “pdf” versions are produced. There are several free programs for processing TeX available on the web. I currently use TeXShop on my Mac. I have also used MiKTeX on a PC. A good starting-point is the TeX Users Group.
No.
In elementary courses on quantum theory, one is introduced to the idea of wave-functions. The wave-functions are the “pure quantum states” or the “coherent quantum states”. But these are not the only kinds of quantum state. There is also a well developed mathematical theory of “mixed quantum states”. This applies to situations in which a classical probabilistic structure is added to a quantum structure, so that one can speak, for example, of a state as being wave-function Psi with probability p and wave-function Phi with probability q. The mathematics of these mixed states is identical to the mathematics which describes the restriction to a subsystem of a state of a compound system. These restrictions of states are the “decoherent quantum states”.
A decoherent quantum state is like a mixture of pure states. In decoherence theory, it is argued that typical quantum states of physical systems in their normal environments are like mixtures (with appropriate probabilities) of quasi-classical quantum states. A quasi-classical quantum state is the sort of quantum state which one would build if asked to describe the world as observed at the present instant — in other words, it is a state in which quantum effects are microscopic; in which, subject to the uncertainty principle, macroscopic objects have well-defined positions and momenta; and in which any cat has well-defined viability.
The crucial problem which this leaves unsolved is what it means for a state to be “like” a mixture. Decoherence is approximate. The decomposition into quasi-classical states is not unique. “Quasi-classical” may be an idea which we can understand for all practical purposes, but it is no less vague than the Copenhagen interpretation idea of a “measurement”. The identification of the fundamental subsystems, or the splitting between system and environment, is also left vague.
The purpose of an interpretation of quantum theory is to explain how solutions to the Schroedinger equation relate to the everyday world we see around us. The many-worlds idea is that solutions to the Schroedinger equation split into quasi-classical parts and that our everyday world is described by one of those parts. Decoherence theory confirms that such splittings exist for all practical purposes at the level of the local density matrix of typical physical systems in their normal environments. But there is no canonical or fundamental version of the splitting. In particular, the eigenfunctions of realistic density matrices need not be quasi-classical. (They also need not be unique and can be unstable under small perturbations in the density matrix.)
Suppose that we choose a density matrix which we think would be a reasonable description of some system were it not to be observed for some period of time. Thus we look for the density matrix of the system which would result at the end of the period if we began the period with an appropriate quasi-classical state both for the system and for its environment and then we let that combined state develop under the universal Hamiltonian. Of course we really should consider the state of the world as it would be had it never been observed, but the problems for the many-worlds interpretation are apparent even if we assume that we have already identified this planet and most of its contents.
As we are interested in our everyday world, we should consider a bounded system which includes our own body (or at least our own brain). Random radiative scattering carries lots of information across and out of such a system, so a minimum time period on which mixing occurs, for a system of human scale, would be no more than long enough for light to pass across the system. More significant mixing occurs, particularly in liquid and gaseous phases, with every particle-particle collision and scattering. In air, there are around 10^34 such collisions per cubic metre per second. In each one, the angle of scattering is not precisely predictable and the state becomes less quasi-classical. By the time a new-made cup of coffee would have cooled sufficiently to be drinkable, Hamiltonian interactions within the system and with its environment will have led to a great deal of mixing as the system approaches thermal equilibrium on short distance scales. Moreover, given the natural thermally-driven small-scale dynamical instability of the functioning human brain, even such a short time will be enough for the state to include a mixture of different thought patterns and their consequences. The longer we wait, the more mixed the state becomes and the closer we approach to the correct starting point for a many-worlds theory.
There are many different decompositions of the resulting density matrix into quasi-classical states which each provide accurate descriptions of the system as we might see it at an instant. For example, we can change the extent to which we describe individual particles as being localized, either in position or in momentum. Indeed we can use more or less refined descriptions for any aspect of the system of which we are not directly aware; including details of the localization of water molecules in the brain. We can even change precisely what we include in the system, whether we describe it in terms of a specified set of molecules, or whether we prefer a description in terms of local density operators. Any of these changes in description may make a radical difference to the probability of the corresponding quasi-classical states.
Despite the fact that many of these decompositions are mutually incompatible, it may seem that this extravagant vagueness makes little difference to the many-worlds idea as a picture of reality at an instant. Nevertheless, without a resolution of the vagueness, it is impossible to see how the apparent temporal progression of our everyday world is to be explained or what meaning can be attached to probability. Continuity clearly does not pick out a unique future description when continuous variation is possible in the instantaneous description.
Of course.
I posted the two previous answers to the newsgroup sci.physics.research in response to a question about the status of the combination of the many-worlds interpretation with decoherence theory. Here is some of the dialogue that followed.
According to the conventional interpretation, the outcome of a “measurement” is always one of the eigenvalues of “the measured operator”, and the probability of a specific outcome is determined by transition probabilities between the current wavefunction and the eigenfunctions of that operator. As a result of the measurement, the current wavefunction is replaced by the outcome eigenfunction.
So
On a technical level, the main problem, as far as I can see, with the Bohm interpretation is compatibility with special relativity theory.
Another issue has to do with quantum field theory. In conventional quantum field theory, “second quantization” gives a well-defined mathematical framework within which both quasi-classical particle-like states and quasi-classical field-like states exist. These states can be used, in the appropriate contexts, to describe the same physical objects. Correspondingly, there are two forms of the Bohm interpretation; one in which the fundamental entities are quasi-classical particles and one in which they are quasi-classical fields. These fundamental entities are “piloted” by a wave function, which is Everett's non-collapsing “universal wave function”. Unfortunately, in Bohm theory, the two types of fundamental entity would seem to be totally irreconcilable. They cannot be both used for the same objects in different circumstances.
Non-locality is also much more difficult to make sense of in Bohm theory than in a many-minds interpretation.
Yet another problem is with the understanding of psycho-physical parallelism. This last problem I discuss briefly in this section of Donald 2002.
Nevertheless, the Bohm interpretation is a serious and interesting attempt to answer the fundamental ontological problems raised by quantum theory.
It is possible that there may be more than one radically-different way in which quantum theory could be understood and each of these ways might be just as compatible with empirical evidence. In my opinion, we should pursue all such ways. We may not be able to learn the truth, but we can at least circumscribe different possibilities.
If you have a consistent set of histories then the theory tells you the probability of each element of that set. However, the theory does not provide an unambiguous determination of any fundamental consistent set. This is the “set selection problem”. If consistent histories theory is to be more than merely a classification of frameworks which allow an uncharacterized external observer to make conventional probabilistic statements, then the set selection problem is crucial and, in my opinion, any attempt to solve it will be at least as involved as my attempt to provide an unambiguous characterization of an “observer”.
It does make a serious attack on the ambiguity problems of many previous interpretations by explicitly defining its quasi-classical domain (“characterizing observers”). It is also compatible with special relativistic quantum field theory.
Leaving aside the possibility that the theory fails to achieve what it claims to achieve and the fact that special relativistic quantum field theory is clearly not the ultimate theory of everything, many of the remaining open problems are aesthetic or metaphysical.
Back to the papers.
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