We still have a few small producers like your operation was...the industry has seen almost total consolidation since then. Now it's the big boys like Tyson, Hormel, and John Morrell and not much else.
Tough business to make money in.
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Climate Choices in the Northeast by UCS
- Thread starter catskills
- Start date
We still have a few small producers like your operation was...the industry has seen almost total consolidation since then. Now it's the big boys like Tyson, Hormel, and John Morrell and not much else.
Tough business to make money in.
trtaylor
Member
We only fed the cattle. They were usually purchased by Moyer Packing in Souderton, PA or sometimes Taylor Packing (since acquired by Cargill) for slaughter.
Both Moyer and the ex-Taylor Packing are/were customers. I used to run some of our product tests at Moyer.
ctenidae
Active member
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/aug2007/bw20070814_539070.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index
While his numbers on loweing the speed limit seem a bit dodgy, he's not far wrong. I think telecommuting could put a huge dent in our energy use, except then all those people would be home all day, and 1000 individual homes aren't nearly as energy efficient as 1 modern office building.
While his numbers on loweing the speed limit seem a bit dodgy, he's not far wrong. I think telecommuting could put a huge dent in our energy use, except then all those people would be home all day, and 1000 individual homes aren't nearly as energy efficient as 1 modern office building.
I was discussing this with a colleague yesterday...give businesses tax credits for promoting telecommuting and give homeowners tax credits for making their homes energy efficient. And don't just leave it up to the homeowner...set standards and have tax savings tables with energy saving milestones that lead to increased credit percentages.
ctenidae
Active member
Had an interesting discussion with a guy from the largest privately-owned electricity producer in the US about wind power. He says wind can be economically feasible, but it's really tough, and not nearly so clean as you'd think. The central problem is that wind doesn't always blow. It's windiest in the morning and in teh evening, but not in the middle of the day when peak loads occur and you need it the most. Overall, wind has about a 30% availability rate, meaning you have to build, essentialy, 3 times as much capacity as you need.
The real problem occurs because electricity always flows from where it s to where it isn't. So, if the wind isn't blowing, electricity wants to flow up the wires to the wind farm. To fix this, you either have to disconnect the farm, which isn't very practical, or feed electricity into the lines to push it downstream. This requires a generator, usually coal or natural gas fired, which must run during peak load times. So, you get a wind farm and a peaking power plant in any one installation. With all the associated permit headaches of both.
Power plants get paid for three things: generating power (obviously), ancillary services ("dark starts" in the event of a blackout, etc), and capacity payments (fees for being able to produce power if needed). Wind farms really get only generation payments, since they can't guarantee coming on line if there's a blackout, and their capacity is very low because of the 30% availability rate.
Wind. Not so great.
The real problem occurs because electricity always flows from where it s to where it isn't. So, if the wind isn't blowing, electricity wants to flow up the wires to the wind farm. To fix this, you either have to disconnect the farm, which isn't very practical, or feed electricity into the lines to push it downstream. This requires a generator, usually coal or natural gas fired, which must run during peak load times. So, you get a wind farm and a peaking power plant in any one installation. With all the associated permit headaches of both.
Power plants get paid for three things: generating power (obviously), ancillary services ("dark starts" in the event of a blackout, etc), and capacity payments (fees for being able to produce power if needed). Wind farms really get only generation payments, since they can't guarantee coming on line if there's a blackout, and their capacity is very low because of the 30% availability rate.
Wind. Not so great.
JD
New member
I like the projections for Vermont. 20-30 percent more winter precip. Warmer by 9-14 degrees. Wetter snow. Sounds like the sierras to me. And if it keeps the rivers ice free for longer, and blows them out earlier I'd get more paddling days. Everyone up here complains that winter is a little too long and summer a bit too short so sounds like a good scenario for us.
JD
New member
You can greatly reduce those side affects with food prep techniques. Soak your beans overnight. Drain. Then cook in new water. Cook your veggies longer (slightly) or pickle/marinate.
ctenidae
Active member
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/En..._cost_curve_for_greenhouse_gas_reduction_1911
Reviving the dead, sort of.
Interesting article from McKinsey. Looking at the cost curve of various greenhouse gas abatement ideas, better insulation in buildings is far and away the best single option- no marginal cost. More efficient commercial vehicles and lighting systems are up there, too.
Reviving the dead, sort of.
Interesting article from McKinsey. Looking at the cost curve of various greenhouse gas abatement ideas, better insulation in buildings is far and away the best single option- no marginal cost. More efficient commercial vehicles and lighting systems are up there, too.
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