Links for Sheldon Lee Glashow, Ph.D.

Sheldon Glashow

<a style="font-size:16px;" class="links" target="_blank" href="http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/a-mad-dash-for-smart-grid-cash/" onmousemove="linkBox.show( this, '29' )">NYTimes Discussion of the "Smart Grid" -- See Comment by Sheldon Glashow</a> <script> linkBox.register( '29', "<a title=\"Go to original article.\" href=\"http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/a-mad-dash-for-smart-grid-cash/\">Click here to go to article & comment at NYTimes.com.</a>Our Department of Energy, having been charged to orchestrate the wholesale modernization of our nation’s electrical grid, has issued an ambitious report entitled “The Smart Grid”  (<a href=\"http://www.oe.energy.gov/smartgrid.htm\">www.oe.energy.gov/smartgrid.htm</a>). The time is more than ripe for such an initiative, our aging grid being inefficient, unreliable and unable to satisfy future demand. Among the laudable goals of the DoE project are to reduce utilities’ operating expenses, provide an effective interface with consumers, integrate the grid with alternative energy sources and increase electric power availability so as to enable the transition to electric vehicles. The DoE is currently reviewing numerous proposals for an initial allocation of $615 million. In perusing hundreds of pages of the report, I was surprised and disheartened to find an elephant in the room. No mention is made of the promising and rapidly developing technology known as high-voltage direct current power transmission (HVDC) which may offer significant advantages over conventional AC transmission. An HVDC line is said to have less environmental impact than a comparable AC line, to be able to carry twice as much power, to have greater stability under load fluctuations and to more easily make use of alternative energy sources such as solar and wind. Indeed, at least nine countries are now engaged in the construction of new HVDC lines, together capable of transporting about 30 billion watts. The United States is not one of them, nor is any American industry involved. (The biggest players are Siemens in Germany and ABB in Switzerland). The issue of whether HVDC should play a major role in our Smart Grid is a complex one, but the buzz abroad suggests the idea to be worth considering.Sheldon Glashow Boston University <a href=\"mailto:sglashow@rascientific.com\">sglashow@rascientific.com</a>", "Comment by Professor Glashow" ); </script> <a style="font-size:16px;" class="links" target="_blank" href="http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/07/chamber-representative-says-clean-energy-mandates-distort-the-market/" onmousemove="linkBox.show( this, '30' )">NYTimes discussion of the US Chamber of Commerce "Energy Policy" - See Comment by Sheldon Glashow</a> <script> linkBox.register( '30', "<a title=\"Go to original article.\" href=\"http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/07/chamber-representative-says-clean-energy-mandates-distort-the-market/\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to go to article & comment at NYTimes.com.</a>The actions taken by our government to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, modest though they are, reflect the growing awareness of climate change as the most serious threat facing humanity. Indeed, Americans are among the worst sinners in this regard. Our CO2 emissions amount to about 20 tons per person per year, twice that of most developed nations. Nonetheless, the US Chamber of Commerce is concerned about what it regards as the negative effects of clean energy and efficiency mandates. The Chamber seems oblivious to the potential positive effects resulting from the development and implementation of new and cleaner technologies such as efficient cars, green construction, alternative power sources, etc. A dedicated effort by government and industry to face the challenge of global warming may also provide the new jobs needed for our economic recovery.Sheldon Glashow Boston University <a href=\"mailto:sglashow@rascientific.com\">sglashow@rascientific.com</a>  ", "Comment by Professor Glashow" ); </script> <a style="font-size:16px;" class="links" target="_blank" href="http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/maine-rhode-island-rise-in-efficiency-ranks/" onmousemove="linkBox.show( this, '31' )">NYTimes Story on Energy Efficiency Rankings with Comment by Prof. Glashow</a> <script> linkBox.register( '31', "<a title=\"Go to original article.\" href=\"http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/maine-rhode-island-rise-in-efficiency-ranks/\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to go to article & comment at NYtimes.com.</a>The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy just released its latest ratings for state energy efficiency. The results are fascinating. Let’s compare the 12 greenest states (those with the highest rankings) with the 12 grayest states (the dirty dozen, those with the worst ratings). The greenest all went for Obama in the last election, while the grayest all chose McCain. But I noticed something even more striking. On average, residents of the greenest states live three years longer, have 40% higher family incomes and are 38% more likely to be college graduates than those living in the grayest. Although it’s not clear which is the cause and which the effect, residents of green states are much more likely to be healthy, wealthy and wise!Sheldon Glashow Boston University <a href=\"mailto:sglashow@rascientific.com\">sglashow@rascientific.com</a> ", "Comment by Professor Glashow" ); </script> <a style="font-size:16px;" class="links" target="_blank" href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204409904574350342705855178.html#articleTabs%3Dcomments" onmousemove="linkBox.show( this, '24' )">WSJ Discussion of Nuclear Energy -- See Comment by Sheldon Glashow</a> <script> linkBox.register( '24', "<a title=\"Go to original article.\" href=\"http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204409904574350342705855178.html#articleTabs%3Darticle\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to go to article & comment at WSJ.com.</a>Rebecca Smith writes that “if there ever was a time that seemed ripe for nuclear energy, it’s now.” Amen! Most scientists believe that global warming has begun, that it will have a severe impact on society, and that it is due in large measure to CO2 emissions. Indeed, over 83% of American energy comes from burning fossil fuels. That’s why one hears a lot about promising new sources such as solar and wind power, but as yet these account for only 0.6% of our primary energy needs, while carbon-free nuclear power provides 8.5%. Solar and wind power are sure to become more prominent as their technologies mature, and perhaps we will learn how to sequester the CO2 from fossil plants, but meanwhile many nations are going for nuclear. France, for example, already derives 38% of its primary energy from nuclear reactors, while China plans to build 32 new nuclear plants in the next decade, Russia (an oil-rich country) another 27. I have no doubt that the US will soon join the stampede. And as to safety, let’s remember that 342 Americans lost their lives in the past ten years in coal-mining accidents, but nary a one in our much-maligned nuclear industry! Sheldon Glashow Boston University <a href=\"mailto:sglashow@rascientific.com\">sglashow@rascientific.com</a>", "Comment by Professor Glashow" ); </script> <a style="font-size:16px;" class="links" target="_blank" href="http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1979/glashow-lecture.html" onmousemove="linkBox.show( this, '5' )">Nobel lecture</a> <a style="font-size:16px;" class="links" target="_blank" href="http://physics.bu.edu/" onmousemove="linkBox.show( this, '7' )">Physics at Boston University</a> <a style="font-size:16px;" class="links" target="_blank" href="http://physics.harvard.edu" onmousemove="linkBox.show( this, '8' )">Physics at Harvard</a> <a style="font-size:16px;" class="links" target="_blank" href="http://www.honeywellscience.com/nobel-laureates/physics/sheldon-glashow" onmousemove="linkBox.show( this, '10' )">Honeywell Nobel Initiative</a> <a style="font-size:16px;" class="links" target="_blank" href="http://www.rascientific.com" onmousemove="linkBox.show( this, '11' )">Rubin/Anders Scientific Home</a>