Wind Energy

I braved multiple barbed-wire fences to hike up close near the wind turbines scattered all over the Altamont Pass hills this morning in Livermore. They’re surprisingly quiet, and have colored tips to prevent birds from flying in to them (litigation by environmental groups on this issue has been one of the major impediments to new installations). Placement can get contentious if a different company places a turbine in front of an older one, blocking its wind – but neither really ‘owns’ the wind – it’s like cows grazing in the commons.

The energy produced by the turbines is roughly proportional to the cube root of the wind speed. Here are low-resolution maps of global wind speeds from a NASA/Stanford study, and here are links to more detailed maps of the U.S. While the global study estimated a capcity of 72 terawatts, Prof. Lewis at Caltech believes only about 2 terrawatts can be achieved realistically (not nearly enough for keeping up with human consumption).

Seen on Campus

This piece of art, apparently the Stanford Wall by Joseph Albers, is hidden between Palm Drive and the GSB. From far away you’re not quite sure what those lines are, and when you get closer the 3D illusion increases – the shadows cast by horizontal steel bars cause you to think the bricks below them are recessed.

Seen beside Rodin’s Burghers of Calais statues:

A geodesic dome built for some yet-to-be-determined purpose

Student messages posted to the wall of President Hennessy’s office, ala Martin Luther, during SLAC‘s living wage protests, to the tune of “Hennessy, Hennessy, foot the bill, give us some of that 33 mill” and “Hennessy, for goodness sake, could you live on what they make?” One of my friends who had been fasting for 8 days had a letter sent to his parents from the university informing them of his activities – needless to say, they were not amused.

Inside the abandoned and off-bounds chemistry building:

now is that any way to treat a double Nobel laureate?

Seen in the basement of Green Library:

It has begun.

An effigy of the Cal bear impaled on ‘the Claw,’ courtesy of the now-reinstated Stanford band.