Another Huge Offshore Windfarm In Europe

 Wind, solar, whatever! The Europeans and Chinese understand the need for sustainable, renewable forms of energy. Do we have to become a 3rd world nation before we get it? This is a much more important issue for America than we give it credit for. Let's wake up people(and our elected officials). This means jobs, cleaner air for our children, moving forward with new technology. Please let's stop bickering before it's to late.

Dong Energy Commits to German 320 MW Offshore Windfarm

Monday, 28 February 2011 10:40 Industrial Info resources

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Galway. Dong Energy A/S (Fredericia, Denmark) has announced that the company is going ahead with the construction of its first offshore windfarm in German waters. The Borkum Riffgrund 1 windfarm in the German part of the North Sea will cost approximately 1.25 billion euros ($1.72 billion) and will have a generating capacity of up to 320 megawatts (MW), making it one of the largest German offshore projects to date. Construction is expected to begin in 2013, with the first power expected in 2014. When complete, the windfarm, which will be located 55 kilometres from the German coast, will be capable of generating enough electricity for 330,000 homes. Borkum Riffgrund 1will give Dong a strong foothold in the growing German offshore energy sector. Last month, French energy supplier Areva SA (EPA:CEI) (Paris, France) received a 400 million-euro ($519 million) turbine order for the Borkum West II offshore windfarm, which is 45 kilometers off the northern coast of the island of Borkum in the German North Sea. The order is for 40 of Areva's M5000 turbines, rated at 5 MW each, with provision for 40 additional M5000 turbines to be supplied through 2011. For related article, see January 10, 2011, article - Germany's Largest Offshore Windfarm Progresses.
Dong Energy CEO Anders Eldrup said: "Borkum Riffgrund 1 will be Dong Energy's first offshore windfarm in Germany. I am confident that Dong Energy, as a market leader within offshore wind, will be able to play a vital role in the interesting and fast developing German market."
The Borkum Riffgrund 1 windfarm will use 89 turbines from Siemens Energy AG (Erlangen, Germany), each with a rated capacity of 3.6 MW and a rotor diameter of 120 meters. In addition, Siemens has signed a five-year service, maintenance and warranty agreement for the units.
René Umlauft, CEO of Siemens' Renewable Energy Division, said: "The first wind power project in German waters for Dong Energy, the world's leading operator of offshore windfarms, clearly shows that offshore wind power is now also gaining momentum in Germany. In fiscal 2010, onshore wind power business accounted for more than 60%."
Borkum Riffgrund 1 is Siemens' fifth order for the construction of an offshore windfarm in German waters, coming after EnBW Baltic 1 (48 MW), EnBW Baltic 2 (288 MW), Borkum Riffgat (108 MW) and Dan-Tysk (288 MW).
Germany's first offshore windfarm, Alpha Ventus, which has a generating capacity of 60 MW, was commissioned in April 2010, generating enough power for 50,000 homes. The facility is owned by a consortium of companies, including E.ON AG (OTC:EONGY) (Dusseldorf, Germany); Vattenfall Europe, which is part of Swedish utility Vattenfall AB (Stockholm, Sweden); and EWE AG (Oldenburg), a German energy and gas provider. For related news, see April 29, 2010, article - Germany Commissions First Offshore Windfarm.

Posted by Ordons News Team, write to editors@ordons.com

House Quashes Rules On Student Debt at For-Profit Colleges

House Quashes Rules On Student Debt at For-Profit Colleges

ONCE AGAIN REPUBLICANS IN THE 'HOUSE' TAKE THE SIDE OF SCHOOLS THAT EXPLOIT THE MIDDLE CLASS AND LOW INCOME STUDENTS.

You've all seen the late night TV ads for colleges(formerly trade schools) that advertise their programs for great jobs in the industries of the future such as "medical bill", "pharmacy assistant" or "IT Specialist". They claim that these jobs will secure a good future for those students that want to improve themselves but don't qualify for a 4 year or community college.
In an effort to add consumer protection to these claims the Department of Education and the Obama Administration proposed disclosure legislation called the "gainful employment rule". This would allow the DOE to cut off Federal loan funding for those programs which did not actually provide a proven career path as promised. You see most of these for profit schools make most of their money from the tuition secured by Federal student loan programs offered to students trying to improve their future. Experience has shown that some of these programs--not entire schools--do not provide the education needed to get a job that pays well enough to provide for a good future. And since these students are burdened with thousands of dollars of student debt they eventually default on these Federally insured loans which taxpayers have to pay for. The default rate on these loans is significantly higher than for the not for profit colleges and yet the for profit colleges can make up to 90 percent of their profits from these loans. Additionally tuition costs at these schools is approximately twice as high as a 4 year school and 5 times as much as a community college.
The Republicans in the HOUSE and some Democrats have come down on the side of the for profit schools which have-by some coincidence-increased their lobbying efforts in Congress. This is a very cynical attitude about education and improving the employment capabilities of marginal but ambitious students.
The HOUSE has already done the dirty deed but that doesn't mean you can't call your Representatives and tell them how you feel. The Senate has not done anything yet so there may still be some time to have them revitalize the "gainful employment rule"--that is unless you look forward to helping out the for profit schools at taxpayer expense--again. Read the full article in the Huffington Post.

iPad Your Future

Facing Foreclosure Without Missing A Payment: One Couple's Housing Nightmare

Facing Foreclosure Without Missing A Payment: One Couple's Housing Nightmare

This could happen to anyone, but if you're in the middle class you have a much higher risk!
Published by the HuffingtonPost, this article about a young couple who paid the mortgage on their dream home on time received a notice of foreclosure!!! Read this article. If you have a similar experience or you are being negatively impacted by the economy please send your story to: lettersfromthemiddleclass@gmail.com. I will do my best to let the world know. I promise.

Obama's Big Budget Cut Proposals Target The Poor
Read the Huffpost article for full coverage.
A short shout out to anyone listening. One of the items to be cut in the budget, by 50 percent, is funding for LIHEAP = Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. This will most likely cause the death of people who cannot afford to pay for all of their heating fuel. The states won't be able to pick up the slack since they are also broke. It is imperative that everyone call their Representatives and Senators to prevent cuts in LIHEAP.
http://huff.to/h9p65J