Here's a nice description of a leap from fossil fuels to fuel cells. This story reports the launching of a small fuel cell station that converts methane gas into electricity. Methane gas, of course, is the gas responsible for coal mine explosions.
Harness that power, however, and you can make electricity. Lots of electricity. And as this article points out, this also prevents the methane gas from escaping into the open air.
Most people don't realize you can use methane gas for fuel cells. They've heard about the use of hydrogen or propane, but not
methane. The fact remains, however, that virtually any petroleum-based liquid or gas can be used in a
fuel cell generator.
On a humorous note, methane gas is the same gas released by
cows. Some have argued that cows are farting the gas out, but it turns out that the gas escapes from cows' stomachs during the multistage digestion process. A herd of cows can release a tremendous amount of methane gas. Could these same cows now
power our cities, too?
Analysis: This is more than just symbolic, it's real progress. When we can convert old fossil fuel sites to
electricity plants through clean fuel cell
technology, everyone benefits.
About the author: Mike Adams is a consumer health advocate and award-winning journalist with a mission to teach personal and planetary health to the public He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, reaching millions of readers with information that is saving lives and improving personal health around the world. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2010, Adams created NaturalNews.TV, a natural living video sharing site featuring thousands of user videos on foods, fitness, green living and more. He also founded an environmentally-friendly online retailer called BetterLifeGoods.com that uses retail profits to help support consumer advocacy programs. He's also a noted technology pioneer and founded a software company in 1993 that developed the HTML email newsletter software currently powering the NaturalNews subscriptions. Adams volunteers his time to serve as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and practices nature photography, Capoeira, martial arts and organic gardening. He's also author of numerous health books published by Truth Publishing and is the creator of several consumer-oriented grassroots campaigns, including the Spam. Don't Buy It! campaign, and the free downloadable Honest Food Guide. He also created the free reference sites HerbReference.com and HealingFoodReference.com. Adams believes in free speech, free access to nutritional supplements and the ending of corporate control over medicines, genes and seeds. Known by his callsign, the 'Health Ranger,' Adams posts his missions statements, health statistics and health photos at www.HealthRanger.org
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Monday, November 03, 2003
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