For the most part Kiara has been taking care of the blog and keeping it updated. I'll take over this post to talk about the recent science field trip I went on with the National Energy Foundation. It was called the
Think Energy Super Tour. We went to various locations in Utah where energy is provided. My dear friend Doug (Dug) Pusey, my cooperating teacher during my student teaching, invited me to go with him, and we had a blast. We started out by meeting at the Salt Lake Community College and our first stop was the Salt Lake City Landfill. This is where the majority of the garbage is placed from the area. I'd encourage you to go there some time so you realize were all our garbage goes. Just because the garbage truck picks it up and takes care of it for you, doesn't mean it goes away to some magical place. Any rate, bacteria in the garbage create methane, a combustible, poisonous gas that is usually pumped out and burnt off. However, at the Salt Lake City Landfill, they use the methane to make electricity which feeds the city of Murry their power. A wonderful way to recycle waste. Our next stop was out to Energy Solutions, the company that renamed the Delta Center arena. (Of course they've donated a ton of money for it.) I was so impressed with the company and the ignorance so many of us have about radioactive waste. They explained how we could recycle radioactive material in nuclear generators over and over until it becomes glass.
This way we wouldn't have to store it for 10,000 years. Our last stop for the first day was the IPP coal power plant near Delta, UT. I've been there once before but it is always amazing to see it. They burn two train loads (100 cars per train) a day to serve the power needs and we still need more power. 95% of the power made there goes to California, 40% to L.A. and neighboring areas. So when you are riding the rides at Disneyland, you have IPP to thank. The next day was full of other locations. We visited a geothermal power plant that transfers energy of heated water in the earth to make electricity. We went to a location near Salina, UT where they are pumping oil from the ground, a fine grade of oil at that too. And the last stop that day was a place were they make coal briquettes near Price. That evening we had a speaker that discussed the importance of coal. It was also a bit of an eye opener because I have become biased against coal due to the great output of carbon dioxide. Our last day we went to Intermountain Electronics, a company that custom makes generators and electrical equipment for other companies. We were very impressed with the cleanliness and order of this company.
They actually saved the Salt Palace millions of dollars by putting a generator on top of the building rather than build one to the side of the building. We also visited a location where coal is stored from several mines, and we even went to a Skyline Mine, a coal mine near Scofield reservoir. Our last stop for the trip was the windmill farm at the mouth of Spanish Fork canyon. It was a sight to see up close. You come around the corner driving out of the canyon and BOOM, there they are. You didn't hear it from me but rumor has it that they'll be putting in a windmill farm close to Toole in the near future. Kiara came to pick me up and it is always a wonderful sight to see her at the end of my trips. Dear friends, be energy conscious and let us never be wasteful of the resources we have on earth.
DARWIN is on his 12th year of teaching, currently at Springville High School teaching astronomy, geology, environmental science, and physics. He also teaches physics at UVU for a 7 week STEM summer school program for junior high students. He also teaches teenagers in our church ward. He's super busy, but still makes time to be an awesome dad and husband.
For the most part Kiara has been taking care of the blog and keeping it updated. I'll take over this post to talk about the recent science field trip I went on with the National Energy Foundation. It was called the Think Energy Super Tour. We went to various locations in Utah where energy is provided. My dear friend Doug (Dug) Pusey, my cooperating teacher during my student teaching, invited me to go with him, and we had a blast. We started out by meeting at the Salt Lake Community College and our first stop was the Salt Lake City Landfill. This is where the majority of the garbage is placed from the area. I'd encourage you to go there some time so you realize were all our garbage goes. Just because the garbage truck picks it up and takes care of it for you, doesn't mean it goes away to some magical place. Any rate, bacteria in the garbage create methane, a combustible, poisonous gas that is usually pumped out and burnt off. However, at the Salt Lake City Landfill, they use the methane to make electricity which feeds the city of Murry their power. A wonderful way to recycle waste. Our next stop was out to Energy Solutions, the company that renamed the Delta Center arena. (Of course they've donated a ton of money for it.) I was so impressed with the company and the ignorance so many of us have about radioactive waste. They explained how we could recycle radioactive material in nuclear generators over and over until it becomes glass. 
This way we wouldn't have to store it for 10,000 years. Our last stop for the first day was the IPP coal power plant near Delta, UT. I've been there once before but it is always amazing to see it. They burn two train loads (100 cars per train) a day to serve the power needs and we still need more power. 95% of the power made there goes to California, 40% to L.A. and neighboring areas. So when you are riding the rides at Disneyland, you have IPP to thank. The next day was full of other locations. We visited a geothermal power plant that transfers energy of heated water in the earth to make electricity. We went to a location near Salina, UT where they are pumping oil from the ground, a fine grade of oil at that too. And the last stop that day was a place were they make coal briquettes near Price. That evening we had a speaker that discussed the importance of coal. It was also a bit of an eye opener because I have become biased against coal due to the great output of carbon dioxide. Our last day we went to Intermountain Electronics, a company that custom makes generators and electrical equipment for other companies. We were very impressed with the cleanliness and order of this company. 
They actually saved the Salt Palace millions of dollars by putting a generator on top of the building rather than build one to the side of the building. We also visited a location where coal is stored from several mines, and we even went to a Skyline Mine, a coal mine near Scofield reservoir. Our last stop for the trip was the windmill farm at the mouth of Spanish Fork canyon. It was a sight to see up close. You come around the corner driving out of the canyon and BOOM, there they are. You didn't hear it from me but rumor has it that they'll be putting in a windmill farm close to Toole in the near future. Kiara came to pick me up and it is always a wonderful sight to see her at the end of my trips. Dear friends, be energy conscious and let us never be wasteful of the resources we have on earth.
2 comments:
That sounds like a neat trip. Thanks for all the information! If you plan on making any powerpoints or such with that information I would love a copy to show my students.
I can't believe how busy you've been this summer and all the traveling. How did you manage to write your research paper? What topic did you end up choosing?
From the Kentucky Division of Intermountain Electronics..... Thanks for the kind words about our company. If you find yourself in the Bluegrass state.... give us a call.
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