Clean Energy in Winter

So the shovelling is getting you down? Thinking about breaking down and getting one of those gas guzzling snow-blowers? Consider the plight of those who are leading the alternative fuel efforts around the northern climates. No one said change was going to be easy, but we should be able to learn things from these issues over the next couple of years.

This time of year, wind turbine blades ice up, biodiesel congeals in tanks and solar panels produce less power because there is not as much sun. And perhaps most irritating to the people who own them, the panels become covered with snow, rendering them useless even in bright winter sunshine.

via Solar Meets Polar as Winter Curbs Clean Energy – NYTimes.com.

The challenges of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels are large if we expect to have the same conveniences that we enjoy today. good article to read if you are expecting to make the switch to alternate fuels any time soon.