Publications

Greater Baltimore Committee article on alternative energy ahead of GBC’s 2007 Business Outlook Conference

Hydropower is a proven technology for electricity production, capable of generating large amounts of renewable energy with no CO2 emissions, according to its proponents.

Hydropower represents the world’s single largest and most well established source of renewable energy, supplying nearly one-fifth of the world’s electricity, according to the U.S. Hydropower Council for International Development. More than 20,000 MW of new hydro capacity is being installed each year.

According to the National Hydropower Association (NHA), hydropower is the most widely used non-polluting source of energy in the U.S. More than 10 percent – or 77,000 MW – of the nation’s power is supplied by hydroelectric facilities, which is equal to nearly 500 million barrels of oil a year. About 96 percent of U.S. renewable energy comes from hydropower.

Hydropower is the most efficient and reliable renewable energy alternative, according to NHA reports. Its turbines are capable of converting more than 90 percent of available energy into electricity. Hydroelectric plants have the ability to start generation without an outside source of power and can go from zero power to maximum output rapidly and predictably.

New technologies, such as wave, tidal and hydrokinetic energy are also being developed to harness the power of larger bodies of water like seas and oceans.

In a national public opinion survey, hydropower was seen as a viable energy alternative. The 2002 poll by Bisconti Research Inc. found that 93 percent of individuals believe hydropower is important or very important for meeting future electricity needs.

However, opponents to hydropower believe large hydroelectric plants pose a threat to wildlife and the surrounding environment. Hydropower facilities can drastically alter the local environment. Reservoirs cover large areas of land, flooding places usually dedicated to agriculture or forest preserves. Large dams also change watersheds. The quality of water, fish populations and migration patterns, silt deposits, river flow, and vegetation are often affected.

Maryland has two hydropower sources: a micro hydroelectric plant on Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland, and the Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River in Conowingo, Md. The two dams supply approximately 570 MW of power, which accounts for four percent of Maryland’s electricity output.

For more information about hydropower and hydro technology, visit the National Hydropower Association’s Web site.

Greater Baltimore Committee article on alternative energy ahead of GBC’s 2008 Business Outlook Conference

Wind power is one of the cleanest ways to generate electricity, according to its advocates. Wind emits no pollution or toxins and is one of Earth’s most abundant resources, making it a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

A recent study by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) found that state-of-the-art wind power plants can generate electricity for less than 5 cents/kWh; a price that is competitive with new coal and gas power plants. Supporters suggest that using modern wind farms in Maryland would also reduce smog, acid rain and greenhouse gas emissions.

Wind turbines are also one of the safest forms of renewable energy. AWEA studies show, to date, no member of the public has ever been injured during the normal operation of a wind turbine, with more than 25 years operating experience and with more than 70,000 machines worldwide.

Popularity with wind power is also increasing, according to the AWEA study. Wind power serves more than 1.6 million U.S. households and has been the fastest growing renewable energy source over the past ten years, with an average annual growth rate of more than 20 percent.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, several areas of Maryland are estimated to have good-to-excellent wind resources. These include the barrier islands along the Atlantic coast, the southeastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay, and ridge crests west of Cumberland.

Nevertheless, wind power as an alternative energy source has drawn opposition in Maryland from residents in areas where wind farms have been proposed.  Detractors cite environmental concerns and the technology’s perceived inability to produce reliable power in consistent quantities.

Opponents to wind farms have raised concern over the noise produced by the rotor blades, aesthetics of the machinery, and inherent danger to surrounding wildlife.

Another drawback to wind energy is instability. Turbines rely on the wind, which can be intermittent and unpredictable. With the current technology, wind must blow at least 16 mph for power generation, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. In many cases traditional power plants are still required to generate enough energy to provide constant power to a particular area.

For more information about wind power and wind turbine technology, visit the American Wind Energy Association’s website.

American Red Cross quarterly employee newsletter article

There’s a lot more that goes into a blood drive than most of us see. Without all of the materials we sometimes take for granted, our blood collecting abilities would come to a screeching halt.

But, before we can explain exactly what the Depot does, we will need to dispel one of the Region’s most common myths. Many believe the Depot and the warehouse are one and the same; however this is incorrect.

The warehouse is only a location — the same location housing both the Depot and Materials Management. Materials Management and Depot operations, although working in the same environment, have vastly different functions. Materials Management receives and holds all of our materials. But, someone needs to take those materials and actively move them to destinations. That’s where the behind-the-scenes staff come in: the Depot.

“You name it and we probably deliver it,” said Steve Skazis, Mobile Operations Manager. “Everything from equipment and supplies for collecting the blood, to the refreshments at the canteen – we move it all.” The department is also an essential link even before the drives are booked. They manage the distribution of all promotional items and materials to every mobile and donor center.

The Depot operates 24 hours a day, five days a week, plus additional weekend hours to assure all equipment and supplies are packed and ready for future drives. On average, the crew of 12 packs about 15,000 pieces of equipment and supplies, daily. The Depot is an essential operation in the long, difficult process of collecting and distributing blood and blood products. Without Depot operations, the Region would have a very difficult time meeting the community need.