Sci/tech tidbits in and around New Hampshire
Vt. electric airplane gets trial run in New Zealand
Air New Zealand has chosen the first demonstrator route for its all-electric Beta ALIA aircraft, which is made by a startup in Burlington, Vt., of all places. (This is the company that put the electric-plane charger in Manchester, as I wrote about recently.) The...
Timber harvest vs. carbon credit in northern forests – which is the better income?
The state has rejected an interesting proposal to change the way the huge, 146,000-acre Connecticut Lakes Headwater Tract of forest in northern New Hampshire, saying that a plan t o emphasize getting paid for keeping trees upright to store carbon takes away too much...
Forest streams are so pretty; too bad they’re such a pain to measure
One of my favorite parts of hiking in New Hampshire is coming across a rushing brook or mountain stream. They are one of nature’s most beautiful creations. But we live in reality so I realize there are complications even when things are beautiful. For example, I don’t...
NH court: You can’t deny solar arrays just because neighbors think they’re ugly
From New Hampshire Bulletin:In a unanimous decision last week, the NH Supreme Court court overturned the Franklin Planning Board’s denial of a solar project that met the city’s zoning ordinance but was opposed by neighbors who argued it would ruin the scenery and...
UNH uses moose influencers as a research tool (well – sort of)
From UNH News Service: Even though they are a major draw for tourists, and important for forest habitat, moose are shy and can be a challenge to track to help protect from adversities like certain forest and land management and environmental factors like the increase...
NH patents through April 14
(Links to each patent can be found here, using the patent number or inventor’s name.) By Targeted News Service WASHINGTON – The following federal patents were assigned in New Hampshire through April 14. *** Electronic Circuit for Measuring an Angle and an Intensity of...
NH needs EVs, cries a bunch of … wait, ski areas?
Interesting op-ed piece in the Concord Monitor, chastising New Hampshire's leadfoot legislators for being so backward on establishing public charging sites for electric vehicles. It's from folks involved in the state's ski industry and the pitch is entirely economic:...
Science Cafe NH: The reality of forensic science
Have you ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes of a criminal investigation? Join us for a look into the world of forensic science! Our panel of experts from law enforcement and the State’s medical examiner’s office will share their insights and...
Even if NH dodges the worst climate disasters, we won’t dodge the cost
By the standards of the world’s increasing climate disasters – the tornadoes, wildfires and deadly heat waves that fill headlines every week – the back-to-back snowstorms that just clobbered New Hampshire’s power grid weren’t too bad. But don’t get complacent. Even if...
Eclipse cut N.E. solar by 4,000 MW (more or less)
From ISO-New England: As expected, the April 8 solar eclipse led to a steep and significant decrease in solar energy production, but due to extensive planning by ISO New England operators, the event caused no disruptions to the power system. Portions of Vermont, New...