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The LA Times reports Wind turbines could more than meet U.S. electricity needs. According to the U.S. Department of Interior, “wind turbines off U.S. coastlines could potentially supply more than enough electricity to meet the nation’s current demand”.
Simply harnessing the wind in relatively shallow waters — the most accessible and technically feasible sites for offshore turbines — could produce at least 20% of the power demand for most coastal states, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said, unveiling a report by the Minerals Management Service that details the potential for oil, gas and renewable development on the outer continental shelf.
The biggest wind potential lies off the nation’s Atlantic coast, which the Interior report estimates could produce 1,000 gigawatts of electricity — enough to meet a quarter of the national demand.
The report also notes large potential in the Pacific, including off the California coast, but said the area presented technical challenges.
An executive summary of the report is available.
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The Washington Post reports the Unemployment rate jumps to 8.5 percent in March. The umployment rate rose from 8.1 to 8.5 percent last month. Employers destroyed “663,000 jobs in March, the fourth straight month in which job losses have topped 600,000, according to Labor Department data. A total of 5.1 million jobs have been lost since the recession began in December 2007, and more than 13 million people are unemployed.”
The U-6 Alternative measures of labor underutilization has March 2009 unemployment at a not seasonally adjusted 16.2 percent. Up from percent from 16 percent in February.
According to the NY Times the 8.5 percent unemployment is the “highest level since 1983“.
The severity and breadth of the job losses – which afflicted nearly every industry outside of education and health care – prompted economists to conclude that an agonizing plunge in employment prospects was still unfolding, with no clear turnaround in sight.
“It’s really just about as bad as can be imagined,” said Dean Baker, a director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington. “There’s just no way we’re anywhere near a bottom. We’ll be really lucky if we stop losing jobs by the end of the year.”
I dunno… I can imagine worse, a lot worse. This guy isn’t even trying.
Four at Four continues with Iraqis formerly on the American payroll now fighting the U.S. (again) and Iowa Supreme Court same-sex marriage ruling.