Showing posts with label dictionary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dictionary. Show all posts

Saturday, May 16, 2009

EPA Proposes Rule for Renewable Fuel Standard

NEW WORDS TO ME:

1. EPA: Environmental Protection Agency


Phrase:
"The EPA is proactive when it comes to protecting the environment"
2. Poised: adj.
1.1. Assured; composed.
Phrase:
"She stood poised for the jump"

3. Bolster: tr.v., -stered, -ster·ing, -sters.
3.1. To support or prop up with or as if with a long narrow pillow or cushion.
Phrase:
"The new economical measures will bolster the country's economy"

4. Cellulosic Biofuels: is a biofuel produced from wood, grasses, or the non-edible parts of plants. According to U.S. Department of Energy studies conducted by the Argonne Laboratories of the University of Chicago, one of the benefits of cellulosic ethanol is that it reduces greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 85% over reformulated gasoline. By contrast, starch ethanol (e.g., from corn), which most frequently uses natural gas to provide energy for the process, may not reduce GHG emissions at all depending on how the starch-based feedstock is produced. A study by Nobel Prize winner Paul Crutzen found ethanol produced from corn, and sugarcane had a "net climate warming" effect when compared to oil.



5. Yeoman's work:
5.1. An attendant, servant, or lesser official in a royal or noble household.
5.2. A yeoman of the guard.
5.3. A petty officer performing chiefly clerical duties in the U.S. Navy.
5.4. An assistant or other subordinate, as of a sheriff.
5.5. A diligent, dependable worker.
5.6.A farmer who cultivates his own land, especially a member of a former class of small freeholders in England.


6. RFS: Renewable Fuels Standard.

7. Lifecycle: Refers to the greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the fuels.




8. Biomass-based diesel:
8.1. The total mass of living matter within a given unit of environmental area.
8.2. Plant material, vegetation, or agricultural waste used as a fuel or energy source.



SUMMARY:

The EPA proposed a new renewable fuel standard that may ultimately prohibit some corn ethanol production processes because of their level of greenhouse gas emissions.

The goal of the standard is to bolster the nation's supply of renewable fuels, poised to reach 36 billion gallons by 2022, as mandated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

The EPA proposal spells out two different emission scenarios for a range of biofuels and production methods. One scenario generally favors the ethanol industry, while the other would prohibit all but one corn ethanol production process but accelerate alternatives such as cellulosic biofuels. The EPA has done yeoman's work in developing the framework upon which the expanded Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) will be implemented," Its success is considered very important to the nations economic, environmental and energetic resources.

One source of controversy is how projected land-use change and its environmental impact should figure in setting renewable fuel policy.

The EPA said the Energy Independence and Security Act will establish four categories of renewable fuels: cellulosic biofuels, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuels and total renewable fuel. In 2022, the proposal would require 16 billion gallons of cellulosic biofuels, 15 billion gallons annually of conventional biofuels, 4 billion gallons of advanced biofuels and 1 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel.

To be considered an advanced biofuel, the fuel type must have greenhouse gas emissions that are at least 50 percent lower than those associated with ordinary gasoline. New biofuel plants must produce fuels with emissions that are at least 20 percent lower.

To read the full article click here:

Professional Interview

I had the pleassure to interview my classmate Dianella. Below are the answers to some of the questions that I presented her with.

Name: Dianella A. Gómez D.



Questions:

1. Could you please define Engineering in your own words?
R: An engieer desings implements all kinds of projects/proceses.Engineering is the capacity to create and proproduce solutions. Engineers identify problems, analyze and look for opportunities to improve machines, processes, etc.Engineering is the field that allows us to study and apply the technology to improve the quality of our lives.

2. What influenced you to pursue Electronics engineering, industrial ingeneering, computer science engineering or informatics engineering?
R:Industrial engineering - The opportunity to learn different disciplines related to engineering. The ability to produce and transfrer energy.

3. Could you please describe the educational process required to become an Engineer?
R:Initially engineers need to learn basic subject that would allow engineers to perform special evaluations. Algebra, Maths, differential equations, physics, chemistry, etc. One of the areas of studies that I enjoyed the most, were the lab courses because they give you a more hands or applied approach to learning.Later the engineers have the opportunity to take elective to learn specifics on different areas of interest.

4. What are the skills you need to be a good engineer?
R:It helps to be good at math, physics and logical and critical thinking. Understanding how processes flow and cause-effect mind frame.

5. What job considerations were you looking for after you completed your education?
R:I will consider a job in safety and environment areas, management of the quality, design engineering, process evaluations, economics and optimization.

6. What's something of your school life that you enjoy the most?
R:Diversity of people (one of the things that i enjoy the most is sharing with my friends), the lab courses, and I also enjoyed some of my professors a great deal.

7. from your perspective, what is the most difficult part of being an engineering student?
R:Not enought time to learn what I would like.

8. What are your plans for the future?
R:Continue evolving in my career and obtain a job in the engineering field.

9. Point out your most personally gratifying moment in Engineering school.
R: When I aproved Geometry with 10 and Thermofluids with 12, I felt that was the most espectacular and gratifying experience ever.

10. Why would you recommend Engineering as a career?
R: This allows you to be creative, to learn on every project, to improve processes, to create more profits.I would only recommend it to those students that have a passion for problem solving and for making our world a better place to live in.

If you want to know more about dianella, visit her blog at:
http://dianeindustrial.blogspot.com/