Industrial Revolution 2

Surprise Modeling. Can modeling go from missing the point to anticipating surprises? http://bit.ly/118HhF

NYTimes.com

In Japan’s Stagnant Decade, Cautionary Tales for America

By HIROKO TABUCHI
Published: February 12, 2009

TOKYO — The Obama administration is committing huge sums of money to rescuing banks, but the veterans of Japan’s banking crisis have three words for the Americans: more money, faster.

Heizo Takenaka, seen in 2002, headed the Japanese efforts that, though resisted, exposed the full extent of bad bank loans.
The Japanese have been here before. They endured a “lost decade” of economic stagnation in the 1990s as their banks labored under crippling debt, and successive governments wasted trillions of yen on half-measures

Here’s the article…

Ausra – Press Releases: Solar Power Company Ausra Launches First Solar Thermal Plant in California in Nearly 20 Years

Solar Power Company Ausra Launches First Solar Thermal Plant in California in Nearly 20 Years

Governor Schwarzenegger on Hand as Next Generation Solar Technology Provides Power and Industrial Steam on Cost-Competitive Basis

Bakersfield, CA—October 23, 2008—Ausra, Inc. (http://www.ausra.com) and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today launched the company’s Kimberlina Solar Thermal Energy Plant in Bakersfield, CA, showcasing the company’s “next generation” concentrating solar thermal technology.

Governor Schwarzenegger joined Ausra President, CEO and Chairman Bob Fishman, U.S. Reps. Jim Costa (CA-20) and Kevin McCarthy (CA-22), California Assemblymember Jean Fuller and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) CEO Peter Darbee in launching a new era of solar thermal power with the turning of Ausra’s large solar thermal mirrors—harvesting California sunshine and creating California jobs.

“This plant proves that our technology is real, it works, and it’s ready to power businesses or provide process steam for industries—now,” said Fishman. “Ausra is first on the market, providing customers a dependable, cost-effective solar thermal energy system. Some of the best investment minds in the country have backed our technology and our management team’s ability to deliver.”

At full output, Kimberlina will be able to generate 5 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 3,500 homes in central California. The Kimberlina plant is the first solar plant in the country to utilize Ausra’s next generation technology, and it is the first solar thermal power plant of any type built in California in nearly 20 years.

“This next generation solar power plant is further evidence that reliable, renewable and pollution-free technology is here to stay, and it will lead to more California homes and businesses powered by sunshine,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Not only will this large-scale solar facility generate power to help us meet our renewable energy goals, it will also generate new jobs as California continues to pioneer the clean-tech industry.”